Stumbling

"Lei...Lei!"

No use.

With the tremoring earthquake holding me trapped, it didn't allow the chance to avoid the torrents of hot air that nearly suffocated me from all sides.

My lungs stung each time I yelled out in the storm. A part of me already acknowledged that nobody could hear me past the windy barrier, but I kept at it. The sound of my voice working as a coping mechanism to steady my worrying heartbeat at what could have happened.

"LEI!!!!"

I took a deep breath, semi-choking on the toxic air as I called out the loudest I could manage, hearing nothing answer back. More time ticked off the clock with me sitting around in a state of unrest, blind to whatever dangers could be lurking nearby.

I can't tell if Lei is still fighting or not. It sounded like the building collapsed after she threw me out...should I check the rubble? Do I risk possibly getting in the way?

Toying with my insecurities, something embedded itself in the tip of my shoe without a sound. Panic crept up my spine as I grabbed something small and firm. My hands roamed around the object, stopping cold once it reached the end, recognizing a blade's sharp point.

The uneasiness only grew from there. Seconds later, the strong winds disappeared, surrounding the area in unsettling stillness. I was reluctant to move. My orbs darted around nervously despite being unable to see, and the blade I held began to rattle in my shaky grasp.

Come on, stand! Move already! What are you afraid of when there's nothing there!

All the motivating thoughts racing through my head were futile. Every muscle refused to surrender and comply with my pleas as I broke into a sweat.

It was precisely what I kept telling myself. Nothing was there. For my entire life, nothing had always been there. The downfalls of being born blind had never bothered me before, but the fear of having this handicap had finally struck after being caught by Takata. And now it was at its peak.

"Looking at you now, I almost feel sorry for you."

Pain rocketed through my stomach. The stranger had and shook me by the bangs, with my feet floating inches from the ground. I struggled for air as my eyes watered and I threatened to lose consciousness from the unfamiliar experience.

"You're more fragile than I first imagined. What's wrong, ain't been kneed before?"

Again, the fiery-hot voice taunted, pulling me in until her breath closely tortured my nose and ears. I frantically flailed and kicked in her grasp as her hands moved and wrapped around my neck.

"Don't worry. I'll give you a dignified death by leaving you in one piece. If only Leifa weren't underneath the collapsed building, I could have her watch you struggle and die."

Every landing kick pattered against her harmlessly like a feather until they stopped reaching her altogether. Any resistance I had begun to wither away. Things as I knew them slowed to a snail's pace as I started to feel colder in comparison.

Vivid images flashed through my mind, and I drew in what I thought would be my last breaths.

Is this it? Is this how one's life flashes before their eyes? ...Does everything end here?

...

......

...No. There's still one option... I have left.

SHHK!

Before the creeping darkness consumed the remaining light in my eyes, I gathered the last drop of energy left and thrust my hand up, focusing on where I could feel her muscles tightening.

The world felt upside-down. Unable to process what happened I felt weightless. All at once, oxygen flooded my lungs, and I began experiencing my body contorting in various ways.

I couldn't help it. My stomach was in knots. I retched as soon as things seemed to stop spinning. Drool salivated near the ends of my mouth, with my arms beginning to weaken and shake the longer I puked.

The indistinguishable ringing in my ears dispersed into the background. Slowly the perception of sound came back, my aggressor's unbridled yelling the first thing to grace my auditory senses.

Instinct took control, and I ran. The noises I faced away from transformed into something less than human as the screaming became low bestial grunts.

"WHY COULDN'T YOU JUST DIE PEACEFULLY?!"

Her voice closed in quicker by the second. I moved faster. Instead of pounding against solid earth, my feet shuffled through the hot, loose grain. Loads were kicked up with each step I took. The stuff seeped into my shoes and socks as I pushed forward.

Sand? It must've risen from the cracks after the rumbling. No wonder I didn't hear her approach.

More of it shuffled into my footwear. The added weight, paired with the sensation of burning skin proved to be taxing as my feet slowed to a drag.

The pounding reverberations within my ribcage grew increasingly frequent, every heartbeat more intense than the last...

And then...they stopped.

A shrill whistle cut through all other noise, silencing everything else but its boisterous approach. Something inside me peaked, awakening my instincts as the nearing presence closed in.

I didn't expect the stinging pain that struck the side of my neck as I felt tresses of hair fall from around my ear.

Any second later...had I not bent out the way, I wouldn't have a head.

"As I thought. You really can hear my blade traveling through the air now that things have quieted. Which means..."

A pitiful wail escaped my throat feeling a fist crash against my face. The uncanny strength behind their punch was enough to send me flying to the floor.

"For somebody who's never fought before, your hearing is impressive. Too bad it can't pick up hand-to-hand attacks. If I can't cut you down, I'll beat you to death instead."

"AAAA!" I broke out into a screaming mess.

Cool metal pierced my knee as the stranger wedged her blade between the joints. Her hands firmly held mine above my head, pinning me in no time as she settled her weight on top. Tears flowed endlessly down my cheeks while she gazed at me from above, shushing me with a finger to my lips in a comforting manner.

"So you can have a little solace before death, know, I don't blame you for any of this. None of what happened is your fault. You're another kind-hearted soul whose life became a victim of lady misery, just like me. I hope you can live happily in the afterlife, Thalia."

Her switch from threatening to sweet was something my mind couldn't comprehend. An unexpected jolt traveled through my chest as a fury of fists pounded harshly against my sternum. Every hit dug me deeper as I could feel my body sinking into the sand.

Blood spurt out my mouth after the fifth strike that followed, and a series of wild coughs racked from within with the beating my chest was taking.

I'm sorry, I'm sorry—those words resonated in my head from hearing her say them tirelessly.

I could feel my consciousness slipping and my eyelids drooped heavily as if urging me to drift off into a pleasant dream world.

Nii-san...Lei

I called their names, feeling another impactful strike land without mercy.

The hit had struck, that I was sure. Yet, oddly, there came no pain. The last sensation I felt as my mind battled between consciousness and unconsciousness was the weight suddenly vanishing off top of me and what I thought to be a sweet voice calling me reassuringly.

"I heard you fighting, mistress, but that's all over now. I'm finally here, Thalia."