[2] Alive

DEATH WAS THE emptiest feeling on earth. Floating around aimlessly in limbo, where there was nothing but utter darkness, trying to be something but just not being able to exist. Hope was real, that much I knew, it just didn't seem to exist here, at least that's what I thought till I spotted just a whisper of light.

It was enough to make me fight for it, trying to open whatever it was that was shielding me from the light. It was then I realized I was blinking! I was actually blinking but my eyelids were so heavy I couldn't quite open them, darkness consuming me after each failed attempt to open them fully.

"She's waking up, " a distant voice gasped, "Gravis!"

I fought harder against the feeling of sinking into the darkness, trying to keep up to the light. It became brighter and I found myself squinting at the brightest light I had ever seen.

Staring at it , I took in as much air as I could possibly contain, to help ease my thundering heart rate.

Slowly, I turned my head to the side, spotting the blurry figures of three people by the door, unable to see what it was they were doing until the larger one moved toward me.

Feeling gentle fingers massage my scalp, I breathed out harsher turning my head to the side, whilst trying to clear my vision but feeling myself slip away with every lingering second

"You need more rest princess, don't fight it," someone breathed right above my ear.

I tried in vain to make out who it was above me but the last thing I felt was a sharp sting right below my shoulder, the lonely hands of darkness welcoming me into its hollow embrace.

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Shooting out of bed I gasped for air, eyes as wide as saucers. I was dead, well I had been dead! I think...I think I was dead. There was no other logical explanation as to how else could I have survived a fall like that! My hands automatically travelled all around my body and my face in an attempt to check for injuries.

Images of a metal rod hurtling toward me sprouted in my mind, feeling for any insanely large bumps on my head.

When I came to the strange conclusion I was okay and that I was in the 1 percent that had survived a plane crash with none of my body parts seriously hurt, damaged or worse... missing, I slipped into livid memories replaying everything that happened.

My book as I slammed it shut, eyes focused ahead. The plane as it suddenly pushed as back.

Gravis!

My heart suddenly sank, a dark cold shiver darting across my spine, as I came to the realization.

Mom.

I stared straight ahead of me, everything replaying before me like unwanted dream, the masked figures, the blast, the fall, my head spin with all this thoughts and images.

Tears crept behind my eyes, my whole frame shook in pure shock and disbelief, it couldn't have been real, none of it was possible..I couldn't have lost her.

Breaking down into my shaking arms, I let the tears fall, hugging my knees as I silently cried my eyes out.

"Queen Nalima isn't dead."

My head immediately jutted toward the strangely familiar voice, heart racing rapidly, finally spotting the giant man who was leaning against the wall, dressed in casual jeans and a tight fitting shirt.

Gravis stood before me very much alive and by the looks of it, unhurt. My eyes widened at the sight of him, taking his stature in just to make sure I wasn't dreaming, my heart rate decreasing by an inch after confirming this hulk of a man, had not actually perished like I thought we all had.

He sent me a large friendly grin and I started to doubt if we were actually both alive in this moment. Mainly because I've known Gravis for all my life and he had never, not ever, not even once smiled at me.

Hell, he hardly ever talked unless he was spoken too and that was mostly to my mother and my father, as for me, it was usually a subtle nod, or shake of the head, on his really good days it would be short phrases or one word answers.

I blinked through the tears that were still falling, pulling my knees closer to my chest. He pushed himself off the wall he was leaning on, making his way toward me.

Taking a stand a little ways away, yet still managing to tower over me, He folded his arms, releasing a grunt,

"Would you like to see her?"

I immediately turned to look at him, having to crane back and blink a few times to actually see his face clearly, the afternoon sun streaking across half of it. Eyes wide with curiosity and hope, I nodded, wiping the tears from my eyes.

His smile had long faded and his usual blank face was in place, which was surprisingly more comforting. He turned around and I took this as a queue to follow him, pulling up my Armani gown to avoid tripping as I got up from my raised bed.

It was only now when I took in the sight of my surroundings. I seemed to be in some sort of sick bay, my bed being the last in the row, a few feet from the end wall.

All the hospital like beds where identical, covered in the same dull blue sheets that mine hand.

My fingers fiddled with each other, sniffing along after Gravis, his tall frame blocking my view from anything directly in front of me as we walked out the door and into the hallway, my bare feet trailing after his.

I immediately noticed there was another sick bay right opposite the one I was in, as its door was left slightly ajar, allowing me to peak through as we swung by.

The hallway we trudged through was plain, its grey walls adding to absolutely nothing.

This was a definite assurance we weren't at home. Our hallways were painted an elegant light blue that made you feel like you were still flying as you skimmed through.

We suddenly turned once we reached a conjunction, the cold tiled floors were strangely warmer as we took yet another turn, this time walking into a white lonely hall way.

We stood before a door, and I watched as he took out some keys that had been jiggling from his side, unlocking the door.

Walking in, I watched as Gravis took a step back, positioning himself against the wall. I stood there confused, but he casually motioned to the glass like mirror directly opposite him.

I moved curiously toward it and peered in, my nerves working their way up.

My heart rate increased when I spotted the unconscious figure of my mother, attached to an IV, laying on the bed.

Her eyes where shut closed and there were bandages wrapped around her head. I turned back to Gravis frantically signing away all the words I ever learnt.

'Is she alright? What happened to her? Why isn't she awake? Why isn't she moving? How bad is it?'

My hands began to shake as I started to really panic.

He watched my hands moved up and around moving toward me, embracing me in a tight hug. It felt weird in the first second and a tiny-nope a whole bit awkward, but I soon broke down in his arms, tears streaming down in currents. I wasn't strong. I felt weak. I felt despair. Most importantly I felt alone.

He rubbed my back gently, even if it seemed like he didn't know what do do. His volcanic voice rumbled through me, actually more comforting than anything else he did.

"She's alright princess, it isn't as bad as it looks," he eased, still rubbing my back. It definitely looked bad. "she got injured during the fall, but unlike your injury, it actually did a little more damage."

As he spoke my eyes trained on my mother, blinking through the waterworks.

"It will take a couple of days, but before you know it, she'll be up on her feet. There was never a fight your mother couldn't win."

I smiled involuntarily at the last comment, even though there was still the sinking feeling of despair catapulting through my mind at the sight of my mother and the steady beep of the monitor.

I looked up at him, and he took a step back while I dried my own tears, knowing that mom wouldn't have liked to hear that in a situation like this, one she had trained me for all my life, I broke down instead of being the brave little girl she always said was somewhere deep in there, even if I've never felt an ounce of brave or wanted to be brave in anyway. If anything I wanted to crawl into bed with her and wait for her to wake up.

'Does Dad know?' I signed through my sniffles, my sleeves still at work, cleaning my face. Gravis watched me for a moment before nodding.

"The king was informed of our misfortune, but..." he trailed off sighing, "he won't be able to get here before hand."

"Why?" I angrily signed. I might have been selfish, thanks to my emotional state, but I believed nothing was more important than my mother at the moment.Gravis' jaw hardened.

"believe me when I say he would have been the first person here if he could, and he will when he can, but the king always knows what's best," he lifted up a hand before I could sign anything, "you have your questions I know, but this is for your protection and that of the Queen and he knows you're more than safe here. If he does come and he is followed by our attackers, well then, that wouldn't be ideal now wouldn't it? Believe me when I say you and the Queens safety are the top priority here, trust me."

I stared into his light brown eyes for a moment, knowing Gravis was someone I could trust. Nodding slowly, I tried to ease the growing shake making a comeback to my fingers as I took another look at my mother. My father would probably find a way to visit when he could. It was the one thing that comforted me. He loved mom, I marveled at it often. He would soon be charging over her with the slightest glimmer of opportunity.

I know firsthand how protective he was. Gravis was probably right as well, in all his intimidating truth.

Looking around the small room timidly, I let one of my shaky hands tumble to the side, while the other rubbed it in assurance.

A question bubbled in my head as I looked back at Gravis, signing roughly.

"Where is here exactly?"