Broken - 10

A ragged breath left my body as I kneel to the ground. A steadying breath my only comfort as my hand reached out to stop the rest of my body from falling straight to the ground. Only by instinct… by instinct.

I could feel the ragged breath of another reach closer and closer to me, as if concerned for my well being. That pale faced boy… who seemed to collapse at the slightest wind.

My mouth turned up into a grin. Echoing my feelings as I turned my vision to that glacier-like soul of hers. Who had come so close within those passing seconds of mine.

"Gabriel!" Aia shouted. A breath so close to mine - that even as I felt acid rise over my tongue - I still recoiled. Only later nuzzling her closer to me. Closer… and still closer. Her voice echoed soothingly amongst the side of my head.

Just as I had come closer, my head nearly bumped against her own… against the then soft lips of hers. Just as she pulled her hands around my neck. A soft fragrance landing within my nose.

For each and every passing moment. That had come closer and closer. From that moment - who felt infinitesimally small… and equally infinite - I found my hands glued to the ground.

Another glued to the wound, knees gently placed against the ground. And as if by instinct my free hand, dirtied by the grime of the stone, placed heavily against my wound.

Trying… trying oh so desperately to stymie the wound. The bleeding that just would not stop. Bringing forth visions of a true afterlife.

But my own mind told of the impossibility of it.

Already… I had already done what I could. Wrapping it tightly, taut against my stomach and the wound, and applying more pressure - "Haah" - I breathed. My nose close to the ground.

I gagged, eventually something gave. Liquid… puke fell from my mouth and painted the ground a putrid smell.

And when I rose. Hand still placed tightly against that wound of mine. Aia grabbed me. Her hand pulled me closer and closer until I could smell the slight waft of blood mixed with some sort of musk.

"Wha-" I tried to interrupt. But she 'shushed' me, a finger placed over my lips.

"Stay still." I did. My body curled against hers.

A moment. Another. Until Aia let me go. Onto wobbly knees that threatened to give with the slightest pressure.

"I-" I raised my hand to stop the inevitable help. "I am fine."

I took one last steadying breath before I ultimately stepped forward. Gaze pressed tightly against the center of this veil. At the being that stood proudly amongst the souls of others.

Who departed with naught but a silent scream of death.

…

[Aia pov]

"Stay here." I spoke, my voice barely audible against the buzz within my ear. Like some sort of disturbance that seemed to block out sound.

"No." My eye twitched as I turned and looked him within the eye. Those golden orbs of his - no matter how tired and empty they may be. Still there was some deep… some challenge within.

As if asking me… if I really wanted to stop him from doing such. From following me past the veil. That separated us from whoever had orchestrated this… this attack… this disease ridden block.

I… I tried so much… even resisting the begging eyes of his. But ultimately… it was merely inevitable. Gabriel would follow. But I would not allow another hindrance… and as such.

"Sapphire." I spoke. Turning my hardened gaze to her eyes.

"Yes." her voice was demure, as if hiding behind the power and saintliness that was Gabriel. Yet still I looked straight within those sapphic eyes of hers.

"You shall stay… no… actually." There was a thought. That if I were to go, to find and destroy the cause of this disease. It would do for me to have backup.

"Do not stay, run, flee towards here…" I pointed towards a direction, "Once you are far enough, there will doubtlessly be many injured around. But in particular. I want you to tell Lauragne this…"

I whispered in her ear. Making sure - well sure - that Gabriel could not hear my voice.

"Tell her what?"

He popped up right in front of my face. Those golden orbs of his brimming with curiosity as he seemingly bounced from step to step.

I shook my head, and even though he was blind, he could still sense this. Pouting, furrowing his lip, as he took one last look at Sapphire, at the wounds she had incurred.

She kneeled, her hand reaching to the top of his head. A smile upon her face as any and all wounds dissipated from her form.

"Do not worry, I shall return with…" She turned her head to me, those sapphic eyes of hers glimmering with hope… "With hope."

He smiled. A brilliant smile that seemed to encapsulate the hearts of both our forms. A parting glance was made before she set off. Running at the only pace she could.

"Ready?" I spoke, a grim smile finding its way upon my lips.

Gabriel nodded, wincing slightly at the wound he had bandaged. I had done what I could. But beyond the bandaging and a couple of ice spells to quell the swelling. There was nothing else I could do about it.

I could only hope that he would heal as extraordinarily as he could do to others.

"Of course." He smiled. Radiant. Even more than before. A glimmer within those eyes of his as he took that first step.

Before even I could do such.

And so our short journey began. To the center of this veil. Waiting for us… well neither he nor I could say. Only that we would need all the hope and luck we could muster.

I doubted that even my great spellcasting would be enough. But still. It was my job, my passion. To find the unknown. And what greater unknown than this.