The Road Ahead

Back at home, Inadu was writhing around in bed in utter agony.

Her body was covered in a thin sheen of sweat, causing her nightgown to cling to her body.

She thrashed so violently that she ended up rolling out of bed, and subsequently woke herself up from the agonizing nightmare that had been tormenting her for the last couple of nights.

She finally sat up and sobbed so violently that her entire body was wracked with convulsions.

A retching sound escaped her throat and she vomited up what little food that she had been able to keep down.

Their hands.

Even though her mind was fractured during her two years in captivity, sometimes her body recalled bits and pieces of it when she was unconscious.

And because the mind can often play the cruelest tricks, it always reminded her off the most painful occasions.

"Taira…! Taira…!"

Regret had begun to flood her mind as she called out for someone out of instinct.