Dust (Of Dust and Darkness) - By Devon Ashley Page 0,46

but it’s not as bad as I expect.

“One,” Finley says dryly.

The second comes from the opposite spot, and my teeth cut into my bottom lip. Again, it hurts, but not as bad as breaking the base of my wings.

“Two.”

The third goes a little a deeper and tears well up behind my eyes, stinging harshly. By the fourth, I can’t contain them and tears flood my face. What water I put into my body these past two days is coming back out. My chest heaves and I finally scream on the fifth break, when they close in on the spots already damaged. By nine I’m squirming as hard as I can but with two monstrous beasts atop me, it’s hopeless. By twelve I’m begging, “Please. Please stop.” I’m ashamed these words pass my lips, even more when it makes Finley laugh wickedly loud.

I feel like a massive bee hive has attacked my back, stinging madly, deep enough to pierce my spine in every spot possible. A fiery rage inflames my vertebrae, licking the nerves that carry out to my body, spreading the burn even farther. The strength of my structural support collapses and my body goes limp in their arms; but still, they continue to break bits and pieces of my delicate wings.

The last thing I hear is Finley singing, “Twelve.”

I’m running through a forest of luscious greens and browns, cheerfully giggling as my pursuer tries catching me. I hear her call my name, waiting for me to give away my location, but she’ll never hear the pads of my feet over the joyous sounds of nature overflowing the trees. I jump through the air, grasping vines that swing me farther than my little legs can run.

“Rosalie,” Poppy calls out in song. I’m still way ahead, zipping and turning random directions off the beaten paths. Here the moss grows wild on the ground, making it more slippery and difficult to grip the soles of my mud-covered feet; but still I run, giddy and laughing as Poppy gives chase. The wind lifts me off my feet and carries me several feet before I make impact again, and then I continue on my way. My loose hair whips freely and my reddish streaks shimmer each time I cross a stray sunbeam.

I come across a babbling brook, with water splashing playfully amongst the rocks, sprinkling me as I jump from one rock to another to cross it.

Weird – the water isn’t cool and refreshing like I expect. Paying no mind, I burst through the wall of vines hanging in my way. It slows my playful run, snagging and pulling on my arms and legs. My skin begins to singe where they touch and I panic. The more I struggle to free myself, the more the vines snap and tighten their grip, burning and twisting my skin.

I scream and tears burst through my eyes. Poppy appears at the brook behind me, but she won’t cross over to help me. She just stands there with her hands cupping her mouth, shaking her head back and forth, mumbling what I think is my name over and over again. I beg her to help me, the aggressive vines pulling me farther into their grasps. The tendrils wrap around my wings and burn the intricate web of veins the magic runs through, the pain too much to bear. I whimper as they close completely around me, suffocating me with darkness.

I awake by the brook, my limbs mangled as if the vines just tossed me away once through with their torture. Pieces of me still sting, but most of the pain has reduced to numbness. Poppy sits beside me, her hands covered with the mud she’s spreading over my wounds, cooling the inflammation that burns my skin.

“Drink the water, Rosalie,” she says softly. “You need it.”

I want to do what she asks, knowing she’s right, but my limbs refuse to budge, buried deep in the mud she’s covering me with. I moan in protest, and by some miracle of Mother Nature, the water jumps magically from the brook and lands gently in my mouth. This time, the brook’s miracle elixir is cool and soothing as it paints the linings of my mouth and throat. I sigh in sweet release and let Poppy soothe me to sleep with each gentle stroke.

When I awake the next time, Poppy greets me with a smile. “There. Now that’s better, isn’t it?”

I smile and stretch my limbs, feeling only the numbness where I knew I