Voices. So many voices. They were like bees in her mind, swarming in and all around her ears, their buzzing rising in a frenzy.
Help me!
Save me!
Heal me!
The voices never ceased – they only grew stronger, louder, more insistent and impatient. The girl clapped her hands over her ears, then caught herself at the last minute and merely shook her head as if that simple movement could chase the mundane voices – the pleading of mortals – away from her mind. It didn't. Of course it didn't. It never could.
Sighing, she ran a pale hand through her dark curls, then picked up her case to catch up with the silver-haired boy a few paces in front of her.
"It never gets easier, does it?"
The boy looked at her, a wistful look flashing across his face, gone in a blink of an eye, before he molded his features back into a cool mask. "No, no it doesn't. They – humans – will never stop wishing and hoping for things – impossible things. Many things; everything. They'll just keep wishing and wanting. And as long as they wish, want, beg, plead, and mourn, we'll listen – we'll have to listen." A small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "You'll get used to it over time, and you'll start unconsciously blocking out the voices. Promise." He slipped his hand over hers, and gave her hand a squeeze. "You could always call on me if you have any problems."
The girl placed her head on his shoulder, smiling. "I've been around for a while, I'm sure I can do one small assignment. Thank you, though."
He wrapped his arms around her. "Always." Then he stepped back and looked around. "So I'll see you later then?"
She smiled and nodded. "Later."
He raised his left arm and waved. Then he was gone – just like that.
A few seconds after him, the girl went, too. Disappeared. Just like that – here one second, then gone the next.
Vanished.
Just like that.
