My People, by The Presets

I stabbed, swerved, ducked, and stabbed again. Deflated Hollow men lay on the ground around me, the air thick with their stench.

I could not last much longer. Swerve, duck, stab, swerve, duck, stab, slice.

I felt something sticky sliding down my side and onto my leg. I quickly glanced down, wondering what it was.

Red, that's what it was.

And in my experience, if it is red, sticky, and you got it in battle, it was blood.

Shit.

I was struggling to keep my eyes open enough to see the Hollow men, still attacking.

"Valkyire!"

And everything went black.

"Is someone there? Please?" I could feel tears brimming under my eyelids. "I don't want to be alone anymore. I've had enough of being alone."

My eyes, though blurred from crying, focussed suddenly, the light was now blinding. I could feel a hand in mine, his thumb making soothing circles.

"Valkyrie, it's me. Do you remember my name?"

I smiled. "You are Kenspeckle Grouse."

"Correct, Valkyrie. Can you see anything?"

"No."

"Good. With the medicine I gave you, you shouldn't be able to."

"There are people waiting to see you, outside in the waiting room. Can I let them in?"

"Who."

"Tanith, Ghastly and Fletcher. China Sorrows also wishes you a get well soon, and apologises for not being able to drop by."

"Let them in."

Tanith rushe in and hugs me, Fletcher grins weirdly, and Ghastly stands awkwardly to the side. But they are my friends.

My people.