Uninstall part 10

Maria

Maria stared at the unfamiliar ceiling. She wasn't sure where she was.

And she hurt. Oh did she hurt.

She could feel her magic healing her. She had been out for at least a couple of hours.

How badly hurt had she been? How had she survived? She had been certain that she had been done for. Had watched in her mind's eye as regret after regret of her short misspent life flashed before her.

So much she had wanted to do. So much she had once believed she might accomplish. And then came the day she had decided she would break her promise to Liz, if only to save her friend. The day she had made a contract with Kyubey.

The day everything changed.

At first fighting Witches alongside Liz had been fun. And then came Emily. Along with the true nature of who and what the Witches were.

Suddenly fighting and killing them had become much harder. Not so for Liz. Liz was untouchable and implacable in battle. A force of nature.

Liz. Liz must have saved her.

Maria sat up suddenly, ignoring the agony of her still bruise ribs. Michael. What had happened to Michael?

Michael's dry voice came to her from a table. The TV was on, but the sound was muted. "So you are finally awake."

"Liz saved us didn't she?"

"Yes." Michael said with a shudder. He looked away, "I did what I could. It wasn't enough. I am sorry."

Maria ignored the pain, lowering her sensitivity in order to move. She rolled out of bed. Nothing was broken. At least not any more. Lots of bad bruises. She stood up, wavering a little as she made the several steps to the chair across from Michael.

Michael was just shaking his head. "Maria. I don't have the power to heal, not on the scale that you needed. Maybe a broken bone or a sprain. Maybe."

Maria reached over to the bag of chips that Michael had been eating. She began to eat. She didn't usually like the things. But she needed the food. Her magic would repair her body, but it still needed something to work with. "I am still pretty banged up. I have some money, can you go out and get some food? I am really hungry."

Michael slapped his hands on the table. "Maria, this is serious! You should be dead. Multiple broken bones. Severe organ damage and massive internal bleeding." His eyes seemed to get a little misty.

Maria could see him fighting it, but for some reason he really seemed broken up about how damaged she had been. She honestly said, "I thought I was a goner for sure. I just couldn't bring myself to kill her."

"Her?"

"Karen. The Witch we were fighting." Maria closed her eyes, "God, I am such a failure."

"Maria! Focus! What ARE you? You should be dead. How did you survive that? Why aren't you dead?"

Maria looked at him suddenly, "Would you rather that I were?"

"NO!" Michael ran his hands through his spiky hair. "No, I am glad you are alive. I, I…. " He shook his head and muttered something under his breath.

"Me too." Her stomach rumbled. "Can you please go and get some food for us?"

Michael nodded.

Maria handed him a couple of twenties. "Get lots of food. A couple salads. And burgers. I need protein. Lots of protein. Maybe a bucket of chicken?"

Michael said dryly, "Maybe a pizza too?"

Maria nodded, "That might be a good idea." She handed him another twenty. "Liz should already have a small stockpile of water and soda in the mini fridge. We will need to restock it when we leave, but we should be fine for now."

Michael looked at the money in his hand, "You are serious."

Maria nodded, "Taking that level of damage really takes a toll on the body. I will heal faster if I have a lot of raw materials to work with."

Michael nodded, "Right." He walked toward the door. He turned and asked one last time. "You still haven't answered me. How did you survive all that. Why aren't you dead?

Maria looked away. She turned her ring into her Soul Gem. She absently rolled the green egg like Gem in her palm. In a small voice she said, "Maybe because in a sense, I already am?"