That last chapter was something, huh? I don't know why I had Astrid attempting suicide in two of my recent updates (for two different stories) recently. I'm actually not currently depressed or anything. Must've just been the timing and way things all worked out. Well, let's check in and see how things are going with Astrid.
Review Replies:
xFaerieValkyriex: We must just get a glimpse of Astrid's parents in this chapter. After all, someone has to find Astrid.
Midsully: I ended the chapter that way, yes. However, the story, as a whole, is far from over.
Cartwheellou: Thanks for the input. I'm just glad to hear that the rating is safe. You see, that was the most descriptive that I've ever taken this particular topic (even though it's appeared in several other of my stories) and I just wanted to be sure it wasn't over-the-top.
HiccupHaddockIII: Sure you can punch them…but right now they're the only ones who can save Astrid before it's too late!
Rogue Deity Master: Interesting idea!
KHMugiwaraRocks15: Well, let's find out what happens next!
Silver Blue Eyed Wolf: That's about the same reaction that most other readers had. Haha.
Chapter 11: Weightless
The feeling was strange and new. Astrid no longer felt weighted down by the pressures of the world. She felt free. Her struggles were behind her and she finally felt safe, no longer worried that she would fail and tarnish the Hofferson's perfect name.
It felt like she was flying and falling all at the same time. No longer could she remember where she had been or what she was doing before entering this…what was this, anyway? A state of living? No, it couldn't be. Life was not this abstract. This was something else entirely. Astrid didn't quite know what it was, but she liked it; if she could stay here in this place forever, she would be satisfied.
As if from a distance, Astrid heard a voice, words; it sounded like they were calling her name, but that was impossible. There was no one else around. Who would be calling her name?
Astrid's surroundings, though still misty and scattered, seemed to fade slightly as a face came into her view. This person looked just like her, but older. Who was she? Her lips were moving and Astrid could just barely make out the words. This woman, she was the one who had been speaking; Astrid was certain of it now. What was she saying?
"Astr…do…this!"
Astrid could barely make out the words but trying to respond was even harder. Her voice felt so sluggish, as if the words too heavy to be spoken. She felt tired and a darkness at the corners of her vision crept in to overcome her.
It felt as if she was being lifted and Astrid could hear snippets of the same feminine voice she had just heard.
"Hold her…call 911."
Astrid did not understand what this meant and she did not have the strength to puzzle over the meaning of the words.
She swam in and out of consciousness. At times, Astrid found herself back in the state of weightless bliss. Then, her world would go dark for an undeterminable amount of time. There were times when the face from earlier would again enter her vision. Astrid's sight was too blurry to clearly make out the face and the expressions it held. Another face, masculine, with brown hair would sometimes appear beside the woman's. Astrid did not understand why she kept seeing these two faces. Who were they? Why was it that these were the only two faces she could see? Before Astrid could think more on this, her vision darkened once again and she fell into the nothingness that had repeatedly continued to consume her.
When she came to next, bright light filled Astrid's eyes and she tried to shield them from the blinding glow. However, she found that she could not move her arms. Had they been bound or was she just too weak to raise them? Commotion surrounded her, but the sounds were muted. All she could make out were the colors red and white. From somewhere in the distance, she also heard a loud wailing sound and she was grateful that her hearing was distorted.
A new face appeared in Astrid's vision. This face, again feminine, was different from the others she had already seen. Now who was this person? Like the people before, this woman was speaking, her lips moving, but Astrid could only make out a few words, bits and pieces of speech probably directed at her, but she was still too weak to even think about replying.
"You'll…okay. Stay…me." The woman's voice said, but Astrid could guarantee nothing. Everything felt to be outside her control.
Slipping away again, the world went black again and Astrid returned to the place devoid of light and sound. It was just black. Even thoughts seemed fleeting in this dark place. There was just nothing.
Astrid did not know how long she was in this state, but the next thing she knew, she was in another bright setting and the scenery seemed to rush past her. Everyone was in such a hurry. Why? What was so urgent? Trying to figure everything out only succeeding in giving Astrid a headache which combined with the splitting pain in her wrists and along her arms—so much pain; she could barely handle it, but she found she could not cry out. Instead, she was forced to keep the pain welled up inside, but it wasn't like that was any different than usual.
After what seemed like hours, the world stopped rushing past her and Astrid could just barely make out a room. It was completely white as if all the colors of the world had been sucked from it. The bright lights shining off the white walls and floors hurt Astrid's sensitive eyes, but she was still unable to move her arms to shield them.
A man dressed in sea green, covered from head to foot, entered the room. Astrid could only see his eyes which were a shade of green that matched his scrub-like clothing. Wait…scrubs? This is…a hospital? Why am I in the hospital? The fogginess in her mind slowly began to dissipate as she recalled the pain in her wrists and arms grew stronger. Oh, that's right. Now I remember.
The world around Astrid was becoming clearer again and she tensed involuntarily at the pain that gripped her body. Tears formed in the corners of her eyes, but she refused to let them fall or cry out from the pain. No, she was not weak. She was a Hofferson. She was…she wasn't, but she had to be…perfect.
"Someone get an anesthetic!" The doctor yelled as he tried to restrain, yet comfort, the distressed Astrid.
Astrid continued to struggle until she felt a needle pressed through the skin near her self-inflicted arm wounds. Like before, her movements became sluggish and the world around her grew foggy again. Before she could resist again, the anesthetic liquid flowed through her veins and the world around her dissolved away into that of weightless, yet dark, relief.
Chapter content is exactly 1,000 words which is my goal and what I aim for in each chapter of all my stories. Usually, the chapters end up being just over or under 1,000.
The chapter's out a few days earlier than usual, but today was a snow day, so I figured I'd spend some time (amongst working at home for my day job) to write up the chapter. Hope you liked it!
Thank you all for reading and supporting Your Own Personal Savior!
Posted: March 20, 2015
Happy 1st Day of Spring!
