Chapter 17: Aftermath

I think it's called shock. To me, I just felt numb. I couldn't quite process what had happened, what I witnessed. I sat in a chair, listening to everyone hurry about, in and out of the hut. I watched a cart roll by, a white sheet covering a body. Her body. Why didn't she just surrender? Why did it have to end like this? I could Lewis shouting, directing people, but I couldn't understand a word. My brain just couldn't process it. The first thing I was able to process properly was Rythian offering me a small bottle.

"Take this," he murmured.

I took the bottle and just held it on my lap, staring at it. Rythian stared at me. After a moment of watching, he leaned down and opened the bottle. He held my hands and lifted the bottle to my mouth. I felt like a puppet. I drank once it was lifted to my lips. It was nice. It eased the numbing and I felt like I was refocusing, slowly. Rythian set the bottle back in my lap.

"I'm sorry…about your friend," he sighed. "I understand, it's hard when someone you thought you could trust…turns against you."

"I just…"

As soon as the words left my lips, I broke down. I sobbed. Rythian placed a hand on my back. The bottle fell off my lap, spilling everywhere, seeping into the mushy ground. I didn't care. I just cried. I think, it was from a lot of things that had been building up over this entire experience. This was just the final straw. No more avoiding, no more throwing up, just tears. Just ugly sobbing.

"I can take you home," Rythian offered, looking around.

Lewis caught Rythian's gaze and quickly walked over. His sword was sheathed again. Would I ever see it drawn again? Did I even want to? He stood beside Rythian a moment, whispered in his ear. Rythian nodded, standing up. I felt his hand leave my back. Somehow, that made me want to cry even more. Lewis kneeled in front of me, placing a hand on my arm.

"Ms. Morgan," he spoke, sounding almost like a parent to a child, "I know you've been through a lot, and we will be more than willing to help you in any capacity, but at some point, we willneed to discuss what happened here. Clearly, nowis not that time. Rythian is going to take you home, and he and Martyn are going to spend the night to keep an eye on you."

I stared at him. I knew he was talking about me, about what happened, but to be honest, every word when in one ear and out the other. So, I just stared at him. Looking over his face. His hair was ruffled, gently resting over his forehead. But his eyes. They were bright, brighter than anything. They were the same blue as his sword. They glimmered. Then he stood up and walked away.

Rythian placed a hand on me again as he helped me to my feet. Quickly, we were at my apartment. Did we teleport? That's what we did before, right? How we got out of the hut? Was Rythian actually an Endermage? Martyn was waiting for us. He ran up, held onto my arms and was talking, but I couldn't quite understand anything. He was smiling though. He released me and addressed Rythian for a moment. I understand nothing. I was in a fog.

We entered my apartment. It was cleaned. I could smell the bleach and Lysol wipes. Martyn guided me to the couch, setting me down carefully like a china doll. Rythian turned on the TV. Martyn closed the curtains. Rythian put a blanket over my shoulders. Then, the two sat on nearby armchair and stool. We watched TV in silence.

Time passed in a blur. At some point pizza arrived, night settled in. I clutched my blanket, withdraw further into it. The numbness, the fog, lifted and I found myself sitting and watching old Doctor Who episodes with Duncan and Rythian. I'm surprised both of them managed to stay awake this long, though Martyn seemed to be hanging by a thread. I adjusted in my seat, making both perk.

"Can…can I have some water?" I whispered.

Martyn leapt up and returned with a glass of water. I managed to hold it with my own hands, raise it to my lips and drink. It was refreshing. I felt like I hadn't had anything to drink or eat in ages. I put the glass down and began eating. Martyn smiled lightly, sitting back down. I ate a few slices before I finally slowed down. I drank the rest of the water. I felt physically relieved, but mentally drained.

"Are you feeling better, Ms. Morgan?" Rythian offered.

"A little," I nodded. "Still…processing."

"Understandable," Martyn chimed in.

"Are you two okay? I mean…Mary attacked you and I was worried that…"

"It was weak magic," scoffed Rythian. "All it did was knock us out."

"A little sore when we came too," added Martyn, rolling his shoulder. "But Rythian was able to fix that with one of his potions."

"Duncan thought he could claim this as an advantage or use science to fix it," laughed Rythian. "Magic undoes magic, not science."

"You…really don't like Duncan, do you?" I chuckled.

"It's a long story," whispered Martyn. "Don't get him started."

"He's a destructive bastard that destroys everything he touches!" howled Rythian, kicking free of his stool. "Him and Sjin are wicked fools that do not respect the elements!"

Martyn shrugged, leading back in his chair. Rythian huffed, sitting back down with arms crossed. Clearly this was a touchy topic, but did explain some of the previous dialogue I'd seen between the two. I sighed, resting into the couch. It was comfy like never before. I rested my head on the arm rest, watching as the Doctor went on yet another adventure. What crazy adventures he went on. Would I ever reach that level of adventure? Had I already started?