I'm back!
Ivan: ::dragging Mia into the room behind him:: Here she is, Mia.
Um... hi? Why are you two here?
Ivan: ::ignoring the authoress:: I think she's sick. Take a look, okay?
And why would I be sick, pray tell?
Ivan: You're posting two updates within a month of each other! That's not normal!
Ha ha. Anyway, let's get on with the... story...
::Mia approaches with a huge needle::
::backing away:: Really, Mia, I'm fine... Mia... MIA!!! ::runs away::
Mia and Ivan: ::chasing after the authoress:: GET BACK HERE!
*******************************************************************************
Mia slowly backed away from the voice - or what she hoped was away. It seemed to come from all around her at once.
Don't worry, Mia. Come back.....
Slowly, Mia's feet obeyed, not waiting from a command from her mind. She desperately tried to fight the black cloud that was slowly engulfing her senses. She was failing. Faster now she moved back toward the center of the room.
That's it. Closer......
Mia reached the center of the room, and her feet stopped moving. She came back to her senses, and tried to clear her head of the murkiness that was filling it. "Who are you?" she said into the darkness, voice unfaltering. She had to fight it...
Never mind that. Come, Mia, there's plenty of time to chat. Stay...
Mia's feet, which had been cautiously starting moving away toward the far wall, stopped. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to force her body to obey, but slowly her feet turned around, taking her back toward the center of the voice's power. Each step was agony to Mia's mind, as she tried to fight the dark force.
She tried reasoning with it. "I can't stay," she protested feebly, "I've got to finish this test... and help... my friends..." Even her voice struggled to be free of her command.
The voice laughed, a cold, harsh sound. Do you really think that you'll make it out of here alive? That they'll make it out alive? Nonsense, child, they won't survive. They're probably dead already.
"No..." Mia whispered, straining to maintain control. Denial, that was the key. Don't believe it... don't even consider what it's telling you...
Oh, yes, Mia, it's true. Think about it. Isaac has so much already on his mind and conscience; this will be too much. Ivan, he's too small, and... physically lacking. Once his Psyenergy runs out, he'll be gone. Garet...
Mia clamped her hands over her ears as the voice droned on, cutting through her soul, chilling her to the bone. Still the voice rang through her mind, pointing out all the faults of her friends, the different ways they would fall.
And you, Mia, you'll make it out... all your friends will be dead... they'll be dead...
Mia whimpered, feeling her mind succumbing to the voice, hanging onto its words. She was losing control...
You'll be all alone. You'll have no one to turn to. The voice paused. But there is a way you could escape your fate...
Mia felt herself slipping, as the voice took over her mind. Now she heard another voice responding. "How?" She realized it was her own.
Ah, Mia, it will be so easy... your life will be misery for you now... all you have to do... is end it.
She knew she was about to lose control. The dark haze enveloped her mind completely. Vaguely she wondered why she hadn't thought of suicide before.
Something materialized in Mia's hands - a sword. She smiled blankly. It would be so easy now... so easy...
Go on, Mia... end it... escape...
Slowly Mia brought the sword up in front of her chest, blade tip toward herself. The edge glinted with light, despite the fact that the chamber she stood in was completely dark now. She closed her eyes and prepared to end her life...
Suddenly a clamorous sound erupted in her mind - squeals and shrieks. Mild annoyance entered Mia's clouded mind. Who was interrupting her? Slowly she opened her eyes...
She drew in her breath. Her Djinn! What was she doing? Silently she thanked them, dropping the sword to the ground.
She looked down, only to find the sword still in her hands.
You're being difficult, are you? The voice took on a more angered, more chilling tone. Do it! Now! End it all! END IT!
Mia groaned as she tried to resist the force in her mind. The blade trembled in front of her chest, point brushing the fabric of her dress. Sweat formed on her forehead as a battle raged inside her head. Her Djinn squeaked and squealed, trying their hardest to drive the evil out of their mistress' mind.
The blade drew closer to her skin... closer... Against her will, Mia's hands began to slowly apply pressure, until a drop of blood trickled down the front of her bodice...
Suddenly a cry echoed through the chamber. Mia gasped. She knew the voice of her leader anywhere. That was Isaac's voice! Her mind wrenched out of the voice's grasp temporarily, thoughts began to race in her head. That didn't sound like a cry of pain... it sounded like... sorrow?
There was a clatter of metal as the sword dropped to the ground, truly dropped this time. Isaac was alive. And if one of her friends was alive, she had to keep going. It had all been lies. Her face set in determination, she began to head away from the center of the room, searching for a door.
Where are you going? Get back here!
Mia didn't even hesitate. She felt like dancing for joy. Isaac was alive - her other friends probably were, too. She wasn't alone after all. She felt the last of the shadow leave her mind as the voice cried out, hissing and shrieking in agony.
The room lit up with torchlight. Mia breathed a sigh of relief - the voice was gone, she was free and in control. Spotting a door on the far wall of the chamber, she walked briskly toward it. She was ready for her next challenge - she could face anything.
*****************************************************************************
There. I'm not sure if that's too short... but it was a good place to leave off. Besides, I'm tired...
Review!