Trying not to let the world slip away from me again was difficult. I felt the weight of Marshall Lee's words and tried my best to hold it together, but it was so hard not to let it all slip from my fingers. Yet I couldn't keep slipping from the world, so I gripped consciousness as tightly as I could.
"Mel? Are you okay?" Fionna asked.
"She's in shock, looks like," Marshall chimed in.
"What do you mean, though, by saying you're the one who changed her?"
"Do you know any other vampires in Aaa?"
"Well, no..."
"Exactly." Marshall took a pause and looked at me again, his eyes sorrowful and full of regret. "I can't say any more than that for now, Fionna, because now's not the right time for it, but I will confirm it was me who did this to Melody. I just wish I... I didn't have to."
"We found her alone in a ruined little town," Cake finally came in. "It was rubble and glob knows what else. She was cowering in the shade trying so badly to hide from the sun that I thought for a minute she'd shrink on into herself."
"Yeah, it's the sun allergy I have. Common trait in vampires, Cake. You should know that by now, being the fraidy-cat you are. As for that town..."
He paused, and went to say more, but the look on his face said enough, so I raised my hand to stop him.
"Don't torture yourself any more than you have, Marsh. It'll only hurt you."
He looked at me for a second, then nodded slowly. "Thanks," he told me. "Anyway, the sun's coming up, and I'm getting tired. We can talk about this more when I can get some sleep and gather my thoughts.
"In the meantime, here."
He turned his head and tossed something black in my direction. I caught it, and when I realized what he'd thrown at me, I saw a baggy black hoodie and two black gloves. I looked at him as he started hovering.
"If you need to go out during the day, wear that stuff. It'll protect you and keep you from burning up. Keep the hood up at all times and don't take any of it off until you're completely out of the sunlight. Until tonight then, ladies."
Before I could even thank him, he was out the door again, and I was left standing there with Fionna and Cake looming behind me.
"That was so messed up, though," Fionna said awkwardly, almost like she was trying to lighten the mood.
"You're telling me, baby," Cake sighed, placing her paw to her head as she shook it.
I was almost frozen in place. Trying to process everything I'd heard was exhausting me. "I think I need to lay down for a bit," I said. "I think I still need some rest after..."
"You don't have to explain yourself, Mel," Fionna told me. "Go lay yourself down and take it easy."
"Yeah. Besides, vampires are nocturnal anyway, so you should probably adjust to a sleep schedule that'll let you sleep during the day instead."
"Sorry I've been sleeping so much."
"Don't worry about it. You've been through a lot and it's understandable; you're in recovery, baby. Just rest your pretty little head and we'll take care of things while you do."
I smiled a little at Cake's words. They warmed my heart to hear. "Thank you both. You've been so kind and understanding. I'm grateful to you for everything you've done."
"There's no need to thank us," Fionna said gently. "We're heroes. This is our job. Now go on. We got things covered here while you go to sleep."
All I could do was maintain my smile. They were doing so much for me to be okay, and after the bombshell I was just left with, it would be better if I did take it easy for a while. Pushing myself, especially now, would do me no favors.
Not saying anything more, I went back upstairs to rest, carrying the clothes Marshall had given me gingerly.
As I slept, I had dreams.
Dreams of Marshall and I. Dreams of a time long since past. Dreams of happiness, sunny days and laughs. Dreams where everything felt normal, though it never would be again. Memories of he and I as good friends, having fun and being comfortable in the presence of the other. His umbrella or clothes protecting him from the sun so he wouldn't burn alive. The sound of music filling the air.
They tortured me through the night. I couldn't remember the full story of what I was seeing. I watched, alone and confused, as the memories kept coming in agonizing fragments.
Until finally, I felt something shaking me.
I woke up violently, Cake's paw on my shoulder and my hair wild and out of control.
"You okay there, honey?" she asked me.
"I think so," I replied meekly, though I wasn't sure whether or not I was telling the truth myself. "I was just... I didn't sleep well is all. Sorry, Cake, for bothering you guys with my problems."
"You ain't bothering anybody. You're mucked up from a bad experience. It's perfectly normal, what you're going through. Take your time, and don't rush anything while you recover. I can imagine being turned into a vampire wasn't easy to go through."
Not that I could clearly remember what happened with that, but Cake had a point. From what I could pull from my fragmented memories, it was painful and felt like I was being burned from the inside out. That's not an experience anyone would really want to go through if they were right in the head.
"What time is it?"
"Near sunset. Marshall will be here after nightfall, so if it's too much for-"
"No, I can do this. Just...give me a minute."
