"Dust!"

One step, and the world was roaring.

The screech of stone on stone, Lucien's shout, the cracking and rumbling beneath me, it all happened too quickly. Suddenly I was flat on my back, clinging to the stone as best as I could, mind blank of all but fear. The rumbling stopped, but a high-pitched peal continued – only when my lungs burned for air did I realize it was me, screaming. I stopped, coughing hard.

Broken. The bridge had snapped. Lucien rose on the other side of the gap, growling. He – he had pushed me. Seen it coming and pushed me back, onto the safety of the platform. I managed a soft sigh of relief, interrupted by a voice.

"There is another here," Bellamont hissed. I barely heard him, barely registered his words. "Seeking to close the portal. This plane is already falling apart."

To close it...?

Lucien gazed back. "What is he saying?"

"Th-there's someone else here. Closing the portal outside." I dragged a hand down my face, dizzy, wanting to retch. "Bellamont? Will we be trapped?"

He didn't answer.

"We don't have time for this," Lucien growled, seeming to appraise me for a moment before taking a step forward, dangerously close to the shattered edge of his side of the bridge. "Jump."

I stood on teetering legs, eyes closed, taking a shuddering breath. Even out of the corner of my eye, I could see it – the blackened ground so far below. "I can't."

"I did not come all this way to stop here because you fell off a tree," he snarled. I forced my eyes open. "Jump."

I couldn't. Oh, gods, I couldn't but I had to, I couldn't but mum needed me – I took a step forward, half expecting the plane to rip itself apart. "I c-can't!" I bit back a hysterical sob, holding myself tight. "Lucien – "

"Those robes."

I blinked. "What?" My robes, now soaked in sweat and grime. A hazy memory of spilled mead and mocking laughter.

"I gave you them, and you promised me a favour in return. I'm calling in your debt." He smirked grimly, arms outstretched. "You owe me, pet. Jump."

Robes. I gave a hoarse, disbelieving laugh. In exchange for robes –

I owe him. Mum needs me.

I don't remember having jumped. I remember thinking of mother – of how furious she'd be I'd come here, how proud. I felt warmth, not the oppressive heat of Oblivion but of arms around me, gripping me tight before slowly releasing. Looking back at where I had stood, at the gap I had crossed with wide eyes, and feeling a brief thrill of triumph. But there was no time to revel in it – Lucien pulled me roughly to my feet and we moved on, crossing the bridge, entering the Western Watchtower. To her. To mother.

"Too late."

I heard his words, heard the traitor whisper, but I ran on. Another spiraling platform upwards, the world blurring past me. I jerked away from Lucien, running, blood beating in my ears. Hurry, hurry, hurry. It's not too late, it's not too late –

I didn't realize how much it hurt to breathe until I stopped, reaching the end of the ascent. The top platform with a drop down the centre, a pit through the spiral path. A cage, hanging, and in the cage –

No.

Lucien was shouting, but his words were meaningless. Another voice, harsh and jagged like the plane it came from, screaming. Clashing blades behind me. I moved dreamlike to the edge of the pit, reaching out for the cage. Shimmering heat swirled around me, gleaming, the sounds of battle distant, and whispered. "Maman?"

She looked tiny, tiny and vulnerable. Stripped of her weapons, her clothes, chin resting on her chest and knees drawn in. I gripped the bars as best I could, dragging it closer, barbs burrowing into the flesh of my palms.

Nononononono –

No more shouts. No more battle. Footsteps behind me, stopping. A hand on my shoulder, gently pulling me back.

"You're here, mum." I was begging, begging and desperate and please, she was supposed to be here and waiting for me, supposed to kiss my cheek and tell me not to worry. "I can get you out. I can save you."

Lucien's voice, exhausted. "She is gone, Dust. There's nothing we can do."

I held tighter, pulled closer until I was dangling off the edge. A strong hand wrapped around my waist, a growl in my ear, but all that mattered was that she was here and we were so close, so close. If I could just reach her, I could save her. The soul gem – the traitor. I needed it for a reason, didn't I? Please. Please, please – I took it and reached out again, my fingers brushing her cold skin.

Cold.

The tower trembled, the world roared. Heat, all-encompassing, but my hands clasped around the soul gem, pressed against her skin, felt cold. Lucien swore, the traitor laughed. Too late, too late. The laughing ended suddenly, a shriek began. Everything was too much – too sharp, too loud, threatening to crack apart at the seams.

Too much. Too late.

Red crumpled into black.