She'd been drinking tea almost constantly since the markings had appeared again, the hellish visions haunting her dreams making sleep almost impossible. Her body craved rest but she had no desire to see herself killing everyone again.
She'd decided to give up sleep.
Now she stood in the kitchen, nursing her most recent cup, glaring at her hands. So innocently pale once more.
She'd seen the sigils burning across her skin the night before. Had felt Slade's putrid breath blasting against the back of her neck. Had heard her father's resounding voice taunting her weakness while she fought her nightly battle for consciousness.
There!
Red.
Blazing, burning, blistering heat against her skin.
In her skin.
Panic surged through her, heartbeat thundering through her head as a frying pan flew over her shoulder. She didn't register the destruction of her teacup, only the terror choking her exhausted mind. Her desire to flee overcame her, and she found herself in her room.
Her sanctuary, full of dancing shadows and cackling demons just out of sight.
She collapsed onto the bed, shaking uncontrollably as fear tore through her fragile mental balance, tipping her towards a dark abyss of nothingness.
She felt herself fall, nothing surrounding her, nothing to hold on to, nothing to stop her.
Then-
-a voice-
-and light.
She lunged for the light, crushing it to herself, frightened sobbing fading to black.