This was inspired by my trip to the hospital today. Got home at 1:30 AM and started writing…and now that I'm finished, I shall try to fight insomnia once more. Wish me luck...

This is Not a Test

Eyes open.

Darkness…save for dim light through…a window?

Panic.

Where am I?

Marieka knew she was lying down. She was definitely on her back. And when she attempted to employ the use of her abdominal muscles to sit up, they had none of it. She groaned, immediately reaching for her stomach in pain.

What happened to me? Why can't I remember?

And where in Oblivion am I?

Her eyesight…hazy and unfocused in the darkness…eventually began to clear. She was in a small room, perhaps in someone's home. It looked comfortable enough from what she could tell. A shelf or two full of books and tomes. A small table in the corner with a chair pushed in under it.

She felt around underneath of her. Yes…this was definitely a bed.

But just who did it belong to?

She again felt at her stomach – there were bandages wrapped round her. Someone had attempted to heal her. She'd have to thank them. But still…what happened?

Suddenly, thoughts flooded back. That damned mage! Marcurio! She had finally taken a chance and hired him when she'd seen him at the Bee and Barb. And now here she was…injured again. If she recalled correctly, it was…it was he who had injured her! By the gods, was he powerful!

"Marcurio," she growled as she lay in the bed, unable to move.

She'd have to be more careful if she chose to work with other mages – especially those unproven to her. It was more than evident that he was useful…apparently a little too useful if he was injuring her. She imagined what the same spell would have done to a skeever…or a draugr…or a dragon, for that matter.

Yes, the man was certainly useful. He just needed better aim if they were to fight together in close quarters.

Regardless, from now on, she'd insist on caution. She'd be more alert…more wary of her surroundings. This life…it wasn't a game. This wasn't a trial run.

One wrong move and…it didn't bear thinking on for moments longer than necessary.

This life was not a test.