Relative Time (on)

Okay, this is sort of on, it's inspired by a PnP game I'm in. *shrug*

It's kind of dark, though.


“Anna?” Faith asked in a trembling voice, “Anna, what happened?” The young woman closed her eyes, hoping to get a response. There wasn't one . . . and yet . . .

Faith's blue eyes snapped open as she gasped. “N-no!” Her hands gripped tighter on the armrests of the wheelchair.

* * *

Anna paused on the steps leading up from the catacombs, and reached up to tuck a strand of brown hair behind her ear. I didn't like running like that. It was so undignifed. And now my clothing is messed. Hershel will think me a sight. She picked up her skirt and started up the stairs, heading up to the doorway. When you stood in that doorway you could see clear across the river . . . Perhaps I shall go sit beside the river . . . calm my head . . .

Why did she have a fleeting sense of wonder as she climbed the steps to the door? I've taken classes in this hall for a year now . . . it is not as if I haven't been here before . . . but a part of me is amazed, and I don't know why.

And then she heard it. Feet, bare feet against the floor of the staircase. Anna picked her skirts up higher, and ran up the stairs. I cannot go outside. Where would I hide? There are no buildings, they would see me on the open ground. Yet a part of her mind insisted that if she were to open that door she would see a glass and stone building, the likes of which the young lady had never seen. What's happening to me?

She ran up the next flight of stairs, emerging on the second floor of the hall. Classrooms and lecture halls . . . and the wide, sweeping entrance. . . but there was no way out. Anna flew up the next flight of stairs, tripping over her skirt, as she came onto the third floor. The centre of the third floor was open to the sky, and she could see the floor below, it's wooden floor dim in the October sun. And those -things- were behind her on the stairs. “No . . .” she gasped. I have to keep moving. So she ran up the last flight of stairs . . . behind her the barefooted -things- things that had once been people, kept coming. I should have listened to Hershel. He warned me about these people . . . She came out on the balcony; it ran around the upper edge of the hall, and was open to the domed ceiling above. There was no one else up here . . . it was intended as a quiet retreat for the students. Then why does part of me say it's not here? I've been up here before . . . Anna closed the thick wooden door behind her and put one of the heavy wooden chairs in front of it. Yet she knew it wouldn't stop those creatures. Nothing would.

God, please. . she prayed. God, please . . . protect me . . .

The door shook, the chair moved back. Anna backed up, running into a table. She ran around the table, placing the wooden bulk of it between her and the creatures. The door creaked open, the chair in front of the door slid across the wood-paneled floor. The thing, a blue-gray, sickly parody of what once had been human, looked around the partially open door at her, red eyes glowing despite light from the windows above her . . .

Then it leapt. It leapt up, over the table, and next to her, She screamed, and ran backwards, tossing chairs into its way. She ran around the balcony . . . but there was no escape. No way down . . . No way down . . . Anna peered over the railing. The drop to the second floor was long, but . . . I will not let these things win. Her face hardened as she backed into the railing. She swung herself over the railing, and gripped the iron with both hands. Herschel . . . forgive me. The creatures came closer, and she looked at them. You will not find the knowledge I have. For I'm the only one who knows. And I will take that to my grave. There was a triumphant look on her face as she let go.

* * *

And over a hundred years in the future, Faith McCallum was crying. . . . for she understood. . . . she understood . . .

God, please . . . God protect me . . .

Is this a divination spell? Is Anna hanging out as a ghost?

Is this a divination spell? Is Anna hanging out as a ghost?

Yep. Anna's a spirit. Unfortunatly, Faith found out what happened the hard way. Normally, it's just suppposed to be conversations. . . . but not that time . . . *sigh*

That was dark, it can't be pleasant experiencing someone else's last moments of life. The story raises a lot of questions about just what's going on, who these people (creatures) are, but still manages to feel complete.

That was dark, it can't be pleasant experiencing someone else's last moments of life.

No, no it's not. Faith can attest to that.

The story raises a lot of questions about just what's going on, who these people (creatures) are, but still manages to feel complete.

Yeah, I know. It's just a snippet in a much larger mess. I was just hoping it would work as a stand-alone.