Scene 1-01

This must be dying.

Thoughts raced through my mind as senseless images. If I wasn’t so exhausted I’d stab my own heart and die already; curl up in a God forsaken hole, close down my mind and succumb to eternal sleep.

‘Peace and freedom,’ I whispered and felt my breath cold against my cheek. My body was on its way.

I opened my eyes to a grassy sludge and winched from the instant hit of aches and pains I felt, especially at my chest.

‘Death’s no enemy,’ the wind whispered around me.

‘It’s a pain in the butt,’ I coughed and cringed at the sharp jab I felt to my lower back. So much for that peaceful hole to die in.

I closed my eyes to the shadows flickering on the ground before me and listened to the irregular pounding against my ears.

Duh-dum, it comes, duh-dum, your done…

‘Done,’ I whispered.

I drifted into a dream and relief of baby-blue and peach colored skies, swirling watery clouds, a collection of grandiose images, faces, far-away places… all so wondrous and inviting.

‘…here.’

Not yet. The wind slapped the back of my legs, cheeks and did all it could to keep me alive. Damn nature. The dream was whisked away and replaced with reality: the sludge, pain and weakness.

Grip the pain. Listen for water. Find it, find answers daughter of Marsilien.

I opened my eyes to light, heard the rustling of trees, a shifting in the grass and a steady gush.

Find the water.

‘Why?’ I groaned but it was too late to argue. The idea of finding water had latched onto my brain like an insistent fly. I inhaled deeply, coughed out my pain and dropped my face into the sludge. My arms and legs tingled with chills. A short while later, made way for some warmth and relief so I was able to tense my muscles, grip earth and push my way along the ground. I made a slug trail toward a muddy river edge and felt cold life brush my finger tips. Water!

‘Find the water.’ What if what I found was tainted with diseases and death itself? Is that why I was dying? I fingered the sense-snapping coldness. If I’m dying what does it matter. I scooped a handful toward my lips, lost my balance and slid into a watery assault.

Water invaded my throat and nostrils. It stung my eyes, pushed against my chest and threatened to break my ribs. My screams came out as gurgles and pitiful bubbles. I’d open my mouth to breathe only to swallow more vile water. My mind reeled backward. I felt my life pulled away from me again. I tried to turn and free myself, to keep my head above the waves but the river held me fast. Somehow, I found the will to keep my nose in the air.

The river was brutal. It punched, knocked and dragged my body for some time before it spewed me out as deadwood toward the hard edge of something.

Twilight flickered about my eyes. I felt a sense of calm wash away my aches. ‘The end.’ Those definite words blew out of my mouth like it was my last breath.

Rest now. Know earth and magic are with you. The wind whispered around my ears.

I felt something wrap my waist and lift my body into dry air. Pins and needles jabbed the tender spots underneath my skin. Suddenly, I felt and saw nothing.