[h1][b][i][color=#1d7386][center]Elodea[/center][/color][/i][/b][/h1][center][img]https://image.ibb.co/d3kmzn/elii_2.png[/img][/center][hr][hr][i][color=#1d7386]This is it then,[/color][/i] Elodea thought, [i][color=#1d7386]nobody came.[/color][/i] Eyes clenched shut as the last of her strength burned away and her muscles failed. She waited. And waited…

Had the Goblin given up? Had it decided to spare her from whatever fate, death or worse, that it had planned? 

Her eyes slipped open, just a fraction. 

[color=#1d7386]“Glowing Maiden, light my path,”[/color] she hissed. 

The glassy eyes of the goblin stared through her. Elodea gave a fear-glossed stare in return. Blood spilled down its face in a crimson tide from the multiple lancets that punctured its skull. It twitched, still alive, yet nothing more than a low-groan escaped it. Elodea’s lips moved in a silent prayer. The face lifted away. The whole body was suspended, dangling from its neck, and then it was tossed to the side. 

Now Elodea’s saviour was revealed in full. And it was terrifying. She drew in a sharp breath. It was all slick and smooth, an elegant creature designed for speed and suffering. Its empty “face” seemed to look at Ellie, who daren’t move. But then a more familiar face was revealed.

[color=#1d7386]“Isa...?”[/color] Ellie breathed.

Ellie was transfixed by Isa’s augmented form and nodded when Isa pointed. Pain flared in her leg as she forced herself to her feet. For a moment the world span, and black fingers crawled into her sight, threatening unconsciousness. That feeling slowly dissipated as she limped over to a wall for support, clutching her leg. Isa slunk off, and within seconds the sickening sounds of slaughter swelled like the sea. It was a macabre orchestra Ellie would not soon forget. She prayed to her Goddess for their souls, so they might find the way.

Above the din, Ellie heard the unmistakable shouts of Irving. It seemed to pull her back to reality; she was not safe yet, not even remotely. The kitchens weren’t far, and they’d be safer. She pushed off the wall and began to limp her way towards where Isa had went. She froze. The smell brought tears to her eyes. Blood and sweat and shit and filth. Ellie wretched, bile jumping up into her mouth. She spat. A hand went to her stomach, the other rested on a doorway. She tried not to breath; you could taste it all in the back of your throat. Her eyes were shut; the scene she had caught a mere glimpse of was a theatre of carnage and cruor. Best try not think about it, even though the image was burnt into her mind’s eye.

[color=#1d7386]“Isa,” [/color]Ellie spoke to the floor, [color=#1d7386]“We should maybe get to Irving.”[/color] The wound in her leg still stung, but she did her best to be heard through clenched teeth and the unrelenting nausea.

[@Ennui]