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[@Almalthia][@Dezuel][@Eric Horst][@Silver Carrot][hr][hr][/center]

Aya sat with Uná in her mindspace, the two girls talking with a forced sort of cheer, the reality of their situation an ever-looming spectre hanging over them. They were cut off though, when a voice echoed through the space.

[i]"Tell them to fucking bring it."[/i]

A chill ran up Aya's spine. She looked at Uná.

[color=aquamarine]"I think that's my cue,"[/color] she said. She reached out to hold Uná's hand one last time. [color=aquamarine]"Remember, we'll get to you as soon as we can."[/color] Giving a squeeze, Aya released the younger girl. [color=aquamarine]"Just hang on until then."[/color] She pulled her mouth into her best attempt at a reassuring smile. Then Aya closed her eyes and found herself back in the astral version of the car, Uná and her kidnapper on either side of her.

[i]"We're going to Nocturn."[/i] Aya blinked. That announcement was... convenient. Her eyes widened though as the man instructed his staff. [i]Guns.[/i] They were getting ready for a war. How were they going to get Uná back from men with guns? Why did he even [i]want[/i] Uná?

Aya bit her lip, looking at the starry outline of the man. The harsh cut of his jaw, the dangerous glint of his eyes... who was he? Aya took a moment to study him, worry building in her chest. She had to get back to the Avalon to tell her classmates where Uná was. Closing her eyes, she took a deep inhale... then pulled herself back to the physical world.

Aya slammed into her body with a gasp. Falling backwards, she stumbled and collapsed. The snap back to reality was so jarring that she barely even noticed as she hit the floor.

Her body felt [i]wrong[/i]. Her chest was too tight. Her limbs were too long. Every movement, every breath, took too much effort, like she had to fight her muscles to even cooperate. Her vision was black. Her ears were ringing. A piercing headache shot through her skull. Aya thought she might throw up.

[i][color=aquamarine]Too far,[/color][/i] echoed in her mind. [i][color=aquamarine]Too far, too fast.[/color][/i]

Aya coughed like her lungs were full of water, terrible shaking breaths ripping her lungs apart. Somehow she managed to sit forward, curling in on herself, knees drawn up. Her whole body trembled as she forced her hands up to press against her closed eyes. Her face was wet, either from tears or the cold sweat that had broken out over her body.

How was it this terrible? She'd felt [i]nothing[/i] on the astral plane.

[color=aquamarine]"Nocturn,"[/color] she managed to force out. Her voice was soft and desperate, like she had to fight to even make her vocal chords work. [color=aquamarine]"Uná --"[/color] She winced, her spine curling into a tighter arc as another stab of pain shot through her skull. She didn't know where she was or if there was even anyone nearby to hear her. Aya's mind had narrowed to the pain and the feeling of [i]not belonging[/i] in her body, like she was intruding and it was never meant for her at all.