[color=Silver][CENTER][h1][b]Natalie Ellis[/b][/h1][/CENTER][/color]
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Nat had her guard up, but her body was in no shape to fight, and even as she started to pull her fist back for a punch, the blow landed, and she crumpled. Her bones were strong enough to keep her straight as it was the ground that gave way and absorbed the impact, but it was still a powerful blow. Natalie went limp, as she was now putting all of her conscious effort into staying awake, and keeping her aching muscles tense. If they relaxed, she'd bleed out in minutes. She held on with her will to survive. She didn't have the strength to fight Archie anymore. The massive lizard had picked her up and even though her frantic brain was screaming at her to kill Archie before he killed her, she could barely move her arms. But as she was held there, she began to sense she was bring cradled. Rocked like she used to be by her parents. She hadn't seen them for over two years. She'd never see them again. Thoughts of them flooded her mind. She no longer felt in danger. Her mind was no longer in a dark time several months ago. It was in a warm time many years ago.

The lizard started to make strange noises and Natalie was put on edge again. The lizard started to twitch and convulse, and in a panic, Nat grabbed and pulled, which both helped Archie get free of his de-transformation and rip the lizard skin to pieces. She was now calm enough to think rationally. Two more people. She'd taken two more lives. She didn't even want to think about that properly yet. Right now it was nothing but a fact, because her own life was still in danger. Nobody was trying to kill her, but she was in such bad shape that all her focus needed to be on keeping herself alive.

Archie came around to her, and brushed bloodsoaked hair off her face. She'd killed. Tried to kill him. And he wasn't scared of her. Not even a hint of caution. She felt tears welling up after hearing his words, and she shook her head. [color=Silver]"They already hurt me, Archie. And they'll always be hurting me,"[/color] She answered weakly. [color=Silver]"Nothing you can do."[/color] Even so, she started to cry. Although she wasn't quite hugging back, her face was buried in his shoulder as she sobbed and howled.

Security came, and Nat also didn't want to be taken out of Archie's arms, so let herself be carried onto the cruiser. She had to hold on just a little longer, until they got to the hospital, to a place where she could give her muscles some rest and let herself bleed freely from her entire body. And she didn't have that strength alone. Without Archie, would her will to keep living have been strong enough to compel her to endure the strain? She didn't even know.

Before the door closed, she got a brief glance at Lynn. Natalie knew that look. She understood it all too well. It wasn't pity or sympathy she felt for Lynn, but true understanding and appreciation for the horrors she was going through.