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Each hit was another headache, another dizzy spell, the barrier cracked little by little, but Elle didn't stop so neither did he. He spent nearly a decade with it, Elle holding him up during his darkness times with comforting words and a will to keep him moving. Now it can protect him from monsters, the pent up frustration on not being able to do more for him let out at once. They made progress getting through the horde. The warehouse was close, but he wanted to rest. Give his mind a break. There's not enough advil to cure his symptoms. 

A scream broke out and monsters, trees, dirt, and debris came flying towards them. Instinctively Elias dunked, but Elle kept strong. For every monster that careened into the barrier, Elle batted it away, but it didn't get everything. More damage was dealt and brought Elias to his knees, holding his head. Once the blast cleared he struggled to his feet, sweat on his forehead. He was cold before, now he was hot on adrenaline.  

[color=deeppink]Eli we're almost there. We gotta keep going.[/color]

"R-right." He wasn't as fast as before, his legs weak, but he pushed through the exhaustion. Just a little more and they'd be safe. [i]Just a little more, just a little more.[/i] His knee buckled and he went down, knees and hands scraped on the dirt.

[color=deeppink]Get up. Come on![/color]

He heard the panic in its voice and got up again, then he kept moving. He barely made a step when another purple light appeared and a small girl stood on the other side of the portal, hand out beckoning for them to follow her. Elias recognized the street behind her. Araminta. Elias went towards her, energy back at the prospect of getting the hell out of here. The barrier disappeared as soon as he reached the portal, then he grabbed the girl's hand. She pulled him through. 

Elias never felt so happy to be back. When he moved back home, old memories resurfaced, but he was stronger than he realized. He didn't have thoughts of laying in bed all day and crying into his pillow like in his teen years. After this experience in whatever the hell they were, he'd never feel apprehensive about being back home again. None of what he felt before mattered now. No more sadness when he passed by his sister's room, not more stilted conversations with his father. Was this what his sister felt after coming to terms with her disease? That petty things didn't matter when faced with life and death? 

[color=deeppink]Such a drama queen. Have your epiphany later. Now's not the time.[/color]

"Right."

Elias stayed out of the portal's way, but was close enough to the girl to speak to her. "Thank you."