The Queen Of Amazons

One

Fleeting. Fleeting. Fleeting.
I scribble into the back of my ophthalmology textbook. The class was going on as usual but there's this little bubble in me that grows and grows some more, till I feel like its clawing my throat and at times like those, I scribble words. Random.
Doesn't make any sense. Earlier my canvas used to be my own body.

I rubbed Alive which was etched to the back of my thumb nearer to my wrist.

I get up, brush my skirt and head towards the exit. I could feel Div tugging my skirt to make me sit back down but I've had enough. The professor doesn't even look up as I leave the room.

This was one of my looong walk days. Days I'd wander aimlessly often getting lost, walking till my legs tire out. I unwind during this time. What would I do today? Is it instant noodles again for dinner? Will my mom ever recover from her illness?

Mom had been hospitalized since last year. Dad stayed with her. I fell into depression and then into this mechanical life with no friends.

There was a dirt path near my house where I never ventured, mostly because its a hard task getting past the junkload of cars and wires strewn there but I go through it today. A wire cuts my ankle and i don't even look down.

There's a forest up ahead. Funny I didn't think there'd be forests around here. It was almost shimmering, like a mirage. I walk in and immediately black out.

"You think she can hear us?"
"Idk Inou I've been shaking her since the last ten minutes."
"How did she even cross the barrier? Couldn't she see the wall? I thought we had it camouflaged"
"Doesn't work for some. Maybe we've got a new recruit"

That was when I sat up, startling the two girls in front of me. I squint and see that they're in full battle gear. Multiple knives. Spiky stuff i can't even recognize. One of them had an axe. I shuddered.
Then their faces came in view. Both had multiple tattoos on their necks.The girl with the axe had a mark at the centre of her forehead and the other had one on her chin. Axe girl had short black hair and the other had thickly braided, knee length hair. Both smiled at me.

"Hey I'm Inou. This is Tru."The axe girl said while offering a hand.
"Nila". I manage.
"That's a nice name."
"Are you okay?"
"Yes. I guess."
Awkward silence. Tru sighs and looks at me in the eye,
"What we're about to tell you might seem like utter nonsense. Trust me, it sounds nonsensical to me too even though I've been here for five years now. Ever heard of Amazons?"
"The shopping app?"
" Figured as much. Umm well no. Its these immortal women warriors in Roman mythology except that we aren't Romans and all we do is fight Nagas and we desperately needed a cool name." Tru explains.

I must be dreaming. Finally, my fucked up brain is showing me hallucinations. I've officially broken my brain fuse. I decide to let it be.

Inou looks at me sympathetically. "Its too much to take in, you wouldn't even believe us but we can show you. We don't necessarily need to, but I think you can be a good recruit."

" Recruit? " I ask, bewildered.

" Like a team member. We need peeps. All in good time Nila, all in good time."

"For now we'll take you to our leader. You'll see what we mean."

"Leader?" I repeat, feeling stupid.

"The one that commands our pack.
She's a little paranoid." Inou says

Tru suddenly has a serious face, gives Inou a glare, looks at me and says,

"The Queen Of Amazons"