The Mask: Burdens and Reputations

Gratitude

Everything hurt.

Light stabbed her eyes every time she opened them.

Her throat felt like the ground, dry and fragmented.

It was so cold.

Everything touching her felt like bile burning her skin.

Burning.

Fire.

Her chest tightens as she fights against the hold keeping her pinned.

Why was she on fire?

Voices.

She could hear voices.

But it was hard to focus when everything was fading in and out.

A cave-

She was in the cave!

No!

No no no no no!

She throws her arms out, screaming when they slam into something solid.

When had she passed out?

"Stop!" She throws all her weight in an attempt to roll away.

Not again.

She would not be forced.

She would fight.

No one was taking her-

"It's me, Treasure."

Gil?

"Kitten! You will be very upset if you don't stop fighting right this instant."

Gil and her father?

"Baby Girl, it's ok. You're home."

Uma.

Uma wasn't at the cave before.

The cave that-

"Fire Princess, ya be up!" Harry slides to his knees next to them. "Ya be scarin' the shite outta us."

Home.

She blinks.

She was home.

Her eyes burn as the room blurs.

"Mim?" She asks, her voice rough.

"Taken care of," Yensid's calm voice assures her, "the Lord of Death defeated her, you've been out quite a bit of time I'm afraid."

Out?

She pushes against the hold on her.

She just needed a moment.

Needed to shade her eyes against the brightness.

Wanted things to settle.

Something was wrong.

There was something she wasn't remembering.

But she needed to.

Mim had done something.

"Star Gazer," Faustina's voice cautions, "please be careful lest you agitate your wounds."

"Faustina!" She struggles against the hold.

If Faustina was here-

"Treasure," Gil frowns as Uma and Harry's reproach cut him off.

"Baby Girl, listen to Beauty Girl please," Uma nearly begs.

"Aye, ya be goin' through hell an' finally be wakin', don'ah be given' us another fright."

"But T-"

The cave.