Blood.

Bodies.

Gunshot.

Memories flooded through her mind.

Blood.

Bodies.

Gunshot.

Blood. Her own blood pooling out of her as Koldan tried to slow it with his kefta.

Bodies. Her whole village laying on the ground, unable to move. Her adoptive parents frozen in horror as a heartrender crushed their hearts.

Gunshot. It still rung out in her head, the shot that should have ended her life.

I gasped for air. My eyes flying open as I bolted upright.

My eyes strained as they adjusted to the light of the room, warm afternoon light streamed into the infirmary she was in, she was on her feet by the bed she was laying in just moments before.

I heard the hurring of boots on the ground as a healer rushed over to me, I realised how cool the floor was to my bare feet, warming slightly as the sunlight streamed over them.

"Miss, you need to get back to bed," they said blocking my way.

Normally I would have given anything to sleep in but right now, I needed answers, "I'm fine thank you."

I went to step around them but they once again, blocked my path, "Please miss, you're-"

"Get back to bed, Rena," a cool voice cut across them from the shadows.

The darkling was leaning against a pillar across from my bed, I hadn't noticed him standing there at first, he walked over to us in long strides, "Leave us," he said to the healer still staring at me, they gave a quick bow and scurried off. The infirmary was empty apart from us, probably because Grisha don't get sick, I reminded myself.

"Get back to bed, you look like you're about to collapse," he ordered me.

In truth I did feel pretty faint, but instead I said, "I'm perfectly fine."

"I'll give it about three mabey four minutes before you collapse," he mocked.

"And I'll take that bet, now if you'll excuse me-" I went to step around him towards the door, but as I did he grabbed my arm pulling me into his chest, he then threw me over his shoulder and plonked me back onto my bed.

"Ever hear of personal space," I groaned rubbing a crick in my neck. I was stubborn, we all knew that, my legs swinged back over the side but my persistence was abruptly stopped when he kept pushing them back, eventually pulling the covers over me.

"Stop this," he said after about the fifth time.

I was tiring from it so eventually I settled down and asked him a question that was bugging me ever since I woke up, "What happened?"

He signed heavily and sat at the end of the bed, "If I tell you, will you stay put?" He asked me.

I nodded sharply which resulted in sending a a spark of pain up to my head.

"Alright then," he breathed, "You were attacked."

"Wow really? I would never have guessed," I crossed my arms infront of me.

He smirked slightly at my comment, "You were attacked by Fjerdans," he emphasized the last word as if he was speaking to a five year old, "If it wasn't for that friend of yours, the heartrender, what was his name, Calvin?"

"Koldan," I corrected.

"Whatever his name is, we would have never caught them and you would most likely be dead from loss of blood," he explained to me, I couldn't help but blush when he said that Koldan had saved me, and I knew that I would never hear the end of it, "The Fjerdan he knocked out was caught and is being questioned as to how they know you exist."

He let it all sink in for a moment, "Are you alright?" He asked, a small bit of concern lingered in his voice.

"Is this it?" I mumbled, "Is this what my life has become? Hunted wherever I go?"

He grimaced slightly at my words as if he'd heard them before. "You get used to it," he responded.

He stood up as Ivan came through the doors and handed him a letter, he glanced at my disheveled body lying atop the sheets.

The darkling looked up from the note, "Stalk them out, we will not lose them again, don't make it obvious, they're already on guard," he mumbled to Ivan, the darkling turned back to me, "Rest, you need plenty of it."

"I'm fine," I repeated as I started to use my hands to get out of the bed again. He sighed dramatically pushing me back and nodded to Ivan.

Ivan raised his hands and I realised all too late what he was doing, "Don't you da-" my sentence was cut short as my heart rate slowed causing my eyes to slowly close and I tumbled back into a restless sleep.

Blood.

Bodies.

Gunshot.

I woke up sweating and screaming, the sheets of the bed sticking to my still disheveled body.

I felt my ears pop slightly.

"Shhhhhh," someone next to me hushed, "Are you trying to get us caught."

It was Luka, Zina was next to him with her hands raised concentrating, and Koldan was looking at me worried.

"Ok Zina you can stop," he said, "I don't think she's gonna scream again."

Zina dropped her hands and my ears popped again, she came closer and smiled, "Are you okay?" She asked in a hushed tone.

"Ya I'm fine, bit lightheaded but fine, how long am I in here?" I asked them.

Koldan finally spoke, "About a week," he said in the same hushed tone.

"A week?!?!" I exclaimed.

"Shhhhh," they all said in unison.

"Right, quiet, sorry," I apologised, "That stupid little heartrender he kept me asleep for a week."

"Hey," Koldan said slightly taken aback.

"Sorry, not you," I told him, then it hit me, "You're not meant to be here, are you?"

They all looked away not meeting my eye, I tried my best to suppress my laugh, "Thank you," I told them.

"Well it was Luka's idea, and Koldan was pretty worried about yo-" there was a sound of boots on the ground coming towards us, "Gotta go. Koldan," Zina looked over to him.

"Got it," he raised his hands, "Sorry Ren."

"Na ah, don't you even thi-" and I was back in my restless rest.

Blood.

Bodies.

Gunshot.

Hey everyone just wanted to hop on here and say, HOLY MOLY 3K READS?!?!? This story has grown bigger than I ever thought it would, thank you so so soooooo much.

I may have been kinda neglecting writing certain chapters cause well, Olympics, I don't know how your country's doing but we just won gold in rowing, don't forget to vote and comment, stay safe and swagger (ew I really just said that)