The Voidwalker’s Tale

The room felt like a freezer, with demons lurking within its iced veils. A wall of glass showcased a dreary city covered in rain. Light poured through the windows, illuminating the silhouette of a girl draped in wires. They clung to her skin, pouring in medications and magic by the minute — to sedate the burning she felt within her blood. It was practically boiling, peeling away her skin by the hour.

Her sky blue eyes looked plastic, with a glazed wrapping glued to the irises. Long black hair littered the bed, clashing with the white cloth. A rhythmic beep kept the room from falling completely silent. Thats all there was. Besides an occasional sizzle, accompanied by the scent of melting flesh.

This was a decisive day for the girl though.

The sliding glass door to her room opened, letting out all the chilled air. The nurses and doctor recoiled; the hairs on their arms practically jumping from their bodies.

”Reimi, how are you feeling dear? ” the doctor said with a shaky voice.

The girl looked over at her and stared, deadpan eyes locked with caring ones. Reimis lips didn move an inch. Not because they couldn — but because she willed them not to.

”I see… well! Weve got good news and bad news. ”

Snickering and whispers dampened the doorway. Talks about a monster within the hospital, laying in one of their own beds. Reimi turned her head away, opting to look at the city. There was no color. Everything looked so gray. The only difference between things was the textures; and how the rain sat differently on said textures. It was all so bleak.

”Reimi? Ill move on to the bad news now. ”

The doctor took in a deep breath. ”There isn exactly an easy way to say this, but — Reimi, we can cure your condition. Whatever it is… it seems to be ingrained in your very being. ”

She took out a bottle of small round pills, they were a light shade of purple. Lavender. ”Im afraid all we can do is prescribe you with these. Itll stop the burning for a day. Im sorry we couldn do more. ”

Reimis expression didn shift. Her face remained relaxed; with a twinge of melancholy. It was already difficult for her to process what the doctor had said, after all, there were so many voices swimming in her head. Each one pulled her consciousness in a different direction. It was manageable though since they weren that loud. However, there was one voice that was disruptive enough to make her shake. It was low and weighty, often rattling her skull with just a single word.

Her monster(s).

The nurses started removing all the equipment attached to Reimi. Some tubes were stickier against her skin; leaving visible marks scattered across her body. Needles for the IV were plucked from her skin, not a gentle touch. All the medical tape slowly came off, ripping away small hairs in the process. Not much blood was spilled thankfully — just a few drops every now and then. It was a dark crimson, infused with specks of black. Blood of someone who wasn all the way human.

It was time to be discharged, freedom at last. Reimis feet felt odd against the vinyl floors. The ground felt jagged and tilted. Perhaps the side effect of not leaving the bed for days; could also be the sudden lack of drugs being pumped into her. Either way, walking became a very difficult task. She clung to the walls whenever she could, making sure to keep a consistent stride.

The nurses took a glance at her struggles; and walked away.

By the time Reimi made it to the lobby, support wasn needed anyways. The doctor took her hand and smiled; from someone so caring, it felt a bit eerie. The corners of her mouth were sharp — with a smile that was far too wide.

”So Reimi, I hope to see you again, but not in the hospital of course. Keep healthy okay? ”

Reimi nodded and slightly grinned, turning to the main door the second she got. The cold air from inside still stuck to her skin. There was a slight hope in Reimis heart that the city would be colorful again. A hope that there would be a difference between viewing it from a window, to now looking it dead in the eyes. It was the exact same. At least it wasn raining anymore.

All the streets looked grim. Tight hallways and corridors with many twists and turns. It was impossible to know what kind of beasts lurked within them. Reimi always stuck to the same routes for that reason. It didn matter anyways, they all led her back home. Willowwood avenue.

There were many people littered around the initial pathways. Mostly drunkards and people trying to sell various things; not a doubt those items were stolen. Eventually, things got quiet, the streets became emptier. The silence was odd though. Something was definitely ahead; a small pinch Reimi felt in her gut. She was almost home — it should be fine.

Footsteps felt a lot heavier now, but there was a light growing stronger and stronger in the distance. It splashed against the buildings, highlighting their true colors. They weren gray anymore. Reimis eyes widened, her breath quickened, and she ran. Not away, but straight ahead.

And there stood a woman.

A familiar face; rather, a thorn in the side. She stood tall, towering over three limp bodies; adjusting a golden bracelet that dangled on her wrist. The sunlight peeked through the clouds at that moment — highlighting her honey blonde hair. A slight sparkle shimmered in her hazel eyes after meeting Reimis gaze.

”Is that who I think it is? ” she gleefully shouted.

Reimi sighed, disappointed at who she saw. Not for any inherent negative reasons — its just that this woman was annoying. From what she remembered anyways.

”Hows my lil rockstar doing? ”

Reimi shrugged, dropping her head a bit. Truly unsure how she was doing. Her arms started to burn slightly; even after taking one of the pills. She grimaced and started to wobble; losing her balance fast. The skin on her arms had yet to recover. It was as if she was starting to melt from the inside.

The woman grabbed Reimis shoulders and held her still. ”Not very well I see… ”

For just a few moments, they stared at each other. Taking a glimpse at each others hearts. Reimis eyes were like an ocean, dead calm, without a speck of light in their depths. The womans lips dropped to a frown. She slowly dropped her arms, tracing down to Reimis hands, holding them with a light touch.

”Hmm… how about I do a small magic trick? Ive heard it does wonders ” the woman whispered.

Reimi nodded, without a bit of hesitation. Her aura was always so — bright, like a single star within a blacked-out sky. She was trustworthy enough, after all, if she wanted to hurt her she wouldve done it by now.

There was a slight glow emanating from their hands. It was a gentle gold, turning their palms lucent. The burning Reimi felt slowly started to fade away; her muscles loosened up. The l