"Not all the time," Elias mumbled, then face forward again and put more weight on his hands to hold Jerica's shoulder down. "Why is it going to be bad?" he asked, not realizing this just went against her point.
"We're ready," Jayk said, turning his gaze towards Glynn and ignoring Elias's question.
Jerica ignored him too. She couldn't be bothered to answer his question just then -- she had to focus on bracing herself for the hell that was to come. She closed her eyes and clenched her teeth, taking a deep breath.
She felt Glynn's fingertips brush across the wound, then his palm rested squarely on top of it. She swallowed hard, cringing. A moment later heat sparked from his hands.
She inhaled sharply, gritting her teeth, as pang surged through her so deep it felt like it went all the way through her organs. It was such a deep, intense pain. Her guts knotted themselves up, entire body tense. She couldn't breathe.
Her legs curled up involuntarily. It felt like every muscle contracted at once. Her torso tensed too, shoulders pulling away from the ground. She twisted towards the right, further away from Glynn, and from Elias, shoulder lifting up off the ground.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Maybe if someone had told him what the hell was happening, he wouldn't have let go of her shoulder.
But in the midst of confusion with the sparks coming out of the blind man's hands and Jerica tensing up, Elias didn't return the tension and instead stared at her, wide-eyed, his hands loose on her shoulder.
Jerica let out an anguished scream, the tension finally breaking free from her chest so that she could take a breath, but she still couldn't control her body. The heat and pain were still stabbing through her so sharply it felt like she was getting stabbed with a dagger again and again and again.
She could feel the subtle movement of her ribs moving back into place, sheer fire against her flesh. She curled again, knees coming upright as she turned more towards the right, further away from Glynn -- even though that only put her side more upright, and easier in grasp.
Her hand flew free of Elias's grasp, and swung around, accidentally catching Jayk on the chin. He grunted loudly and threw himself forward, tackling her. He pressed his chest against her head and chest, getting her right arm under his knee as his hands grasped at her left.
The pain didn't relent. She screamed again.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Elias wasn't sure what was happening. They had mentioned healing, but she looked to be in physical pain and was literally fighting. He stumbled backwards and watched with wide eyes as she punched Jayk and then he tackled her, getting out of their way.
It felt like an eternity passed, even though it was probably only a few more moments. At long last, the hell ended and Jerica was left with her tingling side. Jayk pushed himself off her.
"Sorry," he muttered, kneeling next to her.
She kept her eyes screwed shut, entire body heaving as she panted for breath, slick with sweat. She shook her head, brushing away his apology. He'd done exactly what he needed to. After she'd... punched him. "Me too."
"You're fine." Jayk rubbed his jaw and then turned a scowl on Elias. "What the fuck?"
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"What part of 'hold her down' made you think it was a good idea to not hold her down?" He snapped.
Jerica was still panting, feeling like she barely had any life left in her at all. Nowhere enough energy to step in.
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
"I'm fine," she muttered, swallowing hard. She reached up to scrub her burning eyes, not quite sure if it was tears or sweat.
"No thanks to you," Jayk muttered.
"I didn't mean to." Jerica cracked her eyes open to look at Jayk, her chest still rising and falling heavily. "And neither he."
Jayk eyed Elias. "You're not actually her soldier, are you?"
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Elias looked between Jerica and Jayk, settling on a pleading look at Jerica and hoping she could actually help him out. She seemed too tired to talk for him.
"I, uh," he started off, trying to figure out what to say. "Well, I do listen to her orders." He paused in thought, realizing he didn't follow her order to hold her shoulder down.
"Not in front..." Jerica trailed off, swallowing hard, but she grasped Jayk's arm, giving him a look. "We'll explain later but... sensitive."
Jayk nodded. "Alright. You ready to sit up?"
She nodded weakly.
He leaned forward and gently lifted her up, propping her back up on the log where Glynn was sitting. He put a hand on her shoulder. "You holding up?"
She nodded, before realizing he couldn't see. "Yeah."
"Good." Jayk pushed himself to his feet, then walked away from the camp, poking Elias on the chest, hard, as he passed by. "I have questions for you. Come."
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
Elias felt like he should have been the one helping out Jerica, but Jayk had swooped in and filled the role, and he only stood there awkwardly, watching. Suddenly, though, Jayk got up and pierced his chest with his finger, telling him to follow him.
He grimaced as he rubbed where he poked him on the chest, and then stared back at Jerica. "I have questions too," he said defiantly, not moving. "Wouldn't it be more fair for me to ask the questions first?"
Jayk gave him a warning look. "Would you like to get your ass kicked first?"
"u and rina are systematically watering down the grammar of yws" - Atticus "From the fish mother to the fish death god." - lehmanf "A fish stole my identity. I blame shady" - Omni [they/he]
A person is a fool to become a writer. His only compensation is absolute freedom. He has no master except his own soul, and that, I am sure, is why he does it. — Roald Dahl
