Thread: Shades of Gray

Darkness surrounded Caroline. Surely the angel of death had come for her, ready to bring her to the other side and away from the pains of a human existence. Pain. So much pain. Just then, she winced, her eyes fluttering open for a brief moment as her mind began to register what had just happened. The knife. Caroline remembered the knife, that cold hard blade she'd plunged into her chest. Had she struck her heart? Her intent had been to do so, but given that she still lived, still breathed, she knew she'd missed her intended target. Nearly lifeless, her ears suddenly began to hear the muffled whisper of a familiar voice. Or was it familiar? Things were confusing, so muddled and difficult to discern. Suddenly, Caroline felt a warm hand take a firm hold of her wrist. What was going on? Just then a strange and pungent smell, one that made her stomach tighten involuntarily despite how close to death she was, began to settle within her nose. She wanted to wretch, but she hadn't the strength, so without knowing how or why, her lips suddenly wrapped themselves about a cool, smooth vial. The liquid burned as it dripped down her throat. The taste was that of rancid flesh, or what she'd assume rancid flesh would taste like. And oh, it was far worse than its odor as it wafted into her nostrils. Lingering within her nose and making her body twitch slightly. Thomas. It was Thomas telling her to drink. Caroline tried to flutter her eyes, but it was of no use. Instead, she just drank down the horrible-tasting liquid, each swallow making her body jolt a bit harder. Each swallow... No, she wouldn't waste a drop. She knew she couldn't. It was dire that she consume it all. Sputtering, gagging, she continued to drink down everything filling up her mouth. She would listen to Thomas' whisper. She would obey. And so she drank everything down. As Caroline continued to drink, she found herself becoming more and more aware of her surroundings, her body. Thomas. She could feel the stickiness of her blood as it coated her body, making her nightdress cling to her form like a second skin. She could feel the knife being removed from her body as the numbness of death that had just started to swallow her whole began to subside. Though, she wouldn't shout out. Not now, not when she'd come so far. The barn. Those men, her father, they were still at the barn no doubt. All of them thinking that they'd cornered the necromancer. No, he was more than that. He was Thomas. Caroline's mind was reeling, so many images running through her mind. Finally, she was able to control her eyes, shifting them so that she could finally fix her gaze upon that of the man looking down upon her as she finished up the contents within the vial. All... Caroline whispered, her voice hoarse to her ears. I drank it all. She reached her other hand up and gently placed it upon Thomas' arm, her grip weak despite the fact that her body was healing, growing stronger. Caroline could feel her breaths starting to come easier, her eyes still locked upon Thomas'. Her insides were burning, she felt as though she were aflame, burning at the stake. Perhaps she deserved that given the witchery she'd succumbed to so willingly. No. This wasn't witchery, Caroline decided. This was a miracle. Thomas had saved her, brought her back. Never would she be able to repay him for this amazing defeat of nature. Never would she be able to repay him for taking her away from the life she so desperately wished to escape. Yes, she was forever indebted to him now. The oath had been sealed. Wherever you go now, Caroline rasped. I will follow.