Sidequest

Kelsi didn’t really know where she was going. She just needed to disappear. She moved through the woods, quick and near silent. But her heart was pounding so loud in her ears that she was sure it was giving away her position. As quickly as she started running, she stopped. Perched on a tree branch, curled up against the trunk, breathing slowly in and out with a hand pressed to her chest. She willed her heart to quiet down, but it refused.

The sound of a twig snapping below made her jump, fingers ripping off bark as she scrambled to hold on.

Blood. Blood on her hands, seeping into the wood, roaring in her ears. Kelsi’s breath caught in her throat and then sped up until her vision started going dark.

“We should just get rid of them and be done with it.” Kelsi stopped breathing.

“They’re just kids, Kyna. The Darkness will get them soon enough.”

“They sent a message for help, if they last long enough to realize it’s not coming-”

Blood- no, sweat, on Kelsi’s palm made her slip. A squeak slipped out of her mouth and she clapped a hand over it. Kyna and her guildmate suddenly stopped talking. With her own fingertips digging into her cheek, Kelsi looked frantically around for them.

Out of the corner of her eye she saw someone land on the same branch as her and before she could process it her throat was grabbed and she was pinned to the trunk, her spine twisted uncomfortably so she could face her assailant with her feet still pointed another way.

Her eyes went wide, taking in his appearance. Shaggy black hair, dark eyes, and a crooked nose that had clearly been broken a dozen times and never once healed correctly. Features that would be handsome in a rough and rugged way if it weren’t for the cruel sneer painted across them. Recognition dawned in his eyes and sent a chill down Kelsi’s spine.

“Well, well, well. If it ain’t Mousetrap’s ‘Cheddar’.”

“Don’t call me that.” Kelsi whimpered, her hands feeling warm and wet.

He tilted his head to the side, “why not? You think you can just hide from what you’ve done by abandoning your name?”

Kelsi shook her head, unable to respond verbally as he pressed his hand tighter against her throat.

“We won’t even have to hide killing you.”

*

Hiro woke up to an arm slung across his torso and a head tucked into the crook of his neck. The person’s breath raised goosebumps on his neck.

In one second, Hiro went from deep, still sleep to thrashing erratically, struggling out of the arms of someone. Hiro’s name was called but he still didn’t stop struggling until he had flopped off the bed and hit the ground. His eyes snapped open, his breaths came sharp and fast. A blurry, unfocused figure stepped into his field of view and he fearfully shuffled backwards.

“Hiro, it’s me. It’s Suzie, you’re fine, you’re safe, it’s ok.”

Hiro blinked rapidly until his vision cleared. Suzie stood over him, concern furrowing her brow and Alphonse looked down at him from on top of the bed, his golden blonde hair a mess.

“You ok?” he asked, voice thick with sleep.

“Yeah, just...” Hiro trailed off, “yeah.”

Suzie held out her hands to help Hiro to his feet. He took it and let her haul him to his feet while asking, “how long was I out? Is it almost night?”

Suzie winced and looked away while answering, “it’s morning.”