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Every fibre of my body ached, throbbing dully with the still-steady rhythm of my heart. My eyes burned and my hands were raw and sore. As I took stock of all the damage I had incurred, I was surprised I was still alive. I tried to roll over into a more comfortable position, but found I couldn't. After all the punishment it had suffered, my body had given up.Dimly, my ears caught the sound of my cell door being opened. Inwardly, I groaned, knowing full-well that sound heralded the beginning of my final Cleansing. As my body rebelled against me, I was filled with the certainty that I would not survive. My battered body would not be able to sustain any further damage.
Kellador touched my burned shoulder gently, "Katja," he said, "It's time."
In my mind, I saw myself rise to my feet; but my body remained resolutely on the floor. I couldn't do it. I could not even manage to bend a finger. All I could do was blink and breathe.
"Katja," he said more insistently.
Go away, I thought, leave me to die in peace.
"It's not over, Katja."
Oh, yes, it is, I closed my eyes.
My vision filled with darkness, leaving me thinking, for certain, that I'd lost consciousness. My heart beat more fiercely than ever, driving all such thoughts from my mind. From the darkness, a pair of eyes suddenly flared to life. Grey eyes; grey like rainclouds on a spring morning.
"You can't give up on me, Kat!"
My breath caught in my throat at the sound of that voice. Memories of the Green Dragon Inn filled my mind; the faces of my friends...
I. I put a hand under me.
Won't. Shoved myself up.
Give. Got to one knee.
Up!! And stood up before Kellador.
Somewhere distant, there was the sounding of a gong and Kellador gestured for me to proceed him out. As I paused, he looked at me with those sea-green eyes.
"It begins..."
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© 1999 E. Angeli Mansfield