Seeking a Refuge (30)

Darkness was threatening her from behind her own pupils... or whatever they were. It was a struggle between her and unconsciousness, rather like a mutual conflict against some scary adversary. These vague images ran to and fro Stephanie’s mind in no more than one instant. Her attempt of remaining conscious were weak yet determined. She couldn’t see Geraldine because of the mist that grew inside her tired eyes. And then... she thought incoherently she once would have called void what was now happening to her. And that was all.1

Steve pushed her shoulders hard, almost aggressively. The girl moaned uncertainly. 2

“Stephanie!”3

His scream sounded like a whisper coming from light years away. She forced her eyes to open in a brutal movement. Looking around with confused gestures, she discovered Geraldine who had just woken up. In a minute, Stephanie became aware enough to feel her soles burning like she had stepped on something very hot. And she was also starting to remember.4

“Oh, I’m so glad you seem to be recovering,” Steve sighed, bringing odd sensations in his girlfriend’s mind for some unknown reason. “Can you tell us what happened?” he questioned, putting a hand on the teenager’s hair, carefully. 5

“I’m not sure,” she muttered. Her brain appeared to her like a messy room she had to search for solutions right away. But what did it matter? Actually, that question would have been too much for her youthful mind, so she just said:6

“I... I may need some time alone... to remember.” 7

One by one, the other L&U K members left the room, leaving the two injured ladies in Gina’s good care so that they could meditate more efficiently on the recent events.8

Stephanie rose, walking around without the smallest stumble. She kept thinking of a suitable answer. What had happened, anyway? She knew it, of course she did; however, the worst thing was that she couldn’t come up with a solution. How had they saved her and Geraldine? The 9

so-called princess had no clue, but she was the only one who made everything... get a life. 10

“I’ll leave it like it is this time,” she thought to herself, “let’s just say... it’s ok now.” 11

Visualizing the entire L&U K’s before-going-to-sleep ritual, Stephanie fell asleep quite quickly in her lover’s arms. She was calm at the moment, and only some strange dream about Chris was going to interrupt her rest that night.12