Blinding Light (BLS Book 1)

Mila

…

…

…

I wake to the sounds of an engine rolling itself awake.

Wait…what in the heavens are an engine?!

I sit up and rub my head. It hurts so bad like I’ve been stabbed right in the brain. Perhaps I’m seasick.

I saw Midnight last night, at least I think. Fortunately, there were no visions. I’m glad there wasn’t. I was scared that there was going to be. Without them, I feel saner than ever these past few weeks.

My back cracks as I stretch, scaring me. I hold my hand to my chest to grip my nightgown which turned out to be the soft fabric of my cloak. I slept in my cloak.

Confused, I slide out of it and let it fall onto the floor. My mind drifts and I feel light-headed, dizzy. Each time my heart beats, I can feel the strain in my skull. It’s as if someone is banging a hammer on my glabella.

The pain lessens to no more than an uncomfortable throb a few minutes later as I rub my temples.

In the dim-lit room with the sun barely peeking over the waters, I climb up, stumbling as I grab the nearby table for support. My legs are sore for some reason. I slowly, ever so slowly, make my way over to the large curtains that surround my room. I open a crack in the red curtains, letting only a thin line of sunshine in. In the light, I pick out my outfit for today. A white blouse and a matching, wavy skirt. If not paid close attention to, one might think of it as a dress. I manage to fix up my face, put on some makeup and eyeshadow around my brown eyes.

***

From what felt like an eternity, I finally made my way into the front of the ship. The sun is now peeking over the sparkling waters. The calm ocean waves push the boat, rocking it ever so slightly. I shiver at the cold breeze that blows my hair out of my face. Someone suddenly bumps into my side and I jump, almost falling through the process. She catches me by the arm.

“You okay, Mila?” Raven asks, but she couldn’t hide her laughter if she wanted to.

“…Oui,” I give her my brightest smile, even if it didn’t feel right inside. “I’m fine. Just sleepy still.”

She narrows her eyes. I knew I didn’t convince her otherwise, so I give her a look—tell you later. Just then, I notice a man with dark hair in the far corner of the crowd waving at me. I frown before looking away.

Who was that?

My thoughts are interrupted as Nolan makes his way up front, announcing the second…third event. But somehow, I can’t make out what he’s saying. His lips were moving like a mute frog, open, close, open…close.

I feel my eyelids droop, and my knee or leg gives out. I don’t know—all I know was that I stumble before catching myself, preventing myself from hitting the ground. I clutch my head, hoping to ease the building headache around my eyebrows. Everything feels like it’s spinning. I must be seasick. My legs are so sore, I feel as if they’re going to fall apart. I try my best to hold myself together.

“…Event…is the...” I hear him for the first time and watch Nolan’s mouth move. Open, close, open, close…

I frown, my head going slack on my shoulders before I bring it upright, then it falls again. I realize I’m being shaken.

“Mila! She’s unresponsive, somebody help!” A girl screams.

What’s happening…?

I fall backward before someone catches me. The motion is similar to something that I don’t recall.

Familiar.

Amber eyes fill what’s left of my vision. It glows against the hazed image of him that I could see.

“Hey, stay with me,” Nolan says. “Stay…”

I use all the strength left in me to open my mouth. But I can’t force my voice out; it’s stuck—stuck in my throat like a lump. My throat is so dry that it aches to even think about speaking. My eyes are blurring. I feel something tickle my face, a tear, slips down.

“Shh. Shh,” Nolan smiles at me. I feel my consciousness slipping.

“Oui, so slippery…” The voice speaks.

What are you doing to me?

“Nothing…”

What are you?

“Can’t…say…”

Something happened, didn’t it? I just forgot.

“Again…like last time…”

Last time?

In my mind, I ask it, thinking hard; but there’s no answer, just silence, loneliness. Loneliness from the years without Raven, replaced with multiple jobs instead. No one was there to guide me, to help me.

Trapped.

Trapped, like last time.

The thought rings and fills my empty, broken mind. I feel something pushing against my brain, trying to come out. But a barrier, an orange wall so tall and durable blocks it, bringing me headaches, bringing me pain. I scream as the pounding gets worse, locking me away. I try to fight, but the web-like restraint tangles me, pinning me down. I grit my teeth as my fingers shake, the tremble travels up my arm until it hits a nerve. My whole arm pinches. It’s a pain I’ve yet to discover. But it’s here, and I can’t stop it. I slap my forearm, but I don’t feel anything but my tendon’s pinch in my forearm that makes my fingers tremble.

Get out of my head!

I push, I yank, but the door doesn’t open. It’s locked, locked away like memories. Stayed there, in the back, never letting itself go, never letting itself out.

UNLESS PERMITTED

“This is their doing,” the voice responds as more webs spread all around, grabbing my legs, pulling me under.

“And only you can get yourself out.”

My eyes snap open. I blink, adjusting to the darkness which I’ve realized that it was my room on Miracle Island.

“Mila! You’re awake!” Someone screams in my ear.

I groan and mumble, “Five more minutes…”

Raven laughs halfheartedly. I roll over to see her in the dim light, lit up by the candle. I push myself up.

A slap finds itself on my face. I gasp, holding one side of my face as all the blood rushes to that spot, heating the skin.

“What was that for?!” I yelp.

“For falling asleep, I thought you were Kickerapoo (dead). How dare you do that to my poor heart,” she lets out a shaky breath.

“Now, I won’t ever fall asleep again next to you,” I scowl. My face is still hot. My cool fingers seem to be reducing the pain.

“What happened?”

She explained how I just fell onto her and collapsed to the floor. Then Nolan came, rushing over to pick me up. He took me to my room, according to Rave. The event that was supposed to happen today was postponed because all the suitors needed to be in attendance. After she finishes, she takes a few gasps of air.

“You need sleep, Mila. Whether or not it’s exhaustion or seasickness, I do not know. But! I do know you have not been catching up on your sleep lately. I’ve seen you wandering the halls during wee hours.”

I was about to ask when she brings a finger down to my lips.

“You shall sleep, now. I will stay here with you to make sure you fall asleep. Just like old times.”

“Just…don’t sing,” I warn her sternly.

She laughs, “No promises.”

Rave starts singing.

I groan and rub my head before flopping down onto my back again.

But her voice always had a soothing effect on me—my eyelids start to droop. I don’t know what I’d do without Raven. She keeps me bright, keeps me moving forward.

Without her, I probably die of exhaustion. I chuckle at the thought.

I don’t know how long I’ve been out for, but tonight, for the first time, it was a dreamless sleep—the best I’ve had for the last couple of weeks.

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Thanks, with lots of smiles

☆•Yiona•☆