Prompt: Liturgical, Cadence, Burnt
Start time: 10:25 pm
End time: 10.45 pm
The chants never stop in this land, with its sparse white clouds streaking overhead in a soundless gale, the barren ground below traced out in the stark chiaroscuro of Ansel Adams f 64, the leaves of the trees washed out into silver light and black shadow razors against the infinitely clear landscape. Not leaves any more. Knives plunged deep into the heart of reality, unmoving, immobile.
Lifeless.
This time is worse. The liturgical cadences began even before you closed your eyes and lay back in the bed, distorted ly-o-lay-ale-loya and wails reaching up towards the alien sky, drawing you deep across the Waste in an eyeblink and into the land of the Reapers, spiralling higher and higher.
It will reach a peak soon, you know, as you brace yourself against the otherworldly scream, feeling it erode away at your heart and soul, taking away another piece that will never return. And then you will awaken.
And each time the peak is higher; each time it takes longer to reach that peak.
One day you will never reach it at all.
The wails crush down on the mind and spirit, curling you into a ball as you cover your ears and deaden the screams of the blessed not a whit.
The peak comes, yanking you off your feet, drawing you up through the vortex of affinity that the Reapers have made just for you to draw you into their loving embrace, to bring you home--
And a hand grasps your wrist.
_________
"I went away again, didn't I?"
"Yes."
The room was bathed in moonlight, the north-facing window letting the argent light in.
"How long was it this time?"
"Three hours." He shifted, his silhouette blending against the darker shadows. "Longest yet."
"You've been awake all this while?"
"Catnap here, catnap there, pretty soon you're talking about some decent rest."
She felt his movement through the heightened affinity that stretched like sparkling blue wires between them; reached out and clasped his hand below the sheet with the grip of one clutching at the last single straw that refuses to break.
"It's not going to work. Whatever the Guild is trying, it's not working."
"Then we'll try something else."
"What if that doesn't work? What if one day I never come back at all?"
"That won't happen."
"How do you know that?"
"Because I'm still here. And you're still here. And they won't have you. Even if the world burns."
She closed her eyes.
"Then... don't let go."
_____________
Prompt: Morning star.
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