The world moved around her...

The world moved around her, spun and tilted. The small burst of strength gone, Amelia could do little but watch as the ground slipped by beneath her, the grass shining white in the light of the moon. So beautiful... She reached for them, but caught nothing but air.

Were those lights in the grass?

She knew that wasn't right.

The sky...

She remembered now. It was night and the stars were out. She squeezed her eyes shut and clamped her teeth tight as her stomach cramped painfully with a fresh wave of nausea. A small groan escaped her lips, but thankfully nothing else. Weariness settled deep. That worried her... Why did that worry her? The trees around them sped by in a dark blur, her eyes unable to distinguish features and details. Was she moving? Why? Then she remembered. Someone had picked her up, carried her away. She knew that should worry her too, but she felt dull, dislodged, cut off from the world. All she wanted was to sleep, to drift alone in comforting darkness. Somehow she managed to stay awake. It was important, she knew, without knowing why.

Time held no meaning for her. Moments passed. Moments of pain, of nausea, of dizzying headaches and the taste of bile on her tongue. Moments of fear, of lassitude. And then gradually, moments of lucidity, her mind becoming sharper, her memories returning. Memories of experiences she'd rather not relive. She remembered the screams, the terror and the blood flowing from gaping wounds. She remembered the terrible sounds of fighting, of men dying, women dying. She remembered her own fear as men came for her and dragged her outside. She remembered how helpless she felt as she was brought down by a man much stronger than her. The abuse her body had taken still hurt, her wounds throbbing painfully with each beat of her heart. She shook with the pain of it all, wanting to forget, wanting to escape. Tears leaked from her eyes as she remembered the weight of him above her, his vice-like grip on her arms, his hot breath and terrible urgency. Then... She had done... something... She couldn't remember what. Frustration built up inside her. What had happened? She searched her memories again, digging deeper. Somehow she'd been saved, somehow... By this man carrying her? It was possible, but she didn't think so.

I saved myself. How?

It was important that she remember, but try as she might the memory slipped away.

Did he die?

Did I kill him?

It didn't matter. Nothing mattered. She closed her eyes, exhaustion overwhelming her. Darkness had found her at last and it welcomed her almost as much as she welcomed it.