That voice.. Oh her voice was faint.. Barely above a whisper.. Fading into nothing at all.. And it seemed like my very ruin. It seemed like the very weakness I feared most. She moved her hands slowly, closing her eyes and trying to shift, but I pushed the thoughts away quicker than that and managed to move closer to her, sitting beside her and wrapping my arm around her shoulders to keep her closer.. To at least keep her warmer. She didn't flinch so she wasn't seriously hurt, but I still had my mind losing its tracks at the simple thought of the red stains on her shirt. "Thank fucking goodness," It was my voice, my words, yet I wasn't aware of it.. I ran my hands over her hair, her face, almost as if I was still making sure she was real and alright, hearing the shaky breath finally escape her.. A deep shaky sigh being released.. Out of heaviness. Out of relief. "I'm here, baby.. You're okay," Her body shivered and I pulled her closer against myself. "You're okay," I repeated as if I was mostly speaking to myself, assuring myself that she was at least somewhat fine. The kiss I left on top of her head didn't sooth the shiver in her body much, it simply made her release another heavy sigh. "It hurts," Those simple two words broke a part of me. I couldn't understand how it was possible for me to be so effected by her pain. I moved away slightly, just in case. Her face was pale, but she had no bruises, scratches or even dirt nowhere else but her legs.. Thankfully. The little on her white shirt and shorts was hopefully also just dirt.. I scanned and searched her, terrified from the idea of her hurt. "Where?" I asked barely conscious of anything other than her.. "My legs, Christian, I can't move them," That voice was weak again.. It was trailing away from the exhaustion in her tone. "Where?" I seemed to be repeating because it took me a few seconds to realize that it wasn't her legs that were that bruised or scratched, it was in fact her feet. She was barefoot. My mind stopped in that moment. "God, baby, what happened?" She must've ran like that, and the woods were no place for running around barefoot, because it obviously ended as a bloody wounded mess. Christ- she.. Of course she was barefoot. She was sleepwalking dammit! Probably mind controlled by that damn bastard that still hid behind the old crap of a house. "I don't, I don't know, I must've ran because- I- I couldn't catch my breath by the time I was here and I don't know if I even got inside, I just woke up against this tree, an-" She was losing her breath. I cut her off. "Hey, hey look at me, Lana, eyes on me. I'm here. I'm here, princess, no one can hurt you with me, alright?" I held her face in my hands and looked back at the eyes of dark sapphire, managing to cause a small spark to light behind all that dullness. She nodded her head. It was when I felt that stone drop off my chest. It was when the air made its way down my lungs.. When she showed that sign of understanding. When she looked at me with true trust behind those eyes.. True belief in my words. I couldn't help but lean closer and kiss her forehead, closing my eyes like it was in that damn moment I finally got assured she was okay and damn me but I had no clue how I would learn to live with myself if something ever happened to her. "Come here," I pulled her closer to myself, lifting her in my arms and following rather or not she would show any signs of pain. She simply frowned and closed her eyes, snuggling against me like she finally found some peace, like she was trying to keep as close as possible. "Let's get you out of here, baby," The way she pressed her lips against the side of my neck, inhaling like she was finally even remotely soothed.. I made me pull her closer. It tore a part of me thinking that she ever had to go through such fear and pain. Now her whole body was limp. She had no clue how she got there.. And most of all, that was what we all feared the most. Not knowing.. Not being able to stop the dark magic that those witches used upon is. I saw Calliope finally making it and I couldn't believe how quickly I had ran before because it took her far longer to find the house.. But when it came to Lana, I knew I would run miles to save her. And it was all I knew in that moment. Calliope scanned her.. She looked at me with clear concern and question whether or not Lana was alright. I simply nodded my head and started walking, while she went to check the tree Lana was tied on. I really saw no point in that, I just knew that I finally had Lana in my arms and it was all that mattered. "Calliope," I spoke, glancing over my shoulder and seeing her kneeling there beside the tree. "Come on, it's not safe here." She straightened up and walked back towards us. "Wolfsbane.. The rope was soaked in wolfsbane, Christian. That's why-" She cut herself off and looked at Lana's wrists. "Thankfully it just burned her skin. I don't think it managed to poison her blood.." She glanced back at me. "We made it on time." That's what she said.. However, wolfsbane even close to Lana meant a true death threat. It could mean sure death if it even reached her blood.. And Christ, I had to check if- I needed someone that knew more of it. Someone that would confirm Calliope's words. "I hope." Was all I managed to mumble out. I looked down at Lana.. She was barely conscious. I held her tighter against myself.. Like she was the only cure to continue breathing..