Every Saint and Every Sinner {Fledger, Day 4}

Fledger Rells

So far away
I don't want to stay.

A stinging sensation in his cheek awoke him. His tongue was thick in his mouth and his body demanded water, food, anything - even if he drank, he doubted he'd be able to keep it down. Opening his eyes, he saw that the sand around him was lifting slowly from the ground, swirling faster and faster like a blizzard on Christmas day. Only this wasn't white. It was the color of blood, just as it had been yesterday, and the day before that. He was getting tired of the same thing day after day. He'd never felt so trapped in his life a he had these past few days. The only comfort was knowing that it couldn't last much longer.

The sand whipped at his skin, opening new wounds. Fledger lifted his arm to shield his face, but remained laying on the ground. It would be so easy to just stay here, to let the sand hit him, scratch open new avenues of blood. He didn't have much time left, he knew that, and even less if he didn't get water soon. But he had to keep trying. He had no weapon, but that didn't matter, did it? All his worldly possessions he carried cradled against his body now, seeing as he had no other way to carry them. In a fight, he wouldn't last more than ten minutes. But another tribute wouldn't be mad enough to stay out in this. Another tribute would get up and at least try to live for a bit longer.

Fledger pushed off the ground, gathered up his things, and began to run, head bent against his chest so he wouldn't get sand in his eyes. Though he'd vowed never to go back to the tower, he headed there now. It was the closest place that would offer shelter from the storm.

((Fledger has left the Falling Sands))