you had a heart, it's been gone since they left you
He knew something was wrong right away. The wind rustled by, chilling him, and with it came... sound. Laughter, voices pealing in childish mirth. Like a bubble bursting, Korbin felt sound like a physical thing as it rushed over him. His own breathing was like a crash of waves, every heartbeat a thunder crashing, and the groan and rumble of his muscles a constant gnawing that resounded through his head.
Overwhelmed after so long wrapped in complete silence, he clapped his hands over the ears, and had he not been knealing already Korbin would have crumpled to the ground. He barely noticed the hiccups disappearing; the taunting voices were too painfully loud, their owners too close where they invaded his privacy and plucked with his clothes, hair, even his face. He swatted at the touch, to bat away any hands but found only empty air.
"Leave me alone, I wasn't talking to you!" he snapped - or tried to. But he felt his face stiffing into a mockery of a smile, and his voice was cheerful, the tone clashing horribly with his words.
A sick feeling of hopelessness twisted in his gut. Would he never get a break? Did the gods hate him that much, even though he'd never done anything to offend them? Had Safrin lied, when she told Aisha he would find help?
All he got for trying was the exchange of one curse for another, and he would rather trade back the silence for this. Korbin never pretended to be something he was not, but now the dwellers at this shrine would make a liar out of him.
With frustration boiling hot beneath the skin curled up, turned in on himself. Thought to shift and fly off, or thrash about, topple the many candles lit in hope and worship... it seemed so foolish. What point was there in praying to gods that didn't listen? The impulse was so strong that it took all he had to just remain where he was, clutching the sleeves of his coat, sucking in deep breaths. Trying to regain some form of composure.
Overwhelmed after so long wrapped in complete silence, he clapped his hands over the ears, and had he not been knealing already Korbin would have crumpled to the ground. He barely noticed the hiccups disappearing; the taunting voices were too painfully loud, their owners too close where they invaded his privacy and plucked with his clothes, hair, even his face. He swatted at the touch, to bat away any hands but found only empty air.
"Leave me alone, I wasn't talking to you!" he snapped - or tried to. But he felt his face stiffing into a mockery of a smile, and his voice was cheerful, the tone clashing horribly with his words.
A sick feeling of hopelessness twisted in his gut. Would he never get a break? Did the gods hate him that much, even though he'd never done anything to offend them? Had Safrin lied, when she told Aisha he would find help?
All he got for trying was the exchange of one curse for another, and he would rather trade back the silence for this. Korbin never pretended to be something he was not, but now the dwellers at this shrine would make a liar out of him.
With frustration boiling hot beneath the skin curled up, turned in on himself. Thought to shift and fly off, or thrash about, topple the many candles lit in hope and worship... it seemed so foolish. What point was there in praying to gods that didn't listen? The impulse was so strong that it took all he had to just remain where he was, clutching the sleeves of his coat, sucking in deep breaths. Trying to regain some form of composure.
- ever feel you grew up too fast?
Korbin
