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Through a dark landscape all that could be heard was the thumping of footsteps from a child. Running in endless darkness at hopes of escaping them.
Them...
The demons she's faced her whole life, that fatui harbinger, the people that would beat her up on the streets when she was unwelcomed into towns, that blasted serpant's voice full of demands and force, but today she wasn't running from these all to familiar things she's encountered, no she's running from that damned blue knight.
Collei ran as fast as her legs could carry her while hearing approaching footsteps of her pursuer.
"I wont let you get away this time you little brat!"
If Collei was already having a bad day, which she was, it just got worse. While running she had tripped over her own two feet colliding with the ground. She quickly tried to push herself up but that knight had gotten to her in mere seconds. The cavalry captain kept her down by stepping on her back as she struggled to get up.
"There's no point in running away you're far too slow." he taunted.
"Please let me go! What did I ever do to deserve this type of treatment!? I'm just a kid for crying out loud!" Collei protested.
The Blue Knight just gave her an unimpressed look "Everyone hides behind a mask one way or another in order to survive. Are you willing to put up a fight again little wanderer?"
'Let us handle this'
'We'll kill him for you'
'You'll be much happier with him gone'
'Come on vessel release us!'
There it was again, the voices that wouldnt leave her alone. The voices that she despises so much.
"I wonder what your dear friend Amber would say if she could see you now."
Before Collei knew it the serpent was released and was choking that Kaeya guy again, just like what happened the night he attacked her.
Collei started panicking.
The throbbing in her head wouldn't go away, the comments Kaeya would throw at her (when he wasn't struggling to form sentences while the serpents held him in place) only made it worse.
"Collei?"
Collei grasps at her shirt. Why now? She knew that voice. Did she have to be here? Again no less? Collei knew how this went, she knew this was bound to happen.
The bandaged kid turned around to face her friend tightly gripping her shirt refusing to make eye contact.
"Collei what are you doing?"
The hurt in her voice was loud and clear.
"Amber if you would just let me explain-" Collei said as she reached out for the taller girl but her breath hitched when Amber stepped back.
One mistake Collei made in that time was that she had looked up to meet Amber's gaze, her terrified and fearful gaze.
"W-wait don't be scared you can trust me Amber!" Collei said reaching out for her friend.
By now Collei had forgotten about Kaeya and focused on Amber.
'Is she bothering you?'
'We can dispose of her if you want'
The voices repeated which sent Collei into panick mode. She gripped her hair trying to drown out the voices till she heard fighting.
It was Amber, those damned serpants were closing in on her.
"AMBER-" Collei's eyes widened with panic and stress overwhelming her. She stepped closer to Amber wrapping her arms around herself as a sort of comfort.
"Don't come near me or else!" Amber was now pointing her bow towards the smaller girl.
"Amber please this isn't me! I don't want to hurt people or you! Please don't be scared of me."
Amber lowered her bow.
'Thats good' So she won't attack Collei.
"I'll give you one chance to leave Mondstadt at once."
"What?" was the only word Collei managed to mutter out.
"Yeah you heard me! Leave Mondstadt!"
Collei felt tears running down her cheeks "You said you'd help me find what I'm looking for! You were kind to me when we met and you even said we're friends right? Please don't abandon me, not now."
"Im not friends with someone like you."
Collei fell to her knees, she looked up towards where the taller girl was standing and her eyes were a glowing white with purple irises.
The voices started again.
'Oh no please just go away'
The archon residue submerged her underwater once again. Her eyes drooped from her tiredness and she struggled to fight against it.
'Yes release us and let us help!'
Amber sat up in her room rubbing her eyes. She had woken up from muffled sounds of something crashing in one of the other rooms. She threw her blanket off to the side and sat up stretching. The outrider stood up and opened her bedroom door and walked down the hallway.
'Ugh what was that? Maybe its Collei getting a midnight snack or something?' Amber thought to herself.
"Hey Collei are you ok-"
Amber felt worry creep into her as the muffled sounds of crashing became louder.
The outrider dashed towards the sounds immediately. She opened the door to Collei's room and gasped when she saw her friend on the floor curled up clutching her hair. Her eyes were shut tight and she was trembling a bit.
Amber put on a brave face and tried to get towards her friend but the black fired serpant hissed at her narrowing its eyes as it made it's presence known.
The older girl stumbled back in panick as it drew nearer.
"Collei you have to stop! Snap out of it! Wake up!" Amber yelled.
The serpent surrounded the outrider and she couldn't find an exit as she was backed up against a wall.
"This is bad! Like really bad!"
"So you're the famous outrider Mondstadt has? Such a shame you won't live to see tomorrow~" it sneered.
When Collei opened her eyes she was still submerged underwater while that thing circled around her. She just barely opened her eyes when she heard someone's muffled shouts.
"Wa.....UP"
"Huh?"
Collei's head pained, she was tired and straining her ears to try and make out who those shouts were from.
"Maybe I just need to close my eyes for a second.."
"COLLEI WAKE UP PLEASE!"
Collei blinked "Is that-"
"IT'S AMBER! CAN YOU HEAR ME? YOU NEED TO WAKE UP IT'S JUST A BAD DREAM!"
Collei's eyes shot open.
Amber was backed up against the wall while the serpent leaned over her.
The outrider braced herself, praying to Barbatos she'd make it out alive.
Nothing came.
"Huh?" Amber opened her eye then the other lowering her arms and looked infront of her. She saw the small girl on her hands and knees trying to get up. Quickly, the outrider scrambled to help Collei up.
Amber swung her arm around Collei for support while Collei held onto her.
"I'm sorry."
Amber looked confused and glanced towards the younger girl helping Collei to her bed. "You don't have to apologize it wasn't your fault."
"But it- I could've killed you!" the younger girl protested.
"You've got nothing to worry about Collei it wasn't your fault it was just a bad dream is all and you couldn't control it while you're sleeping." Amber gave her a tired smile.
"It was my fault, I lost control of my emotions I let it get to me! Which released that thing!" The bandaged girl swatted Amber's hands away.
"Hey come on now lets just take deep breaths for a second okay?" The outrider backed away a few spaces to give Collei some space and held up one hand sticking out each finger while counting slowly.
"Okay follow me." She inhaled "One, two, three..." Amber exhaled encouraging Collei to follow along.
A few inhalings and exhalings and counts later Collei had managed to calm herself.
She exhaled and ran her fingers through her hair sighing.
"Wanna talk about it?" Amber asked the shorter girl. Collei hesitated for a little then nodded. She pat the spot on the bed next to her signaling for her friend to sit beside her. Amber hesitated making sure Collei wanted her to come nearer and sat down.
They sat in silence for a few minutes before Amber spoke up "Hey, want me to get you something warm to drink? It sure is cold right now."
Collei looked up from her clenched hands that layed in her lap and nodded to Amber's offering. "That'd be nice."
The outrider came back with hot chocolate and gave it to the smaller girl. Collei sipped it then forgot it had just been made.
"AHh-" Collei exclaimed sticking her tongue out.
"Be careful it's still hot." Amber chuckled.
It took Collei a moment to recover from the small burn and set the mug down turning to Amber.
"Sorry about the racket I-" she was cut off by a concerned Amber.
"Don't be sorry, you're human, you have nightmares it's okay." she reassured.
"But-"
"No buts or excuses it's all good besides, what kind of friend would I be if I just left you to those demons to haunt you in your sleep? Certainly not a good one!" Amber huffed crossing her arms.
"It- I nearly killed you! Just like sir Kaeya!"
"Collei, that thing took advantage of you in your vulnerable state, you got overwhelmed while also having a nightmare I assumed from what I heard."
Collei opened her mouth to say something but closed it and thought on her choice of words. Amber waited giving her enough time to speak.
"I- That nightmare I had..."
"Hm?"
"I was confronted with one of my worst fears..."
Amber frowned at this.
"I was running from him again, sir Kaeya."
Amber sipped at her warm drink nodding for Collei to continue.
"He was chasing me, I tripped and fell. As soon as I tried to get up he kept me down the entire time as I struggled eventually the snake started choking him again. I couldn't control it, I didn't want to hurt him even if he hurt me I just wanted to get away from him.." Collei pause before continuing.
"Then you showed up and-"
Amber looked at her, worry seeping in even more.
"You pointed your bow at me, told me to leave Mondstadt then said you wouldn't be friends with someone like me."
Amber held Collei next to her in a side hug as she saw the younger girl's eyes start to glisten from tears forming.
"Thats when I was submerged underwater again. The snake was trying to take control but I couldn't even control my own emotions and just let myself drown while it took over me again."
Collei burried her head in her hands as she felt tears falling down.
"I know it's just a nightmare and it isn't real and that I shouldn't be crying over this but I can't seem to keep my emotions under control. I'm sorry..."
Amber pulled Collei in for a hug and rubbed circles on her back as she let her cry. "It's all good Collei no need for apologizing, sometimes you need to let your feelings out one way or another."
"I can't or it'll get to me you have no business in trying to care for me more than you already have. I've probably caused you enough trouble as it is."
"Hey now, just because you're shaken from a nightmare doesn't mean you're causing trouble?" the outrider replied.
Collei wanted to protest but stayed silent, too tired to speak anymore and just let herself lean into the older girl. Amber didn't question it though and happily held Collei closer.
After a few minutes of silence Amber looked down to see Collei battling to stay awake. "Hey, how about you go back to bed I'll stay with you till you fall asleep again."
Collei shook her head "I'm fine you can go back to your room I don't want you to lose sleep because of me."
"Don't worry your little green head I'll be fine besides I don't think it'll be that long before you fall asleep again. I can see you're tryna fight your sleepyness." Amber gave an amused chuckle.
"We have to meet Cyno at Starsnatch Cliff in the morning better get some rest while you still can."
Collei looked up to Amber and nodded. The older girl tucked Collei back into bed before she heard the smaller of the two speak up.
"Thanks for everything Amber, I probably would've lost control if you hadn't shown up when you did. I really don't deserve your kindness you've given me." Collei said in a tired voice.
Amber just smiled at her "Don't mention it! I wouldn't just stand back and let you suffer through all that and yes, you do deserve my kindness. No matter the circumstance no one should treat you so cruel, you're only a kid and I can't imagine journeying here all on your own. I'm glad I found you when I did."
"Thank you." was the last thing Collei said before drifting off to sleep while Amber stayed with her the entire time.
"Don't worry I won't let any harm come to you anymore."