Chapter Text
I groaned as my mind was woken up from deep sleep by an asshole shaking me with good force, rattling my brain. I rolled onto my back, my mind and body flipping between sleeping and feeling like I was being pulled back from the edge of the Earth.
I opened my eyes to the blurry outline, my body swaying like the Maw was caught in a rocking wave as I shook once again. I let out a complaining grumble, kicking out one of my legs at the dickhead to make this fucking bullshit stop.
A grunt from the person sounded when my leg made contact with another leg covered in fabric, the sound of bare feet slapping against wood then filled my hearing. A pair of hands then grabbed my shoulders and shook me violently to the point I almost threw up.
Thankfully for me, I didn’t throw the fuck up as the shaking stopped leaving me back in the same spot I had started when I had gone to bed the night before. I grinded my teeth as the blind line between sleeping and waking up was shattered, my body and mind finally woke up.
I let out a growl as I sat up on my bed in the Nursery at last, the thing creaking as I did so, my raven hair hanging over my face and my eyes glowering down at the asshat before my gaze softened when I saw who was in front of me.
Though the Nursery was dark considering we didn’t have any lanterns or any lights installed, my eyes were still able to make out the blue clad form of my best friend, Seven who was once my cellmate back in a trading station or something.
He still wore the same clothes when he was locked up in those cages but the ankle shackle around his leg was a new thing, it made me wince to see that especially considering our previous situation before Quince came in and rescued us both from something worse.
Not that the Maw is less worse then our previous life we left behind, but it is more stable and made more sense then damn near everything in the Pale City given the Signal Tower’s control. At least the adults take better care of us then anything else, not too much but still.
As my eyes adjusted to the darkness, I saw the rest of my traveling group: Quince and the three youngsters I helped to raise, all dressed in their normal attire and their heavy backpacks all packed to the brim with supplies that we had collected over our time traveling the Pale City before meeting the Ferryman.
At first, I was confused as to why they were dressed like that till my memory hit my head like a brick. Today was the day that we escape the Maw, starting the second we woke up. I guessed I forgot about that because I was sleeping so well.
I blushed sheepishly as I got up from my bed, made it quickly then grabbed my backpack that I already prepared the night before, placed it on my back then followed after Quince to the Nursery’s exit and the Janitor’s entrance in the cycles according to another raven haired girl who would wander in here after waking up on the Maw.
A cold sweat broke out on my forehead as my memory was assaulted by an image of the Janitor flashed inside my brain, I grasped Seven’s hand and my flashlight tightly with both of my hands to the point a bone in Seven’s body broke or something within my flashlight broken or snapped making it useless now.
I didn’t see Seven’s face as Quince placed his ear close to the door to listen for any adults on the other side then carefully pushed the door open, but I felt his other hand upon his shoulder and his head in my hair as he nuzzled into me. I let out a breath as I snuggled into the warmth of his body, the hand holding my flashlight wrapping around him.
The door to the Nursery opening was a familiar sound for me as the Janitor cared for us when he came in, but I nearly jumped out of my skin when my ears were grated by creaking coming from old hinges that desperately needed new oil and fast.
We all winced from the horrible sound, my brothers and sister all crowded around me and Seven, little hands grasping at my dress. I ran a hand through each of my siblings’ hair, my lips brushing each of their foreheads to calm them down hopefully.
They cuddled close to me, their arms wrapping around my waist, little heads resting on my hips. They held me tight almost like they were afraid of losing me, well in a way they did to a leech…
I shuddered violently at that memory, my grip on Seven’s hand and my flashlight tightening unconsciously. I took in a deep breath through my nose as I shook my head, trying to force those memories to the back of my skull in order to focus on getting the hell out of here.
I’m far from a naive idiot, I know the way out is going to be difficult. The Maw is not safe, it never was going to be safe for us and I doubt it ever will be safe. I couldn’t remember the last time I was safe even after arriving here. There are dangers around every corner that may be small but still pose a threat to us if we’re careful.
Case in point, the leeches: little black slimy bastards that suck out the blood of us all. I hate them, I fucking hate those sons of bitches as much as I hate being scared to the point I can’t feel anything else. I already have enough encounters to hold so much hatred for them.
Thankfully for me, Quince had mapped a route out on a piece of loose papers for us to take so we could avoid both the adults and the leeches. Quince is not an idiot despite being the jock type like those stupid cliche characters in a book or something, he’s lived in the world long enough to know how to survive and how to avoid sticky situations.
The Maw may make sense but trying to escape is unpredictable as the previous cycles when me and Seven were alone taught me enough. But now with our leader back, we may have an easier escape…hopefully…