[center][h1][b][color=red]A[/color][/b][/h1][/center][sub]Interactions/Mentions: VV-[@Estylwen][/sub][hr]
[indent]In her mind, she floated in a strange limbo, a place caught between the gentle embrace of sleep and the bright light of wakefulness. It was like wandering through a thick fog, where the air felt heavy, and everything around her seemed to distort and twist. Voices drifted to her like whispers carried on the wind, soft and unclear, as if they were echoing from the depths of a distant cave. Though she couldn’t grasp the meaning of the words, the sounds painted a picture of mixed emotions—low and sharp tones, with the occasional rise of irritation or amusement.

Her limbs felt like lead, each one encased in an invisible weight. The sensation was akin to being submerged in water, where movement required a Herculean effort for such an unyielding body. The steady ache in her chest lingered, dull yet persistent and pressing against her heart each time she breathed. And though she yearned to stretch or turn her head, even the slightest motion summoned a tidal wave of dizziness that crashed upon her, leaving her feeling as if she were firmly anchored to the ground, unable to drift away.

The voices grew louder momentarily, one rising above the others—a rigid, authoritative cadence that felt like a command from on high. [i]Solen?[/i] This name shot into her mind uninvited, igniting a tiny light in the dark corners of her thoughts. She fought to concentrate, to untangle the jumble of sounds surrounding her, but just as quickly, they began to fade. 

A metallic taste clung to her tongue, sharp and bitter, reminiscent of copper. VV's urgent voice, the warm flow of crimson liquid trickling from her nose, and the heavy weight of another body below her as the world fell into darkness. It was all she could remember. 

Her fingers twitched then, the faintest motion, but enough to confirm she still had control over her body. With a focused mind, she tried to latch onto that tiny flicker of movement, attempting to pry her eyes open. The first attempt was futile, however, her eyelids were too heavy to lift. She tried again, slower this time, and light began to filter through the haze. The world was blurry at first, shapes and colours twirling together in a ballet. Her head pounded in protest, but she forced herself to push past it, blinking until her vision cleared.

The gray walls of the barracks came into view first, a low hum filling the air, punctuated by the occasional click or whir of unseen machinery. She was lying on a thin mattress, its surface rough against her skin, and as her gaze shifted slowly to take in the rest of her surroundings,  the red glow of laser bars caught her eyes. 

A’s breath was as light as a feather, barely making a sound, as she gazed at the sight of VV sitting at the base of her barrier. All around her, the others engaged in conversation,  but to A, their words were just a blur of sounds. 

“VV…what…happened?” A said, her voice scratchy like sandpaper, hoping it was enough to draw her partner’s attention.[/indent]