The Tainted: A Story of Those Under Evil's Curse

CHAPTER 7: Octavia: Mama

White hot iron is pressed against my wounds and all I can do is watch through placid eyes.

With the precision as it was pressed against my neck it must be a unicorn.

The world is spinning, it must be from the medication they must have given me and moments later I'm wide awake looking up at the ceiling.

Eventually I pull myself up so I can look around; I'm in the middle of the tent.

What happened?

I get off the bed to look around but as soon as my hoof touches the ground the tent is whisked away by a sandstrom.

Sand starts to swirl around as I'm finally standing on the ground.

Nopony is around me as I start to walk around the ruins that are covered by sand.

Suddenly it picks up and I'm blinded and despite my best efforts wiping it away isn't going to help but just as suddenly as it came it left.

My surroundings changed drastically while in the time I was blind and I find myself walking through war torn streets; it almost seems as if I'm on a spider web at the center.

Suddenly bullets start screeching over head trapping me in the spiders trap.

I feel one graze my ear sending a sharp whine into my ear long after the bullet has gone.

A fear starts to press against my thoughts nearly sending me into a panic, it's only after I slide under a barricade that I find myself curled up against the safety trying not to go insane with fear and it's only after seeing others hiding with me that I'm able to calm my fear; I have to be brave if not for me then them.

All of them are hurt but at least they are alive.

Bang!

Suddenly I'm covered in gore and it makes breathing almost impossible.

I guess things are never going to change, I see a chance and scream for everyone to run while I'm leading the charge.

Suddenly a large explosion causes the air to feel with screams, I try to keep calm even as rubble is falling all around me.

Fire is everywhere and I can hear somepony speaking throughout all the madness that surrounds us.

I continue forward seeing shelter in an old building.

As soon as I went through the doorway I was in a field of flowers.

I became reverent at the sudden change from the war torn path I had been running through not even a moment ago.

I was finally safe and started to walk around through the flowers; as if I had finally found a home where I could be safe.

I look around and see the ponies all around me some limping but all of them looking a lot better but one was missing... the one that I can't live with out.

I feel the tears falling from my eyes as I run back screaming her name.

I burst from safety back onto the field of war seeing a mare limping desperately to safety as bullets are hitting the ground all around her.

I run forward providing a shield and support to help her along.

I scream feeling something bury it's way into my shoulder but continue to pull our way to safety.

Eventually I pull us through the doorway to safety but it's gone.

I get her to cover and do what I can for her wounds even though I'm losing blood a lot faster.

"Octi?" I felt a spark of regret at that one "you're bleeding..."

I didn't say anything and pulled the bandages around her bleeding wounds.

I slump forward onto the mare I love with a soft laugh "I know" I hugged her close.

I see blood starting to stain her white coat crimson and close my eyes ready to take my last breath.

Everything goes red as I continue to bleed even though I keep my eyes shut tight not wanting to see the mess that it's causing.

And in that moment I take my last breath.