The door had no sooner finished closing than Astrid's balance began to waffle as she was left in darkness once more. Half-stepping, half-falling, she descended the remainder of the spiral staircase, her knees threatening to buckle. All she had just experienced still assaulted her senses in an aching barrage.

Some innermost part of her, despite the fact that a short time ago she had scarcely been able to comprehend the idea of breathing knew it was unnatural to have your head pumped with such knowledge in such a short timeframe. The information was still raw, settling itself in her mind and imprinting itself permanently into everything she would say, think, and do from this point on.

The voice had said it was....a gift, this knowledge. One was supposed to be happy to recieve gifts. Why, then, did she feel so....what was the word? Violated? The voice had certainly not helped much with its threat of ending her should she abuse this 'gift'.

Slender green arms wrapped around her shoulders as she gave a small pretty shiver, like petals blown in a gentle wind. Dead was not something she liked at all, and becoming it terrified her. Even in her short time in existance, she already knew that she very much wished to KEEP existing.

And so, she would be a good little girl and do as the voice had said. At least until she discovered alternatives.

As the throbbing in her temples eased, she recovered herself and continued on her way...