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“Are you sure you sure you’re alright, Honey?” Chailee’s mom hovered over the girl who was now tucked safely into her own bed after spending two nights at the hospital. Her injuries hadn’t been as bad as they could have been and truthfully she could have left after the first night but the doctors wanted to keep an eye on her for an extra night before discharging her. Of course, as soon as they had heard Chay’s parents were at the hospital and the hoovering began and much to her dismay, it didn’t seem that her Mother was finished with doting upon her like she was a small sick child. Chailee couldn’t bring herself to say anything though. She had put them through so much and felt horrible because of it.

“Yea, I am fine.” Sitting propped up in bed, Chailee looked down at the paper back novel sitting in her lap. Reading was her only real means of entertainment at the moment. She wanted to play her flute but had been warned to be careful with her jaw for a few weeks. The ligaments and muscles needed to recover from the damage done to them when they were dislocated. Not to mention it still pained her to move her mouth much from the rather large tender bruise that glared angrily from the side of her face in vivid blues and purples. The rest of her body just ached from random minor bruises and cuts that were already beginning to heal. Truthfully, when she looked back on it, she had gotten out of that fight relatively well. It could have been worse. Oh so much worse.

Her mom reached down to brush Chailee’s hair from her face before planting a kiss on her forehead. “Alright. Just let us know if you need anything.”

Chailee nodded and watched as her mother left the bedroom leaving the door cracked open. She sighed and put a bookmark in her book before closing it. Absently she looked at the novel as she ran her hands over the cover. The raised writing of the novels name slid under her fingertips as she reflected.

When she had woken up after her first night in the hospital to find her parents there she had no idea what to do or say. Both of them had obviously been crying, her Mother more-so than her Father but it hurt her knowing they were distressed because of her mistakes. Then she hurt them more by sitting there and lying to them about what happened. They didn’t know of course, but she did. Is this what my relationship is going to be like with them now? Full of lies and alibis?

Running a hand over her face she pushed the fantasy story away, further down her bed. She was angry at herself for thinking that being a senshi was anything like the stories she had read in her books. In them the good guy was strong, independent, sure of themselves and always prevailed over evil. I am not any of that. It frustrated her.

Suddenly her mind shifted to that night and the Nega’s hand buried within her chest toying with her starseed.

Chailee shuddered and shoved the memory aside as she drew her legs up to her chest, wrapping her arms around them over top of the blankets. Maybe I should just stop powering up. She mused as she sat there. Unconsciously she moved to rest her chin upon her knees and hissed softly at the pain from the pressure as she pulled back. What an idiot.

Flipping the blankets off of her she slipped out of bed and carefully got to her feet as her sore muscles protested the movement. She moved over to her desk and sat in the cushioned wooden chair. Opening the middle drawer she reached in and pulled out her henshin pen and stared at it. Would I be better off just giving up? It was pretty obvious that I was no more than a punching bag for the Nega. What can I possibly do? Dejectedly she placed the pen on the desk and sat back gently.

But will trying to ignore the war really be the best thing to do? Staring at the item on her desk she rolled it gently with a finger before looking up to peer out of her bay window. I don’t want to hurt them anymore, but I also want to protect them. They don’t know about any of this. They’re in danger. If I can keep them safe then isn’t all of this worth it?

Her eyes drifted to her bed where the novel sat and she shook her head. I really am nothing like the heros in those books. After one failure I am ready to give up. Grabbing a hair tie that laid inside a side drawer she gathered up her unruly hair and tied it back in a high ponytail. Little wisps fell down to frame her face and she brushed them to the side.

Grabbing the pen she put it away before pushing away from her desk and walked back to the bed. Grabbing the book that lay there discarded she slipped back under the covers and propped the book back in her lap. The title ‘Sword of the Rightful King: A Novel of King Arthur’ stood out in it’s golden letters with a picture of an old sword stuck in a stone behind them. Her father had gone and picked it out for her yesterday at the bookstore. He said he had noticed the library book she had borrowed recently and thought she would enjoy it. She had almost finished the book in between her frequent naps. Looking at it now though reminded her of something else from that night.

I should go see Tony. I need to thank him. If it hadn’t been for Camelot Chailee may have been just another number added to that Nega’s list of dead enemies. Maybe just talking to him will help ease her troubled thoughts? She didn’t think she was fully ready to give up powering up but she feared what the consequences could be for her and her parents. After all, how many stories could she make up? How long could she continue to sneak out at night? Not that sneaking out was going to happen for a little while now until she healed up.
Blinking she realized she had been staring at a spot on her blanket just above the book. Putting the book on her nightstand Chailee nestled further down into her covers. Her tired body and mind drifted as she closed her eyes. I think I want to keep being a senshi. I...I want to protect people...I...just need to learn...how… Her thoughts slowly faded out as the young girl drifted off into a dreamless slumber.

Distressing Memories
Solo
(Backdated to June, 2016)


Sleep was a sweet mistress, and one that Chailee very rarely got to indulge in. So, when a decision had been made to stay home the evening and not patrol, the young girl took all means to make sure that she would enjoy this rare pleasure. An evening of pampering herself led to several hours curled up in her bed reading before slumber called. Slipping her bookmarker into the well-worn library book, and a flick of a switch on her bedside lamp, the girl was ready to fall into what she expected to be a deep dreamless sleep.

Cold. It was terribly cold. Her blonde hair hung limply around her face as rain fell from the heavens above.

Flash.

Thunder booms.

There was a great stress and sadness. This world had been at war for so long, and with this gathering, it was like a great failure on her own part. She couldn’t stop this. Nothing she did or say could sway Eir. The man, kneeling in front of them all, was battered and beaten, a ‘traitor’ with the word crudely carved into the skin of his forehead in a language she could not read.

Another Flash

She stood next to the woman, Eir. The King. The armour she doned glinted with each flash of lightning over head. The battle hammer, one of ornate detail and certainly not something she had ever seen the King use in battle was gripped in Eir’s hand. She wanted to plead one more time for the man’s life. To try and come up with a more diplomatic way to deal with this, but knew it would fall on deaf ears. What was happening here was beyond anything she could stop.

The weapon was raised high, as if hailing to the Gods above, before it fell.

Flash.

Crimson awashed the rocks at her feet.

BOOM!

Chailee startled awake, body heaving as she sucked in air and sat up. A soft sheen of sweat covered her as she buried her face in her hands.