Cleansing Shallows Solo Finished

Perturbation, when experienced unexpectedly- and it was often unexpected- could drive a human to perform acts most outrageous. Startling. Sometimes even dangerous. The tiniest surprise tap in the right spot, could send parts of a tinkerers foundation tumbling- effectively sending them into a panic. One swift kick to the base, was enough to bring Xailahs building blocks to the ground. Not all, but quite a few. Years of carefully stacked bricks, all methodically laid, were toppled in a matter of seconds; giving view to a lifetime of unresolved problems, things that were eating away at her sense of self. And all over some stupid flowers. She had lost her game of emotional Jenga. The only person she had to blame for it ending so abruptly, was herself. She was always to blame.

A mind cradled in panic, took her to the Forbidden Forrest; where she rid of a few bad memories; only to later revel in the remnants of some old ones. What should have brought her some peace of mind, only worsened her state of hysteria. Sorrow came in hot flashes. Tickled her skin; made her flesh quiver. Beads of cold sweat took form on her brow. She cried. Her keening unified with that from the beings of the woods; it went unheard by human ears. She was too far in for anyone to hear. Too far to be reached. Time was nonexistent in the forest. How long had she been in there? She did not know. Not long enough for anyone to notice her missing from her dorm. Not that anyone would. She was too sneaky-like. Moved like smoke through a keyhole. Always coming and going without much notice.

Despite the apparent absence of time, Xailah knew when she overstayed her welcome. The shift of vines snaking through leaves, and climbing over roots, was her warning. She had to go, and go she would. Picking herself up from the decaying forest floor, she turned in the direction from whence she entered. Leaving was the hardest part. Things blocked the way that weren't there before, but she pushed through. A humid brain fog was distraction enough, to allow her to focus on exiting the woods. The haze blocked out the senses that would have coaxed her onto a twisting path that lead away from egression.

She looked calmer- calmer than she did, going in. But her panic was not yet over. Oh no. It had only just begun. Her hair swayed slowly. Didn't twitch this time; only curled and relaxed at the ends, as if breathing. The pale tresses fell straight against her fragile form. A flowery scent scuttled beneath her nose. She became aware that she reeked. She reeked of roses- the roses she had just disposed of. The smell mixed with the blood on her hands, and stitched itself into her clothes. Or maybe it was all in her head. She couldn't tell. She didn't know. But what she did know, was that she didn't like it. And just like that, another cycle was sent into motion. Run. Wail. Cry. Repeat.

Grass crunched beneath black bootheels. An ocean of silver marked the start (or was it the end?) of the school grounds. This time, Xailah knew right away where she was being taken. Even through the smog that presently clouded most of her thoughts, she could still distinguish the ever-prominent silhouette of need. The need to eliminate. The need to cleanse. Urgency overthrew her. Took her control by force. The lake was close. The lake was clean. She could not be stopped- not at the pace she was going. Full speed ahead.

The lake shone inky in the night, its face reflecting only sparse white specs and a waning moon that looked as if it had fallen in. It was relatively calm, moving very little. Small waves skimmed the mirrory surface. Ripples of water crept up the muddy shores, looking for small stones to grab before it could be tugged back into itself. The tranquility was only temporary. The body of water would find itself the victim of a disturbance. A foreign body had entered, bringing with it a cacophony of subdued snivels. An attempt to quiet would be made; watery fingers pushed at the little animal, rocking it from side to side; in the way a mother would to her child.

Xailah rubbed aggressively at her gloveless hands- trying to force a scent that was never there, out of them- as she knelt in the shallow water. Her knees sank into the thick sludge that coated the bottom of the lake. The stockings that covered her legs, failed to protect the lacerations she gained from her swift flight through the woods. The thin black fabric, revealed small patches of pale white skin and narrow, red scores. The cold water seeped into the open cuts she had obtained from low-hanging tree branches, which had whipped her bloody. It stung. The water stung. She crawled. Slipped. A misstep sent her further, into the sea of ink and stars. The lake reluctantly took her into its arms. Held her until she went under, and the dark water bubbled into her lungs. This did not mark an end- but rather a beginning. Xailah would be alright. She would find a way back to shore. Somehow.