I can’t do this. I’m so tired, my food rations are barely keeping me alive and the amount of water I’ve consumed hasn’t left room for the amount of sweat I’ve produced.

“I’m going to die here.” I murmured as I collapsed in the desert. Dawn was breaking and I’d have to rest soon. I took a sip of water from the last sleeve in my pocket and wadded my jacket up beneath me. I’d been walking all night, and running for a while, I couldn’t keep doing it. I was exhausted, having had little water and food in the last seven days. I was feeling helpless. I wanted to take a huge gulp of water and shove down the nutrition bar, but I couldn’t afford to do that; I only had half a bar and half a pack of water left, I had to be careful. I knew that if I kept going in any direction I was bound to hit civilization. I was positive there was something outside of F.E.A.R. and if there wasn’t I’d just have to die trying to find it, but death was the final option.

I pulled the tarp out my jacket, and put it over my body. Seven days. I had been running for seven days, not including the night I escaped, and I was so tired, I just wanted to sleep. My body ached and my throat was so dry I couldn’t even lick my lips to moisten them.

Ashtin. I heard the familiar voice of The Prophet speak to me. Ashtin, where are you?

“I’m dying Prophet, it doesn’t matter where I am.” I said with what little strength I had left.
Talking made my throat burn, and my voice was raspy. My head was pounding now that I had stopped moving. I had no energy left, but I couldn’t eat, I had to wait, I’d already used my allotted portion for today.

Ashtin, listen to me, you have to stay awake, alright. We’ve been looking for you, and we would’ve found you by now if you had just stopped moving.

“You’re not real.” My voice cracked. “You’re a hallucination. I’m going to die.”

No, Ashtin, you aren’t going to die, now sit up, we’re looking for you, Ashtin, just sit up and wait for us, we’re coming.

“No one’s coming.” I said to myself, deciding to ignore the voice. “I’m going to die.”

Ashtin don’t give up! Just tell me where you are!

“I’m in the desert, surrounded by cracked sand, and I’m going to die.” I laughed. “There’s nothing left to do. At least I’ll die free.”

I felt my eyes close and the blackness soon drowned out the sounds of The Prophet’s desperate pleas for me to stay awake. It was alright for me to die. I’d tried hard to survive, but everything hurt, and I just wanted to relax.

“Goodbye.” I whispered into nothingness, “It’s over.” I smiled as everything was gone.

---

“No, Ashtin, everything is not over.” A deep and angry voice chuckled as he picked up the limp body of his greatest asset. “No, everything is just beginning.”

He began walking in the direction of his camp, a crooked grin on his face, knowing that he’d finally succeeded, and soon the Wild Ones, and The Prophet, would be within his grasp.

Notes

WHAT!!!! IS SHE DEAD!!!!
Here's a hint, no, she isn't dead XD I'll tell you that but what I won't tell you is who this new guy is. What the fudge, right? Well he's going to be a main character, so don't just brush him off, he's also going to be a huge jerk, so you should start hating him now. What's going to happen to Ashtin and this mystery guy, and what about The Prophet? What is he thinking? All this and more will be answered in the next installment of "Gasping For Air" which I will be posting tomorrow as soon as I have it written. I'm not looking forward to these next parts, but we'll make it through. It's going to be heartbreaking for me, but maybe you guys will laugh, I don't know, I don't know your lives. ^.^

Anywho, thanks for reading, comment if you liked it, or comment if you didn't. I know it was sort of short, but the next one will be way longer and I have a special surprise in store for you. :)

Stay tense
♥ Ashtin