Why's it always //darkest// ℛight ℬefore the ☀dawn☀? Locket

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Colton kept up with them, jogging alongside Doru and Mira.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"There it is!" Dima panted, pointing at the Academy up ahead. "How much longer, do you think, before the sun comes up?"

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

(Bump)

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

"Not much longer," Colton grunted, looking concerned as he pushed himself faster.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Doru picked up his pace, just hoping that the two Moroi would be able to keep up. Sun wouldn't kill them, but it would make them extremely weak.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

He wasn't so worried because Colton could deal with being weak for a while. He didn't /want/ to be, but still.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The first sun's rays spilled over the horizon and fell upon the small party. It didn't take long for the light to take effect on Dima's body. He stumbled once, but forced himself to keep going.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Colton gritted his teeth and pushed on, narrowing his eyes slightly.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Ten agonizing minutes later, Dima staggered through the gates into the Academy. Doru followed him in, Mira in his arms.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Colton wanted to slump to the floor, but he forced himself to remain upright, a grimace on his lips.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Dima slumped against one of the guardians that rushed over to him. His face was paler than usual, white as a ghost.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Colton staggered, at first waving off the help. But the Moroi was already exhausted from reviving Mira, so there was no way he'd be able to stay on his feet much longer.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Doru set Mira on her feet and then grabbed Colton's shoulder. "You okay, boy?"

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

He squeezed his eyes shut and shook his head, fighting off a wave of dizziness.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

"Let's get these three to the infirmary," Doru ordered the guardians on duty at the gate.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

This time, he allowed himself to bed led off to the infirmary. He could barely see straight, so he mumbled a quick 'thank you' under his breath.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

Dima fainted halfway there and one of the guardians had to carry him the rest of the way. Mira, though, managed to walk. She was quickly regaining her strength.

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Colton remained conscious, though just barely. When they reached the infirmary, he all but collapsed on one of the cots.

[ᴄʀʏsᴛᴀʟғʀᴏsᴛ]

The guardian laid Dima down on the cot beside Colton. Mira, of course, protested as Doru dragged her toward another. "I don't need one!" she said. "I feel fine."

[нαℓƒ~мσση]

Colton laid back, looking up at the ceiling. He could hear Mira's protests through the fog in his mind and it made him smile.