Find You
Sara was completely drained from running around trying to survive in the island that she had fallen fast asleep on the makeshift bed she had made days ago. She couldn't care less of the impending dangers to come, at that moment, her mind, body and sould were crying for rest.
She felt a light touch go over her cheek, moving a couple of hair strands away from her face. She should have been startled, but she felt comforted by the gentle touch, so she did not protest. When she slowly opened her eyes adjusting to the light, she heard a familiar voice.
"There you are. Hello, Sara."
"Nyssa?"
As her vision cleared, she indeed saw the dark haired beauty before her.
"Yes, my love. It is me."
Sara's heart started to fill with relief and joy, all her worries fading away, she swiftly wrapped her arms around Nyssa, startling the both of them.
"How? How are you here?"
"I have my ways. Forgive me. It took me a long time to find you. They said you were gone, but I simply couldn't accept it. And I was right not to give up."
"Thank you, Nyssa."
"Let's go. Let me take you somewhere safe where you can rest and fully recover. Let me be here for you. Let me take care of you."
Completely overwhelmed by her unexpected rescue and the heartfelt emotion etched in Nyssa's every word, she was left speechless and only nodded. She thought she would never see her again. Even if she got off the island, she thought she would not want to see her again after breaking her heart over and over, but there she is holding her tight against her, being so protective. She still didn't give up on her and now she found her. She knew she at least owed her another chance. And she vowed to give this next one all she has.
Days turned to weeks, and Sara slowly regained her strength. She still had nightmares and had trouble sleeping, but then Nyssa would hold her and everything would be fine again. She was very blessed to have Nyssa caring for her and loving her, and she knew not to abuse it again. Not like what she'd done before.
"I have to leave for a few days." Nyssa said to her as she hugged her from behind. "I just have some things to take care of."
Sara laid her head back against her shoulder, enjoying the tender feeling of being close to her.
"Another mission."
"Yes, but I'll be back as soon as I can."
"Don't rush. I just want you back whole."
"I will be quick and careful. I have you to come home to." She kissed the back of her head.
Sara turned around to look her in the eyes.
"I don't know what I did to deserve to be loved by you the way you do."
Nyssa gave her a light but meaningful smile.
"Because you light up the darkest corners of my heart, and it is I who doesn't know how I deserved to have someone so good and pure as you in my life."
A wistful tear fell from her eye. She still did not understand how she deserved Nyssa, but she won't question it any longer. She would just be grateful for the love pouring down on her.
Nyssa placed a kiss on her forehead, each of her eyes, her nose, cheeks, lips, then there she deepened. Sweet. Soothing. They pulled apart for air, but the hunger they had for each other was clear in their eyes.
"I have to go, Sara."
"I know."
"I will be back, I promise."
"I know. You always do."
Sara tried to keep herself preoccupied with various activities she could think of doing, which was not much. Most of the time, she would just look out the window waiting for Nyssa's return. She grew more anxious each day that passed. Not being so comfortable at a foreign land with Nyssa's absence.
She was pacing back and forth by the window, then at the corner of her eye, she saw a jeep heading their direction. It has to be Nyssa. She looked out and saw it was indeed her. The excitement was evident in her smile. And the expression was mirrored by Nyssa when she caught sight of her beloved by the window. Sara rushed downstairs and heard the jeep halt to a stop. Then she heard two loud noises as she was opening the door. Bang. Bang. Gunshots. She hurried out to see Nyssa with a grim expression on her face, hands clutching her abdomen. She moved to her side and caught her as she collapsed in her arms. Everything else around her faded. Her sole focus was the woman lying in her arms.
"Don't leave me. Don't you dare do that to me, Nyssa. Please. Keep fighting. We'll get you through this. Don't leave me."
Then another shot echoed. Nyssa looked up at her and said, "run, Sara. Run!"
Sara jerked awake and found herself still on the island, nestled under a tree where she had fallen asleep out of exhaustion.
"A dream. Of course."
She heard rustling of leaves from a distance and knew that trouble was headed her way. She peered from the back of the tree to assess her chances of getting out of there before she got caught in the crossfire. She ran and ran until she was out of breath and had to take a break. She once again hid amongst the trees, checking if there were any threats near. No one, nothing. She calmed herself a bit, trying to catch a few breaths. Then her thoughts wandered to the dream she had of Nyssa.
"Will I ever get off this island? Oh, Nyssa."
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Nyssa sailed off with a few of her men, along with Nate and Alec. Nate had supported her agenda of looking for Sara, even though he had little hope that they would succeed, nevertheless, he will be by Nyssa's side along the way. Alec, on the other hand, had been completely against the idea, but still came to make sure Nyssa doesn't get herself killed in her hopeless search for her beloved.
"Your father will not be pleased."
"I know. Yet you express more displeasure than he ever did."
"I am just looking out for you, Nyssa."
"I am no longer that kid that you had to follow around. I am very capable of taking care of myself. I didn't need your protection then, and I don't need your protection now."
"You have always been strong, and the greatest amongst us even then, but you have been compromised. You have allowed a weakness and have been drowning in it. Sooner or later, that will get you killed."
"Death is inevitable. She will not get me killed. Beign born as heir to the demon, and being part of the League, my death has been apparent from the beginning."
"She's a distraction."
"To me? Or to you? It seems that you are more troubled by these thoughts than I am. I didn't ask you to come, Alec. You went along at your own accord. I wish not to hear anymore of your ramblings."
Alec left her side, frustrated that he still cannot sway her. He ran into Nate as he was going down the cabin.
"This is all your fault."
"She had the right to know. You robbed her of that information from the start. She would have found out somehow even it had not come from me."
"At least she would have moved on by then."
"Do you really see her, Alec? She would never move on. Not even death can consume the love she has for Sara. She hides it very well but it will always be there."
Feeling even more pissed off, Alec walked away before his temper spikes and blood bath could have begun.
Nate found Nyssa looking out into the sea, eyes clouded with confusion.
"Do you think I'll find her?" Nyssa asked, sensing Nate's presence.
"Does it matter what I think?"
"Alec thinks this is hopeless and would only get me killed. She would get me killed."
"Does it matter what he thinks?"
"It makes me question everything I'm doing right now."
"Alright. To help you with your resolve, since he has always been a life-sucking asshole who never had anything good to say, and I am a supportive friend who knew you when you showed your humanly side, she won't get you killed. We're assassins for fuck's sake, that will get us killed. What I see is that ever since you met her, she has always been your reason to live. You would never give up. You won't even give in to death, as long as you believe that she is out there somewhere. If we're going to find her, I don't know. Keeping on going or accepting it is all up to you. Whatever choice you make, I am by your side."
"I keep thinking what if she's really gone, all of this would have been for nothing. Then the thought of her scared and alone someplace out there, waiting for someone to find her, it tears apart. I can't give up if there's a chance of that."
"Then we keep looking."
Nyssa felt her resolve get stronger with her trusted friend by her side. She will find her. She can feel it deep down that Sara is out there waiting for her. And she can't and wouldn't give up because of that.
"I'm coming, Sara. Be strong. I will find you." She whispered, hoping the wind would carry out her words to her beloved.
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Sara has been running for hours trying to get away from some men shooting at her. She no longer knows who they are. She had already given up the idea that there were no other people in the island, when every couple of days she would find herself running and hiding from a bunch of armed men. How and why they are there, she has no idea nor does she care. Maybe the how part she does care about, knowing it could mean a way out for her, but the life threatening predicaments she finds herself in make it difficult for her to investigate any further.
Totally preoccupied of thoughts of leaving the island, she let her guard down and got jumped by one of the armed men. She was taken down, but thankfully, the man's gun also flew in the process. She kicked at him and got herself free under him. She was to kick him again in the head while he was getting his footing, but the man caught her foot, then smiled grimly at her. As if saying that she should not have done that and that she would pay dearly for it.
Then out of nowhere, Sara heard a light whooshing sound by her ear followed by a weird impact sound, then she saw the man's face retort in pain and he just collapsed in front of her. His chest was pierced by an arrow. Did someone save her? Oliver? Oliver had learned how to use a bow and arrow on the island and had taught her a while back as well, but she had lost her bow from all the running around. Could it be that Oliver is still alive? She hadn't seen him since the incident on the Amazo. Her thoughts were interrupted when she felt a sudden pressure and searing pain on her back. She fell on her knees and all the ideas of being helped and rescued fleeted away.
She reached to her lower back and found an arrow embedded in it. She couldn't get it out, she would bleed out in minutes, and she has to get out of there right away. She snapped the arrow as close as she could get to the head. She tore a cloth from the dead man lying in front of her and used it to stabilize and bandage her wound.
She found the man's gun and picked it up before she ran off as fast and as far as she could. Once again, she finds herself running for her dear life, but somehow this felt different. The people running after her seemed more strategic and precise, and they were wearing black hoods and masks, armed with bows, which frightened her even more. Somehow it felt familiar to her, their look, but couldn't pinpoint why.
She tried shooting at the them, but running, losing blood, and shooting at the same time wasn't really doing well for her. One of them caught up to her. The hooded person grabbed at her, she pulled back then delivered a swift punched which was easily blocked. She tried kicking and punching, delivering one blow after another, yet they were all just being blocked. She was starting to get confused. Her opponent wasn't striking back, but she just continued with her offense. She connected with a punch to the jaw startling the both of them. Sara took that opportunity to run, but her assailant grabbed her by the arm once more with a much firmer grip. She swung back but her other hand was also caught and twisted to her side, making her face to face with the person. The dark colored eyes staring back at her was vaguely familiar, but she had to break free and tried wriggling out of the tight grip.
"Sara, stop!"
That voice. Paired with those eyes. It can't be. She continued fighting the hold on her. Tears were starting to cloud her vision. It can't be. It's not her. It's just her mind playing tricks on her again.
"Sara. It's me. Nyssa."
"No, you're not. You're not real."
Surprised by her words, Nyssa loosened her grip a little allowing an openning for Sara to strike. She pushed her back and delivered a kick to the stomach making Nyssa stumble backwards.
Sara sprinted off. She thought this was just another figment of her imagination if not a dream. There was no way that Nyssa was there on the island with her. She ran and continued running. She can't allow herself to be sucked in to another sick fantasy her mind has created.
It wasn't really the reaction Nyssa was expecting, but could she blame her? She's been out there trying to survive on her own for such a time. She chased after her. She never thought she would actually find her, but had greatly hoped to. Now that she had, she won't let go of her again.
She sprinted behind her, rushing through the woods, leaping over up rooted roots, rocks, and ducking under low hanging branches. She made sure not to lose sight of the blonde girl running away from her. It was a familiar feeling that has always made her insides feel like being clenched and pulled apart.
Her continuous chase after Sara, and Sara always pulling or running away from her. She won't give up. Not until she finds a way to make her stay.
Nyssa finally caught up with her again and not taking any more chances, she wrapped her arms tightly around Sara from behind, flushing their bodies so close together.
"Let go of me!" Sara kept shouting and wriggling.
"Sara, please. It's me, Nyssa. Please, stop. Please, Sara." Nyssa pleaded.
"No, you're not real! You can't be!" Sara kept insisting more to herself than to the person holding her.
"Sara. Calm down. Please. It's Nyssa, my love. It's alright now. I'm here. I'm here now. It'll be okay now. I've got you." Nyssa soothed her, assuring her that it was in fact real.
Sara was too exhausted and finally gave in to it. She stopped fighting and slowly faded out of consciousness in Nyssa's arms.
"Nyssa." It escaped her lips before she passed out.
A small wave of relief washed over Nyssa as she held her beloved in her arms. She's hurt but she will care for her until she's healed. She's lost but she will guide her along the way. What matters to her now is that Sara is alive and back in her arms.
"Everything will be alright now. I will make certain of it...for you." Nyssa whispered to Sara's unconscious figure she's carrying.
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Nyssa was seated beside the bed Sara was sleeping on. She had washed her body and tended to her wounds. All throughout, she would just flinch but remained unconscious. Nyssa's heart breaks at how fragile Sara seems to be.
Sara's eyes slowly fluttered open, adjusting to the light. Her surroundings seemed unfamiliar to her sending a wave of panic down her spine, making her bolt right up, and also making her head spin and her body ache.
"Careful."
She turned to the voice who was now inches beside her holding her still.
"Nyssa?" Disbelief still echoed in her tone.
"Yes, Sara. It is me." Nyssa gave her a hopeful smile.
"It can't be." Sara said below a whisper. "How?"
"It took me quite some time, but I couldn't give up. I had to find you no matter what."
Sara just stared at her as if she's seen something alien.
"You don't believe me. You still think it's not real, but it is. I am real, Sara. You no longer have to be alone and afraid. You're safe now."
"I...I...I've been here. This. This moment. We...you and me...we were doing fine. We were happy. Then you had to leave. I watched you die." Sara's words were starting to tremble as tears streamed down her face. "Then I was back on the island." She looked up at Nyssa and searched for her eyes. "I don't know if I can do all that again. Have my life back then have everything ripped apart again and waking up with all of it just being a foolish dream."
Nyssa pulled her in an embrace holding her tight, feeling their heartbeats meld together. She cupped her face and held her at a distance so she could look deep in her eyes. Tears threatening to fall.
"I'm sorry. I don't know what it must have been like for you out there. I'm sorry you had to go through all that. I'm sorry I wasn't there by your side to protect you. I'm sorry I hadn't come sooner to save you. I'm sorry you had to be alone in all that. But please believe me when I tell you this is real. I am here, and you are here with me. I will take care of you. I will protect you. I will do all that I can to make you feel safe again. I would never leave your side, but if I would have to, I promise you this, I will always find my way back to you. I will always find you."
"Why? I hurt you, but..."
Nyssa smiled, closed her eyes allowing the tears to fall, and leaned her forehead against Sara's.
"Because I love you, Sara."