She huffs before I feel the flowers snake up my arm and around my shoulder. I watch them, tugging away from them again. As if this is gonna make me struggle less. “You're gonna have to do better than-”
The stems snatches my neck.
They coil around tightly before I have a chance to fight back.
I can't breathe.
I can't breathe.
Why can't I breathe?
“Will you cooperate now?” Grandmother says lowly. “Or do I need to do this to your little dreamscreecher to convince you?”
I look down at her, tears spilling out my sockets as I claw at the stems. I try to cry in response but it dies on my tongue.
I can't fill my lungs with air. It hurts to even try.
My heart pounds. My legs kick. She can't be doing this. Right?
She's the Gift of Love. She's supposed to love.
Why would she… How could she…?
She’ll kill me!
One scrape at the stems with my nails - the stems tighten. I attempt to wrench them off me. They only squeeze tighter.
I frantically tear at them, nearly ripping off my own skin around my neck. They only tighten.
Each scratch is useless.
There is no escape.
Tears run down my cheeks. Colorful dots blur my vision. My feet and hands start to tingle with weakness.
I'm going to die! She'll kill me!
Finally the stems loosen around my neck. A cry escapes me as I fall to my knees. Each breath is like a gulp of cold water after spending a month in the desert. Sobs also escape me as I hold my neck, a river flooding from my eyes.
How could Grandmother do that to me?
“I'll do what it takes to get you to listen,” Grandmother says finally. “Whether I have to use my flowers on you, or that disgusting creature if you dare escape this cleansing. This is for your own benefit.”
No. She can't do that to Ignatia. She doesn't deserve this!
I breathe hoarsely as the stems wrap around my arm and wrist. I cry out in protest but she tugs me towards her, leading me outside of the building.
I fail to see how choking me is for my benefit.
Chapter 58
Ignatia
Something rubs against my shoulder, earning a groan from me as I turn my head onto a cloud of softness.
I don't want to wake up…
"Are you okay?" A vaguely familiar voice whispers.