Escape

"Nala! Nala, can you hear me?!" The familiar voice was breaking through the blur of distorted sounds. A light slap on my cheek brought back the feeling of heaviness in my body. Other senses returned at once, hitting me with an overwhelming dose of pain.

The ache came from everywhere, as if I had managed to strain every muscle in my body and put all my nerves on fire. A ragged exhale left me, and I forced myself to open my eyes, processing my position and surroundings. My legs were lying on the ground, and I couldn't move them. My upper body hung limply, supported by Ash's arms as he knelt next to me. His chest rattled with shallow breaths while his filled-with-concern eyes studied me. His fingers squeezed my arms as if he were urging my reaction.

"What… happened?" I rasped.

"You killed them, Nala," he said softly before glancing around. I followed his line of sight and saw burned, still-smoking bodies lying on the ground wherever I looked. Ash and I were the only ones alive. I gasped,