Chapter 42: Survivor's Rage
"AHHHHHHH!"
A blood-curdling scream tore from Rin's throat as she shot upright, eyes wide, frantically scanning the room for an enemy to kill.
Beads of sweat dripped from her forehead in droves, enough for anyone who saw her to wonder if she'd gone for a late-night swim outside.
Her gaze dropped as soon as she realized it had just been the same nightmare again.
She bit down on her lips in an attempt to stop her tears from forming as blood threatened to spill from them.
"Damn it…" she muttered, shaking with anger.
"Rin! Are you alright?"
Rin recoiled and glanced to her side as she suddenly heard a voice from beside her bed.
She exhaled in relief when she saw it was just her blue Mornan roommate with long silver hair and brown eyes, who slept on the bed beside her own.
Nota, her closest friend here, who was currently staring at her with a worried expression.
Rin felt bad. Nota had once again been awoken by her screaming, just like every few days for the last month she had been here.
Rin's expression softened with guilt as she looked away.
"It's nothing. Just the same old nightmares. I'm sorry I keep doing this. It's not fair to you," she said quietly. "We can ask for a room change if you want."
Nota's worry eased the moment she realized Rin was recovering faster than usual this time. She smiled warmly and scooted closer, giving Rin a quick hug before setting a gentle hand on her shoulder.
"Haven't I told you to stop apologizing? You've got nothing to be sorry for. I understand what you're going through."
"I don't care how many times you have these nightmares. I'll always be here to comfort you and remind you that whatever they're about can't hurt you anymore."
"After all, that's what friends are for."
Rin's guilty expression faded as she gave Nota a smile back, although far more restrained.
She truly was grateful she'd been paired with someone like Nota.
At times like this, she felt ashamed of her initial judgment of her. On their first day as roommates, she'd assumed Nota would be like the other blue Mornans who shadowed her constantly, trying to curry favor.
Just like Jet, she was constantly swarmed by Mornans who made rejecting their 'friendship' more tedious than just accepting and ignoring their existence.
Thankfully, her roommate had turned out to be nothing like them. She was just as studious as Rin when it came to training, not willing to fall behind anyone at the base despite three white Mornans being present.
She was friendly towards Rin as well, but wasn't willing to force things when Rin expressed her disinterest at the start.
They didn't grow close until Rin's nightmares resurfaced five days after their arrival here.
On that night, Rin had woken in such terror and confusion that she'd immediately tried to kill Nota, convinced she was the witch.
When she came to her senses, she backed away and apologized, horrified by what she'd done. There was no doubt in her mind that she would be expelled from the Renegades after the incident. Not even her family name could protect her from the crime of trying to kill one of their own. Just like that, she thought her dream was over.
But, to her surprise, Nota, coughing and clutching her bruised neck, had simply said it was okay.
She told no one about the attack, simply asking Rin why she did it.
Rin hesitated, then said the truth, which was that she couldn't tell her or anyone else about her nightmare. A nightmare that was actually her past.
Instead of the anger Rin expected, Nota simply nodded and comforted her, even though she had been the one nearly killed..
And after that night, Rin had the same dream every few days, doing her best to not attack those in her vicinity again.
Nota woke up each time she screamed. And each time, she would comfort her and help her get over her fear quickly. Even without knowing the contents of the dreams that haunted her.
Rin let out another breath before glancing at Nota.
"Thank you again, Nota."
"Anytime!" Nota said with her usual cheerful smile before curling back into bed, preparing for the big day ahead.
Rin did the same, settling her head on the soft pillow she'd brought from home as she stared off into the wall.
'I can still hear the faint melody of that woman's song in my head...' she thought, brows furrowing.
Even after all these years, the memories of the worst day of her life were as vivid as ever.
The Epigones of Zuka. The Witches' Coven. The loud footsteps beyond those chamber doors that caused hardened soldiers to pray their last to the emperor.
Rin could still remember them all.
Her teeth clenched as her hand reached toward the spot above her left shoulder, where a crescent-moon marking rested.
It was a marking that only she could see, something she had learnt the hard way after being forced through repeated counseling sessions when she tried to show others, even those with Heart-shards. She had no idea what it was for, but she suspected it was connected to her missing memories from that day… and how she'd gotten from that alleyway to the main Dune family's medical ward on another planet entirely.
She wished she could tear off her, but it always seemed to grow back with her skin after any injury.
It was the last gift left to her by the Human called 'The Witch'.
A core member of the second chance group and one of the most terrifying beings in the entire universe. And, the target of Rin's bottomless hatred.
Rin couldn't help but wonder if the half-human had been the cause of her buried trauma resurfacing. That was most likely the case, given the shock she felt when she first laid eyes on him. In that moment, she had felt like that little girl running for her life again.
And she hated that, and therefore hated Arbus too.
Her blue eyes burned brightly as she turned and stared up at the ceiling.
'One day. One day, I'll get rid of this thing. One day, I'll finally achieve my goal. I'll become a powerful Renegade, just like my uncle,' she vowed..
'And then. I'll come for you, Witch. I promise you that.'
'You'll pay for everything you've taken from me.'