Melting Into Stone

Antonia Joubert. 28. Civillian. Slowly melting into stone.

[htsarchive]

“Go ahead. Help yourself.”

[antonia-joubert]

“Everyone seems to be drinking”

[ofcessationroyalty-deactivated2]

“Look at all these peasants. Be careful, walk with caution. You might be infected by the plague.”

[antonia-joubert]

“A- a plague?”

[claire-hooley]

“Yeah you can join me. Just doing a little celebratory drinking and some thinking. You alright?”

[antonia-joubert]

Are you alright, Claire? I saw you out there, you were so so brave. I’m glad you’re ok and well. 

[natasha-schoemann-blog]

“Have you seen a plush Porsche around here? Uhm, about this big and blue?” It had to have fallen out of the stroller at some point. Luca was peacefully gnawing on a small piece of toast - not yet throwing a fit about the missing car.

[antonia-joubert]

I thought I saw him throw it over there? 

[othello-barsetti-blog]

“Need help with something? I wasn’t expecting any company right now.”

[antonia-joubert]

I’m sorry, I thought you were someone else that I knew. 

[natasha-schoemann-blog]

“Antonia, thank god you’re alright. I couldn’t reach you on the phone.” It took Natasha a moment to attribute her friend’s shocked expression to the blood stains on her clothes. “It’s not mine,” she muttered in a rush, glancing down at herself before looking back up at Antonia with urgency in her eyes. “I’m fine, but I need to find someone.” Restless eyes darted around the crowd of injured people again. “A woman, mid twenties, long brown, wavy hair, with an -uh - unusually high pain tolerance?”

[antonia-joubert]

Antonia was relieved to see her friend. A smile wouldn’t come, but the tightness in her stomach loosened slightly. She had to catch her breath, her hands sweating already. When she asked her about a woman, she quickly picked at her fingers. She trusted Natasha way more than others, above almost everyone, but she held her tongue. Through the description she gave, she instantly thought of the woman she just helped in secret. She figured it was best for it to stay that way. Besides, she could of been jumping the gun for even assuming the world was that smal that Natasha even knew the woman. “That’s a pretty broad description” Was all she managed to say.

[antonia-joubert]

With the hospitals being so crowded, Antonia felt like a fish lost in the ocean as she sifted through the crowd. The ratio from injured to helper felt like it kept doubling, the woman running all over the place to check on everyone she could. A tap on the shoulder snatched her from her thoughts and she spoke before even caring to know who it was. “I’m only one person, I’m doing the best I can” She had rehearsed before turning around. Her eyes showed her shock at she looked at who it was. “What’s wrong” 

[millenarism]

Oh for fuck’s sake. Lena had found herself in the line of sight of a doctor and she sure as hell did not want to deal with hospitals without Natasha. Natasha. Shit. She’d be absolutely enthralled to see Lena with three shiny new bullet holes if Lena made it back alive. Blinking herself lucid, Lena looked at the woman who had just taken her phone. “I hate doctors,” Lena muttered, pushing herself off of the ground. 

Vertigo. 

Lena shook her head, shoulder pressing against the brick as dilating pupils threatened to pump blood more fervently through her veins. One breath. Lena took the hand in front of her with more than a passive reluctance and blinked again. “Lead the way.”

[antonia-joubert]

Antonia gave a nod when the woman finally said something. “No one does” She replied quickly as she rushed to the woman’s side. As she pressed against the brick wall, Antonia knew that they had to move hastily. She was loosing too much blood. She grabbed the other woman’s arm to walk with her and to help balance as they inched towards the back door. 

Antonia knew nothing about the woman, why she was in the altercation, was she innocent or guilty. Her conscious pulled and tugged at her wondering if she was saving the life of a good person. She tried to remind herself that all life was important, good or bad. She couldn’t let the woman die, but she couldn’t draw too much attention to her or herself either. Just in case. 

As she stepped into the hospital, Antonia quickly looked around. There were old, yet empty examination rooms near by. They were much smaller than the ones in the front, but it was better. No one was going to use them, not now any ways. “We’re almost there” She said as she could hear some fight leaving the woman. 

Busting into the examination room, she helped her climb onto the examination table. Wanting to get to her most crucial wound first. “Ok, ok” She said, feeling adrenaline kick in. She tossed on gloves and warned the woman before lifting her shirt. She was loosing a lot of blood. Quickly she started to clean to get a better view. Her eyes scanning the front and her hand soon reaching around to feel the back. “Through and through” She said to herself. 

[so-fucking-famous]

[millenarism]

Crimson stained chestnut tresses, matting hair to her neck as Lena pressed her hand against one of several new holes in her body. Fuckers shot through one of her favorite jackets and she was beyond pissed about it. She should have taken their wallets, but Lena’s survival instincts were far more powerful than her anger. One through and through on the side of her abdomen, another through her calf, but a bullet was lodged under her left shoulder blade and that was surely not ideal especially now that she felt the metal in her skin. Pain absent as always, Lena reminded herself not to move the arm before turning to see the woman clambering toward her. Fuck. Lena could not afford to deal with someone else presently, but Dylan wasn’t answering his damn phone. Lena looked down at the blood-stained screen on the ground beside her as the person approaching spoke. 

“Just shot,” Lena shrugged one shoulder, pressing the tattered remnants of her shirt against one of the wounds, “a couple times.” Totally fine.

[antonia-joubert]

Antonia’s eyes widened as the woman said she was shot. This was exactly what she had feared. Quickly she rushed over to the woman. Her mind more focused on helping than wondering if it was a good idea or not. She faced the woman, using her eyes to quickly scan her. The first wound and most crucial spilling the red content the fastest. Without any hesitation, she knew what she had and wanted to do. “Come on, come inside” She said to her quickly, her voice low. Worried that someone would hear them. She picked up the woman’s phone and reached for her hand.

 She knew the woman had to be in pain.  She found herself amazed at how strong she was being. Though, it wouldn’t last long for if she lost too much blood, Antonia knew she would eventually pass out. “Come” She said again. “I can help you. There’s gotta be a room open inside” Her head motioned towards the hospital. Her eyes drifting towards her bleeding abdomen. 

[millenarism]

@antonia-joubert

Ten minutes. Six soldiers. The altercation lasted far longer than Lena wanted and she was beginning to realize the familiar sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach only this time it was not regret. A small caliber bullet tore through the flesh of her abdomen, ripping free of her side as another lodged itself in the strong muscle fibers of her shoulder. Crimson stains soaked the fabric beneath her jacket, a waterfall of life pouring from her stomach. Her blood pressure dropped, thankfully mitigated only slightly by the adrenaline. One more. Lena got a shot off, her knee pressed against concrete. Another shot echoed by her own. The last soldier fell, but if she did not move more may be around the corner. Carefully Lena picked herself up, sanguine fingerprints painting her phone as she pulled it from her pocket, absently calling Dylan before it clattered to the ground. She scooped it up, stumbling into an alley where she slumped against the brick of a building finally in the shadows. The phone fell to the concrete once more as Lena tore at her clothing to attempt to wrap cloth around the wounds, but she was losing a lot of blood. And fast. 

[antonia-joubert]

One thing Antonia never considered herself to be was brave. With all that was going on, the woman felt crippled with fear. She didn’t want to leave her house, soon any way she found herself trapped at the hospital. It felt as though the only safe place there could be. While resting in between her busy, busy shifts, she heard more commotion outside. She jumped and cringed at all the loud shots. Silently she prayed that she could ignore it. The longer it went on, the closer it seemed to be coming closer. Whatever was going on seemed to settle down and the woman’s heart was still pounding away. Letting her mind get the best of her, she went towards the back door of the hospital. Making sure that the altercation was over and maybe not as close as she thought. While looking through the small window of the door, she saw a head. A woman actaully. Stumbling through the alley. Against her better judgement, she glanced around again.  Her back slammed against the door, fighting with herself. Wanting to just leave the woman where she was. It wasn’t her business. Her mind still couldn’t erase the fact that she was stumbling. Probably injured. 

Her stomach tightened and she felt sick, but she still pushed open the door. Dashing over towards the woman, glancing over her shoulder. “H-hello?” She muttered as she saw the blood drips on the ground. She swallowed hard before coming closer, the woman turned from her. “A-are you ok? Are y-you hurt?” 

[revamandoricci-blog]

“That scared the blue out of my jeans.” Amando breathed, eyes focused on the bent and broken body that just fell from the sky. “Shit – this city is going to hell if this continues.”

[antonia-joubert]

“I think this city is hell” Antonia could only mutter as her eyes stayed on the body. 

[louis-kelly-blog]

“The signs were there. I think we just ignored them thinking it would all work out. Makes me miss Texas. That’s, uh, where I’m from originally.” He paused a moment before rounding a corner to double check for any of the ugly solider’s lurking around. “We might need a back way. Any shortcuts?”

[antonia-joubert]

Antonia hadn’t heard many things about Texas, though right now wasn’t the time to ask. “My accent pretty much gives it away for me” She grinned. Born and raised in France. Antonia looked at him when he asked about a short cut. She looked at him, wide eyed, then shook her head. “N-no. I usually don’t take them” She admitted. 

[claire-hooley]

The fire had been a secondary concern. She had been so focused that she didn’t even see just how close it was until Antonia hastily reminded her. “My apartments only a few blocks,” she reminded, tugging on her friends hand as she took off in that direction.

[antonia-joubert]

Antonia followed her friend’s lead. Finally seeing how out of shape she was. She continued to run behind her, fear pushing her not to quit. She wanted to open her eyes and see that it was all a dream. That all that was going around them coulnd’t be true. 

[melissapieri-blog]

“Thanks, I can really use the help,” Melissa shook her head in remembrance, “I’ve already mistaken at least three mildly shiny objects for them which might just mean I need get new glasses.” A small laugh slipped. “If they did, they’ll probably be massively disappointed once they find the car it belongs to.”

[antonia-joubert]

Antonia grinned. “Then don’t worry, we’ll find them. They can’t get too far off. New glasses is right” She laughed. “Should we go back to where you came from to see if anyone has turned them back in?”

[antonia-joubert]

Antonia scurried through the streets, glancing over her shoulder, picking up the pace. Her heart was racing and she felt as though it was going to fall out of her chest. It wasn’t until she hit something that she faced forward. Almost knocked to her feet, she needed a second to gain her balance. She looked over to the person, opening her mouth immediately to speak. “I-I’m sorry.” Was all that could come out.

[kimberly-gerard-blog]

Kimberly was quiet, the only sounds were of hurried footsteps and the heavy thuds of boots. She could hear glass breaking somewhere in the distance, and shut her eyes to keep calm. Now was not the time for a panic attack of any sort, and she was willing it away. “Alright, come on.” Ducking back around the corner, she felt so exposed being on the streets. “Where do you need to go?”

[antonia-joubert]

Antonia’s hands were clenched together tightly. She could feel herself hold her breath. When the other woman spoke, she looked over at her. Fear paralyzing her. “H-home.” She stammered. “You?”