Chapter One: Beads of Faith

I hear you. Shhh…I hear you. I'm coming.

I'm coming.

Darkness swirled in the black of space; when light did exist, it was in rivets of reddish brown, like that of dried blood. It was the only sign of passage which flowed at a great speed. Deep within the pain, a form of solitude and calm ebbed inside as if trying to surface, but not want out. No, it was in this sheer agony that there was a peace that wanted to ease the suffering.

Wait. Hold on, child. I'm coming.

I'm coming.

Hope?

Incoherent thoughts strived to come to fruition as a burning torrent of pain tore apart any concept of reality. Crying was the only release next to death, something which would be welcomed. No one should suffer in such a way. To focus on what was actually physical was nearly impossible for a mind unaccustomed to the rigorous torture of true anguish as opposed to what was as surreal as this girl-child's voice. Wetness; unwillingly rocked and swayed; shouts lost in the screaming winds.

Hope?

Shhh, child; I'm here.

There was dryness, followed by a conglomeration of blinding lights, and they both made the world spin before vision fuzzed and pulsed. With it the pain drained away; and then blessed sweet nothingness took over like a sigh.