how we saved the world •a zodiac story•

indicate

Aquarius woke with a pounding headache. She was incredibly hungry, her tongue was like sandpaper and her throat burned. How did she let this happen? More importantly, what happened?

The air was damp, cold and felt as it was thinning around her. She lifted her hand and noticed jagged flesh hanging from a haphazard scrape she must have suffered. The only thing was, she didn't remember getting any injuries.

The last thing she remembered was Aries breaking through the door. A pair of white gloves gripping her tightly and if it wasn't worse, fighting the figure who the hands belonged to. She examined the room around, running her hands over the walls.

It was the same leaky, concrete, room from before. A light dimly flickered from above. She saw she was still wearing her suit, so what was going on? Where were the rest of the zodiacs? Was she back in New York City? Was everything just a dream?

"Aquarius... is that you?" a voice rang from the opposite end of the long hallway. She blinked, recognizing that voice anywhere. Of course, it belonged to the person who was there for her the most.

"Orion!?" Aquarius exclaimed, "What are you doing here."

Orion trotted towards her, a strained expression lathered her face. She lifted Aquarius' arm to check for bruising and scars. Orion cupped her face in her hand, and gently checked for anything wrong. The calm breeze of her tone made an effort to reassure Aquarius. She felt her cheeks get become hot. Nobody has done this before. Not even Libra.

"Are you okay?" Orion gasped, she examined the gash on Aquarius' arm. Her eyes widened, how did she not notice her own injuries?

"I- I think so... I need to find my friends." Aquarius quickly stood up. She stood almost too quickly, causing her vision to sway and contort. Orion kept her steady, her brows furrowed into a worried expression.

"Wait... Aquarius... don't you remember?" Orion gulped, she placed both hands on Aquarius' shoulders, staring into her eyes sympathetically. She looked back, her eyes bled pure confusion and dismay.

"What are you talking about?" Aquarius felt her heart rate increase and her stomach drop, "Are they... dead? Did something happen...?"

Orion shook her head, looking down. She seemed fearful of how Aquarius would react. Aquarius took a breath, trying to poise for the worst. Whatever happened to them... she would carry out their mission. Even if she had to do it alone.

"Orion... tell me. What happened?" her tone was now still and composed. She was prepared to hear they had all died. She braced for the tragic news that she was the last man standing. The air felt stagnant as she hitched a breath.

"I'm afraid... they abandoned you... Aquarius." Orion stroked the side of her cheek, preparing to wipe any tears, "They.. they ambushed you and left. I'm sorry... I'm sorry, Aquarius. I watched... and.. and I wanted to help but I was too scared to move. I'm-"

She was cut off by Aquarius who hushed her. The words hit her like a bullet. Straight to the chest. Somehow it didn't feel real. Her friends just started to trust her, it felt like. She was making progress... she thought. Her mind wandered to Scorpio... and Libra her heart broke envisioning them. She couldn't be sad forever though. She clenched her fists.

"If... if they want to throw me out, I'll jump headfirst." She bitterly stated. Orion weakly smiled, patting her shoulder. Aquarius held her head up, tilting her head to the ceiling. She tried not to care, she did.

Aquarius fell to her knees. A wave of hopelessness crashed into her. Her knees felt weak and her voice nearly broke. A deep pit seemed to form in her chest, an endless void of despair and humiliation echoed through her.