Prepare Your Armor, You Are Known

Cortney Haley
Nov 2 · 2 min read

Photo by Niels Smeets on Unsplash

My eyes are closed when a sharp burning sensation in my wrist draws them open and down where thick shackles are covering my wrists. At that moment the heat through my boots steals my attention and I look past the shackles to the charcoal ground that I am standing on.

My thoughts become muddled as I consider what is happening. Twisting my neck into an uncomfortable strain to see what is clutching the chain that has me bound. My eyes catch an abnormally tall dark figure with dark coverings dangling off of it that seem to be moving in the stillness of the air. As my gaze rises I catch 2 solid white eyes, unable to tell if it is staring at me or the scene that is beyond me.

I slowly bring my focus back to my chained wrists that are now rattling against each other with an uncontrollable tremor that has taken over my body. I try to control my breathing in order to take control of the panic I feel rising in me.

In the distance, I hear wailing and metal clashing against each other, I haven’t got the courage to look at what is before me fearing that it is worse than what is behind me. The sounds draw closer with each deep breath I take, I slowly start to peak through my eyelashes believing it will ease the view before me. My trembling stops as does my breathing and I am struck with disbelief and awe at the picture my eyes are seeing.

A muffled voice sounds in my ear as my mind transitions into a coherent state, “ Ma’am would you like a drink or a snack?” It takes me a moment to comprehend what she has asked me and I reply with a sharp “NO” while unbuckling then pushing past her to get to the bathroom as fast as I can. I lean against the bathroom door and close my eyes as tight as my skin will allow. Moving away from the door I turn the water on and splash my face, replaying the nightmare in my head.

As I step out of the bathroom I smack into a man wearing gold plated chest armor. I look up to say excuse me and stop, I am stunned by his otherworldly features. His mouth moves with the words “Prepare your armor, you are known.”

Cortney Haley

Written by

Learning to live out my passion and find the courage to discover my own voice. On a Journey of Becoming.

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