The Cost of Pride

Megatoxic

**Disclaimer: I do not own any Bioware/DA characters. I am simply an avid fan with a day dream about her favorite RPG game.**

Chapter 1: Well Life Was Boring…

My life was pretty boring to be perfectly honest. At age 26, not much has ever really happened to me that was excitingly positive. I had managed to scrape up an online degree in Behavioral Science that I never really used, and I had long forgotten my passion for music. I was currently working in public health and trying to manage what little life that I had outside of work. My name is Fallen Faith Silcox … I know strange right? I was told that my mother loved the name Fallen upon hearing it one time in a gift shop and thus she swore that if she had a daughter her name would be Fallen.

I have always been relatively short (5 feet 3 inches) to be exact and from what I can remember I have been this short since the 5thgrade. As I was getting myself together for work the morning that my oh-so-boring life changed, I was really wishing that I could be less … well plain. I have curly hair, not like cork screw curly, but definitely curly and frizzy enough that product is needed to tame it. The color has always been lack luster in my opinion with a brown that has a reddish tint in the sun or bright light. A light dusting of freckles covers the bridge of my nose and shoulders where other people would have tanned by now, and my eyes are a very uninteresting shade of brown. Sometimes, on a "pretty day," a few speckles of green appear in them. So yeah, I'm definitely pretty average looking. Not really fat, but not necessarily thin either. I suppose "thick" would be the modern term for my figure.

I sighed heavily and spread the curl product in my hair all the way to the ends that rested on my freckled shoulders. Glancing my phone I noticed the time was 6:50 A.M. Definitely time that I get my stuff together and head out the door for work. I glanced at the floor length mirror just to access myself and I was as satisfied as I ever could be with my appearance. I was seeing patients today so I had slipped on a knee length red sundress and a pair of plain black sandals. I made my way through my tiny one bedroom apartment to grab my purse off the couch and pack a quick lunch. Before making my way into the kitchen, I made sure to turn my Xbox One console off which was on the main screen of Dragon Age Inquisition. I had spent way too much time on that game the past 3 years, but to me it was stress-reliever and an amazing escape from my boring life.

Lunch bagged to go and purse on shoulder, I climbed into my little reliable, affordable, and very compact car to head to work. On average, most mornings it takes me about 35-40 minutes to make it into the office. Today, I was assuming would be no different. The benefits of living in a very rural area in the state of Tennessee include a very beautiful drive to and from work every day. I love to open my sunroof, blast my music, and loose myself in the journey. This can be especially glorious after a stress filled day on the way back to my tiny apartment and boring life.

On this particular morning, for whatever reason, I decided that I would stop at a gas station around the half way point to the office that I was traveling too. Oh wait, I know why I decided to stop, because silly me decided that I was craving some coffee. The gas station was very non-descript and country looking. I had never stopped here before, but had of course seen it coming and going from work. The sign outside located by the pumps stated that they had fresh coffee 24/7. I pulled up to a pump since the parking lot was so small and there were no other cars present. It was now roughly 7:15 A.M. and I needed an extra kick. I pulled my keys from the ignition and grabbed my wallet out of my purse since I didn't feel the need to lug the whole thing into the gas station.

As I was walking into the station, I heard another vehicle pull in behind me, but I paid it no mind and continued on inside. To my relief, I quickly noticed the location of the coffee and promptly headed in that direction. I slipped my car keys into the pocket on the right side of my dress and my wallet into the left pocket. The doorbell dinged behind me as another customer entered, but it only vaguely registered in my mind as zoned in as I was to get my cup of coffee. So you can absolutely imagine my surprise when I felt a firm arm wrap around my waist from behind and something cold press to my forehead that felt distinctly metal. A rough voice whispered in my ear, "It would be wise to do as I say."

My heart felt like a hummingbird in my chest and I immediately started to shake and sweat. I knew little to nothing on self-defense and even less about such hostile situations in general. As the man turned me around towards the door, I noticed that there was no one at the register in the store and ironically it appeared that no one was around to witness what was happening to me in that moment. I attempted to turn my face to see my captor's face, but I was unable to move my neck far and up enough to see his face at my height and with his vice-like grip. I was quickly shoved out the door and towards a black van that was parked at the pump next to my car. The man threw the door open in the back with every intention in the moment I'm quite sure of throwing me in the back and doing unspeakable things to me. Luckily for me, as the man was throwing the door open, he dropped the gun in his hand and the grip around my waist loosened.

I didn't need to be told twice for every cell in body to recognize my moment to flee. I kicked back with my right foot into his shin and I took off running. In hind-sight, I certainly could have gotten into my car and drove off, but in that terrified and crazy second I was simply focused on putting as much distance as possible between myself and the man that wanted to hurt me. I pushed my legs to move me as fast as possible into the field across the street. I could see a house maybe half a mile across the field and I honed in on it and pushed my body further. I could hear cursing and yelling behind me before I heard the sound of a gunshot. Instinctively, I dropped my knees, but not before I felt a searing hot pain in my right shoulder blade. I cried out as I my knees and left hand hit the grass and dirt. My right hand I clamped to my chest as if it would take away the pain now radiating from within my shoulder down my arm.

I could hear the pounding of feet behind me and I knew that the man was gaining on my. I looked up towards the house across the way one more time and a purple tear seemed to appear in front of me out of nowhere. It was bright and shaky and was quickly expanding into a large opening of some sort. I could vaguely make out what appeared to be someone sort of concrete or stone structure on the other side of it. I made a split second decision that to this day I still don't understand. The opening was maybe 5 feet from me. I forced my legs up and ran into the opening. As I passed into the purple light, I felt gloved finger tips graze my back.

There was a cold and quick suctioning feeling that caressed my body and then I was aware of hitting cold stone and dirt. I braced myself with my good left arm and was dismayed as I felt and heard it crack and break at the wrist. My forehead collided with the broken stone under me as my wrist gave way. I heard yelling and the sound of clanking metal. I managed to lift my head up to see myself surround by what appeared to be armored figures, but by this point my vision was severely blurry. I heard a voice that sounded distinctly British speak out with shock, "Where did she fall from?"

Then my tired body decided to betray me. I felt darkness starting to descend and take me away from the pain. I was somewhat aware of cold metal on my legs and face as I was lifted up into someone's arms, and then I simply quit fighting the descent into darkness and the beginnings of the transition that would lead me out of my boring life.