only one way up

She watched as Sebastien caught up with her, his breath heaving in his lungs, and saw him stretch one leg over the other, a slight wince on his features. Perhaps he had an old injury? Her brows furrowed as she catalogued the speed at which she had run in. She had been a bit speedy- perhaps she should tone it down a bit in their further adventures- or, more likely, misadventures. "Are you alright? Are we good to continue?" she asked, her voice soft as she tried to keep from being heard by any potential people nearby. 

The darkness in the next room, though, made the panic rear its ugly head. She could see nothing, having to rely only on her hearing, and the anxiety of being caught and damned to death without being able to see it coming was frightening. Her knees wobbled beneath her, and she fell against the wall at her back, sliding still somewhat gracefully to the floor, her skirts swishing against themselves as she lost the ability to stand. 

A slightly shaky hand brushed a strand of hair back from her temples, tucking it behind her ear, as she listened to his words. She wanted to speak, to jest with him to prove her mettle, but found that she couldn't. She began to take deep breaths as she had been taught to do by those she had gone to for help, trying so hard to reel the fear back in. Four counts in, hold for four, out for four, wait for four... on and on she continued, feeling the anxiety fade. It had perhaps been minutes, but now she was better, more relaxed, and in control. The anxiety was still there, still waiting to pounce, it seemed, but she could hold it at bay. She could focus now, though the dark still terrified her and her heart beat faster than normal. 

Sebastien stumbled around in the dark, hitting something with his body, perhaps kicking a stone into a hole, though she did not hear it hit the bottom. She could see nothing of him, relying only on her ears to hear what she could. "Up or down? Is there a staircase or something here?" she asked, turning her head slightly to the left. There was light there, just the slightest bit, enough to recognize its existence but not enough to illuminate anything around her. Oh, how she wanted to go towards the light, to be able to see danger coming towards her, but... it was dangerous. They had only just entered the tower, and who knew where that door led? It could lead them outside, right into the arms of Witchfinders, who would shackle her and damn her to death without knowing otherwise. For that reason alone, the light scared her. Yes, she hated the dark, hated being unable to see what she was doing, but if her choice was exploring in the dark or being caught in the light, she would take the dark. 

She accepted his proffered hand, using his strength to help pull herself to her feet. His touch was light, barely there, but she did not recognize it as a harbinger of elapsed time. No, she thought him gentle, accepting of her weakness and terror in a moment of fear. "I can continue. Just do not get us caught," she said, beginning to follow him. "As to your previous question, perhaps traveling upwards would be best. There is no limit that we can travel there, and no amount of rock to become trapped beneath should the tower fall. Will you be able to handle that exertion?"

Her head tilted ever so slightly as she asked her question to a man whose hands she could no longer feel, and, believing him to have dropped her hand, she relaxed, returning it to her side. If only she could see in the accursed darkness- then she would know that her time was up, that she needed to act swiftly to prevent herself from becoming lost to the world around her.