Rael
I woke up first.
That was normal. I always woke up first. What was not normal was waking up in a room with two extra people — Jane on her side with one arm under her pillow, Liora on her back with a faint smile on her face.
The smile was suspicious.
I stared at it.
…why is she smiling.
Then Liora spoke.
"…Kairo… stop… not yet… we have to get married first…"
…eh?
I froze.
Liora rolled slightly.
"…not before the ceremony…"
…EH?
I stared.
Then I grabbed her shoulders.
Shake.
Nothing.
Shake harder.
Nothing.
"…seriously?"
I leaned to her ear.
"WAKE UP."
BAM.
Liora shot upright.
"Oh. Rael. Good morning."
She stretched like nothing happened.
Jane opened one eye.
"…well," she said. "That worked."
"How do you usually wake her up."
"River."
"…river?"
"I dump her in it."
"…that is a little much."
Jane shook her head.
"You could hit her. Hit the table. Use a frying pan. Nothing works. The river is the only reliable method."
"…noted."
"Go wake the others."
I left.
Opened Kael's door.
…what.
Cards everywhere.
Clothes everywhere.
Kael on the bed.
Kairo on the floor.
Branik against the wall.
All in underwear.
…my brain stopped.
"What happened here."
From the floor:
"…UNO… reverse…"
…ah.
"…draw four…"
I looked at the ceiling.
"…EVERYBODY GET UP."
THUD — kick.
THUD — kick.
"…is it morning already…" Kairo muttered.
Branik woke. Removed card. Observe it. Placed it down. Zero emotion.
"River. Now. You smell like regret."
"We had a good run…" Kairo sighed.d
They left.
I turned.
Kael.
Still asleep.
"…Kael."
Nothing.
Kick.
Nothing.
"…unbelievable."
I climbed onto the bed.
Shook him.
"Kael."
His eyes opened.
Barely.
He looked at me.
Slowly, his hand rose.
Touched my cheek.
…eh.
"Kael…"
"…Rael… why do you look so beautiful…"
BA-DUM.
He leaned closer.
BA-DUM. BA-DUM.
I did not move.
He leaned—
flop.
He fell asleep on me.
…what.
My heart was loud.
Door open.
I slowly lifted my hand toward his hair—
"OH."
I snapped upright.
Jane.
Red.
"You are still in pajamas."
…I looked down.
Looked at Kael.
Looked at door.
Looked at Jane.
face burning
PUNCH
"GET UP."
"…why is violence happening…"
"WASH YOUR FACE."
I escaped.
Kael
Rael was acting strange.
Not "world ending" strange.
Just… suspiciously strange.
She kept turning red.
…like a malfunctioning signal light.
I decided to investigate.
"Did something happen?"
"No."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
She sped up.
…suspicious.
"Did I do something?"
"No."
She turned red again.
"…Rael—"
She stopped.
"Enough with the questions before I punch you."
…fair.
"Well. Anyways."
She turned red again.
…I am being excluded from information.
I looked at Jane.
Her shoulders were shaking.
"Jane."
"Mm."
"You are laughing."
"I am walking."
"Your shoulders—"
"Walking involves shoulders."
"…this is conspiracy."
I looked at Liora.
"You look well rested," she said.
"…thank you."
"No disturbances?"
"…why does that sound threatening."
"Oh, my manners."
I looked at Kairo.
Hands up.
"I was at the river."
"That does not—"
"I was at the river the whole time."
Suspicious.
"Everyone ready?"
I had my sword.
Rael had her axe.
Branik looked like a moving fortress.
Jane had the map.
Liora had rations.
"We move east."
We passed the gate.
Rael turned red again.
…what did I do.
I looked at the sky.
Veyra, if you know something—
No shimmer.
Mira
I woke up in the dark.
Not quiet dark.
Heavy dark.
Cold.
Damp.
It smelled like wet stone… and iron.
I tried to move.
clink.
Pain.
My wrist jerked.
Chain.
My arm was shackled to the wall.
My shoulder ached.
I had been like this… for a while.
Then I saw her.
"…Senna."
She was chained too.
Bruised.
Her hair messy.
She was shaking.
"Senna."
She looked up.
Her eyes widened instantly.
"Mira…?"
Her voice broke.
She tried to stand.
CLANK.
Chain snapped tight.
"I… I don't like this… Mira…"
Her breathing trembled.
"I don't like this… I don't like this…"
My chest tightened.
I forced calm.
"It's okay… we're together…"
She shook her head.
"I'm scared…"
The word came out small.
"I'm sure Kael is coming," I said.
I did not know that.
"He'll find us. He always does."
Footsteps.
Two robed men.
CLANG — fist on bars.
Senna flinched violently.
"What's all the noise?"
"Keep your mouth shut."
They walked away.
Silence.
Heavier.
Senna lowered her head.
"…Kael… where are you…"
Her voice broke.
She tried to wipe her tears with chained hands.
Couldn't reach.
I watched her.
…and hoped I wasn't lying.