The Mark of Dai-Nē

PROLOGUE

Sixteen Years Prior.

Breathing hard, the woman ducked into a downtown alleyway. She had been expecting an attack once they got to the portal, or after they reached the other side of the Veil. But she had not been expecting their pursuers to anticipate their movements and isolate them from one another before even reaching the other side. 

The Akhekhu mount - a reptilian creature that preferred desert regions, but could survive most anywhere, even in certain cold climates - was a terrifying beast to be on the wrong side of. Used by bounty hunters to track down their prey, it had the ability to taste a scent in the air and follow it anywhere. All it needed was something with the scent on it, and it could track anything across country. Even through water. Though it was nearly impossible to lose an Akhekhu once it picked up the trail, it was possible to confuse its sense of smell by masking the target’s with a much stronger one. There were few people that had access to these creatures, let alone the ability to train them. And she had one on her tail.

The guardian made her way through the late night stragglers of the small city, not glancing up at any of them as she went. Scanning the alleys and streets ahead and behind, she watched for any sign of the creature and its rider. The farther she traveled the more frequent the buildings were - towers of glistening metal that seemed to reach for the very stars in the sky, however few there were. Though the night grew later, the stars refused to show their faces, for the lights of the city kept them at bay and kept this strange world aglow for them. It was vastly different from the living cities - some carved out of ancient trees, others formed from the earth, and others still that were a combination of the inhabitants’ work and the natural growth of the city. This place felt lifeless. Cold. 

Unwelcoming. 

Before long the woman stumbled across a patch of wooded area. There was a paved trail that wound around and through the trees with benches alongside it. She stopped and hid behind one of the benches in the shrubbery. Her breath came in short ragged bursts and hung thick in the cold night air.

Snap-

Her head shot around toward the noise. She held her breath as the sound of scuffling and a low hiss like an intake of breath reached her ears.

The sounds were closer now. The woman reached inside her long coat and pulled out a serrated blade. Gripping the handle of the dagger tightly, ready for an attack, she clutched the child in her other arm to her chest.

From behind the trees came a pale skinned stranger shuffling along the paved walkway drowsily. He stepped on a twig and stumbled, his feet scraping the pavement. He was mostly clean shaven, neatly dressed in a coat of thin material, and a white undershirt that had a long dark strip of cloth hanging loosely from his neck. His dark hair was short - barely a few inches long - and somewhat disheveled. The tension in the guardian’s shoulders ebbed slightly.

Idiot, she silently scolded herself. Jumping at the slightest sound will get us both killed.

She glanced down at the child asleep in her arms. There was a spell on each of the Dai-Nē to sleep until the next sunrise. By then each of them should be well out of the way of danger - it wouldn't do to have the child awakened while trying to hide and create a ruckus, crying.

It also wouldn't do any good to have her heart leaping at every single twig snap either. She briefly closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She let it out slowly, the tension with it, though the grip on her knife stayed tight. The guardian eyed the stranger again as he sniffled to himself, unaware he was being watched. His face was wet from crying.

The Akhekhu lunged from the underbrush behind the guardian, surprising her. With a grunt of exertion, she slashed at the creature as it came down on her, nearly going down with it. The feral hiss it let out as it snapped at her face sent a chill creeping into her gut. It had a good whiff of her now. There would be no escaping it if she didn’t think quickly.

The worst thing about Akhekhu mounts were their ability to go for days without rest, tracking their prey until they gave up or passed out from exhaustion. Once it had a scent good and solidified in its senses there was nothing that could get between it and its prey. Except perhaps a damn good fighter. 

The woman dug the knife deeper and twisted the handle, making the blade crunch against bone as it snapped a piece off. The Akhekhu shrieked, injured, and dove away, but not before scoring a slash on the guardian’s shoulder with one of its razor sharp talons, narrowly missing its target in her arms. She let out a growl of pain as she stumbled out of the bushes and into the open where the sniffling stranger caught sight of her, and yelped in surprise.

The Dai-Nē’s guardian glanced briefly at the stranger, then back over her shoulder for the creature which was nowhere in sight. Swearing under her breath, she grabbed the confused stranger’s arm and ran. She couldn’t very well leave the man as bait, but he could also prove useful. Taking an uncertain step backward and giving a shout of surprise when approached, the stranger stumbled heavily, barely keeping up with the guardian who dragged him along by the wrist. 

I- I don't have any money! he stammered, trying to free himself from this dark-skinned stranger in a trench coat and hooded cloak who smelled of sweat and pine.

The guardian shushed him, ducking behind a tree and dragging him with her. She checked over the shrubs to see if the Akhekhu was following them, but ducked back down almost immediately when she saw the creature not far behind sniffing the air. The rider was gone. And that meant only one thing: ambush. The stranger disrupted her panicked thoughts, begging and pleading hoarsely to spare his life, going on and on about his terrible luck.

Please- he whimpered. My wife just died a few weeks ago, my car was stolen yesterday, and now I think I'm going to get laid off from my job because it made me late again....! I really don’t have any-

Wordlessly, the guardian pressed her hand over the stranger’s mouth, the knife still tucked in her grip. The sight of the blood covered blade made the stranger turn as pale as a ghost, eyes bulging in fear. The guardian shushed him again and the stranger nodded fervently. A growl sounded behind them and they both froze. The guardian shook her head at the stranger to not make a noise as she removed her hand. 

What was that? the stranger mouthed when he realized they were hiding from something. He tried to crane his neck to see, but the guardian handed him the bundle in her arms and pushed him back against the tree.

Run, the guardian breathed, barely audible. I will find you again, but I may have a different face. You will know me by this stone, she added, pulling out the two bands around her neck. Each held a stone; one glowing yellow, the other a bright pulsing blue. I will explain then. For now, run. 

It was a risky move, leaving the child with a stranger, but with the rider gone, this was the only way she could buy some time: to confuse their trail. Without another word she disappeared into the shrubs. Silence fell over the area as the stranger sat in shock, barely daring to breathe as he listened for a sound. The bundle in his arms shifted and he nearly threw it. Cautiously, he pulled back the cloth to see what it was, and revealed a small child. Sleeping. 

His mind reeled and tried to piece things together - why did she just hand him her child? Why did she have a huge knife covered in blood? Who or what was supposedly after them? - but his thoughts were interrupted by a noise. A reptilian shriek followed by a low growl and feral hiss came from the direction in which the woman in the trench coat had disappeared.

He chanced a look over the bushes, and his eyes went wide, the very sight tearing a scream from his lips. A creature that looked like a mix between a six foot tall velociraptor with its jagged teeth and head shape, and a komodo dragon with its length and the broadness of its back and tail; reared up, striking at the dark skinned woman with vicious claws. There was a saddle on its back and a bridle around its face, but that didn’t hinder it from snapping at the woman. She thrust out her knife to parry the blow, cutting the creature across its limbs. When the stranger holding the child screamed, both the creature and the guardian turned their heads to look in unison, locking eyes on him. The creature took advantage of its opponent’s distraction and lunged for the bushes where the stranger knelt, the familiar scent it was hunting emanating from the bundle he held. 

No! the guardian shouted, leaping after the creature. She jumped forward just as the creature reached the bushes and stabbed down on its shoulder, using her own weight to hold it down. She knew it wouldn't last long for something used to carrying a rider, but the knife in the creature’s shoulder was enough to send it crumbling to the ground, its tail lashing about and an uninjured arm scrabbling for a grip in the soil.

Run! she yelled at the stranger in the bushes. Protect the child! she called, struggling to hold back the creature as it shrieked and flailed in anger. The stranger was already on his feet and running away with everything he had. 

He stumbled but kept running, fear pumping his heart faster than he thought possible. Adrenaline rushed through his veins and pushed him onward. His mind was in too much turmoil and cold fear to think. He had to get away, and he had to protect the child from that thing. That's all he knew. Why? He didn't have the capacity to consider that. Run or die? That he understood. He tore out of the park and down the street, not slowing until he realized he could hear something behind him running on the pavement. 

The sound of the footsteps behind him set a pounding rhythm that was a little quicker than his own against the cement, getting louder by the minute. He chanced a glance over his shoulder to find a huge figure following him and gaining quickly. A scream tore from his throat and he found his feet could go even faster when properly motivated. Under the streetlight he had seen the glint of steel in various places. This person was a walking armory and whoever they were, he didn’t want to meet them. He glanced back over his shoulder to see how close his pursuer was, and saw them draw a weapon. He could hear the shink of steel as it slid out of its holster. With another, more high pitched scream, the man’s head shot back forward, his eyes searching desperately for somewhere to go, his feet trying to run faster, but physically incapable of doing so.

The police station! he thought. It was around the next corner! They may think he was a lunatic for running in there in the middle of the night, screeching like a madman, but he didn’t care. He tore around the corner and onto the next street, the figure behind him getting closer and closer. His blood ran cold when he realized he could hear them grunting with the effort to catch up with him. Having sighted the police station, he screamed for help as he bolted through the set of doors, slipping on the slick, freshly mopped floor up front that sent him sliding past the counter. Startled, the police dispatcher stood up abruptly, and a policeman behind the counter went for his gun.

He’s trying to kill me! the man on the floor screamed in sheer terror, clutching the bundle to his chest. The policeman snapped his gaze back at the doors to see a shadowed figure standing outside, breathing heavily, but not entering. He ordered the dispatchers to get down behind the counter and watched carefully.

Any available unit, hostile in the lobby, the dispatcher’s voice echoed over the radio, a vague description of the subject following. 

Police! Drop the weapon! Hands where I can see them! demanded the cop. The man in the doorway turned and disappeared into the street. Call 127, the policeman instructed the dispatcher, followed by a set of orders to give them. The  dispatcher was already a step ahead. Another officer came through a side door and followed the armed figure, hand on the gun at his hip. Three others were right behind him as the dispatcher’s voice gave out more information over the radio and the officers answered back. Once that was taken care of, the officer behind the counter looked at the man on the floor, shaking in the corner, clutching a bundle to his chest. What’s that? he demanded. The man held up one hand to show he meant no harm, then carefully pulled back the cloth and showed him the child. The officer relaxed slightly, and looked surprised.

Damn I wish I could sleep like that, he muttered. Do either of you need medical attention?

The man shook his head, completely unsure of anything, and shifted the bundle in his arms. The child stirred slightly, but still slept.

Why don’t you come to the back where you can answer a few questions? The officer took the man to the back, and set him down. For the longest, he couldn’t find his voice, trying to wrap his mind around everything he just saw, but after he caught his breath, the words seemed to come more easily. 

What's your name? the cop asked again now that the subject could form words properly. 

J-James, he replied at last. James Ephraim.

CHAPTER 1

ELEMENT

Present Day

The taillights of the vehicle dimmed as the driver pressed the gas, turning out of the gated enclosure and leaving Amara behind. Her throat had gone dry as reality settled on her. He was really leaving her here. He was really making her go to this boarding school, all because his new girlfriend didn’t get along with her.

At least, that’s who Amara blamed. Liz had been the one whispering it when she didn’t think Amara could hear. Or maybe she just waited until Amara was within earshot to say it, hoping to instigate another fight to prove it was a good idea. That Amara needed more socializing than she’d received with homeschooling, although she was already socialized in some of the weekly programs she did.

That your social worker?

Amara blinked out of her thoughts to glance at the gatekeeper who had just finished printing off a piece of paper he was handing her. Thin, white hair barely covered his head, and he sported a thick, wild mustache that stuck out oddly from under his nose. She glanced at his name tag and saw the well-worn letters that spelled ‘Bill’.

No, she replied softly, taking the paper and examining the map of the school grounds with all the ramp entrances and emergency exits highlighted and fire escapes marked. My dad...

Well, Bill said, the subtle twitch of his eyebrow the only sign of his surprise. The upside is you don’t have to deal with parents as much here. His attempt to lighten the mood fell short. A lot short.

She looked past the guard shack and into the grounds. The school was a good three stories high, and the dorms on either side were four stories high each. She hoped most of her classes were on the lower levels. Though, with her luck, they wouldn’t be. There was a wide grassy area on either side and behind it - from what she could tell, anyway. There was also a very large sandstone-colored wall surrounding it, topped with red clay shingles and the occasional wrought iron decoration that looked to double as perimeter lights, and neatly trimmed bushes out front and a set of woods behind it, but she couldn’t tell if the trees were within school grounds or not. It felt almost like a tiny college campus, with three large, connected buildings containing the campus and dorms.

Bill patted her on the shoulder. You ready to go, Hot Wheels?

Amara resisted the urge to snap at him for the nickname. I can find my way, thanks.

Sure you don’t need help with the umbrella or the doors? he asked.

I’ll manage, she replied, pushing her chair forward. If one more person called her Hot Wheels today, she was going to strangle them. She didn’t want any company at the moment anyhow. She felt like someone had betrayed her, but also like she had been an idiot. They had already moved her things here to prepare for her departure, but there was still a part of her that believed she could talk her father out of it. But here she was - rolling up the side ramp to the school, her pants and shoes getting wet in the rain. No one ever seemed to think making covered ramps would be a good plan when you had to steer a wheelchair and hold an umbrella and a bag and a map at the same time.

Then again, she had just been the one to turn down help. Too irritated to care and letting her anger fuel her refusal to ask for any help, she pried her way through the front doors. After getting buzzed through, she slowed to a stop on the doormat to fold away her umbrella and settle. Inside was just as nice - if not nicer - than the outside. It was clean and well-kept, not showing signs of age, as if it were a newer building. The halls were eerily quiet, empty of any signs of intelligent life anywhere, though that probably wouldn’t change when people started filing through.

Things had felt pretty normal when Liz first came along and started dating her dad, but the more she’d interacted with Amara, the more Amara disliked her. Mistrusted her. Yet her dad just shrugged it off, asking for patience and understanding. And she had tried. Oh, how she had tried, but when the suggestion of boarding school had come up, Amara had given up the niceties and the claws had come out. The fights between her and Liz went from once or twice a week to several times a day.

She never even considered she’d actually lose that battle.

Her fire felt snuffed out as she looked at the map again, tracing her finger across the lines to find the path to the office. One thing at a time. Right now, she needed to procure her room key and unpack a bit. And by unpacking, she meant lay on the bed and morph into a blob with no defining shape, and pretend like she didn’t exist for a while.

Did they even have Wi-Fi here? She groaned at the thought, pulling out her phone and glancing at it. It was just past eleven, but the lock screen image of her and her dad smiling together made her stop, a sharp pain running through her chest. Her hand shook, her vision blurring as she felt something tickle her cheek. Furiously wiping away the unwanted tear, she sniffed and stowed away her phone.

Office, she reminded herself forcefully. Office, office! Focus on positive things, like finding that one familiar face you’re looking forward to seeing. Tursanay had been Amara’s best friend since kindergarten and she’d been going to Blemwick for a few years now. When Amara found out it was the same school, it had been the only saving grace of the whole situation. She wouldn’t be completely alone.

She took a breath and glanced down at the map to make sure she was headed in the right direction. As she turned the corner to enter the hallway, she passed a janitor pushing a cart with a trash can and various cleaning items resting on it, headed in her direction. He eyed her a moment, suspiciously, but they wordlessly passed each other. Something about his eyes made her feel uneasy, but she tried to shake it off. It was probably just her nerves anyhow.

The door to the office swung open right as she reached for the handle and the janitor that she had just passed was staring her in the face. She jerked her hand back in surprise, sitting back in her chair. Glancing down the hallway to check and see if there was a place he could have taken a shortcut, she found only an empty stretch of hall and the entrance to the lobby on the left.

Well, howdy there, Hot Wheels! the janitor said, beaming. She blinked up at him, too stunned to be pissed at the name. Come on in, I’ll get out of your way, he said in a rather friendly tone. His eyes were different, but his smile was a bit too large for his face and his teeth were a little too sinister to match the cheer in his voice.

Silently and as quickly as she could, she moved past him and into the office.

The janitor nodded to the lady at the desk. I’ll check on it and let you know, Ms. Weatherwax. And with that, he ducked out the door.

Ms. Weatherwax smiled at her from across the desk, the bright red lipstick against her dark skin a pleasant contrast. She had her hair done up in intricate braids on top of her head, with not a strand out of place. Her nails had dark pink polish with little cherry blossoms painted on them. She had broad shoulders and a welcoming energy that emanated from them.

You must be our new student, she smiled. I’ve got all your papers right here. Your schedule, room key, and some things you’ll need for class. She handed a thick-looking tan folder to Amara, who flipped through it. Your books should be here in a day or so. We had the first chapter in all of them scanned so you could follow along in class until then. Your uniforms should be in by Friday. You’ll start class tomorrow, and if you need anything at all, don’t hesitate to stop by. You’ve got a map of all your classes, the dorms, and we have marked all the wheelchair access points. Any questions?

Not that you can answer. Amara shook her head.

Remember to have your dorm key on you at all times. The door locks behind you automatically. You’ll have a roommate who has a key as well, but you don’t need to rely on that all the time in case they’re in class and you need something out of your room, okay?

Amara nodded.

Do you need any help unpacking? she asked.

Amara shook her head again.

Cat got your tongue? she teased.

Amara started to shake her head again, but caught herself. I’m good, she said at last, her throat feeling dry. I’ll be fine.

Ms. Weatherwax smiled softly. Welcome to Blemwick, honey. I’m sure you’ll settle in quickly. She held the door open for Amara and pointed her in the right direction for good measure.

In less than ten minutes, Amara was sitting in front of the dorm room, too hesitant to knock. There was an accessible symbol on the door just below the number, and she wondered if it would live up to its promise. She also really hoped her roommate wasn’t in, and that said roommate was female. And that they didn’t have bunk beds. And that they had a shower she could go into without difficulty. But those were questions she hadn’t thought to ask when she was in the office.

Naturally.

Then again, if it was accessible, then maybe - just maybe - things wouldn’t be so bad. Taking a deep breath, she knocked, but no answer came. Testing out the key, she let herself in. On the right side of the room - the bare side - were her boxes and things next to her bed, which was thankfully a single level. On the left side of the room, there was an explosion of personality, from rows of books overloading the poor bookshelf at the foot of the bed to posters and art supplies. Hair products and other personal hygiene items dotted the small dresser, as well as various trinkets and jewelry. The bathroom was on the same wall that her bed rested flush against, and directly in the center of the back wall, across the room from the door, was a single window. Setting her things on the bed, she dug through the boxes until she found a dry pair of clothes to change into. Slipping into the bathroom, she was delighted to find the shower area did not differ from the rest, and the only thing separating it from the rest of the room was a curtain. In the corner was a shower chair. It would be easy to get in and out and still have room to maneuver her chair. She stripped down, dried off, and dressed in a pair of blue jeans and a long sleeve shirt to help her warm up.

Since when were schools this accommodating? Too tired to think about it, she rubbed her face, trying to banish her loud thoughts. Coming back out of the shower and into the room, she sidled over to the bed and crawled into it. It wasn’t as soft as her mattress back at home. It was thin and, in a way, it was proof in her mind that this place wasn’t as great as it was cracked up to be. She lay face down on the mattress, willing the blankets to smother her, but her face grew too hot and she rolled over in frustration. Too many thoughts going through her head. Circular patterns of thinking. All wanting to blame Liz. Wanting to yell at her dad, knowing it wouldn’t get her anywhere. She wanted to scream at everything, but more than anything, she just wanted to not be stuck in her own head.

Getting back up with a sigh and grabbing the map out of her folder, she made her way towards the door and set out, stopping every so often to study the map. There was no point in sulking, she supposed. She paused in a hallway lined with lockers and classroom doors, and she could hear the faint murmur of a teacher saying something from behind one of them. She checked the map again and blinked. Which hall was she in again?

A cold feeling settled in the pit of her stomach. She didn’t enjoy being alone like this in a new place. The silence made her skin crawl, and every horror movie she’d ever watched flash through her mind. Things that would seem peaceful and innocent would often have some kind of dark history behind them that often ended up torturing the poor souls that wandered into their paths unknowingly. Things like paranormal beings, creatures of myth and legend, man-made or disease-inspired monsters that were once ordinary people or animals turned into gruesome figures. The ideas made this place unnecessarily scary.

Stop thinking about horror movies, she mentally scolded herself, trying to stay rational. It was probably because of that creepy janitor scaring her earlier...

A bell rang directly above her, and Amara’s heart nearly leapt out of her throat. In moments, the classroom doors opened and people began pouring out. Not wanting to be caught in the middle of everything, she struggled to park next to a row of lockers, hoping for all the world not to attract too much attention. But even as she forcibly made her eyes focus on the map, she could feel the stares as people passed. The noise of the crowd and the bustling of students caused her heart rate to pulse in her ears. Now, more than ever, her throat felt like it was sticking together, but she couldn’t even swallow, too afraid to move.

The thoughts of horror movies still plagued her mind and part of her—the scared, childish part of her brain that common sense couldn’t reason with—was afraid to look at the faces around her. She was afraid there would be something about their demeanor that she would see, that would give a clue to a darker side that their human facades were trying so desperately to hide behind. Some dark evil secret that she didn’t want to stir up. And if she dared make eye contact, they’d be able to sense a weakness in her which they could exploit later.

When the crowd thinned, the locker door beside her slammed shut, startling her back into reality with a yelp.

The boy beside her hopped back and lurched away, apparently not having noticed her before. He had Asian features, medium tan skin, and his hair was short and messy, sticking out everywhere. Putting his hand over his chest and patting it as if that would help it calm down, he held up a finger, motioning for Amara to hold on for just a moment. He reached up and put something around his ear and tapped it slightly, then nodded.

Sorry, he apologized. I didn’t hear you come up. I took this out in class so I wouldn’t have to listen to the video, he explained.

Sorry, Amara apologized, realizing they were hearing aids. Maybe that’s why some areas in this school were so nice. There were more disabled people here than just her. At least she wouldn’t feel like the odd person out. I was just- her throat caught, and she had to cough to speak properly again.

Do you need some water? he asked. I can show you to the cafeteria? He pointed over his shoulder. I mean, it’s lunchtime anyway.

Oh, um, Amara managed. Sure?

He smiled and nodded, motioning for her to follow.

Thanks...

No problem, he replied, falling in stride beside her. First day?

Amara nodded.

A little overwhelming?

Amara took a slow, deep breath and nodded again. Yeah, she breathed. Little bit.

I get that, he half smiled as if remembering first coming to this school, too. What grade are you? he asked.

I’m in my junior year, she replied.

Oh, cool - me too, he noted. We should have some classes in common if you need some help finding them. Then a thought occurred to him. Oh! I’m Rodney, by the way.

Amara, she replied with a polite smile. She wasn’t exactly good at conversing with strangers. Thankfully, he was doing most of the talking.

I’m going to ask you that like twenty more times because I suck at remembering names, he said, earning a small smile from Amara.

It was honestly the first time she’d smiled in probably a month. He rambled as he took a turn, pointing out little things that helped him remember where to turn and go. Landmarks. Landmarks she could remember. It made her feel relieved to have them, making the halls less confusing and endless.

When they reached the cafeteria, Rodney got her a tray, and they went through the line, getting some food, and found a table off to the side to sit at and talk. Amara had grabbed two water bottles and downed the first one in just a few minutes.

I haven’t seen someone that thirsty since I tried begging for extra credit in history class, so I’d pass, Rodney commented.

Amara nearly choked on her second bottle of water.

I mean, it worked, but I had to grovel.

Just to get extra credit? Amara asked.

I’d maxed out and needed one more good grade to scrape by, he replied with an exaggerated shrug and a raise of his eyebrows. He took pity on me.

Ooh, Amara said.

Yeah, unfortunately I have two more years to scrape by with, and for someone who is really fantastically bad with names and dates, he added with a grimace. Let’s just say I don’t think my calling is going to be a historian.

I don’t know what I want to be, Amara replied. I’m just worried about surviving high school.

Where’d you go before here? Rodney asked.

I was homeschooled for the most part. I mean, I went to kindergarten, but after that, my dad homeschooled me since he worked from home anyhow.

Oh cool, he nodded. I was sort of bounced around from place to place until my social worker landed me here. Let me tell you, it’s got its issues, but it’s not so bad. I kind of like it. I’m just hoping I can graduate and get a job before someone tries to adopt me.

They can do that here? she asked. She looked around wildly, and asked in a hushed voice, Is this like an... orphanage? Or...?

No, he began, then amended. Well, I mean there are some kids here with no parents and they have the chance to be adopted through foster care, but there are some who still have parents who simply want them to go through boarding school for whatever reason, he began, then amended. I mean, it’s a wonderful school. There are a lot of different programs here that help with learning disabilities and whatnot. Sometimes, students who have been separated from their families come here so they can live a normal life until a better home can be found for them. You get some messed up kids sometimes. But overall, they just try to help.

Amara let that sink in as she nibbled at her lunch.

Granted, there are some teachers that you just get so tired of. Mr. Higgins? In my next class? Don’t sit near the front if you can help it. Man spits worse than a llama with a mouth full of chewing tobacco.

Oh, I did not need that mental image, Amara grimaced.

They talked amicably for a while, about things they were interested in, interesting stories that came to mind, and Rodney told jokes that had Amara laughing for the first time in forever. The bell rang, signaling for Rodney to head back to class, and Amara bid him goodbye before throwing away her trash and heading back toward the dorm rooms. Now that Rodney had showed her around a bit, she had a better vision of the map in her head.

Amara made her way back to the dorms, slowly counting down the room numbers until she reached hers. But when she tried to open the door, she found it locked and wanted to panic again. She’d left her key on the bed with her other things. How was she going to get back in the room? Wait until her roommate got back? How many hours would that be? Would she have to just sit here until then? She sighed.

Idiot, she grumbled.

The door swung open to reveal a brown-skinned girl with a lot of hair that fell to the middle of her shoulders with pencil-sized curls. Patches of freckles framed her earth-colored eyes across the bridge of her nose, and when they fell on Amara, they lit up in surprise.

Tursanay? Amara blinked. Tursanay and Amara had lived in the same neighborhood for about eight years growing up, and had been inseparable until Tursanay had to move away to live with her grandmother, when her dad went MIA overseas, assumed dead. They had stayed in contact via messaging and social media..

HEY! Tursanay exclaimed, leaning over and hugging her with her only arm. She’d been born without the other one. What are you doing here? That’s a cute print! She reached out and touched the coarse fabric covering Amara’s hair.

Thanks! she stammered, not sure where to begin. I told you I was changing schools to here, remember? You said you hoped I was in some of your classes.

Oh, I meant what are you doing at my room? Tursanay said before things clicked. Shut up, Tursanay gasped. You’re my new roommate?

Amara’s grin broadened into a smile. That extended sleepover we always wanted to do can happen now. She nodded.

Tursanay squealed with a giggle of excitement. My day just got a lot better. She stepped aside to let Amara in.

Mine too because I’m about to throw some salt, she replied, referring to her displeasure about being sent here in the first place despite the perks she was finding. Heading into the room, Tursanay let the door swing shut behind them.

Well, you have come to the right place. Tursanay grinned. I am all about some salt.

The girls talked for an hour, catching up, sharing news, and rambling like they hadn’t been able to in a long time. Tursanay asked if Amara had met anyone at the school besides the staff, and she mentioned Rodney. Tursanay nodded, saying she was vaguely aware of who Amara was talking about. She had him in a few classes, but knew little about him since they never really hung out and he kept to himself.

At last, Tursanay had to go back to class, explaining it was her study period. Since she didn’t have any homework to do, she had come up to the room to read. Much to Amara’s good fortune.

Make yourself a necklace out of your key. Makes it so much easier to keep up with, Tursanay advised, showing her own.

As they made plans to meet up at supper in the cafeteria, the girls said goodbye, leaving Amara alone once more with her thoughts. With all that had happened today, she felt she could brave trying to unpack a bit. After getting a good portion of the things unpacked, put away, and some boxes consolidated, then stored under her bed, Amara laid on her bare mattress and stared up at the ceiling. The move, the shock, and the stress of all that had occurred in just the last few days, along with the excitement of meeting good friends, wore her out. The food in her stomach was lulling her into an extremely sleepy state. Deciding just to close her eyes for a minute before getting back up, Amara relaxed her muscles and in moments had drifted off to sleep.

The scent of the forest was rich, earthy, and smelled strongly of pine and oak. The air was pleasantly warm, as she floated through the air as if swimming through water. Even her hair moved as if underwater, but the air felt light and not restrictive, like water. The bramble was thick and difficult to move through, and it was impossible to go two feet at a time without having to push a branch or thicket of leaves from a bush out of the way.

As Amara looked around curiously, she came across a small clearing in the trees. Inside, there was a boy about her age, with brownish-red hair that fell to his chin. He couldn’t see her, it seemed, even though he searched the woods frantically for something. His eyes were the purest green she’d ever seen. Beautiful. Striking. And wide with worry.

Feeling compelled to come forward, Amara broke into the clearing and the boy’s eyes fell on her, causing her to pause with a gasp. Suddenly, meeting him face to face made her nervous. She was never good at socializing. What on earth had possessed her to go to him? But even though she was nervous, the feeling that compelled her to swim forward again lingered.

First, his brows pulled together as he stared at her, confused. Then recognition crossed the boy’s face, and words tumbled out of his mouth in a rapid fire, the look on his face serious. Except... there was no sound. Everything suddenly became muted, as if someone had turned off the sound. The forest, the smells, the sounds of wildlife. It felt like the world acknowledged the absurdity of swimming in the air and tried to fill the void with water, but she couldn’t even hear the rushing in her ears as she felt like she was dunked in a stream. Confusion crossed her face and Amara pantomimed she couldn’t hear him, but he mirrored the look of confusion. She spoke out loud, but even as she gestured again, she couldn’t hear her own voice. Slowly, the world seemed like it was tilting, a pressure behind her eyes making her dizzy.

Understanding dawned on the boy’s face, and he looked around for something. He fled from the clearing, winking out of existence. The second he disappeared, everything turned into a spinning chaos of color and blurred shapes. A shockwave pulsed through the air, causing Amara’s stomach to flip as everything in her field of vision lurched. She doubled over, wrapping her arms around her stomach, and shook her head, trying and failing to clear it. There was a hazy feel to the air, as if everything was just a little out of focus. The world seemed to spin on its heel, a whirlwind sweeping her up into its vortex and tossing her about like food in a blender. She struggled to take a breath as the wind ripped it from her lungs, transforming the misty air into water instead. Though she fought to move and free herself from this prison of torment and hell, she couldn’t. It was hard to tell what was going on around her.

A faint, distant sound reached her ears. It was just as garbled as everything else, but the closer it got, the clearer it became.

Ee-dee mwah!

The foreign sounds reached her ears and made no sense. She tried to look up, and in doing so, caught a brief glimpse of the boy’s face. He was back in the clearing, which seemed to get farther and farther away, as if it were being pulled away through a tunnel. She couldn’t quite focus on his face, but he was running toward her frantically, screaming the same words repeatedly as he reached out to her.

The world suddenly lurched again and Amara awoke to laying on the floor beside her bed, partially across some of her boxes that she had yet to unpack. There was a throbbing pain in her elbow that had bounced off her wheelchair, and she rolled over, hissing in pain and rubbing the spot. Everything hurt. She glanced around when she had blinked through the tears and caught sight of Tursanay’s alarm clock. It was three minutes before the bell would ring, signaling time for supper.

Ah! she sat up and scrambled to climb herself out of the floor and back in her chair. It took a good bit of maneuvering, but she sat righted again as the dinner hour struck. Grabbing her key, she headed out the door and tried to note landmarks that would help her memorize this route without carrying the map with her everywhere. When class let out the first time, the halls were crowded, but they had become less desolate compared to when she first arrived. It looked less like a ghost town and felt much more welcoming.

Rodney found her first as she was stuck at a hallway intersection, unsure which hall to take.

When in doubt, he said, coming up beside her and pointing to the bulletin board with a green background in the hall to their left. Food is green sometimes if you like that sort of thing, but if it smells funny, he said, pointing down the opposite way. It’s probably the gym class’s feet.

I take it the gym is that way? Amara laughed.

Yee, Rodney agreed with an awkward grin.

Amara! came a familiar voice. Looking over her shoulder, she saw Tursanay headed her way. A shoulder bag hung diagonally across her torso for easy access.

Oh, hey! Amara called. This is my roommate, Tursanay, she introduced.

Oh cool, Rodney smiled, though it seemed a little strained, as if he felt uncomfortable suddenly.

Tursanay, this is who I was telling you about - Rodney, she added. Tursanay greeted him with a smile and a wave.

Well, Rodney began awkwardly. I guess I’ll leave you to it. He smiled and nodded as if to dismiss himself, but Amara objected.

No, come sit with us! she said, and Tursanay agreed.

Yeah, it’ll be fun! she piped up.

O-oh, he said, looking surprised. Okay, sure. A small smile was tugging at his lips, making him look almost relieved. As they got their trays and sat down, Tursanay noticed the bruise on Amara’s elbow and asked her about it. She recounted the weird dream and how she fell.

Oh, I hate it when that happens, Rodney said. I did that on the top of a bunk bed once and brought the whole thing down on me when I woke up mid- roll and tried to claw my way back up.

The girls laughed.

Yeah, my bunkmate didn’t think it was too funny, he added.

The conversation moved toward what classes they had—Amara shared every class with at least one or both of them, and was excited that she wouldn’t be completely alone.