"Tobias, what was that?"
Akhile's temple pulsed again. This time, it hit her much harder. "Ouch!" she yelled, shutting her eyes and crouching to the ground. The lights were making the pain worse.
"Princess Cora, I'll get you inside and call for some help," said Tobias, guiding her back into her apartment.
Akhile used her hand to feel for one of her sofas in the lounge and collapsed into it. She fell unconscious.
In that instant, she started dreaming.
The air hit her face immediately. It was thin and sharp. She couldn't breathe properly.
It was dry and metallic.
Akhile walked about barefoot.
Her breath came out in a cloudy colour.
She stared up. The scar in the sky was still there.
Below it, Neilelis Industrial continued operating as if nothing had changed. Pods glided back and forth. Drones flew around in loops. Lights pulsed in production towers. People rushed between shifts, small silhouettes beneath a maroon sky.
"Akhile!" A voice called her out.
"Princess Cora?" she replied. Akhile gazed around in panic. She couldn't see anyone. She was alone. "Princess Cora, are you here?"
"Yes, I'm here," said Cora.
Akhile could not make out where her voice was coming from. She was blind, she was in her memories, she was dreaming.
"The blood moon is almost here," Cora whispered.
"I know," Akhile said, tears forming in her eyes.
"Beware of the Sharman."
"Beware of the Sharman," she repeated after Cora. "Beware of the Sharman, Beware of the Sharman…"
Both Princess Cora and Akhile chanted in unison. It was weird, but she felt like it was the right thing to do.
In the next moment, Akhile felt her body violently shaking. At first, it was involuntary, but then she could feel forceful hands on her shoulder, jolting her awake.
"Princess Cora?"
Nothing.
"Tobias, call an ambulance now!" Nathaniel commanded.
Tobias rushed over to the intercom and dialled for the hospital.
Nathaniel did not give up. He knelt and put his ear near her face, feeling for her breath.
She was breathing.
He shook her some more. His eyes were filled with panic, his underarm sweat exposed through his shirt. "Cora, wake up!" he screamed. "Wake up." He lost the power in his voice.
Before he could wipe the sweat off his brow, Akhile's eyes opened instantly.
"Nathaniel," she said, her voice heavy and restricted.
Without thinking, Nathaniel's arms wrapped around her as if shielding her from going back into a coma, or whatever that was.
Akhile froze, and she was confused. His embrace made her feel good inside. Their subtle but strong squeeze, like a weighted blanket.
Without embracing him back, she took a deep breath. "Nathaniel Redcliff," she said. "What-are-you-doing?"
His body flew back, and he was immediately on his feet. Nathaniel scratched the back of his neck, his gaze searching for Tobias.
He cleared his throat. "Princess Cora…you were unconscious," he said. "Tobias called me in a panic, and I thought-."
Tobias walked back into the room. "The ambulance is on its way, Sir. They will bring a Physician."
"Ambulance?" said Akhile. "For me? ...I'm fine." Akhile carried her head in her hands, feeling the pressure slowly lift away. Her forehead was hot.
"Princess Cora, I insist you see a doctor. And that's an order," said Nathaniel.
Akhile tried to respond, but lifted her head and caught his gaze as she tried to speak. Nathaniel looked dishevelled and stressed.
"Fine," she said. She had to choose her battles. "It's just a headache, though, I'm fine."
Tobias brought her a damp face cloth. "Here, here, Princess. Lie back on the sofa and apply this cool cloth to your head. It will help." Tobias's fingers accidentally brushed over Akhile's forehead. "Oh dear! You're burning up."
Nathaniel's face grew alarmed. "I cannot believe you didn't tell me you're ill. That is a very irresponsible thing to do, Cora!" he yelled.
Akhile raised her gaze at him. "Well, I would have told someone, but there was a blackout."
Nathaniel and Tobias paused for a moment and looked at each other. It was not a good look.
"What's going on? Are we in trouble?" asked Akhile, holding the cloth over her forehead.
There was silence.
She sat up, her feet landing on the tiled floor. The ground was not heating up. That part of the system was still off.
"Please, I beg of you," said Nathaniel. "Lie down. I'll explain everything."
Akhile obeyed without another word.