She didn't know the name of the vehicle, but to her, it looked like a type of car. The exterior was black with fine sensory whiskers covering the whole thing. It was a two-seater, but she questioned whether two yautjas would actually fit. She climbed into the seat, which left her feet dangling off the floor, but her shoulders touching Ain.

"It's a bit primitive. I don't like the antigravity and being glued to the seats was too restrictive so you have to strap yourself in."

Asha paid attention to how the straps crossed his torso, but when she tried to do it herself, she couldn't even find the button to drop the straps. Ain didn't hesitate to help. He pressed a small button on the side of the seat and the straps unraveled from the top. He leaned across her and brushed her hair out of the way before buckling her up. A trickle of warmth danced under her skin at the contact.

"Thank you."

His green eyes stayed on hers for a moment before jumping to the controls. The vehicle barely made a sound as it lifted off the ground. It wasn't as stable as other vehicles though, and without the gravity control, she could feel it tilting left to right. Asha assumed it was a small spaceship, but it suddenly shot forward like a bullet hugging the ground.

It was a hovercraft. It went over bumps and dipped down every curve. When he turned, the rock was smooth enough the vehicle climbed right onto the side of the rock. The seatbelts kept her from tumbling out but had enough give that she was smushed up against Ain's side.

Her fingers dug into his arm since there wasn't a hand rest between them, "Jesus Christ!"

Ain made a chortle.

"Slow down!"

As soon as the vehicle was upright again, Ain slid the control panel to her side, "You drive."

"Oh no no no no no."

"I'll control speed, you just have to steer."

Asha shook her head. The vehicle continued forward at an incredible speed. A wall of rock in front of them grew larger. There were many turn-offs along the canyon, but they went by in a blur. Her toes curled. Her lungs seized.

She closed her eyes at the last second, expecting an impact. Instead, her stomach rolled and her head jerked back against the seat. They were vertical. The vehicle was climbing up the side of the canyon wall.

Ain took back the controls with a disappointed huff, "Freezing in fear will get you killed, ooman. Learn to enjoy the surge of fear. That's why I gave you the controls."

"No, you just enjoy scaring the crap out of me! Now take me home!"

"You were in no danger. In the event of an oncoming collision with another vehicle, this one would simply go over it. It's almost impossible to wreck this vehicle."

"I SAID TAKE ME HOME! RIGHT NOW!"

She should have reconsidered her choice of words. Ain hit the accelerator, and the rocks became a blurry Van Gogh painting. The contents of her stomach sloshed to one side, then the other. Her toes curled so tightly that the sandal strap between her toes snapped.

The vehicle lurched to a stop in front of her house. Asha jabbed all the buttons to release the seat belt. When Ain reached over to help, she slapped his hand away. One button finally worked, and she stepped free from the vehicle. The ground was still spinning. She took one step and hit the ground, placing her hands in front of her face just in time.

She felt fingers wrap around her arm and didn't protest. Ain lifted her to her feet, supporting her as she wobbled. Bile rose into her throat, but she quickly covered her mouth. Ain walked her to her door. The effects were wearing off, and she was able to use the wall for support as she went for the bathroom sink.

When she stepped out, Ain was still standing in her living room. He held up her broken shoe.

She snatched it from his hand, "Thanks a lot!"

He cocked his head.

"That was sarcasm." The words were a hiss between her teeth.

"I didn't consider what those speeds would do to your anatomy."

She shot him a glare, "Well, now you know. Get out."

"Are you still unwell?"

"Please leave."

"I refuse to leave until I know you're ok." His facial features were gentle, concerned. His eyes roamed her body in a meticulous way, looking for injury.

"I was just dizzy. I'm fine now, I promise. You know I missed my midday nap. I just want to go to bed."

Ain dipped his head slightly and headed for the door. As soon as it opened, he paused. His head turned to the left and gave a weak growl, but then continued on his way. Asha peeked out from the doorway and scanned her surroundings. There was nothing but shelves of multi-colored rock. She made sure to lock the house up anyway.

Asha tossed her clothes into the laundry and headed for bed, pausing in front of a full-length mirror. Puckered lines intersected her stomach. She reached down and slowly traced the center one, following it down to her bellybutton. Memories came floating to the front of her thoughts, but she shook them away. She clamored into the soft bed and pulled a pelt over her to hide from them.

Instead, she found herself trapped in a nightmare woven from the very thoughts that she kept forcing away.

This time it wasn't about Sajuu.

An endless forest of teal and green leaves surrounded her. The canopy above her was dense enough that a shadow was cast over the ground. A fruit dropped from the trees, hit the exposed roots, and rolled towards her. She recognized the dark peel instantly. Knowing it was edible, she picked it up.

Asha brought it to her lips and took a bite. Juice gushed from the corner of her mouth. The sweet taste quickly turned sour though. As she lowered the fruit from her mouth, it began to rot in her hand. Beetles emerged from the center and crawled up her arm.

She dropped it into the leaf litter. Something crept along her tongue. She spit out the bite of fruit she'd taken and watched it turn to a lump of mush and maggots. The dirt began to move. She expected bugs but what rose from the ground though was a young yautja the same height as her.

Her eyes swept over his short dreads and pale green skin, "Rayce?"

His lids opened slowly, revealing pale yellow eyes. They didn't move though, not even when she knelt beside him. Asha pressed her fingers to his neck, but his skin was tough and cold. When she moved her hands down to the wound below his ribs, it began to bleed. She applied pressure, but the green fluid leaked between her fingers.

"Rayce, I'm sorry. Please don't die."

"...I'm already dead."

Her heart jolted like it had been started with a car battery. She turned towards the voice and found a pair of yellow eyes focused on her. Like he had no strength left, his head laid back down and his eyes rolled back. The skin on his face began to peel. When she looked down, her hands were on a corpse.

Asha turned and ran. The dirt became mud under her feet. With every step, she sank more until she wasn't able to lift her leg free. She sank into her waist. Asha could barely move her legs. She clawed at the ground, struggling to break free.