Page 42 of Emerald

Olivia

Myeyesflutteropen,and I let out a deep yawn, stretching against the cold rock floor, trying to work out the knots. My muscles ache in that way they do after sleeping in a cramped position, and I shift to try and loosen the tightness. It takes me a second to remember where I am, but once the memories come flooding back, the familiar chill of the cave air nips at my skin.

I scowl, shaking my head as I recall the strange dream I'd just had. Why now? Of all the things my brain could dredge up, it picks a nightmare about Bethany, of all people, from years ago. I can't help but wonder if it's because of how trapped I feel here. The similarities are eerie, and that thought alone sends a wave of discomfort crawling down my spine.

Is this karma for all of the times I wished to never have to see people again?

"Ugh," I groan, sitting up slowly, fully waking up to my present reality.

Kroaicho. And the hoard. All still here, me along with them.

That peace I somehow found before I slept last night seems completely inaccessible and instead I do what I do best… cringe about how I interacted with someone.

My inane chattering about shows, chaos, and food did nothing, except for make me hungrier. I mean, it never worked for me on humans, so why did I think that schtick would work on a LED alien? I’m weird no matter where I go, no matter which ways I pretend to be chirpy and fun.

I doubt anything I said or my stupid, pretend laugh made it… him… something… more inclined to let me leave.

I reach up to rub at my eyes, still groggy, and try to stifle a cough—but it doesn't come out right. The rough, raw sensation in my throat catches me off guard. It's like I'm trying to swallow broken glass. Panic flares as the cough turns into a series of violent hacks, each one ripping through my chest and throat like barbed wire. I double over, clutching my stomach as my body convulses, forcing something up from deep inside me.

With a sickening lurch, I spit out a wad of something thick and wet. It splatters on the cave floor, and for a split second, all I can do is stare at it, wide-eyed. Blood. A lot of it. And it's… glowing. Faintly, but unmistakably. A dull bioluminescence seeps from the thick mixture of blood and spit, casting a faint shimmer on the stone.

"What… the hell?" I whisper, my voice raspy and weak.

The sight of so much blood sends my mind spiraling. I feel the telltale signs of panic swelling in my chest, threatening to overwhelm me. My heart races and my breaths come out shallow and quick. I'm bleeding. From the inside. There's something wrong with me. The air feels too thick to breathe, and for a second, I think I'm going to pass out.

"Calm down. Calm down, Olivia," I mutter to myself, squeezing my eyes shut and taking slow, deliberate breaths. Just breathe. It takes a minute, maybe more, but slowly, the panic subsides enough for me to think clearly again.

When I finally open my eyes, I expect pain. If I've hacked up this much blood, there has to be something seriously wrong. A throat injury? Internal bleeding? My hand trembles as I touch my neck, but there's nothing—no sharp, searing pain. Just a dull ache, fading now as if it never really happened. My chest feels fine too. I roll my shoulders experimentally, but apart from the stiffness from sleeping on cold stone, I feel… okay.

"That's not normal," I whisper to myself, swallowing carefully to check for any lingering pain. Nothing. The blood on the ground remains, an unnerving reminder of what just happened, but my body seems fine.

With a start, I realize the stupid green hair is just as long as it was before I slept and let out a groan before taking the time to braid it, muttering curses about change the whole time.

I push myself to my feet, though my legs are shaky beneath me. A full-body stretch sends a few satisfying pops through my joints, but something feels off. I feel… loose, and more flexible than usual. My muscles seem to move with an ease I haven't felt in years as if I've shed years of tension.

I’m always wound tight, anxiety pumping through me. I can still feel it rattling around in my mind, but for some reason, it isn’t making its way into my body.

Just as I'm starting to appreciate the feeling, my arms brush against something rough near my ears. The sensation is jarring, and I freeze mid-stretch. What the hell was that?

My hands instinctively fly to my ears, fingers probing cautiously. I nearly jump out of my skin when I feel it—three hard spikes on each ear. They're not large, just small enough to blend into the curves of my ear, but the sharpness is unmistakable.

I panic. What the hell are these? My fingers tremble as they trace over the spines, confirming their existence. I rush to find a reflective surface, frantically searching the dimly lit cave. Of course, there's nothing. No mirrors. Nothing but stone and bioluminescent fungi casting their eerie glow.

In the absence of a mirror, I keep feeling the growths, trying to make sense of them. They're not tender or sore, and they don't hurt, which should be comforting but only makes it worse. Are these tumors? Am I growing spines? Is this some kind of mutation?

Then I remember the sound of water, and follow it. There’s some sort of glowing stream at the far end of the cave. I remember what Kroaicho said about water disappearing underground and carefully move to the edge, hoping to see my reflection, but there isn’t enough light to see any details.

I have three pointed… elf ears? No. The shape isn’t right. Or the texture.

My mind jumps to the worst possible conclusions. Cancer. Radiation. God knows what kind of substances are in the air down here. I'm on an alien planet, for crying out loud. Who knows if this place is even remotely safe for humans? Radioactive caves, toxic gases, unknown pathogens—it could be anything.

I try to steady my breathing, but my mind keeps racing. Every part of me feels more sensitive and more aware of my surroundings. I can feel every little draft, every tiny change in the air around me. It's unnerving.

A sudden shift in the air signals Kroaicho's presence before I even hear it. It stirs from its resting place with a low grunt, and I don't even have time to collect my thoughts before I snap.

"Get me out of here!" I shout, my voice hoarse from the earlier coughing fit. I whirl around to face the towering form of the alien. Its bioluminescent skin pulses with a deep, muted blue as it watches me with what I can only assume is confusion. It glows that color a lot.

Kroaicho doesn't respond immediately, which only fuels my frustration. I stomp toward it, jabbing a finger in its direction. "I said get me out of here! I don't know what's in this cave, but my body is reacting to something in the air. I'm coughing up blood, I have weird… growths on my ears, and I feel like I'm turning into something else," I hiss out.

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