Chapter 5: Leavetaking

Jonica slipped from her quarters, pressing her back to the former bulkhead of some freighter. She slid against the moist metal bulkhead, her pulse thrower held low and ready; she hoped whatever Meph had done to it; it was still effective.

Her head throbbed, not only from the impromptu surgery, but the migraine. It had started. The arc of the scintillating scotoma was like the impending scythe of pain. “Keep it together until you get off planet,” she hissed to herself. “If this Meph is on—”

“I assure you I am real.”

“Get out of my head,” Jonica lashed out, not knowing if she could send the thought out, let alone work.

“Very well.”

She paused at the corner of the bulkhead. Hearing the thump thump thump, her breathing catching in her throat. She strained to listen for any sound drifting down the corridor. Jonica peeked around to see three jagged slashes of red and black paint on the bulkhead across from her, swallowing hard.

“You are clear, keep going please,” the smooth voice of Meph whispered.

“What’s that noise?”

“Elevated heartrate, Jonica. I was trying to calm you down and give you a direction.”