Rising Shards

I had just tripped Anastasia for trying to bully Zeta and I, and worried I broke something in this void dimension, because as soon as Zeta's older sister got to her feet, the world got all wobbly around the three of us. It felt hard to move, like I was about to fall asleep.

"Wait, dang," someone with a familiar voice said, their hushed tone made it hard to work out. "I was supposed to just get Anastasia."

"Huh?" I said, seeing a cloaked girl standing near us.

"Hi again," A girl with a soft voice said. "Or hi the first time to you two. The others can't see or hear me,"

"It's you," Anastasia said.

"You know her?" Zeta asked.

Ana nodded, glaring at the hooded figure. "This girl was responsible for the dating show fiasco." Zeta's sister probably had the same sleepy feeling, because she tried to punch the cloaked girl, but couldn't, her fist moving slowly, like the way it would be in a dream.

"Relax, I'm not here to hurt you," the girl said. "This whole thing will go on for just like a minute more, so hold out for me, OK?"

"Why would I do that?" Anastasia asked.

"Or we," Zeta said. "Because all three of us could probably mess you up or something."

"Real threatening stuff there, Zeta," Anastasia said.

"Shut up, I'm trying!" Zeta said.

"You should hold out because I don't want to hurt you," the girl said. "We got what we wanted here, so we're wrapping up. If we did this right, you won't even remember anything happened this time."

"What?" I asked. "What do you mean by that?"

"We figured out how to make a place where time moves differently," the girl said. "Pretty nifty, yeah? Or, well, we found a set of imps that let us do that in their construction. So when you get back, it'll be like you just stepped into the mall."

The more she talked, the more familiar she sounded. I couldn't place it though. It wasn't a close friend, but she was definitely someone in my class. Someone whose voice I'd heard for a while, but not so long that I could tell right away when they spoke in that hushed tone. Who could this be? Someone nice, but not someone I knew too well?

"That's...strange..." Zeta said. "Do we know you?"

"Don't worry about it," the girl said. "If I showed you now, you wouldn't be very surprised or impressed."

"But we would be impressed...later?" I asked.

"Heh, probably not," the girl said. "Just have fun once you're back, that's what I'd do. If you do remember, don't make a scene, because that'll make things harder for everyone."

"Like I'd..." Anastasia tried to say, but her voice was getting slow, too. "...listen...to...what..."

"This is all for something better, a better world for everyone," the girl said. "It'll be worth it, but... I'm sorry for what's coming. I don't think any of you are bad, but she does."

"Wh...?" I tried to say, but it felt like my mouth was full of peanut butter. I reached out, trying to grab Zeta, who looked like panic was setting in with the strange sensation.

Things were getting fuzzy now. Was I about to pass out? What was this?

"Alright, see you later," the girl waved.

I blinked, and I was suddenly upright. Not in a musty old school out of a low budget special, but in a mall, with classmates around me. In the mall where our event was supposed to take place. Zeta and I locked eyes, the only ones not walking. Well, them and the tall girl a bit ahead. Sai was by Anastasia's side, waving their hand in front of her face.

"Ana? You good?" Sai asked.

"I..." Anastasia said.

Zeta grabbed my hand, as though her instinct said we needed to be close together. I felt it, too.

What was I just doing? I had to remember something, right?

Workers for the event with megaphones were directing us around. "Welcome everyone to the prom shopping spree! This event is brought to you by the fine folks at Toy Holdings! Thanks to their generous donations, everyone participating will get some slick prom wear of their choosing. And, a two-pack of Toy Holdings' signature characters, Mr. Sleebo and Glump! Isn't that awesome?"

I looked around. Nobody seemed out of sorts. Anastasia locked eyes with us. Everything felt really strange, like I'd just woken up from a nap, but not a good nap, the kind that makes you more exhausted and leaves you feeling disorientated.

I was able to put the strange feeling that I was missing something away, but I felt an ominous presence all around us as we went to the event.

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