It is already past six by the time I am done with my shift. Frank waves me goodbye without looking up from his tablet—I assume he’s still trying to figure out what’s happened to Dani, so I leave as quietly as I can.

Melly signs me out, and I walk onto the pavement, inhaling the hot dusty air in relief.

Skycross’ daytime shifts are over, and the streets fill with workers either heading home, or going to night shift. We walk the pavements and the road, ignoring the crossings and traffic lights—there aren’t any VIPs around to avoid right now. It’s a relief to wander without the blare of a self-driving car telling you to move out of the way.

I stare at the paved slabs beneath my feet and let the crowd carry me to Caleb’s apartment. My body is heavy, like I’ve walked for miles. It’s been busy, serving customers and trying to learn on the job, but the biggest factor for my stress by far was the meeting with Frank. The rest of my shift went smoothly once that was over. I even made a cup of Focus without spilling it all over the floor.

Hey, it’s progress.

It’s not a long walk, only twenty minutes, but five minutes in, I get the urge to cut along the back roads. It would halve my distance, slicing right through the wide arc I need to take around the darker alleys of the underbelly district.

A week ago, I wouldn’t have dreamed of taking this route. Now that I know more about the Abandoned, people like John, the underbelly doesn’t seem so threatening any more. I’d much prefer to run into an Abandoned than a warden on a power trip.

I pause and look down the alley on my left. Tall tenement buildings stretch upwards on either side—the gap is too narrow to allow road traffic through. It’s a pedestrian throughway, littered with bins and cardboard boxes full of rubbish. At one time, many workers might have used it as a shortcut. But not anymore. Now nothing moves in there.

I shake my head and continue onward, sticking to the bright sunlit pavements and quickening my pace again.

But at the next alleyway, I stop again. A thin figure in tattered clothes hunches over a bin, rustling through its contents, half-shrouded in darkness. They’re about six feet away—only a barrier of shadow separates us. I glance about, but the worker crowds have already dispersed. Skycross timekeeping at its best.

“Hi,” I venture softly, crouching down to meet their eyeline. “Are you okay?”

They turn away sharply, either to hide their face from me or to inspect a noise further down the alley. It’s like I don’t exist.

“Okay, I’ll leave you alone. Sorry.” I move away, but before I’ve taken a step, they dart towards me, reaching for my arm.

My initial instinct is to shriek, to pull away—I’m certain they’re going to hurt me, or mug me. I berate myself for stopping, for speaking to them, for thinking I could help. I suck in a breath to call for help…

But then I look at their face, and words fail me.

Freckles over dark brown skin, copper hair hanging limp about their face…

Dani’s warm brown eyes and thick eyelashes are unmistakable, even if I didn’t recognise them right away.

“Oh gods… Dani?”

They shake their head severely, and release my arm, turning away. “No… No…” their voice is high pitched and whiny—it doesn’t sound like them at all.

“Wait!” I follow down the alleyway, matching their hurried pace, trying to get a response. What is wrong with them? “Hey, Dani, it’s me.”

This time I reach for their arm, but they shriek and pull away. The sharp sound reverberates from the tall apartment blocks, echoing along its length. Dani backs away, stumbling over rubbish and landing in a heap against the brick wall.

“I, uh… I’m really sorry about yesterday. I thought you’d be in reform! Did they let you go?”

Dani rocks back and forward, banging the back of their head against the bricks. “No… No…”

“Hey, don’t do that. You might hurt yourself.” I squat in front of them, but they avoid my gaze, staring at a spot on the wall behind my head. “Dani?”

Nothing. No flicker of hate, or anger, or even recognition. They just keep staring at the wall, ignoring me. I wish I could reach out, comfort them, but I don’t want to risk scaring them again. I settle down on the floor opposite, leaning against the other wall.

Dani’s eyes wander, turning up to the darkening sky, then inspecting a cut on their wrist, which they pick at obsessively. This isn’t Dani, not anymore. They’re a shell.

“What happened to you?”

I take out my phone and type a message to Caleb.

Hey Cal, I’m gonna have to take a raincheck tonight’s deathmatch. I’m wiped. Sorry.

And again, but this time to Frank.

Frank, I just ran into Dan—

I shake my head and delete the text. How can I send him a message without mentioning Dani’s name? After my run in with Harding, I feel like mentioning anything in communications would be a bad idea. I type again, choosing my words more carefully.

Hi Frank. Sorry to bother you so soon after my shift. We were talking about stray animals earlier? Well, I ran into a really beautiful stray on my way home—know anywhere we could send them?

I slip my phone back in my pocket and turn to Dani, who’s still avoiding eye contact. “Okay, guess I’ll wait here with you for a while.”

#

Frank stumbles around the corner minutes later, red faced and panting. He looks me up and down, and I motion to Dani, who’s rummaging in the bins opposite me.

He nods, his mouth set in a grim line. “Thanks for lettin’ me know.”

Dani looks up at the sound of his voice. A slight flicker of recognition crosses their face. “Frank?”

“I’m here, Dani.” He moves over to them, arms outstretched, but Dani backs off, eyes wide with fear.

“They’re really out of it.” I say, standing to help him. “I don’t think they remember…”

The image of a vial of Oblivion flashes in my mind. ‘Oblivion makes you forget. The dosage has to be just right, or you might forget too much.’

“Frank…” I start, but he’s already inching towards Dani, shushing them softly.

“There now, it’s alright. You remember me, right?”

“Frank…” My throat tightens, preventing me from saying any more.

Frank nods at me. “I know, Kyla. I know,” he says, his voice soft and sad.

Dani has backed against the wall, their eyes still wide and red-rimmed. They look at me, now, with a dawning realisation. “Kyla…”

I nod. “Yeah, it’s me—”

Dani vaults at me, their face twisted in rage. I land heavily with them on top, punching at my face and chest. I hear a sickening crunch and stars cloud my vision.

“Kyla! Kyla!” Dani howls, lashing out again and again, hitting my nose, my cheekbone, my ribs.

Eventually, Frank hauls them off me, pinning their arms down. “Woah, Dani, cool it!”

“Kyla! Kyla!” Dani continues shouting, thrashing against Frank’s restraining hold.

“Kyla, you okay?” Frank asks.

My ears are ringing, and I can taste blood, but it’s less than I deserve. I nod, spitting on the ground. “Yeah, I’m fine. Is Dani alright?”

“Looks like they’re remembering some things.”

A humourless chuckle escapes me. “Glad to be of service, I guess.”

“I’m gonna get them somewhere safe, alright? Can I call someone for you, get you patched up?” He’s still holding Dani by the elbows, preventing any further attacks from escalating.

I wave him away. “No, I’m fine. Make sure Dani’s okay.”

As he passes me, he slows, and reaches down to touch me gently on the shoulder. “Thank you Kyla. You did good.”

I nod, holding back the tears and wiping the blood from my lips as he struggles to drag Dani along with him. Their shouts continue even after he turns the corner. “Kyla! Kyla!”

I’m glad to be in the dark alley, still hidden from view. I send a message to mum.

Gonna be home late from Caleb’s tonight. Don’t worry x

After catching my breath, I stagger to my feet and head towards the medical centre, my mind filled with thoughts of Dani.