Here With Me | Neteyam 💙

ᴄʜᴀᴘᴛᴇʀ 3

"Okay, so let me get this straight." Lo'ak squinted at her. "You hit your head and now you think you're someone else?"

Hazel grinned, all teeth and sarcasm. "No, I am someone else. I'm just currently starring in the unauthorized remake of my own life, blue alien edition."

Lo'ak snorted. "You really are weird right now."

"Thank you." She brushed an imaginary speck from her ceremonial top—still itchy, still not hers. "Anyway, about that body of water..."

Lo'ak gave her a sideways glance. "You trying to bathe for once? Don't want to shock the village."

"I'm serious." Hazel leaned in slightly, dropping her voice into something softer, more broken. "I just... think being near the water might help. I don't know. Maybe something about it will trigger my memory. Or undo whatever this is."

Lo'ak blinked. "Like a... magic lake?"

Hazel pressed her lips together. "Sure. Let's go with that."

Lo'ak scratched the back of his neck. "I mean... there's the river by the cliffs. Or the springs."

"The closer to drowning depth, the better," she muttered.

"What?"

"Nothing." Hazel smiled again. "Lead the way, Blue Boy."

Before Lo'ak could respond, a voice called from behind them—dry and unimpressed.

"There you are."

Kiri emerged from the path, hands on her hips, her braids bouncing slightly with each step.

Tuk trailed behind her, holding Spider's hand and chewing on a piece of dried fruit.

"I've been waiting forever," Kiri said. "We were going to the forest, remember?"

"I said I was coming," Lo'ak replied, not even trying to hide his guilt. "I just—Ayavi wants to come too."

Kiri stopped short, blinking. "Ayavi?"

Spider winced.

Even Tuk tilted her head like she hadn't heard right.

Kiri's eyes narrowed. "Why would Ayavi want to go anywhere that doesn't involve Esnat, a mirror, or torturing Yewaa because she braided Neteyam's hair last week?"

Hazel lifted a brow. "Wow. I sound delightful."

Kiri crossed her arms. "What's your motive?"

Hazel sighed dramatically. "I'm just trying to reconnect with nature. You know. Touch grass. Mourn deeply. Heal spiritually."

Spider coughed to hide a laugh. Tuk giggled.

Lo'ak rolled his eyes. "She's coming. It's not a big deal."

"It is if she tries to kill us all," Kiri muttered, brushing past him.

Hazel fell into step beside them, grinning.

One step closer to the river. One step closer to either waking up... or figuring out just how far this rabbit hole goes.

Lo'ak glanced over his shoulder. "Do you, uh... remember any of them?"

Hazel blinked. "Any of who?"

He gestured to the others trailing behind him. "Them. Kiri, Spider, Tuk?"

Kiri raised a brow like she was bracing for an insult.

Spider offered a lopsided smile. "We've met before. Several times. Usually you call me a fungus."