Killer Instinct: Carrie Unleashed

Chapter 24: Orchid

The ride was cold, bumpy, and terrifying.

Clutching onto Pemba and Jago's backs, Carrie's hair fluttered as she strained against the cool breeze, her skin lined with goosebumps. The girl murmured prayers while keeping her eyes shut.

"Are you okay, Carrie?" Jago called.

"I'm not. It's too much for me!"

The motion of Pemba's body made Carrie's stomach turn. Combined with the cold air and scarce oxygen, she suffered fainting spells. Despite Pemba's efforts to make things bearable, Carrie was unused to the experience. Once or twice, she drifted in and out of consciousness or got queasy.

Wincing at the nauseating taste, Carrie swallowed. Don't throw up. Don't throw up!

"Is everything alright, Carrie?" Jago asked. "You seem pretty tense."

The girl gulped down the bile. "Um, no. I don't feel well."

Jago murmured something to Pemba, who replied, nodding.

"Hey, Pemba says she's sorry for making you sick. I've asked her to slow down. Take your time to adjust. If your symptoms worsen, let us know beforehand, okay?"

Nodding, Carrie remained on Pemba's flying form. The latter's majestic feathers shone beneath the sunlight, each flap accompanied by ruffling. As Carrie raised her head, her eyes widened. "Wow!"

A sea of soft, velvety clouds of all shapes and sizes floated ahead while the sun hung overhead. The latter was so bright that Carrie raised her hand to block the light from her eyes. She had never experienced anything like this before. The imagery was so serene, so peaceful.

"Everything alright, Carrie?" Jago asked.

"Y-Yeah. I was admiring the view. It's so pretty." As Pemba soared over the clouds, Carrie looked over the sides. "It's strange. Part of me wants to brush my fingers along the clouds. They look so soft and inviting."

"Ah, I would recommend not doing that. The last thing you want to do is lose your balance and fall."

"S-Sorry."

"It's fine. I don't want you to get hurt, that's all."

As the two fell into silence, Carrie watched the clouds, feeling Pemba's powerful muscles move beneath her. After a moment, she glanced at him again. "Why didn't you tell me you had a sister?"

"Hm?" Jago hummed.

"I assumed you were an orphan when you shared your life story with me."

The monk paused. "It's... complicated. We haven't seen each other in a long time."

"Are you two... estranged?"

"No, it's... more like we drifted apart. Our paths just took us in different directions."

Carrie shivered as she adjusted her grip on Pemba's feathers. "So, how did you meet her? I'm guessing it was at the Killer Instinct tournament?"

"Indeed," Jago said. "Orchid was among those who participated in the program. We hadn't known each other then, so it was a lot to take in when we discovered we were family."

"But the two of you must've sensed something about each other."

"I had, but I wasn't sure what to make of it. Orchid hadn't acknowledged anything. Not that I recall, anyway."

Intrigued, Carrie tilted her head. "What is she like?"

Jago mused. "Quiet. Very reserved, yet intelligent. A talented fighter by all accounts. When we met, she was working as a spy for some unnamed third party that hired her."