cascade | kotlc

25. Rewind: Combat: The Second Train

The adrenaline!

God, she loved the adrenaline of flying. Falling, too; as long as she was in the air, she was content as a soaring bird. Her mind was free from everything else, and the wind warped around her, bending to her will.

She was the queen of the skies, and, honestly, she loved being a queen.

Her hair whipped into her face, and her entire body was cold with the wind. Gales were blowing at her from all directions, turning her into a churning vortex, and she was enjoying every part of it.

But good things could only last so long, and the impact came with a revving and a crashing. Metal splintered as the winds around her funneled into a single bullet of ultimate destruction.

The roof opened, swallowing itself, and June lost herself in the winds. She couldn't open her eyes past the shards of smoldering steel and her own furious gusts. Someone yelled.

Her vehement storm slipped from her grip, escaping her control, and unleashed itself, exploding into pellets of unbridled wind and a tornado of pure chaos. And there was so much pressure in the drumming zephyrs, she was flying uncontrollably, she was being yanked and shoved and thrown somewhere, perhaps out of the train, perhaps toward the back-

Something heavy struck her chest, and her eyes bolted open. She saw blue and gold and black dust, and the distorting of air, blurry in her vision, and she was tumbling through, knocking open doors and pushing through couches, until she landed in a crumpled heap. The floor was metal, and it was cold.

She groaned. Her limbs were sore and she was exhausted, but she found the energy to stand as she rubbed her eyes. Faye was nowhere in sight.

"Hello?" she called, wearily leaning against a wall and brushing her hair out of her eyes. Even shoulder-length hair still constantly fluttered into her face -- seriously, it was an issue. She might have to consider a ponytail.

"She's not here," Vespera said softly. "She won't be."

June sighed, massaging her practically-gelatin legs. "Not you again."

"Not excited to see me?" The corner of Vespera's pale lips twitched. "I wonder why. What is it about me?"

"I don't know. Maybe because every single time you're here something goes awry and we have to fix everything and..." She threw her hands up in frustration. "Look, I'm tired and I don't have time for your bullshit. So please leave."

"It's humorous how you believe that will work."

"I don't." She sighed again. "But I suppose it was worth a try."

Vespera chuckled. "Interesting. You... are different.

"Is that a good thing?" The question was sharp and directed, one of her bullets, driving straight at Vespera's heart.

"Perhaps. Depends on you. If you have the suitable... ruthlessness."

"Not interested."

"Oh, but you should be. You remember the prophecy I informed you of? 'You, Rewinder, you will fall. You cannot stop the fall, and you cannot stop the fallout yourself. You, Rewinder, you are destined to fall. This is your end. I speak your prophecy, as someone who peers into your fate. I recognize, possess, and control your strings. You will fall. The future commands you so.' What if I told you that you could resolve this prophecy?"

"It's fake." As much as she tried to convince herself, the words still came out as more of a questioning murmur. She stiffened, fidgeting with her wind-ruffled skirt.

Vespera laughed, somewhat cruelly and somewhat pitiful. "Oh, it's not! I can assure you that. The prophecy is very much real, as I'm sure your little boyfriend knows. He has been hiding it from you. Demand answers later. Assuming, of course, you make it out here alive."