The Nibiru Effect

Memory 29

I awake to someone shaking my shoulder. My eyes flutter open, and I find Kara staring down at me, her perky lips curled into a smile. I smile back as a warm feeling spreads through me. I can't tell whether it's a result of my beautiful friend's closeness or my inability to control my shifting, but I don't plan on finding out.

I scurry back, panicked.

"I'm sorry," apologizes Kara. "I didn't mean to—"

"It's okay," I say. But it's not. What if I never find a way to control my shifting? What if I spend the rest of my life terrified at the thought of someone touching me? What if—

No! Don't think like that. There must be a way to control it. There must.

"What's the hold-up?" comes Jonn's voice from outside the cavern.

"We're coming," says Kara.

"Where are we going?" I ask as I stand up and stretch my tired frame. Sleeping on prehistoric furs may sound like fun, but it's very uncomfortable.

"I'm not sure," admits Kara. "The priest came to see us first thing after sunrise."

"Why?"

"I think he wants to show us something."

"What?"

"I can't speak korrigan," reminds Kara.

"Sorry," I say as we head out of our rudimentary sleeping quarters.

We find Jonn and the korrigan priest waiting for us a short distance from the cavern. Jonn is pacing. The priest stands immobile.

"It's about time," growls Kara's father when he spots us.

I ignore him and focus on the short humanoid.

"What's wrong?" I ask.

"I have something to show you," he says. "Follow me."

He walks off before I can ask a follow-up question.

"Where's he going?" asks Jonn.

"He wants us to follow him," I explain.

"Why?"

"No clue."

The priest leads us to an area of the village I have never seen. There are no burrows, but there's a high palisade. The only way in is through a wooden gate. Two blowpipe-wielding korrigans stand guard.

"Don't worry," says the priest, but it does little to ease my worry.

"What is this place?" asks Kara.

"It's a hospital," explains the priest once I have translated my friend's question.

He lied. It's no hospital; it's a morgue. The sordid truth becomes evident the moment we set foot inside the fortified area.

Dozens of korrigans lie on improvised beds. Most are still alive. A few are dead. All are infected. Red veins riddle their ashy bodies while dried blood cakes their clumpy hair. A few have bloody noses and mouths. All have red eyes. There's no doubt in my mind that every last one of them is going to die.

"What's wrong with them?" asks Jonn.

I don't even have to translate.

"They're infected," explains the priest. "The fire plague."

Tears well up in my eyes. I would like to claim it's because I feel sorry for the poor souls, but the truth is I'm terrified of what will happen to us.

"Should we be here?" I ask. "Won't we get infected?"

The korrigan shakes his head. "The plague isn't infectious."

"Why aren't they changing colour?" asks Kara.

"They can't," reveals the priest once I've repeated Kara's question. "They're too sick."

A heavy silence follows the priest's revelation.

"Why are we here?" I finally ask. "Why did you show us this?"

"I wanted you to see the effects of the plague with your own eyes. I know you have doubts regarding the prophecy, but you're the only one capable of saving us. Without you, we will all die."

The sight of the sick korrigans is too much for me to bear. I glance away, struggling to contain my tears of shame. By the time I muster the strength to look up, the priest is gone.

"We should go," says Jonn. He turns away from the sick humanoids and heads toward the gate. I hesitate for a moment, then follow.

"I'm not going," says Kara.

Jonn and I stop.

"Why not?" asks the soldier.

"I can't just leave them like this. I have to help."

"You heard what the priest said. There's nothing we can do for them."

"I can ease their passing."

"Why bother?"

Kara clenches her fists but says nothing. Jonn shrugs and walks off.

I hesitate for a moment,then follow.