|YA featured story|
Welcome to 2325.
The natural world is no longer habitable, the government has been all but privatised and the 15-billion strong population has spent the last 170 years crammed into a single man-made continent.
When her father's...
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"Astrid? Astrid, wake up." Celeste's voice sounded muffled, almost far away before it snapped into focus, suddenly angry. "Back off dude, it was an accident okay? Just let me get her up."
My eyes popped open and darted around—searching for the man in the striped shirt. The sight that greeted me was an up-the-nostril view of Celeste and a man, who I presume was the green kiosk owner, arguing.
The man glanced down at me and his nostrils flared a little. "She's awake. Now get her out of here. You're putting off my customers."
Celeste caught my gaze and crouched beside me. "Thanks for your concern," she muttered at his back with a roll of her eyes. She clasped my hand in hers, grabbing my elbow as she pulled me to my feet. The world spun and I fell into her. She stumbled sideways, teetering on her platform shoes while her grip on my elbow tightened. My head was pounding and my stomach roiled with the newfound dizziness, the coloured glass of the surrounding kiosks blurred into a swimming rainbow.
"Our stalker?" I mumbled, closing my eyes and letting Celeste lead me where she needed to.
"Some guy tripped him up just as you had your little incident. He disappeared after that." Her candy coloured hair whipped me in the face as she glanced over her shoulder. "God Astrid, I heard your head crack when you hit the tiles. You okay?"
That would explain the exploding nerve endings at the back of my skull. I sucked in a breath through my nose and grimaced. "You got a pain patch?"
She towed me to a bench beside another kiosk and lowered me onto it. The shopkeeper eyed us warily through the purple glass of the walls, but didn't say anything.
"Here." Celeste pulled a green gel patch from her bag and waved it under my nose. I blinked at it, a little dazed, then opened it and slapped it onto my neck.
The relief came in seconds, the thumping rave in my brain dulled and I could think straight again. "Thanks," I managed, getting shakily to my feet again.
Celeste blew out a breath, giving me a thin smile that faded quickly. "What the hell was that?"
I started to shake my head, then stopped abruptly, wincing. "I'm not sure, but definitely not paranoia."
She offered an arm of support and led the way to the elevators, her eyes darting nervously over the crowds. "Definitely not."
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