Stella Eimer
The Dust City really wasn't safe. It really wasn't.
Stella had turned tail and ran across the rooftops in the opposite direction that Slayer went. Without stopping, she leapt over the gaps and stumbled over shingles and panes until she finally slipped and tumbled to the street below with a shriek.
The impact jarred her whole body. Stella couldn't move, and she wouldn't be surprised if she had broken some bones from her fall. She couldn't tell. The roof had been close enough to the ground that it hadn't sent her back into her real body. So she lay there on her side, winded and woozy.
Why had she been so stupid? She knew it wasn't a good idea to try using the wind to fly again, but the thrill of it was so great, it was hard to resist. The Dust City was really the only place she could do irrational things (include falling down from the roofs).
But that Vapour Slayer--she'd heard of him for sure, but what made him decide to go after her today? She still had no idea why he wanted her to meet him again.
"Goodness, there's another one."
"Two humans already made a mess on the streets in the Kaleidoscope Realm by falling from the sky earlier. Is this what they're doing for fun here now?"
One of the Dreamfolk tsked and they moved away.
Stella winced as she struggled to a sitting position. Everything hurt so bad.
"Definitely not for fun," she muttered, then gritted her teeth as she tried to stand. However, as she put weight on her left leg, a stab of pain shot up and she fell back down again. "Ow."
She'd just have to find somewhere quiet and inconspicuous to wait out the rest of her time in the Dust City for tonight. Of course, there was always the option to inflict enough damage on her dream self to send her back to the waking world, but she wasn't a big fan of the idea of ever climbing up on to a tall building and throwing herself off just to wake up. Especially now feeling like this.
And as for Vapour Slayer? Even without her dad's constant drilling into her to stay away from bad guys, Stella didn't want to comply with the imposing Dreamfolk's demand. Staying away from the Dust City for a few days--or a week . . . or two? No problem. Surely he'd forget about her by then? She was just one face among the many here each night.
She struggled to her feet and limped forward, holding onto the wall for support. Seconds began to feel like minutes and minutes like hours with her slow, agonizing progress. She wasn't sure where to go yet, it would at least be smart to clear out from the area of the accident.
As she kept walking, passing through the Glass District, she heard increasing anxious murmurs. They were all so hushed that she could only guess that the snippets she caught were something like "Dreadmill" and "Tiny Tyrant." Looks like there was another commotion surrounding that one.
Best to stay away from that zone then. Stella came alongside a couple of denizens and said, "Excuse me, could you tell me where the Dreadmill is right now?" She clutched at her ribs.
They gave her one look and left without a word. She caught a glimpse of her reflection in nearby the glass wall and grimaced. No wonder they ran away. One side of her face didn't look hot at all. It was turning purple and blue, and it looked like there was a bit of a swollen lump where she'd hit her head the hardest.
At least your nose is still intact, she thought, running a finger over its straight line. She'd seen quite a few soldiers in her lifetime, some of which had noses that had been broken at least once before. Must have been painful.
Well, even if she did run into the Dreadmill, maybe it wouldn't be that bad. Frightening, terrifying, yes, but perhaps the structure would just run her over, or its master would just fight (cream) her. Not that she wanted that, just that it'd be morbidly convenient.
Keep walking, Stella. Keep walking.
Limp, shuffle, limp. Stella glanced up and around, suddenly wondering if Slayer was still following her. Surely not, right?
Either way, what was the worst he could do to her? This wasn't the real world.
At last, she dropped to the ground. Just as she was closing her eyes for a brief moment, she thought she saw a pyramid in the distance.
Huh. Looks like I actually encountered the Dreadmill. Who would've known?
Ah well. Maybe it'll run me over after all. Ouch. Too tired . . . I can't go any farther.
Should've just stayed on the ground tonight.
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