Capítulo 32: Chapter 32: The Exquisite One

As soon as Etzli burst awake, she knew something was wrong.

She touched her cheek. She felt tears. There was a painful clenching in her heart, and she knew something terrible had happened.

The monster quickly retreated deeper beneath her consciousness, just out of her reach, where she couldn't quite feel its presence. But, somewhere beyond the void it left behind, Etzli sensed its serpentine coiling.

What had the monster done now?

The last thing Etzli remembered was standing in the corridor of the strange vessel. Pampaa and Paras were there. They were fighting for their lives, overwhelmed by a mob of bearded clones.

And then, like a jump-cut, Etzli found herself... somewhere.

She heard birdsong.

The sun warmed her face.

She smelled lilac and freshly picked mulberries.

Etzli opened her eyes.