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I am the storm you never saw coming.

Takeshi didn’t join them in the mess hall for dinner that night. Khalani stabbed at the food in her bowl, her frustration simmering just beneath the surface. Beads of electricity coiled in her muscles, crackling, desperate to be unleashed.

She needed to take out the festering energy onsomething. And the lukewarm food in front of her wasn’t cutting it.

Her friends watched her cautiously, as if she might lash out at them with her wooden spoon at any moment.

She finally looked up, slamming her bowl on the table. “What?”

The frowns on Serene, Adan, and Derek’s faces deepened. Brock sighed and reached for her bowl with a casual, resigned air.

“What are you doing?”

“If you’re just going to glare at the food I had to pour for everyone, I’ll eat it instead.” Brock tried to pull her meal away, but she snatched it back, nearly spilling it on herself.

“Donotcome between me and food right now. I’ll smother you with my pillow while you sleep,” she snapped.

“You on your period or something?” Brock tilted his head.

Khalani’s grip tightened on the bowl, ready to hurl it at his face, but Derek placed a calming hand on her shoulder. “Whoa,whoa. Let’s just relax.”

“Nah, I’ll help you kill him tonight,” Serene piped in.

“No one’s killing anybody.” Adan’s jaw set in frustration. “We need to stick together, or we’ll never make it to Hermes in one piece.”

“Everything alright?”

She nearly jumped out of her seat when the Chief spoke from right behind her, seemingly appearing out of nowhere.

“Yes,” they quickly muttered in unison.

The Chief studied them for a long moment but didn’t press further. “Good. If you’re done eating, come with me to the infirmary. Ari told me that your friend is awake.”

Khalani lurched to her feet, her heart racing as she followed the Chief to the blue building.

Each step was an echo of the hope and dread that raged inside her.

She bounded up the stairs, racing past everyone. The dense weight on her chest didn’t lift until she stepped into the bedroom and saw Winnie sitting up in bed, her brown eyes wide open.

“Khalani, girl,” Winnie said with a smile.

Tears brimmed in Khalani’s eyes, and she didn’t care who saw them. She rushed to the bed and sank to her knees. With as much care as she could, Khalani wrapped herself around Winnie, who had a white bandage covering her shoulder and her arm held up in a proper sling.

“You’re alive,” she whispered, her voice rattling.

“Of course, dear. Love is stronger than death, remember? Winnie couldn’t leave you to write this story alone.” Winnie smiled at her, radiating a warmth that only a mother could.

Khalani hugged Winnie as though they were the last two people on Earth. She heard the others enter behind her, and they each took a turn hugging Winnie, even Brock, who usually kept his distance.

Their own dysfunctional family.

“How are you feeling?” Ari asked, stepping forward with a renewed warmth in her eyes.

Winnie straightened, beaming. “Fit as a fiddle! Winnie’s ready to get back on the road.”

But Khalani caught the slight grimace when she attempted to rise out of bed.