The night air comes. The fog leaves the dirt road outside. I wake up startled.

“Atjani Kelsever. You have a knack for avoiding me.” mocks a familiar voice.

I awaken to the sound of Alana's voice. A slight tingle moves up my spine, as if I was being grazed by her very touch. She had possessed me in my sleep and had full control of my body. Alana forces me to smirk. I feel my eyes coat with silver tears.

“Took you long enough.”

“I'm right on time, Atjani,” whispers Alana within me.

“On time? You're a little late to the dance. I already found someone to bring back Melinal. I don't need you.”

“Good,” affirms Alana softly.

Alana forces me to look over at Lani, who I hoped was fake sleeping again. That wasn't the case and I knew it.

I smile as Alana gradually loosens her grip on me. Without warning, she re-positions herself within my soul. I look back at the ceiling and through the hole in the roof. I could tell Alana was thinking about what to do. A minute later, she slowly makes me get off my bed. I make my way across the interior and hear the beads rustle behind me. I lean my back against the nearby wall. My right knee presses outward - the bottom of my boot against the wall itself. Alana assesses my reaction. I speak to her again.

“Want your picture? You have my hands. Move them.” I struggle enough against Alana to see Lani across the way. She was sound asleep. “It's in her boot. You want it so bad? Go get it.”

I knew Alana wanted the picture. I just didn't know why.

I smile unwillingly. “Why would I do that, Atjani? I like you where you are. I'm enjoying the memories you are collecting for me. I might take a peek one day.”

“So that's your plan,” I mutter inside. Alana makes me smirk. The night becomes still.

“Go back to sleep, Atjani. I liked it better when you were quiet, and in bed with me.”

Alana forces me to walk to my bed and lie down. She makes me tuck myself in.

“Sleep well, Atjani,” whispers Alana. “You need me if you want to get your friend back. She can't escape unless we have The Far Away Dream.

I struggle again, but Alana's willpower was strong. It never felt that way in person, but behind her red eyeliner was an impressive soul. It wasn't all allure. I just wished we got along. We could have done some damage together, when I was part of the resistance.

Alana forces me to look at Lani's thigh. Lani slept with her leather boots on for a reason.

I'll let you keep your end of our little deal, Atjani.” Alana pauses to play with mind. “After all, I believe in you.”

“Give me a break,” I reply. I wasn't sure if I trusted Alana. My response comes late. Alana had already left my body. The brief chill in the room warms again. I wipe my eyes roughly and get up. I wake up Lani who looks up at me curiously and narrows her eyebrows.

“Nothing. Just seeing if you were awake,” I mutter.

“Stop Atjani!” says Lani. She lies back down and closes her eyes.

I decide to walk outside and get some air. I duck and enter the cold night. There was smoke from the various tents. In the center area I could see the buildings that composed the roving part of the tribes that passed through here. I exhale. My situation seemed bleak. I didn't understand what all was going on. All I knew was that I had to get to The Far Away Dream. Lani couldn't take Melinal out her picture with her. I step back.

I take one last look inside the tent and stare at my travel friend. I promised Lani to never leave and regretted it. I re-enter the night air and begin to walk. My face becomes cold. The grass was trodden down on the outskirt streets, with a few patches of attempted roads. A little nudge interrupts me.

Lani pokes my hand.

“I'm not leaving you,” I reply. I start to walk again.

Lani looked tired like me. Both of us couldn't go back to sleep. Something didn't feel right, like we were being observed. It happened at random times on our journey and I was even hoping Alana had something to say about it. She didn't. She would have told me and sexualized it. I hated slang girls. My travel buddy was growing into one. Lani tags along with me as usual. We make our way forward. We walk for quite a while. Tomorrow was the big celebration of Lam Lathi's birth. Lani wanted me to go celebrate with her, so I was scouting it out.

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We find ourselves at the city center. I feel the stone of civilization under my feet.

The city square had an old stage made from a large tree trunk with hemmed steps leading up to the Pelathi stone. It looked mashed together, combining the local tribes, with the improvements brought by Lam Lathi. There weren't many people out tonight. Everyone was asleep, except for one tent building with an orange crack of light at the entrance. It was out of place among the oiled lamps and stonework that had been laid out in the distance.

The dark obsidian of Lam Lathi architecture blended into the night. There were even a few statues on the roofs. Most of the buildings had flat rooftops though. No roof tiles, just a place to star gaze. Dark pelts and banners were over the few rising buildings, helping them blend in even more. The city streets were wide, and longer than I expected. I could tell the city center was active during the day from the numerous cubed homes stack on one another. I wanted to head back. It would be a long walk back here, if we visited the interior later on. Lani walks up beside me.

“Where's our next stop?,” I manage to say.

“We need to warn the Neandelerians,” replies Lani.

I shake my head. The orange glow from the nearby tent passes me as I move forward. I needed more time to think and convince Lani to stay on her current path. As much as I hated Lam Lathi, I didn't want her to throw it away and lose herself in Neandeleria. Lani had a decent life if she played her cards right. I didn't know what a home was, until I lost mine. It's the people and million small things you can't seem to notice when you have them, even if they're not all good. I look at my travel friend.

“That's your plan? Neandeleria? What are you going to do if they don't listen? Dance on a skyscraper and try to influence Lam Lathi's invasion away?”

“I'm going to try,” says Lani, unsure of herself. I knock away Lani's arm. She gripped it all the time to feel better. There was no one to pull her aside and give her the confidence she needed. That had to be built from experience. No one in Neandeleria would accept her if she arrived. She would be an unwanted immigrant, or worse, treated as an imperial spy.

“Give me a break, Lani. All you know is Lam Lathi. You'll never make it in Neandeleria. How are you even going to get there in the first place? Possess a flying craft operator? Once you leave to help the Neandelerians, the empire will be finished with you. That includes your tempests.”

I walk faster with Lani. We both take glances at each other, bumping a few times as we move by some window lamps. She knocks one over and it crashes.

“You're too clumsy to make a difference anyways,” I add.

Lani's eyes dart up to me. She tries to pick up the pieces and I get down to help her pick them up. Tiny glass shards collect in my hand and I look around us. Thankfully, the residents were gone or still asleep. I wipe my hands of the oil on Lani's arm sleeve. We were always at each others neck. It started ever since we left the Felokyle and decided where to travel next. Lani had her mandate, but that was just the destination. How we got there, gave us both time to talk and think.

“At least, I'm willing to try and make a difference,” mumbles Lani. She puts the last shard we can find in my hand and I form a pile near the side of the building. I kick it a few times to make sure it's not out in the street. Lani grabs my arm. She wanted to leave the scene quickly.

“Try all you want. I'm not going to Neandeleria with you,” I state. I walk faster.

“Yes you will....travel buddy,” adds Lani sarcastically. I hated when my sarcasm rubbed off on her. Sometimes it was like fighting with myself.

“Real funny, Lani,” I say.

“What's even funnier is that you're coming with me.”

I smile to myself. I push her against the wall. I had enough of this.

“I'm not going anywhere, Lani. I used to kill Lam Lathi messenger girls like you. You're all the same to me. You dance. You write in your diary. The best part is, you get to die all alone. Just a passing lover.”

Lani stares at me angrily, as I release my grip. I hear her corset slide against the building walls as we resume our walk. I could tell Lani was wavering inside. Her feelings were glistening in her eyes. She had a plan and was scared to commit to it. She knew I would plow through to the end if she got me on board. In a way, we needed each other. I needed her messenger's pay and her picture. She needed a friend to share her journey with. It wasn't a friendship I wanted to stick around for. Needing someone for something is different from choosing them. Lani wanted someone to choose her and I was the lucky candidate.

“Just my luck.”

Our walk continues, until Lani speaks up.

“At least I'm willing to leave it all behind and try! You'll just be a lonely coward when you die, stuck in the past, trying bring a dead friend to life!”

I stop again. I try to control my anger. I speak bitterly, with my back facing her. It's too much for me. I grab Lani around her arms. Her body moves when I speak to her, but she holds her stare.

“Grow older, Lani. Start spreading your legs and spreading your influence. That's all you get, dancer. You can thank Lam Lathi for your love story when you're done!”

I hold Lani a bit longer, before adding a final bite. The fervent green in my eyes becomes stronger.

“Slang girl. Stop trying to save the world with your dances!”

Lani's eyes narrow at me and I let go of her arms. I wasn't going along with her plan. I had my own to worry about. There are some things the stages could never do. They couldn't make someone stick around when the influence faded. I take another step, but I'm halted.

“At least I get a love story! All you can do is watch yours die!,” exhales Lani.

A silence pervades the night. My green eyes seem to light up from the passing fire of an oiled lamp. I felt like smashing the nearest window. I should have never have abandoned Melinal. I was blind from what was in front of me. It was easier to look back and pretend it could be in re-done. I missed Mercyan and our hideout in Corsana. We struggled in both places. We learned things about each other. Lam Lathi's invasive war forced its depth onto our relationship and I missed it.

“She better not mention, Melinal again to me.”

I stare at Lani and she stares back at me. My words come threateningly.

“Watch your throat, dancer! You'd better fake sleep some more, when we get back.”

The night air rushes past me as I turn and head back. Lani backs up as I walk passed her. I grab her hand gently and tug her along. We both were stuck into whatever future life put us in. I learned my lesson with Melinal. No matter how much I disagreed with Lani, I wasn't going to lose my travel friend. She was the only one alive I really cared about.