Poly

The ground rumbled, sending vibrations up through my legs. 

"We're going to die, aren't we?"

"Nah, just hold onto your little friend there and take my hand!" Qing Qing extended her hand toward me, smile warm and inviting.

Hold her hand? HOLD HER HAND? The last person who'd held my hand was Inorin, dragging me away from a fight. But this was different. This was a friend wanting to hold hands. With me.

I reached for her hand like it might explode. The moment our fingers touched, the world turned upside down.

No literally, the entire city began to rotate. Buildings detached from the ravine floor, bridges folded like origami, and what were once rooftops became the ground. Even the market started to look like a hanging garden.

My stomach lurched as gravity shifted, and suddenly I was sliding toward the edge where the ravine opened up below.

Shit shit shit.

My feet left solid ground. This was it. I was going to plummet into that ravine and become a pancake. Or whatever you called it when you splatter at terminal velocity.

But instead of falling, I just... hung there.

I craned my neck up. My arm stretched above me, my hand still holding onto Qing Qing. She floated effortlessly in the air, translucent wings extending from her back. They caught the dying sunlight, refracting it into a thousand tiny rainbows that danced across her tactical gear.

"Still think we're going to die?" She grinned down at me.

"We're... we're really flying?" I squeaked, clutching Peng tighter against my chest.

"Yup! Pretty cool, right? That's my Chimu for you! Gives me wings whenever I need them. Total freedom to go wherever I want!" She did a little spin in the air, making me yelp.

"Chimu? Is that like Lobak?"

"Lobak? Never heard of it. Around here, people with abilities are called Chimu users. Though most can't do anything this awesome."

My head spun as I pieced it together. First that vial of black ooze, now Qing Qing calling her powers Chimu. Were Rust and Lobak not just in Ten's realm? Did they exist everywhere, just under different names?

"Hey, about the city flipping around-"

But Qing Qing's hand had flew to her earpiece. "Copy that. ETA three minutes."

"What's going on up there?"

Qing Qing tapped her earpiece again. "Duty calls! I'll explain everything later, but first let's get you somewhere safe."

She swooped toward her house, plunging us through the inverted cityscape. My stomach lurched as wind whipped at my face, forcing me to squeeze my eyes shut. This was nothing like riding Wuwei. At least ghost horses stayed on solid ground.

That's when something whistled through the air. My eyes snapped open just as a dark mass slammed into Qing Qing's side.

Her hand slipped from mine. The world tilted, and then I was falling.

The world blurred past in a kaleidoscope of colors while Peng and I plummeted toward the bottom of the ravine. Suddenly, strong arms wrapped around my waist, yanking me back up.

"Got you!" Qing Qing's voice came from above. "You okay?"

I gagged in response. Something wet and sticky dripped onto my arm. I looked down to find Peng foaming at the mouth, eyes rolled back.

Oh god, is Peng actually going to die?

Wait. There was something... poking out between its beak? I reached for it and pulled. Out popped a fluffy white polar bear hand puppet.

"...What the actual fuck, Peng?"

***

I was seven years old at the time.

I burst through the door of Room 3, chest heaving from sprinting up three flights of stairs. The morning sun hadn't even cleared the horizon yet, but I didn't care. Today was the day I made that brat eat her words.

"Hey! Get up, Mio! You and me, tag match, right now!" I planted my feet wide, hands on my hips. "Unless you're too chicken?"

Silence greeted me. Through the dim light filtering in from the hallway, I could make out messy rows of bunk beds. But Mio's bed - top bunk, third from the window - was empty.

"Quit hiding! You promised we'd settle this today!" My voice echoed off the walls. A few kids stirred, grumbling. "I'm the fastest runner here and you know it. You're just scared you'll have to apologize in front of everyone!"

"Kuroha-chan?" Sister's gentle voice came from behind. "What are you doing up so early?"

I spun around. "Where's Mio? We're supposed to play tag. She said she'd race me after what she said about-" My hands clenched into fists. "She has to take it back!"

Sister's face did that thing adults do when she's about to say something awful in the nicest way possible.

"Oh, sweetheart. Mio-chan... she left yesterday."

"Left? But… That's not fair! She can't just leave! She promised!

I bolted past Sister, heading for the stairs. She caught my arm.

"Where are you going?"

"To find her! She lives somewhere in the city right? I'll make her keep her promise!"

Sister shook her head. "I'm sorry, but you can't. It's not your time yet…"

The morning after that, I burrowed deeper into my blanket cocoon, trying to disappear into the my sheets. Maybe if I stayed perfectly still, everyone would forget I existed.

"Kuroha-chan?" Sister's voice drifted up to my bunk. "Why don't you come play outside? The weather's lovely today."

I pulled the blanket tighter. "No."

"Is this about Mio-chan?"

My chest squeezed at the name. I turned away, pressing my face into the pillow. "Everyone leaves me. No one likes me anyway."

"That's not true. I like you very much."

"You have to like me. It's your job."

Sister went quiet. I heard footsteps move away, followed by rustling sounds. Curious, I peeked out from my blanket fortress.

She was digging through one of the donation boxes, tossing aside old toys and clothes. Finally, she pulled something out.

When she turned back to me, her hand was covered with a ratty white polar bear puppet.

"Hello! I'm Poly, and I'll be your friend!" She wiggled the puppet, making its head bob.

"Stop forcing yourself to make me feel better."

Sister sighed, shoulders drooping. "I'm just trying my best, Kuroha-chan."

"Sister Maria!" Another nun's voice called from downstairs. "Could you help with the laundry?"

"Coming!" Sister gave me one last sad look before placing Poly next to me and hurrying away.

I glared at the puppet lying limp on my bed. What a stupid idea, thinking this raggedy thing could replace real friends. But...

I slipped it on my hand. The worn fabric was soft against my skin. When I made the puppet move, its remaining button eye seemed to sparkle at me.

It was dumb. So dumb. But for just a moment, the room didn't feel quite so empty.

***

A sharp jerk yanked me from my memories as Qing Qing swerved through the air. The monster that attacked us earlier shot past, its multiple red eyes tracking us.

"What the hell?" Qing Qing's wings beat faster, carrying us higher. "They never lunge like this. Something's making them go crazy today."

The creature twisted mid-air as it bounced off a building and launched itself at us again.

"Listen. I need to get you somewhere safe so I can deal with-" Qing Qing glanced down at my hand. "What in Longfeng is that?"

I stared at Poly, still pristine despite Peng's regurgitation. A laugh bubbled up from my chest. Sharp, unhinged, bordering on hysterical. Of all the places to find Poly again...

"INCOMING!"

The monster rocketed toward us, too fast for even Qing Qing's wings to dodge. But I didn't need to dodge.

I twisted in Qing Qing's grip, throwing my weight to face the monster head-on. My fist shot forward, Poly along with it. The puppet's head transformed into massive proportions, its button eye gleaming with malice. That worn fabric mouth stretched wide, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth that definitely hadn't been there before.

CHOMP!

The monster vanished in a burst of dark mist, scattered by Poly's jaws.

"Good seeing you again, Poly."