That penetrated the fog slightly."Magic?"
"Oh yes, very useful.You'll be able to grow things quite quickly.Special plants, really.It should help offset the...challenges."
She should ask what challenges.She should ask a lot of things.But her mind felt like static, white noise matching the white void around her."What's wrong with the farm?"
The AI hesitated.It was the first time he'd paused like that, and somehow it was more frightening than anything else he'd said.
"It needs a bit of work," he said carefully."But you're up to it.I have a good feeling about you."
She wanted to laugh.Or cry.Or wake up."The farm," she heard herself say.Not a question this time.
"Wonderful!Truly, it's the best choice for someone with your...situation.The potential is enormous.Good luck!"His voice brightened impossibly further."Oh, and try not to die."
"Die?"Panic spiked through the numbness."What do you mean die—"
"One more thing!"Something materialized in the white space—a leather purse with an adjustable strap, spinning lazily in front of her."Magical storage.Very handy.There's a starter pack of seeds inside.Special seeds—pun seeds, we call them.You'll figure it out."
"Wait, pun seeds—"
"Bye!Don't just have a good day, have a great day!"
"WAIT—"
The white space inverted.Folded.She was falling, or the world was rising, or—
***
COLD STONE PRESSEDagainst her cheek.
That was the first thing.Real, solid,cold.Not the empty white.
Then came the smell—earth and something wild, musky.Animal.
Her breath sounded loud in her ears.Too loud.She held it.
A low rumble, distant.Thunder?
No.Not thunder.
She opened her eyes.
Rock.She was crouched behind a boulder, fingers digging into dirt and pebbles.The ground was rough under her bare feet.Bare feet?She was wearing a simple dress—thin cotton, already cold against her skin.The leather purse was clutched in her hand, strap wound around her wrist.
Another rumble.Closer.The ground vibrated, and a roar split the air.
Her body locked up.That was not thunder.That was not anything that should exist outside of nightmares.
Slowly, heart hammering, she lifted her head just enough to see over the boulder.
Two creatures—no, monsters—circled each other in the dim light.They glowed faintly, a sickly phosphorescent green, and their scales caught what little moonlight there was.One was the size of a car.The other was larger.
They crashed together with a sound like breaking stone.Claws raked scales.The ground shook.
A pebble tumbled down from the boulder above her and pinked off her shoulder.She couldn’t help a muffled shriek.She clapped her hand over her mouth.
Both monsters' heads snapped toward the sound.
Towardher.
