Everything's dark, but I feel something. It's pitch black and I raise my hand to feel my face, and it feels wet. I hear the unmistakable sound of water and a sudden realization comes to mind.

I'm drowning

I start thrashing in hopes to rise up the surface. I shout for someone to help me.

"I'm drowning, please help. I'm drowning!"

I hear sounds, and it sounds like Lena trying to say something. My mind goes to overdrive as I recognize that she's drowning too. I multiply my efforts to flail.

"You aren't drowning, idiot", I hear Lena say.

I open my eyes to see light. It takes a few moments for me to adjust to the brightness, and Lena's face comes into focus. I sit up and look around to find I'm sitting in my bed. I frown. "But I felt water", protesting, I try to clear my head. She rolls her eyes, "That was me. You were sleeping like the dead. So I poured a glass on you."

"Of water?", I question her outrageously. "No idiot, of vinegar", she replies in an extremely condescending way. I immediately scramble out of the bed, with a hand on my heart and an extremely wounded expression.

"Nice way to wake up somebody, supposed best friend"

"Come on, prima dona, go get ready. It's noon, and we have a lot to talk about.", she says, pushing me towards the bathroom. Sighing, I do her bidding, but not before slamming the door in her face and shouting,

"I hate you."

A cheerful voice replies, "Love you too"

I shout again, and she laughs, that makes me grin. I quickly get ready.

When I emerge from the dressing, I'm wearing a simple blouse and pants. I look at Lena and give a mock bow. Then I call for Mira. She arrives in the span of a few seconds and sits at my bed. I look at them both, my friends who stood by me through thick and thin. Even though Lena is my childhood inseparable ally, Mira came into my life a few years ago and turned out to be very invaluable too. I smile, thinking how shy I thought her to be at first when she was appointed as my handmaiden. Turned out, her vivacious personality gave us a few laughs every day.

I glance at Lena first and turned to face her. "Mira, I need to tell you something". She arched a brow and looked at her nails. In a very nonchalant voice, she spoke,

"Is this about the million weapons stored in the trapdoor in your dressing?"

Lena and I gape at her, our mouths open in shock. I recover first and grin at Mira, "See, I knew there was a reason I liked you. You saved me a lot of words, Mira. It's really refreshing to converse with somebody with a brain after talking to Lena, you know".

"Hey", Lena glares at me.

Mira and I laugh at her expression. Then her smile disappears and Mira looks at me seriously, "I'm so sorry about Elijah. I know how hard it must've been for you".

I nod at her as my heart twinges.

Steeling myself, I tell them both the details. ".... So, in short, we have to safely and quietly transport the haul to my contact in a week."

Mira stands up and starts to pace. Then she stops right in front of me, her voice steady,

"Consider it done".

I grab her arm and stop her before she goes.

"There's something else you should know. I uhm, I'm leaving too. I'll join the rebellion in Patrucia. Lena will accompany me. Will you join us?"

She ponders on this for a few seconds, then shakes her head. "No, it's better if I stay. You know what I can do. You guys will need an insider. I'll stay and gather information here."

I plead with her, "Please Mira, what you're proposing is dangerous".

She remains resolute and squeezes my hand. Looking at Lena first and then at me, she whispers, "Trust me". It's a statement that somehow feels like a question, and I can't do anything except nod at her.

She exhales softly and leaves the room, a purpose in her confident strides.

-so quick question, what do u guys think of Mira?? Answer in the comments. And I know, she kinda looks like Lena's cousin!