#will this queue stephen?

The next showed her in the desert world of Tribe, tough, deeply tanned skin mostly covered by her brightly patterned burnoose. She ran lightly over the sand – in a ruleless game of chase and hide and tackle with a dozen teenagers who could have been her sisters.

Here she was on Sol, with the cat-like eyes and golden hair that stood out in Emmeline on Hart. This version of herself was building her own spaceship. It looked epic.

A beautiful meadow and an Isa with long, purple hair in a long, floral gown was being chased by a young man. They were laughing. The real Isa made a face and backed away. Bleh. 

Here she was with soft, white fur on an icy planet, cuddling a baby seal. And here in a high treehouse with a man she recognised as one of her grandfathers, travelling down a zip line to hunt judging by the spear strapped to her back. In a large city Isa didn’t recognise, a half-sized version of herself was doing tumbling tricks for a small crowd.

Isa spun, taking in the mirrors all around and feeling a little sick. Where was the exit again?

***

How...? was Emmeline’s first thought, quickly followed by the impulse to hide. She didn’t think Gwenna had seen her, so she ducked around the nearest corner and started to walk quickly in the other direction.

How was she here? Why?

“Emmeline? Are you here?”

She started to feel guilty and glanced behind her. No.

When she looked forward again she saw her father opening a door and glancing inside. Panicking, she looked around. The corridor branched away and she slipped down the left fork, running now.

“Sweetie? Is that you?”

“Go away,” Emmeline muttered.

Dead end. The doors either side of the corridor were all locked and weren’t responding to her touch. She could see the two figures, one gold and feminine, the other large and steady, turn into the hall. Her mother began to run towards her.

“No. No. No.”

She looked down, wishing for an escape.