Nemesis by Emma L. Adams

the walls were too close. People kept bumping into my shoulders. I hunched over, each breath harder than the last. Calm down!
    I muttered something about getting some air and shoved my way past tables to the door, feeling more and more like a vice had clamped around my lungs, like I was in a tight space shrinking smaller by the second. I stumbled against a wall, spots crowding my vision, trapped between one breath and the next.
    The walls of the warehouse closed in. Light flashed, red and purple, sparking in the air like fireworks. Alluring. Deadly. Sparking from my own hands.
    The thud of a body striking a wall, falling, falling.
    Silence. Apart from a soft, quiet, heartbroken sobbing.
    “Ada. Breathe.”
    Breathe, Ada. Another day, another world, a fast-moving train, a hand holding mine—
    The world was out of focus, slanted the wrong way, but when I stumbled forwards, I didn’t hit the wall, but a person. Hands rested on my shoulders, steadied me, and I leaned in, close enough that I could hear their breathing. I tried to match each breath.
    “Ada. It’s okay. Breathe.”
    I knew that voice. I sucked in air, sharp and cold, and the world came back into focus.
    Holy crap. I wasn’t dreaming.
    “Kay?” I tilted my head up, and he moved. His dark eyes were bright under the lamplight. Concerned.
    “Ada.” His voice was quiet, so quiet. “You’re all right.” Goosebumps sprang up on my arms.
    “The hell are you doing to my sister?” demanded another, louder voice.
    Oh. Shit.
    I looked up to see Jeth glaring at Kay.
    “She’s having a panic attack.”
    “Get the hell out the way, then!”
    “I’m fine.” I moved, shakily, and Kay drew back, without taking his eyes off me. “It’s true,” I said to Jeth, who glared at Kay.
    “Let go of her.”
    “Only when I’m sure she’s all right.”
    Maybe I was dreaming after all.
    “I can take care of her,” snapped Jeth. “I’m her brother.”
    I shook my head, trying to get rid of the fog. “Stop it, Jeth. He helped me.” Kay let go of me, fully, as I turned to face my brother. The ground stayed steady. Jeth, however, quickly stepped in.
    “I’m fine.” I turned back to Kay. The concern in his expression sharpened to annoyance as Jeth pulled on my arm. “Uh. Thanks. Again.” Could this possibly get any more embarrassing?
    “No problem. You should go home.” He nodded to Jeth, who still eyed him distrustfully.
    I tugged my arm free. “Jeth, I’m fine.”
    “Right. Good. Come on, let’s go home.”
    I looked back at Kay. “Sorry about that,” I said, swallowing. I wished Jeth wasn’t here. I wished I wasn’t here.
    “You don’t need to apologise.” He paused. “You stay safe, okay?”
    “Yeah. Thanks.”
    ***
    My communicator buzzed as Jeth unlocked the front door. I debated a minute then made for the shed roof again. The cold night air helped. I used to lie up here all the time–God, the lectures I’d got from Nell. But watching the stars just-visible under the city’s light pollution used to be as close as I got to the Multiverse here on Earth. I flicked on my communicator screen to find a message: “Does it happen a lot?” It was listed under Kay’s name. He must have a new communicator code, then.
    I swallowed. It was pretty obvious what he was talking about. He’d recognised my panic attack right off. I’d half thought he was with that girl who’d been checking him out at the bar. But he’d ditched her to come and help me. And now–what the hell was this?
    “I guess. Sometimes.” I hit reply before I lost my nerve.
    This was stupid. I should know how to breathe, for Christ’s sake. It was a fairly important part of staying alive.
    “Try the simulators. You’re in control of the environment there.”
    Simulators? Walking into an enclosed space might not be the best idea right now. But he had a point… it was like exposure therapy. I’d be able to control the scenario. I’d never be able to function as an Alliance