Stacey woke up to bright sunlight shining down on her and she grumbled at being woken up from a good sleep. Her entire body ached as if she had given it a big work out or she'd been in a fight. Her head ached and her tummy felt queasy. She just wanted to sleep until she was better but it was noisy. Very noisy. There was wind and trees. What was going on? Why was she lying on a bed outside in the sun?
"My lady, you're awake," said Ning, leaning over to peer at her.
"Ning, what's going on?" Stacey asked, trying to sit up, only to find herself strapped down. The movement made the world spin for a moment. To one side, she spotted a black cat with three white socks sitting with a fluffy golden dog looking on. There were people milling everywhere around them carrying things to vehicles.
"Relax, my lady," Ning advised her. "You had a bad night."
"What happened?"
"There was a feral raid last night. While the ferals were suppressed after the use of firearms was permitted, with so many events that have happened in Whistledown, Lord Huo has decided to move everyone back to CC where it will be safer. The rest of the program will be filmed in CC. Everyone is packing up and preparing to go to the airport to fly out."
"Oh. Us too?"
"The doctor has advised that it may not be safe for you to fly due to a relapse of your health last night. It may not affect you but they don't want to take any risks. We will be taking a three day drive back to CC. It will just be the medical team and our own people, my lady."
"I see," Stacey said, closing her eyes again. Her stomach churned. Speaking and comprehending was an effort. "It's so noisy and the light is too bright. I feel sick."
"I'll have you moved to the vehicle immediately then, my lady. It will be darker and quieter in there," Ning said.
"I have to sit in a car with that mentally deranged patient all the way back to CC? No way," Imiliana complained. "What if goes berserk again and tries to kill me? I'm taking the aircraft. Hey. Let me go. Do you know who I am?"
"Miss, your father's on the phone for you," said a voice.
"What? Oh. Good morning, Papa. They said I have to drive back with them. I'm not spending three days cooped up in a car and being nice to that crazy idiot. I heard she flipped last night and nearly killed her tutor. She's not safe, I tell you, Papa. I'm flying back with the other trainees. You promised I could - what? No, Papa. That's not fair. You're the one who got me this job and told me I could do whatever I wanted. Why would I have to actually stay with her and pretend to be her assistant when she's not even qualified to be mine? No! N-O, NO! Papa, you're not listening to me! It's not fair! What?!"
Stacey winced at all the shrieking and rolled her head side to side with discomfort.
"I'll bring Lady Huo into the van now. Turn on the air conditioning for her. We'll get going the moment everyone is packed and ready. She's not feeling well and it's too noisy out here."
"Excuse me, my lady," Ning said, and Stacey felt the bed beneath her move. She gripped the sides of the bed in surprise. When had she been on a moving stretcher bed?
The bed juddered acros bumpy asphalt and then was pushed into the back of a wide unmarked van. Cool air brushed across her skin and a lot of the noise faded, shut outside by the van doors.
Drive back to CC. Three days. Ugh. Stacey didn't like the sound of that. She hated long car trips. They always made her feel cramped and carsick after a while. But she would be lying down. Lying down should be better right? Maybe she would be able to sleep the trip away.
This van was big, so maybe it would be more comfortable. Perhaps she was in an ambulance like vehicle. One of those - what were they called? Patient transport vehicles. Yes, that's what it was called. A patient transport vehicle. Did that mean she was a patient? Again?
What happened last night? Hadn't she been in class with her tutor?
Ugh. Her head hurt too much. She really felt sick.
Stacey didn't want to think too much about it. She just wanted to sleep. Surely everything would be much better after a good long sleep.
It was more comfortable in the vehicle. Someone sat beside her and covered her with a blanket, patting her hand in a slow, soothing rhythm.