A Long-Standing Grudge (2)

The whole world stretched out like a piece of taffy.

The ear-piercing tinnitus rang as loudly as if I hadn't slept for forty-eight hours, while the goosebumps that rose in an instant soon spread all the way to my scalp before turning into cold sweat that dripped down.

Even every object visible through my wavering vision stretched into two or three overlapping images.

[…Dyu?]

The red lens of the turret Nova was controlling looked back and forth between the customer and me before it began blaring a startled warning alarm.

[Dyu, dyu-dyu!!]

Nova, belatedly coming to her senses while moving the turret, placed a hand on my shoulder.

The cold sensation jolted me fully awake.

“Breathe, breathe!”

“…Guhk!!”...