188: Running interference

'[Initiating future vision. The user cannot change the actions that are about to happen. The action perimeter is outside the host's range]

Maria blinked as her eyes opened slowly to a sea of fire. She did not recognise the building on the far left of her vision. Nor did she recognise the architecture of the place.

But there was a familiar feeling about this place. It seemed similar to the ancient Greek settlements Maria had seen on the internet. Neither Gerna nor Imu had such settlements. The landscape was lush with flowers of all kinds.

It would have been beautiful, if not for the sea of fire that was engulfing everything. The smoke made it difficult to be able to see anything of significance.

All Maria could do was look straight. She had taken a single glance at the ground and her eyes had not dared to stray there again. Her footsteps made a crunching sound as they landed on the decaying bodies of the youth.