I yelp as the baton strikes my thigh more out of dismay that the girl…the vision…vanished than of the very real pain accompanying the blow. Still, the feeling of that moment allows me to collect myself…sort of. My vision is still swimming with tears and pain, but I manage to rise and wipe my face with my left hand.

“I’m…okay now…” I say without meeting the woman’s angry eyes. Instead I face toward my next challenge and move along before another blow might land. I still have no idea what my master wants so soon after our last…transaction.