Her sister still didn't respond. She wouldn't answer her messages or calls, maybe it was time to give up. Juno feels uneasy but there's not much she can do.
After her classes, she spends most of the time in the library trying to study. Of course she doesn't do such a good job at that.
But she's trying!
So hard!
Really!
But this damn headache won't go away.
And the stress. It has to be the stress at this point.
She sighs and packs her belongings. Her tests are coming up soon and she has no idea how she's going to get through them.
Honestly, not having practice today was a blessing because at the very least she can sleep early and not have to study into the night. She can sleep peacefully and blissfully unaware of the mess that is her life.
She's just so tired. She's drained. She's sick.
//No like really, am I coming down with something? Or is it just the stress?//
After having a light dinner, she's really not that hungry, she goes back to her dorm.
As she's getting ready to sleep, her hands start to tremble again.
//What if I have another nightmare?//
But she's too tired to give it any more thought.
Unfortunately, this isn't going to be a nightmare but something much more horrifying. Something much more real.
It's just the beginning.
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It's cold. It feels like the kind of cold that's welcoming after spending all day sweating out in the hot sun.
It's cold but it's the nice kind of cold.
It turns chilling.
//What's my purpose? Is it to be cold? Is it to stand here in the middle of the empty street?
And be cold?//
Taking a step forward and no one is around. Looking around and everything is normal.
//I am me. I am myself and I exist. I am cold.//
The street looks familiar, it's not home though.
//Where am I? Who am I? Other than myself, who am I really?//
Homes around her, these homes are bigger and duller, some are old as the cracks are noticeable. Some are new and sturdy. They were built for the cold and blend in the shadows. This street is dark and blends in the shadows.
The street lights are bright enough she supposes.
She can see just enough, not everything, not everyone.
That's normal.
There's one street light though, just this one light that's different.
It's so odd.
It flickers, on and off, on and off.
Is it broken? Why is there?
What's the point?
It flickers on and off and under the light there's someone.
She can't see their face well, just a slim silver light, but a feeling of dread overcomes her.
She knows who it is.
The person cloaked in black. The person who is cloaked in the darkness of the world.
//Who are you?//
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Courage, something foreign to her, is what she finds. She moves faster than she can really comprehend. She won't let them escape! Not this time.
//You hurt me and my family! I'm going to…//
The cloaked person starts running away, they don't want to be caught by her.
Right?
She feels like she's been chasing after this Shadow for a long time now, the scenery unchanging, the street lights all starting to flicker, there's no one besides her and the cloaked person.
//Why am I doing this? How much faster do I have to go before I can reach your shadow?//
She doesn't care what happens anymore, all she wants is to confront them. Consequences be damned.
The cloaked figure changes directions and goes inside one of the apartment buildings.
When she catches up she feels a wave of nostalgia overcome her.
This place, she knows it.
But she can't remember how. There's hesitation to follow inside but she shakes it off since she's already come this far.
The door is unlocked.
Why does this feel wrong?
She feels like there should be more doors or stairs but inside she stands in a modestly furnished living room? It's almost completely dark, the only light coming from outside.
The cloaked figure isn't here.
Where did they go?
//Why can't I look around. I feel frozen in this spot. Where did all my energy go?//
Just then she feels a hand on her shoulder.
Her courage burnt out just like that, maybe it was never there at all. She shivers and tries to run away but she still can't move! The person lets go of her shoulder and stands in front of her.
The face is covered in darkness.
She finds herself asking, "Why are you here?"
They don't say anything.
Her voice shakes as she asks, "Wh-why did you hurt us… Who are you?!"
This time they do answer but they answer with a question.
"Why are you here, Juno?"
"I-I don't know."
"You're going to get hurt. You shouldn't be here."
Wait.
Wait a second.
//I know who you are. I know.//
With all her strength, with all her fear, she finds herself reaching towards the cloaked figure.
They don't move, as if they don't care or as if it doesn't matter.
Juno pulls the hood up revealing…
Mila.
What?
Her face is distorted but there's no mistaking her.
"This doesn't make any sense! Mila? Why are you here?"
"..."
//Wait. Maybe it does! Juno has been here before, this is Mila's apartment. Although, there's something off about it.//
"Are you… okay?" as soon as she finishes asking that, does she feel foolish.
Of course she's not okay!
"You should have forgotten. You shouldn't have come."
"I-I…"
"Don't you respect me at all? Clearly you don't. You won't let me have any privacy. You're always meddling in MY life. You're just like our moms."
"Wh-what?! No! I-I was just worried. Y-you've been acting weird lately…"
"Oh please. When aren't you worried?! You're always worried about nothing. You need to grow up already, you're almost what 18? How pathetic coming to your big sister for help, deal with it yourself."
//Help?//
"Wh-why are you being so mean! You've always said that I c-could count on you."
"I lied so you would stop crying. Do you really think I care about you? Let go, Juno. Let me go."
No no no.
This isn't right.
"Stop crying and let me go."
//I'm crying?//
She wipes her eyes but her tears won't stop.
"I'm sorry, I can't."
Then, Mila does something unexpected.
Completely unexpected!
Mila grabs Juno's hair!
"Ack! Wh-What are you doing!? Let me go!!"
"Let go." says Mila, has she lost all tact?
"YOU'RE THE ONE THAT NEEDS TO LET ME GO. IT HURTS! PLEASE!!"
But she just pulls her hair harder!
//Is she trying to rip my head out of my body? It hurts so much!!!//
Juno struggles as best as she can, even managing to land a kick at her but she's so freakishly strong!
"Let go."
"AAAAAHHHH."
"LET HER GO!"
Through her sobs, through her pain, all she can say is, "I'm sorry!"
//Can this pain end? Can it end already? Help me.//
//HUH?! Is the pain so intense that I'm hearing things now??//
//What?//
"NO!"
Relief floods her senses, has Mila finally let her go?
When she looks over and she's clutching her hand, it seems to be bleeding? How is that possible? She instinctively moves towards her sister but then a voice halts her step.
Somehow she finds the strength to just do that.
"Juno, don't leave me…"
She doesn't.
She runs. She runs as far as she can, far away from that darkness.
When she's alone does she finally fall on her knees.
//It hurts so bad. Make it stop.//
//Wake up? Who are you? Where are you?//
She looks around but there's no one.
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