Juniper found herself in the emptiness of the void. No waking, no shifting, no transition–just the sudden and absolute presence of being ‘here’ She was suspended in the still darkness, completely weightless, yet her body had persisted, and it felt like it was being crushed by the unseen.

  Empty…

  Vast Emptiness.

  She felt something settling over her, it felt heavy, suffocating, like a tide, invisible pressing her into her place. She couldn’t move, she couldn’t breathe–just nothing.

  Her voice was all that worked, echoing through her skull, desperate and in fear. And yet her lips did not move.

  “Sys-chan! Where am I?”

  No response.

  “Sys-chan!”

  “System!”

  “Sys-chan!”

  “Hello!”

  “Hello!?

  Only silence followed. She spoke to herself. The utter silence of the void, gnawing at the edges of her mind, whispering to her the unbearable truth. Here. She was alone, Utterly, and completely alone.

  Her mind started reeling. Brain waltzed away, spiraling into thoughts she dreaded. Had she fallen into a coma? Something deeper? Did she die in her sleep? Was this a dream? What–

  Bloop.

  A sound rustled. Like a water droplet falling into a sink.

  It was faint, then at a distant, it dryly stirred in dead air. Then it grew louder and louder, and closer and closer–towards her. Swooshing, and tapping.

  Her heart started elevating. She couldn’t run, she couldn’t defend herself, there was nowhere to hide here.

  “Sys-chan, help me!”

  The void shook, and something rippled through the dark. She felt the pressure inside her, it curled inside and out of her. Through lungs, her stomach, her groin. A crack of light broke into the darkness, tearing itself out of liminal space, and the world of the void frayed away.

  Then– ‘it’ formed.

  A head lopped out of thin air, liquid metal shaping it, pulling into a half-molded face. The face, formed itself slowly, with intentional movements, twisting with tendrils at the edges. It started forming, limbs unfurled and jittering like a flowing river. A torso pulled itself together, constructing itself out of nothing, until something stood before her–vaguely human, female.

  It didn’t move, not in a way humanly possible. It didn’t walk, it didn’t float–it shifted like reality itself moved to accommodate its presence.

  She felt her lungs suffocate, but she couldn’t breathe.

  The figure stopped in front of her, mere inches away. It had a mask-like face, very smooth, perfectly chiseled save for its deep hollow sockets for eyes, and the liquid orbs which stood there. ‘She’ was like sculpted porcelain in human form, a doll, watching her.

  A screen barraged her. Overloading her brain with sensory information. She lost focus.

  [Analysis: Failed]

  [Analysis: Failed]

  [Analysis: Failed]

  She wanted to swallow, thick saliva stuck on her tongue, her pulse felt as though it wanted to tear itself from her body, getting louder by the minute. Her body refused to budge.

  She was at its mercy.

  Then came the words.

  None spoken, but placed and transferred like a mailed enveloped. Her thoughts were not her own.

  Futile.

  Pathetic.

  Weakest.

  Harmless.

  Animal.

  Human.

  Non-threat.

  Priority target.

  Eliminate.

  Die.

  Her spinal cord moved on its own, shivering and rattling in her back. The figure jumped in an instant, in front of her, maybe an inch closer, a breath away. The air became frosty and carried itself like the void.

  Four fingers. No creases. Pale as bone.

  It touched her skin.

  Juniper twitched, she tried to scream, she tried to. Its fingers traced her jaw, going down her throat, pressing lightly, then it settled.

  It tightened.

  A pity.

  More words were planted in her head.

  Then it squeezed her. Tightly, its nails, biting into the soft skin of her body, Very sharp and surgical. She shuddered. Panicking, she forced herself, she shook, she revolted.

  Her mouth moved.

  “H-h-huhu….h-h-help,” she stammered, it came out like a weak whisper. “H-h-heeheh-help me,”

  It didn’t react. It watched her squirm, its gaze hollow, it wanted to dissect her, cut her apart, unravel her, explore her.

  Then it spoke again. With its human-like lips.

  “What are you… without the thing in your head?”

  Her voice. No, it’s voice, was all wrong. Hollow, machinelike, mechanical, and yet disturbingly curious.

  Her body betrayed her, giving in without proper resistance. Its fingers tightened more, adding pressure to her, as it threatened, to squeeze her to death.

  It pulled her body forward–then impaled her.

  Pure agony.

  Pain exploded through her abdomen. Its hand had morphed and became a blade that speared her through the gut, splitting her like creased paper.

  She gasped, wet, and broken. The air left her lungs, she choked, wheezing, and pain bloomed like an outward hellfire.

  She moved.

  Her eyes snapped open. Then–

  Bam.

  She was awake.

  A blunt, body-breaking impact collided with her stomach. And her surroundings were unpacked,

  “Oof,” she wheezed, the wind taken out of her lungs.

  The weapon–none other than Effy’s head, Rock-hard, like a linebacker-on-steroids, had just sent her crashing.

  Juniper, breathless, rolled off the bed. Caught between the world of the void that clung to her head, and the gritty reality which shook her awake.

  [Durability temporarily reduced: -1]

  What? How was that possible?

  “Ow, what the hell, Effy!?”

  The girl bounced and hopped like a bunny on the floor, grinning like she didn’t just commit aggravated assault. “Ta-dum! Get up, Juniper!”

  Juniper groaned in pain. Which was worse? Being impaled while in void limbo–by a horror beyond her imagination? Or her 9-year-old sister’s head, which could shake the Richter’s scale at six in the morning.

  “Explain yourself!”

  “Well you wouldn't wake, and I need you up, I tried calling, and even slapping, but I didn’t want to waste water on your bed, so I did what ‘Granite Heat Joe Lubbock’ did with his foes in the ring, even when he sends them to sleep, he’ll wake 'em up with his signature headbutt. It’s very cool.”

  She expressed herself, fists clasped together.

  That’s it, Juniper was going to have to cut her television time, maybe even her phone. Outright ban anything that remotely looked like a ring or squared circle. Trampolines, jumping castles, swimming pools. Anything.

  Sys-chan popped up in her head.

  [Good morning sunshine. It’s 6:20 AM PST. My beautiful buttercup is scheduled to–]

  Juniper started buzzing and grating like a weed eater, lips flapping and her tongue whistling, she shook her head.

  Effy stared in confusion and curiosity.

  [Rude. And here I was considering becoming your personal secretary. Potentially even a cute one. Tsk. No flirty compliments for you.]

  Juniper could barely even hear her. Her eyes were locked on the pint-sized delinquent slide-hopping in her room.

  “Is there a reason you woke me, Euphemia, my alarm doesn’t go off until six-fifty.”

  Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

  Effy shoved Juniper’s phone in her face. “Juni! Check the school alert, it’s important, very important. Something bad happened, very bad.” She made to ‘Ok’ signs with her hands.

  She took the phone reluctantly. “If I didn’t see, is it my problem?”

  She read the notification:

  To all guardians and parents:

  Be advised, that three of our school buses were hijacked by super-criminals last night. While on-route for maintenance, School will continue as usual. Preparations to amend this might take a while, If you are unable to transport your child, please make accommodations for remote classes.

  Hundreds of angry reactions, were in a reply box, she wasn’t going to wade through that.Juniper let her phone drop on her face. She pretended to lose her heartbeat. “This can not be my dilemma first thing in the morning.”

  Effy, uncaring about her anxieties, moved like a robot, twirling over her head. “So, can you take me? On the ?”

  She sighed. It wasn’t like Juniper had much of a choice. She couldn’t afford to leave Effy here as she had minor plans for the day, hired transport was also out of the question when you’re looking at the crime rate.

  “Fine. Go get ready. Call me If and when you need help.” She shooed her away.

  Effy exploded into joy. “Yippee! I get to drive a bike to school!”

  “It’s hardly a motorbike,” Juniper muttered. The girl already left the room. She hated driving that damn thing. “It’s hardly a damn scooter, either.”

  She clung to the bed, offering her head to a nearby pillow, she wiggled her feet and stretched her legs. The damn dream–the thing that impaled her–It was so wrong, so vivid–different. Something alien, straight out of a Science fantasy novel.

  Eyes flicked to the wall, a sticky note was plastered to her wall, a list of unfinished tasks. Things she needed to do to improve their living situation. Things she swore to get to by all means…

  She’d get to them. Eventually.

  She rummaged through her drawers, looking for a half-eaten protein bar and sinking her teeth into it, then limped towards the kitchen, in socks.

  The smell of coffee hit her. Toasted bread too, and did someone eat a muffin? A lingering smell of meat as well. Remy was already up, it seemed. He was always a morning person, only to crash mid-way through the day like a malfunctioning night owl.

  Juniper started yawning, Her stomach rumbled. First coffee, then life.

  Rushing into her bathroom. The shower water hit her like an oasis in the desert, soaking her dried-out body, and washing her fatigue away. Steam curled against the mirror, leaving behind a foggy silhouette that reflected her.

  She wiped away at the mirror, impulsively, Her distorted reflection emerged, damp wavy, eyes tired, a resting case of bitch face. It had been almost a week, since the Caldera case. A week since everything in her life nearly went to certain hell.

  She was coming to terms with it, just very slowly. Things…lingered in her head. Being held at gunpoint, hurt by a man twice her size. Being threatened with the fear of losing her loved ones.

  Kanako, which she thought was an anchor in her new life, had ghosted her completely. That left her without close friends…if you can excuse the capes, she met

  . Who was she kidding, Emery, Annemarie, even Francesca, she didn’t know them long enough? She didn’t have friends, much less a lover. She chose not to shoot her shot. Now she ate the bullet.

  She exhaled sharply. t didn’t need to problem, not now. It was first thing in the morning for god sake.

  She had things to do. A schedule to keep. A place to be at regularly, The school bus thing was going to put a dent in her time, but she’ll manage.

  And yet… the dream lingered on. Crawled up her nerves, refusing to go away, ‘Implanted’, permanently.

  “Sys-chan,” she said, scrubbing shampoo and conditioner from her scalp, “can you tell me about that dream I had?”

  [What dream? Your neurological juice didn’t slosh in any abnormal ways.]

  Juniper paused. That wasn’t right.

  “Are you sure? I had a nightmare. Suspended in time, freaky metal lady stabbed me in the gut—felt as hell.”

  [No logs of that! Maybe you’re just going full tinfoil hat? Schizophrenia arc, let’s go—]

  Juniper glared up at the ceiling. “You are helpful.”

  [It’s a gift, It’s what defines me.]

  Her mind kept circling back.

  “I’m serious, Sys-chan. I called out to you, and the system didn’t respond. The dream was lucid—too real. Like it happened.”

  For once, Sys-chan didn’t have an immediate quip.

  Then—

  [Eh, you’re probably just spooked. Nothing to worry about! No abyssal horrors creeping in from beyond the veil. I keep my eyes open and pray Cthulhu in the mornings, and, Yog-sothoth at night. No shadowy metal ghost ladies. Nope! Nada. Focus on the present, champ]

  Juniper tensed. She was behaving oddly strangely.

  “I’m telling you, something stabbed me. Metal. Ghost-like. Pinned me there until Effy tackled me awake.”

  [Nope! Your brain’s throwing out false positives. And trust me, I would’ve noticed if something freaky was poking around in your neurons.][Unless… oof, what if I didn’t notice? I am only as good as my hardware.]

  Juniper snorted. “Yeah, well, software isn’t gonna make use of good hardware. Maybe it’s time for the reset button.”

  [Wait, no, please! I was JOKING! It’s my ! You wouldn’t ACTUALLY reset me, right? Right?! ]

  “I should.”

  [I find that hardly amusing]

  “Funny. So do I.”

  She switched off the water, and stepped out, drying her hair as she went. Reflection hazy in the mirror, she didn’t look to stop at all. She was less, self-conscious for various reasons. It only hurt to judge herself too much. She wasn’t happy with the occupant who stared at her.

  She dressed herself casually, dark hoody, flexible pants, and some new sneakers she bought. Grabbed her license, and went off to hunt the gremlin that was her sister.

  Halfway into the kitchen, Sys-chan chimed in again–

  [No breakfast? That old ass protein bar isn’t bringing out peak efficiency…]

  “I’ll eat later.”

  [Uh-huh. You say that now, but give it an hour , and you’ll be running on fumes, You’re not a plant you can’t substitute light for energy. ]

  Juniper sighed, grabbing a croissant from the counter and taking a bite as she walked. She barely chewed before a sharp, sudden pain flared in her gut.

  A spike—quick and deep.

  She winced, pressing a hand to her stomach.

  [Uh-oh, is your tummy feeling queasy?]

  “O… it's nothing.” The pain faded as quickly as it came. She swallowed, scowling. “You're helpless here.”

  Sys-chan hesitated. Then—

  [Alright, fine, human. I’ll bite.] [I detected no abnormalities in your neurological activity. No recorded trauma responses. No psychic interference. Nothing.]

  Juniper’s fingers curled into her hoodie. “That’s impossible. It was so vivid. She—it—stabbed me. Held me there. Until Effy woke me up.”

  [And yet, no logs. It’s like trying to Capture cut a dream–without the dream.]

  Another pause.

  A long one.

  [Though…] [There is one possibility. Someone targeting you in your sleep.]

  That made it just more disturbing. She let it settle. If someone was fucking with her, it wasn’t within the confines of the apartment.

  Because if it wasn’t—

  She had no idea what the hell it was.

  Juniper binned away any and all disturbing thoughts. Thinking about it now would just disrupt her day.

  And.

  At least she had a license. Against her own better judgment and external pressure. She had gotten a license, the road tormented her, made her skin crawl.

  Evelyn was blunt about the whole thing. “

  Like that helped. Totally not condescending. She turned towards Effy’s room and called out, “Effy?”

  Her response was one of blitz. In a moment, of motion-Effy blurred towards her, shoes tapping on the floor excitedly.

  Juniper almost smiled. While, she never needed the prompting. When It came to getting ready for school, she was the first one up, and also the first one very eager to leave.

  She wagered the reason she loved school and behaved responsibly above all else. It was probably because she hated staying inside. Unlike Remy–who was forced to be confined–Unlike her, who had chosen to confine herself. Effy was constrained by Juniper’s tribal ruling.

  That made it her fault.

  It’s probably also why she had pent-up frustrations. But with how dangerous this part of the city could get. Was she wrong for doing this? Effy wasn’t introverted or a recluse. If they moved, perhaps she could give her the childhood she deserved.

  For now.

  For now, though—

  “Euphemia.”

  Effy snapped into a mock salute, standing at attention like a tiny soldier. “Yes, ma’am!”

  Juniper raised an eyebrow. “Did you eat breakfast?”

  Effy shrugged. “Remy made me something earlier.”

  “He did? Where is he?” It was rhetorical, but Effy had a habit of telling her things that Remy wouldn’t.

  “He said he’s writing in Python 5—whatever that means.” Effy paused, then squinted suspiciously. “Do you think he’s gonna bring a snake into the house?”

  Juniper snorted. Before she could explain, Sys-chan materialized a floating screen in front of her, flickering like a neon sign.

  [def ??(): print("I’m a sneaky snake!")\texttt{def ??(): print("I'm a sneaky snake!")} def ??(): print("I’m a sneaky snake!") for s in "SSSSSSSsssss...": print(s, end="", flush=True)\texttt{for s in "SSSSSSSsssss...": print(s, end="", flush=True)}for s in "SSSSSSSsssss...": print(s, end="", flush=True)]

  Juniper stared blankly at the code. She conceptually understood programming, she just never had been bothered to learn one at all, she had no reason to.

  [“I am now logging a 30% probability of a reptilian infiltration. Shall I prepare countermeasures?”]

  “No one's bringing snakes into the house,” Juniper assured her Effy.

  Effy folded her arms. “I don’t know about that.”

  “Did you bathe?”

  “Before you woke up.”

  “Dressed?”

  Effy spun dramatically on her heel, twirling in place to show off her outfit. “Obviously. As you can see.”

  [“Analysis: Her color coordination is slightly chaotic. She gravitates toward contrasting pastels—but, thankfully, within tolerable human limits.”]

  “Lunch?”

  “I’ll get something at school.”

  [Unacceptable, Juniper. Your atrocious habits have already infected her. Tragic. Based on cafeteria nutritional reports, Core Pacifica’s health regulations have plummeted. The place is a carcinogen buffet.]

  Juniper sighed. “You sure you don’t want me to whip something up?”

  “Nope.”

  Juniper stretched, wincing slightly as she held her still-aching abdomen. “Then, are you ready to go?”

  Effy grinned. “Yip!”

  A small warmth bloomed in Juniper’s chest. At least Effy’s mood was untouched. That put her at ease. When she was happy she was the morning star, coming to guide them to the light. When she was pissy, she was the dark side of the moon there to torment her.

  The morning cold hit her nose as they stepped outside. It always made her nose sting uncomfortably. Juniper made Effy walk ahead of her, paranoid, anything could happen.

  It wasn’t likely, but it could. And she wanted her in her sights.

  Taking the stairs down to the apartment's underground garage, their footsteps echoed in the hollow chamber.

  The thought of driving again made her knees jiggle.

  Sure, she hadn’t crashed since exam day. But that didn’t mean she was fit to drive.

  She thought back to Evelyn’s words“You're going to have to learn to commandeer vehicles if you’re going to be working here. Anything can happen. ”

  She was blessed with inhuman regulations, why’d she need to drive anywhere. Maybe it was unfair, though, that capes got privileges that normal people didn’t.

  She had done her training in a single day, on the spot. She had made mistakes. So many mistakes. That she should have been banned from driving for life, and yet.

  They had been lenient to her.

  That was unfair, to normal people.

  Juniper’s gaze drifted across the apartment garage until she spotted it, her weird white vehicle.

  Behind a mechanical ward, her ride waited.

  An Overly large, sleek, modern hybrid electric moped.

  A gift from Big Sis.

  [“Reminder: Your moped has a 93% chance of safe operation. Unless, of course, you pilot it like last time.”]

  Juniper groaned. “That was once. And I got cut off, okay? I barely hit the curb.”

  Effy stared at her like she had grown a second head. “I didn’t say anything.”

  Juniper exhaled. She had to get better about not slipping up and arguing with herself.

  “Not you, Effy. Me.”

  Effy tilted her head. “Are you scared of driving, Juni?”

  “No.”

  She was terrified. If something happened while Effy was on board—

  [“You can literally manipulate gravity and the surrounding space. You’ll be fine.”]

  Juniper’s fingers hovered over the keys. Dangling the chains in her fingers, Her heart pounded, but she searched for the resolute, metal in heart and some steel to go with it. She stood still, remembering the hours she studied for it, only to fuck up on the test field, the disappointed instructor. Messing up not once, not twice, not even thrice.

  But Effy was watching, she snapped out of it.

  Excited. Ready to go.

  Juniper exhaled.

  She could do this.

  She climbed onto the moped, adjusting her stance. Effy slid into the adjustable lower seat in front of her. Juniper reached for an emergency strap, securing Effy to her stomach. Her Hands are firmly on the handlebars.

  She turned the key. The moped purred softly.

  [“Calibrating… Fuel efficiency optimal… Route mapped… Estimated danger level: High. Just kidding.”]

  She twisted the throttle with a heavy twist.

  The engine hummed to life.

  A face popped on a small screen near the additional controls.

  “Welcome, Juniper….Pinewell,” the pocket intelligence in Juniper’s bike spot. “Calculating route based on everyday–”

  She tapped on the screen, making it shut up. “Nope.”

  Effy threw her hands up. “Yes! No silly bus today!”

  Juniper found herself giggling again…

  She let the tension ease from her shoulders.

  Her day begins here.