𝐃𝐀𝐍𝐃𝐄𝐋𝚰𝐎𝐍𝐒 - josie saltzman

23. Simulation

"As supernaturals, we all carry a burden. Our eyes are open to evil. And recently, you've had to face it. Some of us process these traumas by suppressing what happened. For others, it's easier to bury it deep inside and pretend like nothing's happened at all. Still, others may take a different route, such as..."

Hope answered. "Pushing people away in an attempt to self-isolate? Because everyone they love is in perpetual danger, which often results in them becoming perpetually dead. See? There. That's it. That's my therapy. Can I go now? Because, uh, Landon's outside trying to fly and could use a spotter."

"I'm afraid not, Hope, because the point is we can all do better at processing the traumas we've been through. Which is why Dr. Saltzman has asked me to conduct a special group lesson today."

"I, for one, could really use this, and I would appreciate everyone's support." Lizzie announced.

"Honestly, I don't know why I'm here, but I'm down to help." MG answered.

"You will all have an important role to play in this simulation." Emma explained. "Oh, stop looking at me like that. It'll be fun. This device was created by Professor Rupert Vardemus."

"Ew."

"Okay..."

"The real Professor Vardemus. He's quite famous in mystical therapeutic circles. It's his variation on a Chambre de Chasse. All your psychological concerns will be transferred inside to form a shared narrative. Now, the world you create together can be anything, from pirates on the high seas to spies in the Cold war. But no matter what it ends up looking like, it will be designed specifically to help you. Out here, you're unconscious. You'll have no awareness that you're in a simulation."

"So, it's like a game?"

"Uh, how do I win?" Lizzie questioned.

"Simply reach the end of your story and you'll be given an escape word. Say it aloud and you'll become self-aware again, then wake up here, having discovered something valuable in the process. Any questions?" Emma said as no one spoke up.

"Everyone think of bright, sunny, tropical beaches." Lizzie ordered them as they closed their eyes and Emma opened the box.

"What's a classy broad like you doing in this gin joint?" Sky asked as she sat across from Josie.

"Being blackmailed, but you already knew that. Cut to the chase and name your price for those photos of my sister."

"This isn't about the money, Josie. It's about the best story of my career. A fading starlet can't get hired in the movies anymore. But lucky for her, she's got a twin sister who left everything behind to become her publicist. One that knows exactly how to get her back into the spotlight. Even if it means making her the target of a murderer. How am I doing so far?" Sky asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about." Josie assured.

"Said the sister/publicist to the reporter." Skylar laid back. "But she was missing an important fact. The reporter knew her tell. She had a habit of picking off her nail polish when she was lying."

"How did you know?"

"I figured it out the hard way. You were picking at your nails the night you walked out on me, saying you'd be back."

"That isn't what I meant."

"I know. I bribed a waiter at the club, and he told me that you were the one that bought that champagne that killed that singer. Cyanide poisoning. I bribed the coroner as well."

"It was an accident. Lizzie was supposed to be rushed to the hospital to get some press for her movie. I didn't use enough poison to kill anyone. I don't even know how that singer got that bottle." Josie assured her.

"All that matters is that she's dead. And putting you behind bars is the only way I'll ever pry you out of your sister's claws." Sky started to stand as Josie grabbed her hand, making her freeze.

"Wait. Have one last drink with me. for old time's sake." Josie held out two flasks as Skylar took a sip.

"Too late, Jo Jo. Maybe it's the booze talking, but I just had to see you one last time. Excuse me." Skylar stood up to leave, then immediately fell to the floor as she jumped back into the real world.

"Oh god my head." Skylar groaned.

"You okay?" Emma questioned.

"Yeah. I didn't need your stupid box thingy to frigging remind me that I've had a crush on Josie Saltzman since I was like 13."

"If Skylar here was ejected from the simulation prematurely, it means the rules have changed. Someone's rewriting them from inside the game itself."

"How? Who?" Emma asked.

"Someone with access to very powerful magic... who needs everyone out of the way so they can get whatever it is they want. In short, the person who killed us all. So, the question we should be asking ourselves is... ... why they did it." Vardemus assumed.

Suddenly, MG jumped awake, panting heavily.

"Ms. Tig. Lizzie, she-she got her escape word, but she's still in the game. And...... Josie died." MG stuttered.

"What?" Sky questioned, jumping up from her seat.

"I saw it. So why is she still in there?" MG asked Emma.

Raf jumped awake next, breathing as hard as how MG was before.

"Rafael. It's okay. You're back. What happened in there?" Emma questioned. "Did you have a breakthrough? Or did the k*ller get to you, too?"

"I don't know." Raf grasped his temple.

Once again, Hope and Lizzie were striked awake. Hope smiled at Lizzie brightly.

"Oh, thank God. I was beginning to think I'd need therapy myself." Emma confessed as Hope and Lizzie hugged. Sky could tell the way that Hope gripped onto Lizzie.

The same grip Sky had on Josie.

"Now, um... what are we gonna do about Jo?" MG questioned.

Sky set down Josie on the bed of the wolf transition cell lightly. She caressed Josie's cheek lightly, brushing the hair out of her face.

"I'll get you out of this. Okay Jo?" Sky assured. Josie's eyes stayed closed. "I promise. I'll get you back." Sky rubbed Josie's arm before standing up and walking out the cell, locking the door behind her.

"Looks like the gang's all here." Josie opened her eyes and stood up. "Hmm, why am I locked up, exactly?"

"Well, you've been through a lot. How are you feeling?"

"Never better. I think the therapy was really good for me." Josie lied.

"You're full of black magic. I was too selfish to see it before, but... I can feel it. This isn't you, Jo." Lizzie tried to convince her.

"It is now. So get used to it. 'Cause this look is here to stay." Her eyes turned black while her hair did the same.

"Josie, it's okay. I'm just gonna put you back to sleep until we can figure out what's going on, okay?"

"Good idea." Josie snapped her fingers, making Hope collapse.

"Oh... don't look at me like that, MG. Every Super Squad needs a super villain. Autem." The school shook, lights flashing. "Stop trying to help me, Dad." Josie assured. "Cause I've never been better." She said before levitating upwards, escaping through the roof and setting half the school on fire.

Lizzie held onto Sky as they muttered a spell that took out most of the flames.