Juniper, an empath, fights to save two strangers after reality gives way to a hellscape on Earth. When chaos tears apart the city, she settles in with the darkness. Her job as a sex worker makes for easy living, as she can anticipate client emotion...
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A few things turned into an entire outfit. A tennis skirt, blue polo, and silk headband later, Ashley and Juniper were out the door. It had taken them two hours to leave the house, mostly because Ashley couldn't stop looking at herself in the mirror. The girl staring back at her seemed older, and sad.
"This is so weird." Ashley smoothed her skirt for the tenth time. "It's like looking at who I'm gonna be."
Juniper smiled at her, looking like a proud mother.
"You do look older. You should get used to dressing like this all the time," she grimaced, "even if that skirt is a little short for your actual age."
"You sound like my dad." Ashley ducked her head, ashamed that she'd mentioned him.
"Nothing wrong with that," Juniper said softly.
Not knowing what else to offer, she replied, "Thank you."
Juniper didn't ask what for. "You're welcome. It's already three. Let's get going."
"Okay."
Once they were on the main floor, Ashley remembered something.
"Hang on, I'll be right outside."
Juniper was halfway out of the door with Ashley's luggage. "Hurry up!"
Ashley raced down into the basement. Christopher was out on errands, or so Juniper had told her. A dark basement confirmed his absence. She flipped the lights on, tore a piece of paper from a notepad on his desk, and began writing.
Thank you for helping me.
After that, Ashley was going to sign her name, but on an impulse, she scribbled,
By the way, I think she loves you too.
It was all she could think of in way of returning the favor. Finished, she ran back upstairs and out to the car.
~*~
It was done. Ashley was on the plane. She had Juniper and Christopher to thank for that. If Ashley'd had her way, they both would have been sitting in the seats next to her. As it was, first class was fairly empty.
Ashley was on her own. Twelve was too young an age to be responsible for everything, and Ashley was scared shitless. However, the thought of starting a new life also filled her with excitement. She was eager to forget about the horrible things she had seen in the last day, but she was depressed to be moving on without her father.
"Here's a crazy idea: why don't you and Christopher come with me?"
They were parked in the lot at the airport. The windows were down, with Ashley drumming her fingers on the hot surface of the car door. Planes flew overhead, lights twinkling against the blue sky.
Ashley's sudden question hung in the humid air. Juniper looked at her, a sad smile spreading on her face.
