The Watchwomen

Prologue, Part 1: To Fly Amongst The Stars

-2015-

-Salt Lake City, Utah, United States-

Salt Lake City, Utah was a city known for many, many things. From its unique huddled position at the foot of the imposing Rocky Mountains to its unusually high concentration of Mormons, the location maintained its status as a very hit-or-miss destination for thousands. Those who lived there took great pride in it, while those who only came for a visit left with rather divisive opinions.

The city was also associated with its selection of high-class houses, and the South Temple district was the place to be if visitors wanted a look. Filled up and down on both sides with historic houses and facilities, the 18-block-long strip was sure to give tourists a glimpse into Salt Lake City's past, while also granting them a taste of the wealthy life in the process.

But within Salt Lake City was the millionaire's estate to end all millionaire's estates. Birchwood Estate was an expansive plot of land covering several thousand square feet; about a third of it was taken up by a massive, three-floor mansion that was ever so slightly akin to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina, with salmon-colored exteriors, dark-purple finishing on its roof, and clean, shiny windows.....while the other two-thirds instead hosted a huge front yard covered with fresh and verdant green grass, an opulent stone fountain in the center, and occasional rose bushes lining the cement sidewalks. If one were to stand at the front of the yard and face to the left of the mansion, they would behold a large, maze-like topiary garden to the west of the house itself, where it would be possible for them to get lost for hours while admiring the foliage's craftsmanship. Lastly, if said hypothetical person were to look to their right instead, they would be met with rows upon rows of horse stables, all adequately tended to by the estate's servants and kept in peak condition.

The Birchwood Estate's ownership belonged to a select few people: Bryan Birchwood, his late wife Belinda Birchwood, their infant son B.B., and Bryan's loyal, unwavering assistant Allie Bannister.

Bryan's wife, Belinda, had passed away of a terminal illness a few years back, and as per a promise he had made her, he swore to never date or re-marry again, instead choosing to focus his energy on raising his son B.B.....a task that would be all the more complex if he had been on his own.

.....Except he wasn't.

Accompanying Bryan in this daunting task was his servant and aide, Allie Bannister. Allie's service to the Birchwood family line was unparalleled, and she had grown so close to them that they even considered her as part of their family. She was there when B.B. was brought into the world, and celebrated the occasion alongside the Birchwoods. So too had she mourned Belinda's passing, staying by her master Bryan's side throughout the whole ordeal. After the funeral, when Bryan informed Allie that he would be taking on the difficult challenge of raising B.B. solo, Allie insisted that that would not be the case, and that she would help him every step of the way.

And help him she did.

Despite Bryan and Allie now working together constantly to look after B.B., neither of them even developed the slightest of feelings for each other, firmly keeping a business relationship the whole way through. Of course, they were close friends—since they had been through so much together—but that was pretty much as far as their dynamic went. Bryan often joked that Allie was B.B.'s new "mom"; a remark that Allie always took in stride, since there was nothing technically false about it.

As night fell once more over Salt Lake City, Utah—and darkness, with its glowing stars and gleaming moon, began consuming the skies—Bryan and Allie's day of work at the Birchwood Estate was almost coming to a close yet again. There was just one last thing to do.....