The City (Merome AU)

41

~*Mitch*~

"Me," a woman's voice echoes through the room. Her accent was foreign, but, at the same time, it felt familiar. Like I've heard her voice my entire life, and never realized it was there. Have I?

"Who are you?" Jerome's voice was confused. "How did you get there?"

The woman laughs softly. "You ask too many questions, child. One question at a time please. English is not my first language." Her voice stopped echoing as she responded to his question.

"I'm the 'child?' You look like you're fourteen!" Jerome's voice clearly sounded offended.

"I've been on this planet for 329 years. You're a mere infant in my eyes." The woman laughs again, and my eyes widen with shock. 329 years?

"How is that even possible? The average city dweller-"

The woman interrupts Jerome, and even finishes his sentence for him, "Lives for 90 years, and the average wasteland born lives for an average of 60 years. Which is strange because the majority of wasteland born people, like Benja, have ancestors that lived healthily until 150 years of age, but that's besides the point.
"I first came to this planet when I was nineteen. My twin brother was murdered, one of my good friends had gone missing many months prior to me coming here, and my best friend nearly died when we crash landed on this heap of rock you call a planet. Three years passed, and I was killed by the same woman who killed my brother. Now, 326 years later, here I am! Does that answer your question?" She's not from this planet? She's an alien-ghost-thing.

"You're a ghost?" Jerome's shocked question makes her laugh again.

"How do you know my name?" I finally speak up, looking around Jerome to see whom he was talking to. A woman was sitting cross legged on a rock near the center of the room. She her blue eyes seemed to glow, and her curly dark hair was blowing in some non-existent wind. Ghosts are weird.

"I've known you and your family for a very long time," the woman says with a smile. "But I'll explain that another day. Right now I need you to listen to me." She knows my family?

"Why should we listen to someone who's been dead for 300 years?" Jerome states, crossing his arms.

"Because I've been dead for 300 years," the woman responds with a raised eyebrow. "And I know my way around this planet. Now, about the mater Sniper was speaking of. The longer you stay in this wasteland, you increase the chances of you, and your friends, dying at an early age. The people of the city, and many wasteland born are set out to kill you all, and the safest option for you is to leave through the mountains."

"How can Benja climb a mountain in his state? He can barely stand as it is!" Jerome motions to me.

"The two of you will figure out a way," the woman says with a smile. "I'll also be there to help if things get too out of hand."

"So you're going to haunt us. Great! That's just what I needed in my life!" Jerome throws his hands into the air in frustration.

"I don't haunt people," the woman's voice goes dark. "I protect them. I have been protecting people for as long as my spirit has been alive."

"If you're going to protect us, can you tell us your name?" I ask curiously.

"My name is difficult to say in English, but you can call me Juniper." The woman smiles at me.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"So let me get this straight," Star states after Jerome and I explain our situation to him. "We all have to leave the wasteland because a ghost told you that it's not safe?"