Distorted Reflections

An old side of you

A/N: Summer vacation has ironically caused my writing to slow down a little, but this story's muse burns brightly. In today's chapter, the plot escalates greatly. Enjoy, my readers!  

Chapter 3: An old side of you

January 10, 2028

Woods residence, Juniper's bedroom

8:00 a.m.

The door to the bedroom practically flew open, admitting defense attorney Athena Cykes inside. The redhead rushed to the bed, looking worriedly at her best friend sleeping in it. In the hour it took for Athena to arrive here, Juniper had yet to budge.

"What's going on with Junie, Mrs. Woods?" Athena asked.

Virginia Woods sighed, unable to meet the young woman's eyes. "It is a long story, Athena. Do you remember the time you and my granddaughter had a sleepover at the Space Center for an entire weekend?"

"Junie and I have had plenty of sleepovers at each other's houses when we were little. I'm afraid you'll have to be a little more specific," Athena said, playing with her earring.

"I believe you and Juniper were seven at the time," Virginia continued. "After returning to this house, I was found bedridden much like Juniper is now."

"Wait, I think I remember now!" Athena exclaimed. "You were taken to the hospital, and the doctors couldn't find what was wrong with you. But you just woke up out of nowhere the next day. Is what happened to you what's happening to Juniper?"

"I'm afraid so. It all started with a legend I once told Juniper as a bedtime story," Virginia said, her voice cracking. "At the time, I thought it was just some silly fairy tale. I never thought it would result in this..."

January 12, 2028

Alternate Woods Residence

11:00 a.m.

Thankfully, the day after Juniper talked to Professor Courte was Saturday, which meant she had it off from Themis Legal Academy. So it was this day that the Judge student planned to bridge the gap between Hugh and Robin.

"What?! Have you gone completely crazy, Juniper?" Myriam said upon hearing this from her. "Just because Judges are supposed to mediate arguments doesn't mean you have to go after every hopeless case, sss sss sss."

"Is it really so bad between them?" Juniper asked.

"You should know the answer to that better than anyone!" Myriam exclaimed, irritated. "You're the one that threw poor Hugh under the bus, kahk kahk."

"Please don't remind me," Juniper said, distressed. "I want to do everything in my power to make up for what I did."

"Well, one thing's for sure- this I've gotta see," Myriam said, getting that familiar predatory aura she did whenever she caught wind of a scoop.

It said everything about Juniper's situation that this was the most reassuring sight she'd seen these past few days.

Regardless, the plan was in motion- calling Hugh to let him know that the Judge student would be going to his house, then calling Robin to invite him to go on a walk. Contacting Robin to begin with ended up being a tiring experience, as the prosecutor student clearly wasn't used to people just calling him out of nowhere and had a hostile attitude as a result. In the end, Robin met Juniper in the city (near Hugh's place, but Robin didn't know that) and the two of them walked together.

"Geez, I don't get you, Juniper," Robin said suddenly. "Just when I think you're going to leave me alone, you pop up out of nowhere. Why are you doing this?"