💫 Starburst ⭐️

Starburst; Part 13

Separated
Lacey and Astiana were figuring out how to get in the portal, and it seemed boring without Katherine. After all, she was the conversation starter and probably the smart one. Why do you think she'd go to Rimester?" Lacey asked.

"I have no idea," Astiana sighed. Lacey had the flash in her bag, and she wondered if the amethyst or the shooting star would help in getting both of them inside the portal.

Lacey could, but Astiana would bounce right back and get hurt. Lacey took out the amethyst and touched its rough edges. "I don't like this thing anymore..." she stared at the portal.

Astiana nodded in agreement and then snapped her fingers. "That's it! If I hold the amethyst, maybe the portal will let me enter?"

Lacey took out the amethyst. "It's worth a try." She shrugged and put it on Astiana's palm. She held her hand and they attempted to burst inside the portal.

As soon as they stepped foot inside, a light spread around the portal, making them stumble backwards and land on the ground outside the portal.

Lacey groaned and got up. Astiana, losing her patience, pulled Lacey with her and charged into the portal. They broke in, and the portal quickly disappeared out of view. "What just happened?" Lacey demanded.

Astiana returned the amethyst in Lacey's pocket and tugged her down to hide in a green bush filled with beautiful roses. "Why are w-" Astiana put her hand over Lacey's mouth, then pointed to a man and a woman, both wearing black with misty eyes.

The Fear Suckers. They had to get to Rimester, and away from the Fear Suckers. "I smell humans..." the woman rasped. The man made a scraping noise with his throat and nodded.

Lacey looked around, desperate to find an exit. She soon found one, but getting there would be hard. It was right across the Fear Suckers, who seemed to block it. Lacey had an idea, but it was extremely risky.

I have a plan, but we need time... Lacey thought.

What's the plan? Astiana returned the idea.

You become a Fear Sucker, and distract them while I sneak into the house and try to find something useful. Then, you say you want to go to the washroom, go in their house, sneak me under your outfit, then thank them, say you've got to go and leave!

That's extremely complicated but I suppose it'll do.

Astiana started searching in her bag and took out a makeup box. Lacey shot her a look.
What? I like to be prepared! Astiana shrugged. She put on some makeup, then hid behind the broken down barn to change and then came back to Lacey.

She was wearing a black long dress with dark grey eyeshadow and grey blush. "Awesome!" Lacey exclaimed. Astiana hushed her. She cleared her throat, then walked to the Fear Suckers.

"Hello! I sensed a human here... maybe two and I was wondering if you've seen them?" Astiana faked a raspy voice. Lacey, knowing there wasn't enough time, leapt inside the farmhouse and glanced around.

She searched, rummaging through the drawers and the grey vases. The house was completely ugly now, the walls painted grey, wooden floors creaking every step, dirty cabinets.

Then, she remembered cobwebs. Cobwebs were in attics, and attics usually had important stuff! Lacey looked around, touching, pushing, pulling. The attic must be somewhere... but where?

She pushed a blue vase in frustration and looked at the bookshelves in front of her. They were pushing back, and a secret entrance revealed itself. Lacey crawled down the dusty stairs, carefully looking around for traps.

She saw a stone table with an ancient paper on it and decided it looked important. Lacey walked down to it and stared. "Whoa..." she gasped. It was a map of the land, and it seemed to show where Rimester was.

Lacey decided it would be a good time to leave, now that she'd heard the door opening. She raced up the secret passageway, closed the door and stood there, waiting.

Astiana walked in and slowly shut the door, and she quickly stuffed Lacey in the side of her ridiculous outfit. "Wh-"

"Shh!" Astiana jerked her head to the doorknob which was now turning. The Fear Suckers entered and eyed Astiana suspiciously. "Where is the washroom?" Her terrible raspy voice seemed to have no effect in convincing them.

"Right corner, behind the painting," the woman replied. Astiana nodded and fled to the washroom. Lacey stayed silent as Astiana stood there. After a while, she flushed and opened the tap. Then, she closed it and left the washroom.

"Well, thank you for your service! I must be going..." she murmured. The female Fear Sucker led her to the exit. "Wait!" The other Fear Sucker ran out of the house. "Stop them!"

Astiana didn't hesitate. She raced off, letting Lacey jump out from the outfit and run. The second they'd past the sign 'Welcome to Rimester', the Fear Suckers stopped. They couldn't go any further, as far as Lacey knew.

"Back where we started," panted Lacey. "Astiana?" No. Not again. Everybody was gone. Astiana had disappeared, Katherine was who knows where, and here was Lacey, alone, in the town square of Rimester.

They had all separated.