ILLUSION || Jason Todd

FIVE

❝YOU SAY IT'S IN THE PAST❞

TAYLOR SWIFT, I WISH YOU WOULD

After a long night's sleep in a bed - courtesy of the motel they had stopped in - Lorelei woke up with an eager start to the day. Truthfully, everyone had slept rather well that night with everything considered. Rachel, after being left alone for no more than twenty minutes while Lorelei took a shower and Dick went out for pizza, had a miniature freak-out which led to her crying in the wet tub surrounded by crosses.

It was a bizarre night, to say the least.

The next morning had been spent, once again, in the backseat of Dick's Porsche and Lorelei was beginning to curse herself for getting the very cramped back seat as her designated seat whilst Rachel and Dick sat comfortably in the front two seats. There had, at least, been an update on the Satanic ritualist guy, the two girls being swiftly informed by Dick not too long into the car journey that he was part of some Doomsday cult.

Apparently said cult believe it's their destiny to prevent the end of the world or some bullshit like that according to the files Dick had received. Rachel, of course, had no idea what was going on, despite somehow ending up in the middle of their 'destiny', and not-so-subtly avoided any questions about bad things that had happened in her past.

Lorelei could not blame Rachel for that, not fully, despite how frustrating it was slowly becoming for Rachel to withhold information that could be necessary for Dick to help. But everyone had a past, everyone had their haunting memories they didn't wish to speak about - Lorelei sure knew about hers.

The trees and grass and all things scenery sped past the blonde mage's vision as the car continued its drive and eventually, after a long few hours of driving, the group of three had finally arrived in Washington, specifically in front of an apartment complex. It didn't take a genius to work out this was the residence of Dick's friends, especially not as he told them to gather their things and embark on the journey up flights of stairs to a numbered door of 304.

The initial reunion between Dick and his friend, Dawn, and introduction between Dawn and the two girls were, to say the least, awkward. It was no thanks to Dick, really, who graciously informed Rachel and Lorelei a few seconds before knocking on the door that he had, in fact, not seen Dawn in a 'long time' and by Dawn's comment about four years shortly after Dick asked to talk, it was an educated guess to say it had been four long years since Dick and Dawn were in the same room. Then, by the awkwardness, it was not a situation left on a good note.

Apartment 304 was rather big and homely from what Lorelei had seen before being ushered to the rooftop after Dick and Dawn got their cups of coffee. The rooftop itself was nothing Lorelei hadn't seen before, minus the large cage of doves she sat in front of with Rachel at her side, sitting away from Dick and Dawn as the 'grown ups' had a conversation.

It was insulting, to not be seen as an adult when she very clearly was not a child, but the violet eyed girl swallowed her distaste and sat with a glare as she watched the doves, knowing a catch up was needed between Dick and Dawn. "They're talking about you." Lorelei muttered quietly to Rachel, as to not draw too much attention to the girls.

Rachel let out a sigh at Lorelei's words, knowing they were definitely conversing about the past few days and specifically about Rachel's murder, as she looked at the two adults sitting on the bench. "I know." The purple haired girl whispered in return as the doves fluttered against her finger.