All the Stars Lead to You

Chapter Two

AQUARIUS: Check in with your parents or some older folks who mean something to you—it's time for a new dose of wisdom. That can mean advice or observation, so keep an open mind.

White painted the landscape that lay before me, and a leery unease settled in my stomach. I stood in a horizonless expanse, looking down at a figure like an eye in the sky.

A weightlessness encompassed me as I watched myself tug her pea coat tighter, head tucked away. She kept walking, fog hugging her ankles before she was consumed by a wall of shadows. I cried, rushing towards her before the haze captured me. 

Then, it wasn't the feathery floating feeling anymore. I was falling, the ground yanked from beneath my feet and the force of gravity adding to my cumaltive velocity as I fell down down down. Panic rumbled about my chest, beating against my sides trying to break free while my hands frantically clawed around the bottomless pit. 

It never seemed to end. 

"Where are my red heels?"

I gasped, throwing my feet in the direction of the voice. I shifted my weight into my hips, hitting the person directly in the gut. My attacker grunted in response, dragging the curtains open as she fell to the floor, moaning.

"What the hell, Selene?" she croaked as the light illuminated her face.

"Stella?" I immediately kneeled beside my battered sister, cradling her against my chest. "I'msosorryI'msosorryI'msosorry."

She writhed in my grasp. "Stop apologizing! I need a doctor, not to be coddled-"

"Did I break anything? Do you feel dizzy? Quick-tell me how many fingers am I holding up?"

"Stop!"

"Okay. Let me see it first. You know, check for bruises." She begrudgingly untangled herself from her stomach.

"Fine, but-" she stopped, laughing as I tickled her. "Selene, you better-"

"What? I can't hear you. Say that again?"

"Selene!" She gasped for breath, rolling on the floor. I continued my tickling assault. "I'm going to get you for this!"

"You really need to speak up, sis," I teased. "I can't hear you over all that laughing."

"Okay, okay-uncle! Uncle!"

"Hmm?"

"Uncle!"

I loosen my grasp on her, and she shoves me hard, landing me on my back as she shuffled to thump me.

"Ow!" I cried, raising a hand to rub the red mark on my shoulder. "That really hurt."

"Well, gee, I'm so sorry for doing that after you kicked me and assaulted me. Do you want me to get some tea so you could relax?"

"With cream?" I said smugly. She chucked a pillow at me, smiling and shaking her head. I took her offered hand.

"I don't even think I want the red heels anymore," she groaned, collapsing on the couch. "I mean, I look amazing in them, but they might be too much for a first date."

"Oooh, my little sis going on a date again," I squealed, flailing my hands. "I'm glad you're back in the game after Charlie. If we're being honest, I didn't like him that much."

"Me too. It feels . . . refreshing to be free of him, he was so clingy and overbearing. I needed a palette cleanser after that train wreck." She clasped her hands together and took a deep breath. "Her name's Miranda. She's a fashion photographer for a private studio, and she is very gorgeous and very classy, all pencil skirts and ballet buns."