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Mira
Do you really need four containers of ice cream?
Ellen
I'm single.
Ellen
You're single.
Ellen
Four containers of ice cream is the legal minimum.
Mira
Oh.
Mira
Forgive me for forgetting.
Your spine stiffens as you pass a tight alleyway.
Mira
Do you feel that?
Your sister nods, eyes wide.
Ellen
Let's handle it quick before this ice cream melts.
The two of you walk into the alleyway.
At the far end stands a woman.
Ellen
Got to be her.
Ellen
You see her?
Mira
No.
Mira
Not part of our coven.
You step closer.
The air around her is warm and humid.
Before you can move, she steps through the wall and vanishes.
Ellen
Did she go to the Hollow?
You reach out and touch the wall she stepped through.
Mira
Ow!
Ellen
What is it?
Mira
Not the Hollow.
Mira
Not friendly magic, either.
Ellen
How unfriendly?
Mira
It…bit me.
You reach out again, focusing your energy.
But nothing happens.
Mira
Ugh…I can't get through.
Mira
It's…strange.
Ellen
I don't like magic we can't figure out.
Mira
Yeah, neither do I.
Ellen
Should we call Olivia?
Ellen summons a small black messenger beetle in her palm.
Mira
We'll have to tell her eventually.
You feel eyes watching you from somewhere.
Mira
Not here. I…I feel like we're not alone.
Ellen
All the more reason to tell her.
Ellen
Maybe she can help us out.
Ellen moves to release the beetle, but you grab her wrist.
Mira
Stop!
You point to the corner.
A dark figure skulks, unmoving.
Ellen
What…what is that?
Mira
Not good news.
You take a deep breath and step up.
Ellen
What the hell are you doing?
Mira
Just stay back.
You reach out to touch the thing with your magic.
Again, it bites back.
Hard.
Mira
Damn it!
You look at your hand and see blood on your fingertips.
Ellen
Mira, what the hell?
Mira
We need to go.
Ellen
We need to get help.
You hold up your hand, now oozing red.
Mira
No, Ellen.
Mira
We need to go.
Ellen
Oh my god.
Ellen
Right.
Ellen
We need to go.
You hightail it out of the alley, still feeling watched.
Mira
I think it's following us.
Ellen
Shit.
Ellen
The apartment's not far.
Ellen
The wards will stop it.
Mira
We don't know what it is.
Ellen
Olivia put those wards up.
Ellen
They'll hold.
You focus on your fingers, stitching the skin together.
Mira
I don't like this.
Ellen
It's only five more minutes.
Mira
I could barely heal those cuts on my fingers.
Ellen
But you healed them.
Ellen
That's all that matters.
Mira
I fixed my own broken arm last year.
Ellen
It doesn't mean anything.
Mira
You don't believe that any more than I do.
Ellen
No.
Ellen
No, I don't.
Ellen
But panicking in the middle of the street won't do any good.
You glance to the right and see a blotch of darkness.
Mira
Damn it, Ellen, get the lead out.
You double your pace, nearly running.
Ellen
Wait up!
Ellen
I have the key!
Mira
I have the spare!
After half a block, Ellen catches up.
Ellen
Mira, slow down.
Ellen
It's okay.
Mira
This isn't okay.
Mira
The faster we're at your apartment, the better.
Ellen places her hand flat on your chest.
Ellen
Just calm down. This is our city.
Mira
With witches we don’t recognize.
Ellen
Olivia probably found some new recruits.
Mira
Recruits who come with their own pet monsters?
Ellen
That was no monster.
Ellen
Just…relax.
Mira
Relax?
Mira
While we're being stalked by a living shadow?
You glance around and, finally, you don't see the dark figure.
Mira
I think it's gone.
Mira
Or hiding.
Ellen
Look, it's just a construct.
Mira
Just a construct?
Mira
Really?
Ellen
Do I need to remind you about when we were kids?
Mira
No.
Ellen
Before you could heal broken arms?
Ellen
Your imaginary friend?
Mira
This is different.
Ellen
For all we know, it's just an untrained witch.
Mira
What untrained witch opens a space between spaces?
Ellen
When have you ever known Olivia to miss something dangerous?
You take stock of your surroundings again.
Mira
Let's just get going.
Mira
While we're still alone.
You get back to Ellen's place and put groceries away.
Ellen
You should stay here tonight.
Mira
No.
Ellen
You're freaking and I don't want you alone.
Mira
No offense, but I'm more comfortable at home.
Mira
With my wards.
Ellen
They're the same wards.
Mira
I'm just more comfortable at home.
Mira
Besides, more ice cream for you.
Ellen
I can buy more.
Mira
Really, I'll be okay.
Mira
Let's just get started on dinner.
You reach out and check that the wards are in place.
Mira
I haven't made lasagna in years.
Ellen
It's not that hard
Mira
So say you.
Mira
Just tell me what I need to do.
You walk into the kitchen, forcing a smile. Your fingers throb.
