Dig Two Graves (Sequel To 'Implied Consent') free porn video

Dig Two Graves. (sequel to 'Implied Consent') "Hello?" The recipient of the call gave the usual greeting with the typical hint of tentative questioning. The opening reserved for occasions the caller's identity is unknown. The incoming ID was listed as private. "Hello Amy," a female spoke coolly through the receiver. Amy paused to take stock. There was a vague familiarity about the voice. She rapidly processed to try and identify it. When she felt she had, she found it hard enough to believe her own conclusion that she still proceeded with audible uncertainty. "Keira?" she questioned warily. "Yes." The tone remained somber and unmoved. "How? Why?" Not even Amy was sure what these questions meant. She supposed that it was her attempt to understand the motivation and intent of this seemingly out of the blue call. Whilst she had thought of her most every day, Amy had not heard from Keira since that day on her doorstep. Two months past now perhaps. When things had become vicious and Amy had slapped her. She regretted it of course. She regretted much, truth be told. Keira's reply interrupted the recollection. It may not specifically have been the answer to Amy's bewildered questions but Keira proffered it nonetheless. "Well I don't think anyone knows anyone else's number by heart anymore but for some reason your mobile number is etched onto my brain. I imagine you have a better understanding of that than I do," Keira said glibly. Amy did know exactly why. It reminded her of the gender difference that once existed between them. Even though Amy and Connor were the same age, Amy had been given a mobile phone by her parents much earlier than he, at age 11, before high school even, to keep her safe. Connor had reluctantly waited a further 3 years before he got one. There was less impetus and concern that his parents know where he was. He could look after himself. Of course 3 years of time was as much as a thousand phone calls to Amy using his parents land line. Sure he could have probably had it on speed dial, but he must have entered manually so many times that it was imprinted on his brain. And somehow such an etched habit remained there when everything else about him changed. It had been the first clue to Amy, back then, after the curse, that residual traces of Connor remained in Keira, in spite of Madame Zenith's blanket proclamations that he was completely erased. Keira had recited Amy's number with minimal prompting. It had given Amy hope. But it had been a false one. Amy knew from their last terse encounter those 2 months ago that more of Connor had begun to seep through after the phone number incident. Keira made it clear she detested such intrusions greatly, and that she would fight them. Amy wondered nonetheless if more breakthrough memories had continued in the weeks since they'd last had any communication, civil or otherwise. She hoped so. She hoped that Keira remembered enough to know what they once were to each other. Of course that may be a double edged sword if all it did was heighten her resentment. Which was how it currently appeared to be, given the girl on the other end of the call's sharp tone. "How are you?" Amy continued with hesitancy. "Like that'd be any interest to you." Keira's comment was unmistakably snide, somewhat affirming Amy's hypothesis. "Of course it is." Amy steeled herself. "Well since you're asking," Keira began. "Wretched. Trapped in this stuffy Catholic boarding school with sadistic nuns and surrounded by nothing but haughty molls." Amy stifled a laugh at Keira's slightly atypical derision, but knew better than to express amusement. Especially in light of Keira's tone, and the mini tirade that was to follow. "Which is all thanks to you, let's not forget. You completely fucked up my life Amy. In ways I can't even comprehend." A mixture of hostile exasperation was the essence of her sentiment. Amy didn't know what to say in response, so silence won out. "Anyway, the boredom has given me plenty of time to ruminate and fester. And plot and scheme." "What do you mean?" Amy appreciated the ominous underpinnings of that statement. "Well I had my most exciting day here today, whilst I was wagging my classes." (Playing truant) Keira's timbre now had a hint of gleeful menace perhaps. "Oh?" Amy was apprehensive. "Yes. I ran into a sympathetic old lady, who wanted to hear my tale of woe. And offered to help me out." "What lady?" Amy was still none the wiser, as yet. "Just a travelling gypsy. And when she heard how you'd behaved like a total bitch towards me we both decided you should become one." "What are you talking about?" But she began to understand. Amy now had a sickening sinking suspicion she knew both who Keira was talking about, and what her unusual insulting implication truly meant. "Woof Woof!" Keira mocked viciously, confirming Amy's fears. "Madame Zenith?" Amy's voice cracked with terror as she sought confirmation. "So you do know her?" Keira returned her intonation to deadpan. "Funnily enough she never mentioned that. Well I imagine that's she's played a part in my current predicament. So you know what she's capable of." "Yes," she replied softly. "Don't you think you deserve this then Amy?" Keira asked flatly. "Keira please. I'm sorry. You don't understand. I made a mistake," Amy blabbered. "You really think begging will make a difference?" Keira hissed. Showing her hand of emotion now. "Although I'm looking forward to teaching you to beg. And roll over. And play dead." Amy sobbed. She could not bear to think of her awaited fate. She hadn't seen Connor transform. She was told it had been relatively rapid but significantly painful. And once done all trace of Connor was gone. At least initially. She suspected the same awaited her. She may lose all trace and memory of humanity. And she may never get any of it back. It was tantamount to murder really. All that she was being killed off. In a way though, it was exactly what she had done, to him. Keira could hear the sound that accompanied Amy's tears, virtually the tears of the damned, yet appeared unmoved by them. "Why did you do it Amy? Why did you do this to me?" Keira demanded, but her voice did not rise. "I was stupid," she whined. "I thought you raped me." "What the Fuck!" Keira squealed. Her demand for answers had specifically been about why Amy had sought to drive a wedge between her and Stefan and have her banished to the country, whereas Amy's answer was not at all about that. She had assumed Keira wanted to know why she had cursed her, or more specifically Connor, in the first place. Nonetheless, Amy's explanation was certainly attention gathering. So for the first time in their conversation Keira was the one unsettled. "I mean...What?! What on Earth do you mean?" Amy burst forth on this prompt. Regardless of what was about to happen she wanted to absolve herself somewhat. "Remember Britt's party." "I wasn't there. You know that," Keira stated, still on edge. "Keira wasn't. But Connor was. You told me you had memories of that." Keira's silence was an affirmation of sorts. Internally she did reflect that kissing Amy that night was one of the strongest 'Connor memories' that tormented her. At least in the beginning. It had been accompanied by many others since then. "I know we've already discussed this," Amy began. Glad that the talking was distracting her from what may well be impending, and feeling a desperate need to clear her conscience. "But it was back before you had any... any memories. So I didn't tell you the whole story." "I'm listening." "Well some of it you know. But this is how it happened before, well, reality altered I suppose." "Before you altered reality you mean!?" "Yes. I guess." "Okay. Go on," Keira still gave her little. "Anyway. You know how I'd found out about Byron and Becky and was so upset I got super drunk." Amy made reference to the discovery of her unfaithful boyfriend. "Yes." "Well you.. Connor I mean...kept telling me to stop drinking. But I didn't. And I got really sick and drowsy and you, he, took me to Britt's spare room so I could sleep it off." "And?" None of this was news to Keira. She suspected there was a point. She was beginning to have her suspicions given what she knew Amy had said about that night already. She just wondered how Connor fit in to it all. How exactly! "Well I started pouring my heart out to.... Him," Amy paused, flustered. "I'm sorry but you're still sort of the same person to me," In spite of the fact she behaved nothing like him, ironically, Amy noted. "It's hard to talk about Connor with you and not merge you. Especially when I know what I did." "Just get on with it," Keira voiced her annoyance. "Sorry," It was hard for Amy to compose herself. Between painful memories and her gruesome impending doom she couldn't order herself well. "Anyway he was trying his best to console and comfort me, and then out of the blue he kissed me. Well we'd never had anything like that in our relationship before, and I got confused. So I yelled at you. And you left. Probably because I'd hurt you. But I didn't remember you leaving," she babbled rapidly. "The next thing I did remember I was being... you know... and I thought it was you. But it wasn't. It was Stefan. So when I awoke with the recollections of what was done to me, and thought it was you, I felt so betrayed. After that I became so maddened with vengeance and rage I lost all perspective. Then along came Madame Zenith who made it sound so easy and enticing to do what I did. And I regret it every moment of every day. And I'm so so sorry," Amy had degenerated into unbridled wailing by then. Keira let her wallow and grovel for a time before continuing in her concealing monotone. "We need to meet." "Why?" Amy mumbled. "We just do." "Will I even still be human then?" "I'm not going to do this over the phone," Keira decreed. "You mean... you want to be present when... when I change?" Amy stumbled to find the right words, in an effort to contain her anxiety. "Just meet me Amy," Keira was becoming more impatient. "I imagine I don't have a choice," Amy conceded. "Well when you put it like that I guess not." "But you're hundreds of kilometres away." Amy didn't know how them meeting could even be possible. "I'll figure out a way." "You're coming to me?" "Well it is home." "And if I run? If I hide?" "Would it have done Connor any good?" "I don't suppose." "So wait for me. And we'll talk." "Okay," Amy said with fearful resignation. "And I suppose in answer to your question I guess I do deserve it. I imagine it's too late to plead for mercy even. But I am sorry." Keira was silent. They both were but neither hung up. Finally Amy continued meekly. "If you're going to turn me into a dog will you take care of me? Or will you abandon me?" "I imagine that would depend a lot on what sort of person I am. And you if anyone should know the answer to that. After all you made me." The phone clicked into disconnection whilst Amy still held it to her ear. *** It was no surprise that Amy could not sleep. Every nocturnal moment was filled with racing thoughts of what she had done and what appeared to await her. Keira was coming for her. Amy knew not when, but was under the impression it would be soon. Although even she couldn't have predicted how acute the definition of soon truly was. She could not face school when morning arrived. It didn't seem to matter anyway. She'd heretofore been a relatively conscientious student, so her parents did not question her when she cited illness. Consequently she was home alone in the still early morn when the doorbell rang. Amy was dressed in the sort of clothes one throws on when you aren't expecting to leave the house. But it was adequate for receiving a delivery or similar. It didn't occur to Amy that it would be Keira till the very last. It only abated the shock of seeing her minimally. The time of reckoning had come. Maybe, thought Amy, it was better it wasn't protracted. "I suppose you better come in," Amy said in lieu of any greeting. Composing herself to contain her fear. "I don't imagine you want to do this out here." "No. I don't want anyone to see me. As soon as the school figure I'm missing they'll be sending out the search parties. I'm sure my parents will freak..." Keira trailed off. Amy lead her inside. "Well you look like shit," Keira began once they seated in the lounge room. It was purposefully harsh. "Is that any surprise?" Amy retorted. "Did you really think I'd get any sleep when I knew what was coming? Besides, I didn't see much point in dolling myself up before being cursed." "You really aren't much to look at are you?" Keira continued scathingly. "I'd have no idea why Connor would ever have wanted to kiss you in the first place. Still, each to their own I guess." "Mind you!" She still wasn't done. "It should be relatively easy to turn you into a dog. With a face like that you're half way there." Even though Amy found her words hurtful she knew better than to react to them. "Still, I probably don't look that great myself, having travelled all night." Keira offered a little concession. She had expected to get a rise, although she wasn't overly concerned she hadn't. Annoyingly for her, Amy couldn't even legitimately agree with Keira's self assessment. The thin pretty blonde with the perky bust looked sickeningly fresh, Amy felt it wasn't really fair. Considering she was supposed to be the victim of a curse, Keira was extremely good looking. What Keira had in mind for Amy on the other hand was anything but equitable. "How did you get here so fast?" Amy asked. Instead of taking any bait. "I hitched." Amy couldn't contain her reaction to this fact though. "You what?" she exclaimed. "You're a 17 year old girl. You've inherited the memories of.... of... being female all your life. Surely you know how risky that is? I'm pretty sure Connor would never have even chanced fate like that." "Well what's the worse that could happen? I get murdered? Or assaulted? Well in case you hadn't forgotten neither of those things are specifically new to me. You saw to that. The original me was wiped from existence and I'm already an old hand at being sexually assaulted. Sure it was under the guise of a relationship then, but still how different could it be? Besides I made it didn't I? So all's well that ends well. And incidentally, shouldn't you have been hoping I did get killed on the way here?" "That's not fair! I would never want that. No matter what your intentions are." "Well I appreciate your concern. But it was fine. The Truckie that picked me up was very content to leave me alone after I gave him a blow job." "Oh!" Amy uttered. "Geez! That was a joke idiot. Do you really think that's in my nature? Is that the person you wanted me to be?" "No. Of course not. I didn't think about that. I didn't think about anything. I was so blinded by rage and hate and Madame Zenith made it all sound so easy and painless. Well at least from my end. I didn't think of any of the consequences. And it wasn't long before I regretted everything and tried to get her to undo it. But she couldn't. Or wouldn't." "Funny that! Madame Zenith appearing and offering you exactly what you want. It seems to be her.. what's it called.. Modus operandi." "I...I.." Amy stumbled over her words. "You know what Amy," Keira interrupted. "After your curse, and before I started to get any Connor memories back, I was pretty content with my lot. I knew I was super cute, and the envy of most every girl in the school. Even the dowdy broads like you." It was clearly designed, yet again, as an attempt to get a rise. "Admired both for how I looked but also for who I was with. Stefan. I tolerated the way he abused me because I thought it was worth it. I didn't care much for school and didn't really have the aptitude for it. But that didn't worry me. I knew I'd get by on my looks. I suppose I was nice enough. After all I wasn't a mean girl. Well not then anyway. That's who I was. I had the back story and memories to go along with it. I was real alright. I didn't feel like the construct of a vengeful woman." She stopped only long enough to draw breath. "Then Connor's memories started creeping in. And I came to realize what I was, and who was responsible for it. Realizing I was merely a creation with a false set of memories... well I can't describe what that's like. It disintegrates you. Quite literally. So then it made me see myself for who I really am. From Connor's point of view I guess. A vain vacuous girl who wasn't very bright. Whose self esteem depended desperately on what others thought of her. Who was so insipid that she tolerated an abusive relationship just to preserve her social standing. Now forced to be alone and isolated from all that she thought important to her. Quite justifiably I think, I blamed you for all of this. But what I thought was the best solution for me was to go back to my blissful ignorance. If I could forget all the Connor stuff and just go back to being simple stupid 'Miss Popular' I'd be so much happier. Sure I wanted to punish you and make you suffer, part of me still does. But that seemed secondary to my desire to going back to how things were for me. As Keira I mean." "I don't know what you want me to say to that," Amy said when Keira finally stopped. "Save that all I want more than anything is Connor back." Keira ignored her. "So Madame Zenith offered me both those things. Revenge on you and the complete and permanent erasure of all things Connor. A return to things exactly how I wanted them. And all I had to do was say your name." "So...." Amy said sadly. For she figured she knew the answer. And that was 'Now!' But she had to ask it anyway. Should she have said goodbye to her parents? They won't remember her soon enough she imagined. "When's it gonna happen?" "What?" Keira asked. Amy wasn't sure if she was being purposefully obtuse or stupid. "The curse." "Oh," she re-gathered. "Well I'm hoping never if we can figure out a way to beat her," Keira grinned slyly. "What?" It was her turn. Amy was stunned. Not yet relieved but maybe the tiniest bit hopeful. "Amy," Keira took on a previously unseen earnest. "At my deepest darkest ebb a woman appeared offering me everything I wanted. It was incredibly enticing. But you know what I thought of? I thought of a girl who for some reason felt her best friend in the whole world had betrayed her. I didn't completely understand why. Not then. Although I had an inkling there was more I didn't know. So I had to imagine at her deepest darkest ebb she was offered everything she wanted. I suppose the advantage I had over you is that I knew this woman was capable of doing exactly what she proposed. And more than that I figured out something you hadn't. In that she was almost certainly evil." "Keira?" Amy voiced hope. "This doesn't mean I forgive you Amy. I'm not sure if I ever can. But I kind of understand now why you did what you did. I mean I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted to enact the curse. And clearly I'm not above instilling you with fear and tormenting you by making you think I would. I suppose I'm not that nice a person. Again I'm blaming you for that. But I knew I had huge memory gaps. And at times I wondered if Connor had done something to deserve what happened to him. So it would have been extremely stupid to act rashly. My suspicion is that whatever Madame Zenith is, she somehow feeds off hate. She was relying on me hating you enough to destroy you. The way you must have hated Connor in that moment. What I don't know is how she's going to react when she doesn't get what she wants." Amy's heart sunk even further. Keira had believed in her, showed more faith in her than she'd conversely done for Connor. For someone self proclaimedly stupid, Keira had shown great wisdom. Amy thought about Keira's conclusions. Particularly the feeding off hate thing. Amy felt that Madame Zenith had even said something similar. A level of negative emotion was required to feed the spell. "How did you leave it? With her I mean," Amy asked. She wanted to say much more but that would have to do. She kept the rest to herself. "Well after she offered all that I told you; which was just yesterday, like I mentioned; I said I needed to go away and think about it. She's expecting me back today. Hence my phone call and mad overnight dash to you. We need some sort of strategy." "You're here to protect me! Not curse me?" Amy sought clarification of what she was hearing. "Something like that I suppose," Keira sighed. Amy's face lit up for the first time that day, perhaps the first time in many. "Don't look at me like that," Keira scolded. "Like what?" "You know perfectly well like what. Like I'm Connor or something. Coz I'm not. For all I know I may have made things worse. I may have doomed us both." "She may not come." "Do you think she'll just pack up her shingle and move on, finding someone new to curse?" Keira was incredulous. "Amy, I'm sure her little shopfront appearing in dead boring Kyneton was specifically for me. It's proof she can find us. And If she'd gone to all that trouble I doubt she'd let it rest." "So she's what?" Amy asked. "Some sort of wicked witch? How on Earth are we ever going to get her to change you back if that's the case?" "Oh for fuck sake Amy! Really? Wicked witch? I think some sort of Demonic monster is more likely. And the goal here is totally not to 'change me back.' The goal is to survive!" "But wouldn't you want to change back if you could?" "Into what?!" Keira hissed angrily. "God Amy do I really have to spell it out to you?" she proceeded to anyway. "Don't you see. I'm me! I'm Keira. This is who I've always been. This is my reality!" she all but yelled. "I know it's not how you see things," Keira continued, but it was said a little calmer. "But this is how it is. I couldn't imagine voluntarily turning myself into someone else any more than you could. It'd be tantamount to killing myself." "But it was my mistake. I want to be able to fix it." "Well you can't. And even if you could I wouldn't let you." "I just want Connor!" Amy said almost petulantly. "I didn't realize how much I loved him till I lost him," Her voice simpering away into sadness. "Oh it's a fucking tragedy!" Keira said derisively. "Worse than Romeo and Juliet!" she mocked with sarcasm. "Except of course if they were 'just friends.'" Amy's face showed how much the words had crushed her. Keira slumped. The mass effect of her cruelty was visible to her and it sat badly. "As far as I was concerned," Keira began softly, her attitude clearly tempered. "I was a normal 17 year old girl. Until I started to have memories that weren't mine. Memories of being a boy. And I thought I was going schizo or something. And now I have a head full of memories from a different life. A different reality. And I don't know if it's even possible to survive as a human being and keep my sanity with this. But all these memories I do have, are of you. And I have no doubt he loved you as much as you did him. Clearly more I think." Her words, as she expected they would, buoyed Amy considerably. Keira could see a mixture of relief filled with melancholy. Amy looked tired, Keira thought. Not 'like shit' as she'd viciously said earlier. Far from it really. But she did look exhausted. Strung out from overload of emotion. Keira knew she was responsible for that, both directly and indirectly. Amy wore her guilt over what she did to Connor like a heavy rain soaked coat, and she feared Keira. Keira's expressions of spite and unsated quest for vengeance up to that point made Amy very uncomfortable in her presence. Keira knew all that. She felt she understood so much more about their dynamic than Amy did. She hoped for her own sake that this would continue to be the case. But Keira felt herself spiraling out of control. In the months that had passed since Keira walked away from Amy and into the oblivion that St Teresa's Kyneton seemed to represent, her head had continue to fill with unbidden and generally unwelcome memories. Seeing her now seemed to make all of them contextual. It wasn't so much a battle for control between two conflicting identities. Perhaps it could have been if she'd had wanted it to be. But Keira felt her mental health depended on her accepting the premise that Connor's memories were her memories. To a fashion perhaps, but nonetheless. She could continue to argue that she was not Connor. That they were two complete separate different individuals from alternative versions of the world. But it would be a lie. By error or design she remembered more and more about being Connor. His thoughts and his feelings. They were merging with her own and she felt that she was somehow becoming a hybrid of the two. Conversely, Keira suspected Amy despised her, secretly if not overtly, as the manifest of her heinous error, and as a sickening substitute for the boy she loved. Or cared a great deal about. In the platonic sense of course. Perhaps those negative feelings were even more substantial than just to be suspected. Keira felt she could sense that spite clearly enough. Keira knew, regardless of how the other felt, some part of her would do whatever it took to protect Amy at all costs. And she had a strong prediction that cost would be high. But Keira didn't seem to have a choice. Which really did not bode well. She looked at the disheveled, disheartened, disillusioned girl before her and her heart quickened. Yes there was no doubt Connor had loved her very much. Clearly he still did. Which, unfortunately for Keira, meant she did too. *** "We could offer her Stefan. If anyone deserves a grizzly fate it's him," Amy suggested. They had been on the couch brainstorming for a short while. "Amy!" Keira looked angry. "Have you still not learnt anything? We're not in the business of trading souls. And I can guarantee somehow or other it will end up badly for us. It's like a 'button unit' scenario." "What are you talking about?" "It was an old TV show I saw. There's not a lot of things to do in Kyneton, ya know! I don't remember exactly but this person was offered a lot of money by a, I dunno, demon I suppose, if they pressed this button. The consequence of pressing the button was that someone they didn't know died. The catch of course being when they press the button the demon moves on and gives the button unit to someone they don't know. Which of course means when that person presses the button the original person dies; and so on." "So? I don't..." "If that's her thing... pitting human's against each other; if we curse Stefan in some fashion, then one day it'll come back on us." "Oh." "I get that you hate him Amy. For what he did. And I know I should hate him too, and maybe one day I will. But your curse made me his adoring, loving girlfriend. Even though he was horrible to me. Repeatedly assaulting me. I still have feelings for him. I can't hurt him, and I'd probably stop you if you tried." Amy's thoughts darkened as she processed that. She flushed and looked at the ground below her. "Keira," she mumbled. "Mmmm?" Keira was still lost in her thoughts. "I have something to tell you," she squeaked. "About the curse." Keira stiffened. She knew this was to be something she didn't want to hear. "Go on." "The original curse. What Madame Zenith persuaded me to ask for," she added in an attempt to distance herself from the whole undertaking. "Was that you be turned into a girl; and suffer a taste of your own medicine; in that you be raped. Afterwards, because I thought you were the one who.... Well you were the rapist, I wondered where another rapist would come from. But there didn't need to be another one. There was only one all along; and the curse gifted you to him as his girlfriend." "Geez. That's so diabolically fucked up." "The only thing that was different was that I wanted you to keep your memories so that you would know why you were being punished.; which of course you wouldn't; given you didn't actually do anything; but she wanted to erase them. Which she did. She said there was no getting them back. But you have. At least some. So maybe she's not as powerful as she thinks." Keira thought for a moment. "She lied Amy." "How do you mean?" "I think everything has panned out exactly how she wanted it," Keira began. "I needed to be oblivious at the start of the curse to play out the life as the girl I'd always been. Or thought I'd always been. I don't know exactly what I mean. My head's a confusing place at the moment. Anyway, I had to be the.... the spineless girlfriend of Stefan so that I would willingly accept my lot and not complain," It clearly grated on her to describe herself that way, on top of her earlier tirade of self effacement, but she grimaced and continued nonetheless. "Then she clearly designed it so that the original memories would filter back and I would realize what had happened, and the life I found myself trapped in. And my desire for retaliation would be all encompassing. I mean it kind of is. I've already said this but I don't think you get it. You don't understand how hard it is to fight my natural instinct to get you back for what you did." "Oh," Amy squeaked. "And she's counting on that," Keira continued. "And I wonder whether, even if she did turn you into a dog or something, you'd still be able to communicate your desire for revenge, and on and on it would go until who knows. Maybe we'd just wipe each other out of existence all together. All the while filling her with whatever hate juice fuels her." "God!" "I know." "How are you strong enough to resist her? After what I did. The temptation to give into it must be so powerful. I felt it when I cursed you." "I dunno exactly. But it ain't easy." Keira suspected she did know. But it seemed prudent to keep that to herself for the time being. Especially for what was to come. In fact subterfuge was essential for her plan to have any chance whatsoever. "So what do we do now?" "I need to go to my parent's house," Keira said. "Why?" "So they'll ship me straight back to Kyneton. I need to face her. She's expecting me. And I don't like the idea of her having to hunt us out." "I should be with you. We should see her together," Amy tried to be forceful. Keira gave the appearance of reflecting on her words. Weighing up Amy's request. She wasn't. But she had to make it appear she was doing such. "If I was Connor I feel like I'd be expected to say: 'No little lady, I'll handle the demon myself'. But I'm not. Not at all. And I think you're probably right. I think the key is we have to appear not to hate each other. So that she'll not have anything to feed off. Except I suspect she'll try and test us. She'll try and make us turn on each other. So I guess the question is Amy. Are you strong enough to put the way you really feel about me aside and trick a demon by convincing her we care about each other?" "Yes," Amy felt it would be very easy to pretend to care. She did care. She sort of understood why Keira would think she wouldn't. Maybe all this will eventually convince her she does. "Okay then. Well I guess it's unlikely my parents will let you come for a 500 kilometre round trip joy ride, as they angrily return me to my place of banishment, so we need to find another way." They both silently considered options for a moment. "My dad caught the train to work," Amy suggested. "And?" Keira already suspected the answer. "His car's in the garage." "Yeah but we're both still on L plates. We can't drive without an adult." "Keira McKenzie! We're about to face off with a demon. You really think not breaking any road rules is a priority right now." "Fair point Price," she conceded agreement. "I guess we better get going soon then. Although you may want to do something about that." Amy wasn't exactly sure what particular 'that' Keira was talking about. Although her hand gestures suggested she was referring to all of her. It was rude. But she supposed it was somewhat valid. She would shower and dress. Not because Keira was demanding it. It was her own decision to. ***** It was a three hour trip. Neither of them had had a great deal of sleep so they chose to share the driving, but also do their best to stay awake, even when in the passenger seat. The scenery didn't help. It was particularly unstimulating. Monochromic brownscape of arid farmland ravaged by prolonged drought. Tall, dry grass ready to be tinder when the heat returned. It had a bleakness that seemed to share some congruity with their mission. After they had been underway for a while, Keira rang her parents. Early enough in the day that her absence from St Teresa's had been noted, but not yet escalated. She lied and told them she was running away from school and making her way back home to see Stefan. They would have been searching for her regardless, but now they'll be looking in the wrong direction, and eventually the wrong place. It would buy her the time and freedom to do what was needed. Amy's parents, on the other hand, were both working and she was supposed to be home sick. They would not notice her absence until much later in the day; and by then, Keira thought, depending on how things panned out, it may not even be relevant. Under the guise of making conversation to keep each other alert, Keira set her plan in motion. "Tell me about Connor please Amy. Tell me about the boy I used to be. What was he like? What did you like about him?" Amy happily complied. She hoped to prompt more recollections in Keira, but also prove and recreate the strong bond they had. She launched into a verbal missive that rarely drew breath. Keira listened attentively as they drove. By journey's end Amy had related almost the entire narrative of their 10 year friendship, imparting as much evidence of her love and investment as she could. It was heart wrenching at times. To recall all that was lost. But Amy's spirit lifted at the knowledge that they were starting over of sorts. If they could survive what was to come then perhaps they could rebuild something, even if they could not reverse the curse. For Amy that was the optimum outcome. That Connor be 'turned back to normal.' She was conflicted by the knowledge that Keira was a separate being who would not willingly sacrifice herself just to become the boy Amy wanted her to be. It was a disturbing and divisive conundrum. Keira, meanwhile, probed and prodded for more. She seemed to really want to explore their former powerful emotional connection. It was quite challenging for Amy to bubble up with so much depth of feeling and not be overwhelmed by it. She did not think there could be any ulterior motive for all Keira's questions. Why would there be? *** The time had come. They pulled into a park in the main street of Kyneton and there sat Madame Zenith's storefront. Towards the end of their trip they had talked strategy. The crux of their plan was as Keira had suggested, but she allowed Amy to develop on it. They would present a united front to Madame Zenith and tell her they would not be turning on each other. There would be no hate to fuel her curses and they just wanted to be left alone. They would in fact say they cared about each other a great deal and their bond of love had returned. This Amy felt was particularly easy to do. Three hours with Keira talking about Connor had completely transferred the love for him onto her. There was already some overlap, but they were now essentially the same person in Amy's eyes. Amy prayed it would be enough. It may have seemed flimsy but it seemed like their only option. She reasoned that once Madame Zenith realized there was no joy to be gained in the torment she would move on. It was possible she could turn hostile and curse them anyway, but both she and Keira felt negative human emotion was essential as a driving force in all that Madame Zenith did. Without it, they hoped she would be powerless. One should face their demons they say. This just seemed a far more literal interpretation of that than was ever attended, Amy mused. *** Keira took charge as they approached the threshold. "I'll go in first and then you follow close behind." "Okay," Amy replied. Grasping Keira's wrist gently and squeezing in what was intended to be a warm gesture. Amy was trembling as she did so. She wasn't sure if it was reassuring or not that Keira was doing exactly the same. "Good luck." It seemed lame. But what else does one say? "You too," Keira reciprocated and turned. Just before Keira passed through the door Amy spoke again. "Keira?" "Yup," she half turned back. "I really do love you, you know." "I'm counting on it," Keira said, and smiled weakly before averting her eyes. She then momentarily disappeared through the darkness of the doorway. Inside, Keira called out through the dim light. "Madame Zenith?" "You're back! Come in," a voice came from the shadows. "And I've brought our special guest," Keira added as Amy appeared beside her. "You did it!" Madame Zenith emerged into the half light, crying out in delight. "You clever girl." Amy's perceptions went from inkling to shocking realization in moments. She knew something was wrong. Her impulse told her to turn and flee. Before she could even move though, she heard the door slam loudly and ominously behind her. "Keira?" Amy stammered softly, looking towards her, fear welling up acutely and threatening to drown her. But her query went unanswered. Keira's face was unmoved and imperceptible. "Tell me dear one," Madame Zenith asked of Keira, "however did you do it? How did you convince our little lamb to come so willingly to the slaughter?" Keira laughed. And it was unmistakably sinister. "Perhaps I should really be telling her. For she's got no idea how she's been tricked either." Keira turned to Amy and her face was now clearly laden with contempt. "You should have trusted your first impressions Amy. I said I was going to curse you, yet here we are." Amy could not speak. What was there to say anyway? She was trapped and helpless. She looked at Keira with such bewilderment, trying to make sense of it all. "Oh, don't look so wounded Amy. I'm the creation of an evil curse after all. What did you expect really? That I'd be all sunshine and lollipops? Or sugar and spice and everything nice? After all that's what little girls are supposed to be made of! And you certainly made me! But it looks like I'm just a bad apple!" Amy found her voice. "Why all the charade then? Why pretend to forgive me? Why be all nice to me. Why let me talk for hours about Connor?" "You still really don't know? You stupid stupid girl? Because I needed two things from you. Proximity and emotion!" Silence, on this occasion, indicated a lack of understanding. So Keira proceeded. "The curse I have for you is exactly as I promised Amy. But it's a much more powerful spell than what you did to me. Turning one human into another requires much less effort than turning into an animal. Erasing from scratch is a lot harder than rewriting. Isn't that right Madame?" A silent smarmy nod was all the older woman offered. "So it can't be done at a distance," Keira continued. "You had to be here. And not be able to escape," she took a deep breath. "Of course that was only part of the story. It turns out my hatred alone was not enough for this spell. I'd say that's because you're an insignificant little bug who doesn't rate much. But with all this effort it's clear that's a lie. Yet no matter how filled to the brim with contempt I am I still needed your input. You had to feel exactly how you're feeling right now to help us generate enough force. Confused. Betrayed. Bewildered. Afraid. All those positive feels I had you feeling for me in the car turned on its head. How's that sum you up?" If Amy could process her thoughts well enough she'd probably have felt it was accurate. Instead she spat. "I hate you!" "Perfect! That will certainly help too. How did I do Madame Zenith? Is that enough?" "Oh that's more than enough dear. All that hate and fear. It's delicious," Madame Zenith began to glow with some sort of unworldly aura. "Tell me when it's time Madame Zenith. When you're ready. You do remember this bit don't you Amy?" Keira mocked. "All I have to do is say your name!" Amy knew there was nothing she could do. Her life was over. She had meddled with things far beyond her comprehension. Dark and powerful. And she had indeed created a monster. A monster that was now to destroy her. It was not fair at all it had come to this, she thought in her final moments. She had an eerie clarity about her in the face of her doom. She had been the victim of a horrible crime, and the psychological scars inflicted had lead to this ultimate repercussion. "You better brace yourself Amy." Keira was merciless. "I'm pretty sure this is going to hurt quite a bit." Amy looked sadly at Keira one last time. There was no denying it now. Connor truly was gone. And soon she would be too. She closed her eyes. "Now?" Keira asked with fervor. "Yes," the radiating Madame Zenith replied with equal frenzy. She was illuminating the room with blinding candescence. "Say it! Say her name and release the curse." Keira grinned wickedly as she did as she was instructed. Saying her name to unleash the power of the curse. "Madame Zenith!" "WHAT!? NO!" the woman screamed. Her humanoid form was silhouetted in the bright ball of light and as Keira watched on. It began to transfigure and transmute to the accompaniment of guttural howls. The light shone ever brighter, blindingly so, as it grew in size and began to pulse with all racket of cacophony. Amy trepidatiously opened her eyes, only to have to shield them with her forearm and hand from the searing glow. As she did so she was startled as her other hand was grabbed firmly. "Amy!" a voice shouted close to her ear, still only just audible above the unholy din. "Run!" Keira pulled Amy along after her, still firmly grasping her hand in her own. Amy complied thoughtlessly by allowing herself to be dragged. Keira barreled into the door with all the uncertainty of whether it would give or not. To her relief it did, and she stumbled out into the open air bringing Amy close behind her. Perhaps her surrounds should have been no surprise to her, given what was currently unfolding, yet it was, for they were no longer in Kyneton's dusty main street. They were in a moderately wooded area of gums and thick undergrowth. The sort of place you wouldn't dare venture in summer for the high likelihood of snakebite. "What's happening? Where are we?" Amy was still coming to terms with the situation. She just couldn't fathom what had transpired. She struggled for understanding as to her current plight. Keira was what? On her side after all? Nothing made sense. "You little scum!" shouted an animalistic voice from close behind her. "You think you can use my own power against me. You will pay!" Amy caught glimpse of the source of the noise momentarily before Keira again drew her firmly away through the scrub. Half 'human', half beast, waxing and waning in shape and form by the moment and now bounding after them, into the bush. (Undergrowth) "I'll rip you to bits with the fangs you've given me," the creature bellowed at them. Keira, unspeaking, continued to lead Amy away from their pursuer as fast as she possibly could, fighting hard against the mass of foliage. Amy, being guided by the hand, again had opportunity, perhaps unwisely, to glance back at the predator hunting them. Perhaps by courtesy of the curse, Madame Zenith was on all fours now. Bounding after them and gaining ever so rapidly. Amy gasped, which Keira sensed was a deleterious sign without looking, and tried to go ever faster. But it was to no avail. Now resembling some sort of person sized werewolf, Madame Zenith leapt through the air at them. She would have come crashing down on Amy, like a Lion on a gazelle, if Keira hadn't have jerked her clear at the last minute. All three splayed on the ground, but those with two legs recovered quicker. Keira was first to her feet, as fast as she could possibly muster, then hauling Amy up beside her and frantically ushering her on. It was only mere moments of advantage, for before Keira could move off herself, the still scrambling Zenith creature locked one of its claws around her ankle. "Not so clever now you little bitch! All you've done is made me so much stronger. And I can use all of your own fear to prevent your misdirected spell from completion." To prove that strength she lifted Keira up by the lower leg and dangled her upside down. Keira grunted a little and tried to resist, but her fight was mostly silent pointless flailing. Meanwhile Amy had only run 20 or so metres before turning to check that Keira was following. Seeing her suspended in the paw of the abomination they had created was chilling. She froze. "Keep going Amy," Keira screamed from her inverted position. It was an effective prompt. Flight won over fight. Part of her wanted to stay and help Keira but her fear was too much. Even knowing now that this was feeding Zenith's power, she had no ability to contain it. She turned and ran. Seconds later, as she fled, a large projectile clearly thrown at her by Zenith whizzed past her, just missing her and plowing into a tree bough to her left. It took an infinitely small time course for Amy to realize with horror that the missile was in fact Keira, tossed by Madame Zenith like she was the equipment in the Olympic hammer throw. She crumpled lifeless as she slid down the trunk to the base of a Ghost Gum. Amy could not stop. As much as she wanted to. If Keira was unconscious, or dead even, then the fear that Madame Zenith was relying on to retain semi human form had just been halved. Surely that would slow her down considerably. It was Amy's best chance of escape. She charged into a denser patch of trees. Ducking and weaving and disappearing from view. *** The tree forest was eerily silent when Keira regained consciousness. No sounds of a hunt, either near or far, or piercing screams of distress. She winced when she breathed. She remembered tumbling through the air and her chest colliding with the unyielding branch. She was grateful it wasn't her head. Perhaps her ribs were broken. 'It's not so much worse than some of the treatment Stefan used to give me,' she told herself. She could taste her own blood in her mouth. She knew she could not walk. She would lie there until Madame Zenith returned to finish her off. She resigned herself to the fact she was defeated, and somewhat unavoidably doomed. Her only wish now was that Amy had escaped. The length of time that she imagined had passed, whilst unconscious, made evident by the diminishing light, gave promise to a fruitless search. The longer it took Madame Zenith to return, Keira reasoned, the greater the likelihood Amy had evaded her. The time came though when she heard the approaching rustle through the undergrowth. It grew steadily louder. Keira felt the need for a witty quip to establish the encounter, but she could not think of any. She hurt too much. Madame Zenith wasn't exactly thundering through the scrub but the crunching of leaves and snapping of bracken indicated her proximity. Closer and closer until finally she was upon her. Keira looked up, wondering how much further the mutation had progressed. Would Madame Zenith rip her throat out with her newly sharpened teeth, or would she take her time to linger and torment Keira for her trickery and betrayal. Keira in spite of her pain and impending end still was able to illicit a little smugness. She still wasn't sure which of them was more blindsided. Amy or Zenith. A double double cross really. She hoped Amy reasoned why she had said what she said and did what she did. It would never have worked if Amy knew what she was up to and her reactions weren't genuine. It was important to her that Amy understood, and knew that to the last she had remained loyal. Well Connor had at any rate. There was glare from the sunset through the trees making it hard for Keira to make definition out of the shadow before her. She was in truth, expecting something beyond comprehension. What she saw when things focused, was somewhat different. "Amy No!" she cried with deep anguish. "What are you doing here?" "I came back for you of course." Like it was a silly question. "But you were supposed to get away! I can't move. You have to go. You have to leave me." Amy leant beside Keira. "No. I'm staying." "Please go! This would all have been pointless if we both die." "Just the opposite really," Amy countered. "When she kills us it'll be the end of her too. The only thing that's preventing the entire curse taking hold is our fear of her." "So we just have to stop being afraid of her and the transformation will be complete? I don't think I can ever be brave enough to not be scared stiff by a giant monster stalking us through a jungle. I mean even Arnie was terrified wasn't he?" "What?" "Oh don't mind me." It was certainly not the situation for a long explanation. "It's sort of a boy reference." "Oh." Amy was puzzled, quickly moving on however. "But that's my point. We won't be scared of her when we're dead," It was blunt. "Well that's bleak. There must be another way?" "There's no other way," Again, her frankness left nothing to interpretation. "So she kills us, and then what, goes full dog?" Keira felt the need to sum up. "I think so. I mean it's speculative. But really, I have a pretty strong feeling I'm right." "But if she knows that..." "I don't think she can get much past stalk and kill right now. You certainly enraged her." "I did didn't I?" she began, a touch gleefully, before quickly sobering. "Listen. Everything I said in.....in her lair. I didn't mean. It was just part of my plan." "I get that now. But it was so believable. You've certainly felt that way about me at times since I cursed you." "Maybe. But not any more. All that stuff you talked about in the car...." "Changed your mind?" "No. This was my plan from the moment I left Madame Zenith's yesterday. I was never going to betray you. It's just that....." "Just that what?" "Never mind." She clamped up. Amy waited but Keira was saying no more. She could speculate. I guess she could want it to be whatever she liked in such a terminal situation really. "Where are you hurt?" she asked to change the subject. "Can I say everywhere?" She winced for emphasis. Amy let out a little titter. "I'd accuse you of being dramatic but you're probably right." "Where is she anyway?" Keira asked. "Were you too good at hiding." "I doubt that. With her newfound canine sensibilities I imagine she's tracking our scent." "I'm sorry I couldn't save us. I really tried," Keira expressed her heartfelt resignation. "No! I'm sorry I lead us to this with my thirst for revenge." "Bloody Stefan hey! What an asshole. We're quite the pair though being all sad and sorry in our final moments. Things really turned pretty sour for us. Two kids who have allegedly been besties since 7." "I know you mock it. And you don't remember it. But all those stories in the car... we really were best friends. I hate myself for destroying that." Keira sighed loudly. "I guess as it's the end. It doesn't really matter how much I embarrass myself. So I guess you may as well know Amy. I remember all of it!" "All of what?" "All of everything. All of Connor I suppose. The whole big spiel in the car, I knew pretty much all of it. And found it easy enough to remember the forgotten, what's the word, anecdotes, when your recollections prompted me." "Why didn't you say?" "Mainly I guess I needed you to have a very fond disposition, a positive mindset I suppose, for the maximum effect when you thought I'd betrayed you. I needed you lost in the melancholy." To Amy the realization was like shattering a large glass pane. Loud and dramatic. Keira was telling her that she had regained all Connor's memories, presumably in conjunction with her own. Whether Keira understood the consequences of that and was remaining silent, or she truly was oblivious to it, Amy was not yet sure. She hadn't noticed it before. Up to then Amy had merely seen the angry bitter girl presented before her. But looking deeper, Keira was behaving, even speaking, in a manner she would never have formerly. Keira WAS Connor. At least in part. It was probably all too very late to comprehend this she figured. But in a way she had got what she hoped for. Connor had indeed come back to her. "Well you know those memories affected me. Which is how you used them. They made me both happy and sad. But how do you feel about them?" Amy had to know. "Annoyed." "Annoyed??" It certainly wasn't the response Amy anticipated. "He was your adorable doormat really. Wasn't he?" "I don't know what you mean." "You know I would have liked to have thought that you two had a bit of an Eric Forman/ Donna Pinciotti dynamic going, but you didn't. He was more like your Fez." "I still don't know what you're talking about." "Too obscure?" Keira realized the reference meant nothing to Amy. She almost instantly thought of an alternative. "Okay! Well he was that guy. The one from every stupid teen melodrama since John Hughes started it in the 80s. The nerdy best friend. The one who's secretly in love with her but still helps her get the studly alpha male anyway. He's mostly just comedy relief. That's all Connor was to you." "That's not true. And if you have all his memories you should know that." Keira did not react. "Look. To be fair I don't blame you. It's pretty hard to get out of the friend zone when you've been best friends since 7. I guess what worries me is that if this hadn't happened he would have just pined for you forever. The great amusing irony of it is that when he finally had the balls to do something about it, he lost them as a result. I'm glad I became me. Because it was the only way I was ever going to be objective enough to see what a sniveling pathetic sap Connor was. Well that and I was finally getting laid, which he certainly couldn't. Even if it was a little rougher than most would have liked." "Keira please don't talk about him like that. Not now. I don't want bitterness between us at the end. You think you weren't important to me? You were always the most important thing to me. More than anything. More than anyone. We're just kids. Our relationship was still evolving. I don't know what the future held for us. I know I destroyed that future. And I want your forgiveness even though it seems you can't give it. But don't ever underestimate just how much I love you." "I don't think it matters either way now does it? You know. If Madame Zenith's curse had unfolded as she wanted. And you'd gone doggo. I think that was to be the end of it. Maybe she had got all she could from us. She'd worked it out that there'd be no loose ends. Remember the other part of her deal was that she'd once again erase all my Connor memories. Thinking that I'd be enticed by that. And I was. A bit. But it was a trick. What that meant is I'd forget you, I'd forget Connor and I'd even forget Madame Zenith herself. None of this, neither of us would ever have happened. She'd be able to scoot off to her next victim. Who knows what would have happened to you. And I'd end up back with Stefan. Where I'm pretty sure I'd just go on eventually to become his battered hillbilly housewife. She didn't count on me figuring that out of course. She thought stupid Keira would be suckered into losing all her Connor memories and getting back with Stefan. Thinking that was a great thing. But of course it in itself was a form of ongoing torture. If I'd have asked to have that bit removed from the curse she would have been very suspicious I was up to something and our plan would have had no chance. So I had to accept that that part of the spell had to stay and alternatively, if my scheme had worked, you would have been safe but I'd still revert completely back to Keira. So it seemed either way Connor was to be gone. Damned if I did and damned if I didn't really." "So I resigned myself to that. Even tried to find positives in it. I mean I like sex. I liked Stefan fucking me. When he wasn't beating me of course. I liked being pretty, popular and adored. Connor's life as your lapdog seemed far less enticing. But that all changed in the car. Hearing you talk about him. I guess I did see what you really felt. And you're right. I didn't want to lose that. So maybe it's good I die with my Connor memories intact after all." "Well I certainly agree with that. I want you here with me just as you are. But I see something you don't. The Connor part of you resents the Keira part. And the Keira part is the opposite. You're at war with yourself." Keira had thought she had integrated her halves well. But perhaps Amy was right. "You keep saying disparaging things about your current and former selves in turn. Clearly driven by the opposing sides of you." Amy set to prove it. "I know it's my fault. I made this mess. But that's the thing. It's not really a mess. I still love you. For exactly who you are now. The sum total of you both." "Don't be so loose with the term Amy. Clearly it's the wrong kind of love. Not the love that I was once after. I think I would never have started this whole catastrophe by attempting to kiss you if you hadn't been so ambivalent about me." "Well I'm not ambivalent now," Amy sought to clarify. But Keira seemed distracted. Amy decided to try a different angle altogether. "Connor I...." But Amy was interrupted by the sound of a thunderous approach. "I'm coming for you, you pathetic little shits," Zenith howled. It was almost indecipherable now. But it came from surprisingly close range. They were scared into silence. They braced and held each other tight. There was no point being brave. There was no escape. Only the fangs and talons of some monster set to tear them apart limb from limb. "Connor," Amy uttered frantically when she gathered the strength to talk again. "That night of the party. There's something I didn't do that I should have." "What on earth.... what are you talking about?" It seemed a strange topic to choose as your last words. "Kiss me again!" Amy pleaded. "What? No!" Keira was incredulous in response to her request. "Please kiss me!" Amy spoke in full panic. "Why?" Keira had to yell above the caterwauling of the approaching incursion. "Because this time I get to kiss you back." Keira hesitated for a moment. But part of her, a large part, really did want to. Not just because they were about to die, although that certainly increased the urgency. But because of the way Connor still felt about her. Because of the way she felt about her. They locked lips tenderly, in spite of the sense of haste, and Amy was good to her promise. It would not be protracted. For almost instantly the hulking menace of the monstrosity that was Zenith was above them. Ready to pounce, it suddenly reeled back as if repelled by a force field. They kissed ever harder. Holding each other. Frightened of the impending pain they would feel. "NO!!" was Zenith's unearthly cry. "That's impossible!!" Neither of them looked at her, they were too afraid to, and their pressed lips seemed to provide some sort of calmative endorphins in the face of destruction. But had they, they would have seen her suddenly swell, then rapidly contract, which may have prepared them for the explosion that followed. As it was, the force of it flung them apart, and away from Zenith. But instead of being showered with animal guts, Amy was able to see everything draw back into itself, followed by a pop, as if everything that was left of Zenith got sucked down a plug hole in the Universe. Perhaps it was more of an implosion really. But that was immaterial. The bottom line was Zenith was gone. Amy felt certain forever. Somehow they had killed a demon. There was no time to revel. Or even to process their possible victory, for Amy's eyes were diverted to the motionless mass near her. Keira lay unconscious not far off. Whether from the explosion or just re-succumbing to her injuries Amy could not be sure. Amy went to her. Her heart broke a little in the moment. For a fleeting second she thought perhaps the destruction of Zenith would mean the undoing of all her curses. And that Connor would miraculously appear before her. Just as he once was. But it wasn't to be. The still, comatose form of Keira lay before her. There was a deceptive tranquility about her. Connor was gone, certainly physically. Amy did not know if, more than that, he was lost completely in the totality Zenith had decreed. She wouldn't know for sure until Keira awoke. But something deep within her told her that the unconscious girl before her contained no trace of the boy she loved. Yet, there truly was nothing she could do about that now. When, in spite of her best efforts, Keira did not wake, Amy knew she had to act fast and not panic. Night was encroaching. At this time of year the temperature would still fall well into single digits (Celsius). Survivable if you weren't completely exposed. But if injured and unconscious there was not as much cause for optimism. Keira checked her phone map. They had not been 'teleported' far. They were only a kilometer or so from Kyneton. 4G reception was surprisingly good. She knew she could run there and get help. Picking up Keira's phone Amy held her breath. Was it too much to expect one small mercy? She entered Connor's pin and Keira's home screen sprung to life. Any smiled sadly. Were even these residual traces now completely gone in Zenith's final act? She couldn't pontificate on such things presently. She had to set both phones up on some sort of find my friends GPS app. She could get herself to town, but she needed to be certain she could find the way back. Battery life was not a current issue, which was fortunate. Lastly, placing as many of her own clothing layers as was socially acceptable over Keira's unconscious form she fled into the twilight... **** It was 3 days before Keira was fully awake and lucid again. Not only was it apparent all memories of Connor were gone, but just as was designed, all memories of Zenith and the previous 24 hours with it too. The last thing Keira remembered was nicking off from school and walking down the main street of Kyneton the day before she was found, feeling decidedly sorry for herself. Things were pieced together beyond then from Amy's testimony and circumstance. Keira had clearly taken some sort of drug. Later that day she had phoned Amy, as was evident on both their phones. Amy had said it was initially a phone call in the vein of their fractious relationship, but that Keira had said some concerning things that had made Amy worry she was a danger to herself. Amy conceded she should have told someone but in the heat of the moment decided to handle it herself. So she had feigned illness the next day, stayed home from school, and stole her father's car to drive to Kyneton. Meanwhile, that same morning, still perhaps in her drug fuelled state, Keira had rung her parents, talking about her plans to return to the city, and to Stefan. But she hadn't done that. Instead she had wandered off into the woods for reasons not entirely clear. Eventually Amy had arrived in the country town. Once there, using the 'find friends' app on both their phones, she had found Keira unconscious in the bush near Kyneton, where she'd clearly fallen out of a tree. Either by accident or in a self harm attempt. Amy then rushed for help, and the rest, beyond that, was well documented. There were plenty of potential holes in Amy's story, with a chance for discovery. The truckie for example. Or if anyone had seen them driving to, or in, Kyneton together. But there was no reason to doubt Amy's version of events. It was all perfectly plausible. And nothing came to light to refute it. Amy was eventually allowed by the McKenzie's to come see Keira. They had been reticent, as they knew the girls didn't have the best interconnection and didn't want Keira getting upset as she convalesced. But they were very aware that twice now Amy had come to Keira's rescue. Once in telling them about Stefan and now, rescuing her from a very perilous situation, lost and injured in the outback. Keira was unfriendly. Amy was prepared for that. It still unsettled and distressed her so, regardless of her expectation for it. "I heard what you did. I suppose you're expecting my thanks. But it would do well for you to remember you were the reason I got banished to that convent in the first place," Keira began after muted greetings. She lay in her bed in her bedroom at home, with Amy a visitor. "I'm just glad you're alright," Amy almost made her sigh of resignation audible. They had come full circle. Enemies again. "Oh I'm better than alright. Mum and dad have got the message at last. They're not sending me back. They're letting me come back to school for the last few weeks so I can graduate here. With all my friends." "That's good for you." "And it gets better. Stefan's been to see me. He wants to get back together. And mum and dad won't dare oppose it for fear of what I might try and do to myself if they interfere." "So you're threatening self harm if they try and stop you? And they allowed that," Amy tried to keep her tone measured. Zenith's powerful wishes were still being fulfilled posthumously, with Amy still seemingly incapable of derailing them. "I guess they know now. Given how close they came to losing me. Just how serious I am about it." "Oh Keira really. You haven't forgotten how he treated you?" Amy actually thought as she asked it that there was a very real possibility she had. "No. I haven't. But he clearly loves me. I'm sure I can change him." "Keira you're being ridiculously na?ve." "You know what Amy Price. I don't trust you and I don't believe you," Even though Amy had tried to deliver her argument gently Keira was quick to anger. "For starters I no longer believe you were an unwilling participant that night at Britt's. Half the school think that already. And if you mess with me, I'll make sure the other half know it too. It's like I said the day you attacked me. I think you wanted Stefan for yourself. You engineered to get me out of the picture. And how do I know you really saved me in Kyneton? I don't remember anything about it. Maybe you drugged me and bashed me and dragged me into the bushes to die. Having to come up with an alternative story to cover yourself when I didn't!" "Oh Keira. If only you could remember the truth. You'd know I'm not your enemy. Far from it," There was so much in what Keira was saying that Amy could take outrage too. But what would it achieve save from putting them back to being sworn adversaries again. She bowed her head submissively. The other girl watched her and sighed. "I suppose I should just forget it," Keira conceded. Not attempting to pursue any understanding of Amy's comment. "I don't want an ongoing vendetta with you. It would be both exhausting and annoying. Let's just call a truce and stay out of each others way these last 6 weeks. Then once High school's over we'll never have to see each other again. Stefan and I will be off to the big leagues for his career, and you'll just continue with whatever dreary life you're living now." Amy felt a distinct lack of choice. She had to resign herself to the reality that this was the end of it. Their relationship specifically. It seemed nothing could bring Connor back, and Amy could not directly influence Keira away from her predetermined fate. Stefan would not change at all, and Keira's life would become bleaker and bleaker as the years went by. Poor dear Connor. At least she got one proper kiss in before he was gone, Amy mused as small heartbreaking consolation. They parted company with subdued goodbyes. Keira issuing one final warning that if Amy ever crossed paths with her or Stefan, or brought them any trouble, there would be hell to pay. Unbeknownst to Keira now of course, for she had no memory of it, it was something Amy had heard all too many times before. Furthermore, it was a warning she chose specifically to ignore. For there was still something she could do. Something she would do. Something she should have perhaps done in the very first place. She just hoped it wasn't too late. *** After Amy told her parents her dark secret of what had happened one night many moons ago, shocked, tearful and concerned they immediately accompanied her downtown. She had an inkling things would not go well for her. An understatement of great magnitude it would pan out, but she had to do it nonetheless. She felt all her confidence of conviction sap from her as she stood at the front desk before a police officer. She drew in one almighty breath, in a fruitless grasp at calm, then began. "I'd like to report a sexual assault." **** Amy Price found herself the most hated person in town. Even prepared for it she was surprised by the intensity of it. For someone who had previously floated under the radar, and been generally liked, it was a very new, and very jarring, experience for her. Keira had been true to her word it seemed, when word got out of what Amy was planning, or more specifically, actually doing. For very quickly the whole school turned against her. So much time had passed since the night of the attack that her intent was questioned. And her integrity questioned. Stefan meanwhile was the doting boyfriend to a loved up Keira. He appeared to be far from the monster he truly was, to all who observed him. The hatred and abuse got so bad that Amy could not even attend her own graduation. An event that from all accounts the glamour couple claimed as their own. Every step of the way, the police, and the public prosecutors, encouraged Amy to back down. It was her word against everyone. It was purely because of her courage and her determination that the case was reluctantly taken to trial. Finding impartial jurors proved to be a mammoth undertaking but it was eventually done to a fashion. As the sole prosecution witness Amy would go first. She would be questioned by the prosecution, then cross examined by defense, and if necessary re-examined by her own lawyers. Beyond that there was a huge ream of witnesses for the defense. Any number of people at the party or character witnesses for Stefan in general. They would set to prove how drunk Amy was that night. Byron would attest to how slutty she was (or words to the affect of) when they were dating. They would tear every piece of her character to shreds. So confident were the defense lawyers that Stefan would not even have to take the stand. The prosecution told Amy this would ensure the defense would have 'Right of last address' to the jury. Which was the cherry on top really, in what was an unloseable case. By the time it went to trial, Amy knew she had no chance. But she still would not step off. As much for Connor and Keira as for herself. Justice would not prevail, but it would at least run its course. Over six months since she first reported it, the night before the trial, Amy cried isolated in her room at her parents' house, locked away from the world. It was an undertaking she had endured most every night since her decision to proceed. But this final night she never felt more friendless and alone. She longed for Connor. She sought his counsel. What would he have her do? Even amidst her miserable fug, the answer came easily to her. For all she had done, to him, to herself, there was only one possibly path of atonement. No matter what the cost, she had to do what's right. **** The court was packed with Stefan supporters. All Amy had were her loyal parents. As both sets of lawyers made their opening statements Amy scanned the swarm of hateful glares for the one face she feared to look at, but knew she must. Keira returned her glance with the coldest of stares. Keira was not sitting with Stefan. She couldn't, as he sat with his defense lawyers. Instead she sat calmly amongst the throng of people baying for Amy's blood. She was a major incongruity. As the tempest of angry mob swelled around her in an Amy despising frenzy she looked the queen of them all, sitting calmly and quietly. It was the thing that unnerved Amy most. She was used to all the nasty looks and comments, but Keira's loathing laden countenance was something else. Amy took to the stand and told her story. As best as she could remember it. Without the Connor bits of course. He could never have been there. Then the bloodbath began. Amy found herself wondering what need the defense had for any witnesses of their own when they cut into her so deeply. They sliced her and diced her. Trying to find holes and cracks and put words in her mouth. She stood her ground as best she could but the picture was already well painted by days end. The whole world pinned her as a nasty jealous lying slut. She began to find herself starting to believe it too. By the time they let up, and the prosecution would have a chance to redirect, the judge had had enough. He adjourned for the day. Amy went home, to a night no different to all the ones before, and the same as all the ones in the predicted foreseeable future. How many could she stand? How long could she live this? ***** The next morning, no amount of make up could cover the wracking tears of the sleepless night, but she slid into the seat at the front of the court beside her lawyers to await the judge. Tired, resigned, defeated. "Do I take the stand again now or when the judge comes in?" she asked, of the prosecution team, uncertainly. "You won't be taking the stand again," her lawyer said bluntly. "But don't you want to clarify things?" she asked with concern. "To disprove some of the stuff they accused me of in cross examination?" "There is no need for that," He said. It was clear to Amy they were conceding already. They weren't sparing her the redirect for her sake. They were doing so as they figured it a waste of time. It looked very much like the trial would not even last through a second day. The judge entered to the sound of "All rise" and the required ceremony. He looked decidedly distempered. He sat down and started flicking through the file he had carried under his arm as he paced in. As he moved through the individual sheets Amy caught glance as he flicked each over. Her breath caught in her lungs. They were photos. She couldn't make them out well but what she could see they were clearly photos of a naked, or at best scantily clad, woman. She felt sick. At some point in her unconscious haze photos must have been taken by Stefan. Photos that somehow made her look complicit in the sex act. Over on the defense desk was an identical file. And further up her own bench, out of her reach, a triplet. She assumed then that the defense had had them all along, courtesy of Stefan. Saving them for this moment to prove all the things they'd said about her yesterday to be true. Amy realized she'd had her day in court. And one day was exactly all she'd got. And her reputation was far more ruined than she'd ever imagined it could. She was bleakly certain too, this would not be the last she would see of these photos. She wanted to reach up the bench and grab the file to see how truly horrific they were. But she could not bring herself to. There was complete silence in the court, even the sound of the judge's impatient shifting of papers had stopped. "Well I think in light of this overwhelming new evidence I imagine both parties agree we really have no choice," The Judge announced as he closed the file with a look of pure disgust. Both Amy's lawyer and the woman defending Stefan nodded silent agreement. How does it go in the movies?; thought Amy. Oh that's right. 'Case dismissed.' "Very well," The Judge decreed. But he did not say what Amy was certain he would. In fact he said something that no one had expected in the least. "The Prosecution may call their second witness," he announced, with the slightest of wry smiles. "Thank you, Your Honour," Amy's lawyer said. He stood up from his seat beside Amy, grabbing the thick file of photos as he did so. Amy was more confused than ever. Her head spinning; her heart racing. What in God's name was happening? Second witness? What on Earth? Or more precisely, who? "The Prosecution Calls Miss Keira McKenzie!" The crowd broke into uproar. The judge called for order. This too, was really like the movies, but Amy was well beyond noting that. It was as if the prosecution had crossed a line by calling 'the girlfriend' as a reluctant hostile witness; and it wasn't just the gallery who thought so. The jury seemed particularly put out. All eyes were on Keira. Including, rather hesitantly, Amy's. Amy's first observation, maybe to allay the guilt she felt, was that Keira had dressed well for a day in court, supporting her man. She had worn a charcoal skirt suit seemingly bought for the occasion. Ironic really that she would be taking the stand, given she was attired for the part. When her lawyers had shown Amy the list of defense witnesses she was a notable omission. Like Stefan himself perhaps. She would not have been expecting this summons. She couldn't have been, could she? In spite of the shock it must have been to Keira, her demeanor appeared unaffected. Whilst all around her lost their heads in outrage, Keira rose from her chair, brushed her skirt for creases and looked impassively right at Amy. She proceeded towards the front of the courtroom, never once removing her fixated eyes from her nemesis. Amy averted her own eyes and turned away. She could not match her stare any longer. She had not wanted this. She wanted to keep Keira out of it. Even though Amy felt she was fighting this battle for the both of them, she didn't want Keira caught in the crossfire. And any testimony Keira had would only worsen Amy's predicament. What did the prosecution think they could possibly get her to say to incriminate her boyfriend? She was too cunning for that. And foolishly, too loyal. It was far more likely to backfire. And it would be Amy who suffered. Amy knew that in taking this course of action, the pressing of charges, the seething hate Keira once held would come flooding back. But actually her getting involved was far worse than any doomsday scenario Amy had conjured. Amy had turned back to face the front of the court as the new witnesses approached. Just as Amy did so, as if cued, a photo slid out of her lawyers file, landing virtually in her lap. Amy picked it up. The girl in it was wearing skimpy lacy underwear. It was better than nothing and was just enough to cover essentials. Thank goodness for that she thought. But it was merely one of many, by the look of the thickness of the file. There may well be nudes in there. And they wouldn't be tasteful by any stretch. It was a further moment before she realized it was not her own body she was looking at. She had assumed it would be. But it certainly wasn't. It was a blonde. The girl in the photograph's body was covered with all litany of welts and bruises. Her face clearly visible. Her identity unmistakable. Amy looked at her lawyer, who was in return looking at her. He had done so when he realized a photo had escaped. "Where did you get these?" she asked shakily. Confused and rattled. The lawyer tilted his head slightly, indicating the presence looming up towards them, directly referring to the person now standing close before their bench. Before Amy specifically. "From her," he said. Quite unexpectedly. Of the woman in the charcoal suit. Amy looked at Keira. The photo of her battered body still in her hand. "Keira?" She had absolutely no comprehension of what was transpiring as she addressed her. "Well mostly," the girl replied with a grin. "I don't understand." "Well that much is clear." It was sarcastic. But at the same time not vicious. "So I'll put it like this. Only once in the last 10 years have I not been there when you needed me. And that didn't go well for us. So I won't let it happen again." "Miss Mckenzie," the judge grumbled impatiently. "Coming Your Honor," she replied courteously but did not move right away. "How is this possible?" Amy would not let herself believe the events unfolding. "Well it turns out there is one force of nature that will break through a dead demon's memory wiping spell." Keira grinned again. It was warm. And Amy felt it was somehow familiar. "I'll let you work out what that is." Keira turned and headed to the witness stand. Amy's lawyer following her up there momentarily with the file of photos. Amy slid back in her chair. It still felt so unimaginably surreal. Even as the other girl described in detail, with pictorial aids, the abuse she was subjected to under the guise of a relationship, Amy still found herself wondering if there was yet more tricks. But it became evident soon enough that there wasn't. There were no ulterior motives in play at all. Amy realized her own pattern of stupidity. Every time she had doubted Keira's integrity and intent over the last year, she had been wrong. Sure, on some occasions Keira had intentionally mislead her to think exactly that, but Keira had come through for her every single time. Keira remembered. Amy didn't know exactly what that entailed, or when it had happened. Had it been perhaps only yesterday when she saw Amy being cut to ribbons? Or did the file of photos suggest this was something Keira had prepared some time ago? It probably didn't matter. She had saved her from a demon. And now she was saving her from the angry mob. It seemed to be her business. To repeatedly save Amy. Amy watched, stunned, as Keira McKenzie, popular, pretty cheerleader put Stefan Hunter, violent rapist, to the metaphorical sword. Her words measured and precise. The chilling details delivered ever so coolly. There was no overt weeping or breaking down in sobs. Amy could sense it was a front. In spite of appearances Keira was struggling internally. But it seemed no one else could perceive this. Little Connor 'tells' that only Amy could spot. The madding crowd were shocked into silence as the gruesome tale unfolded. It was soon beyond doubt. The arrogant footballer's true character revealed for all to see. Stefan, would in due course be found guilty, and whilst his sentence was likely to be minuscule and laughable, and a veritable insult to his victims, it would still be the vindication Amy sought. Her much besmirched reputation would at least be partially restored. One positive aspect, Amy figured, was that even beyond whatever sentence he was given it was far less likely Stefan will have such an easy time of things. And who knows, maybe he would reform. One could only hope. When the prosecution was done, the defense lawyers tried to feast upon Keira, but she was impervious. Far more resistant than Amy had proven to be. Up on the stand Keira barely looked at Amy for the duration. All of the hard stares were for Stefan, who wilted under them. When both cross examination and redirect were done, Keira was released. She stood, and without hesitation marched directly from the courtroom. Amy's impulse was to pursue her. She didn't know how that would appear though. Fleeing from the trial. It wasn't like she was the accused, as much as it had felt that way yesterday, and for many times in the lead up. As far as Amy could ascertain, Keira being dismissed was the conclusion of the prosecution case. Now came all the ongoing tedium of the defense and their procession of witnesses. She didn't particularly want or need to see that. Honestly, she'd rather not. How would it look to the jury though if Amy walked out now? As she thought about it, more and more, she had to admit she didn't care. Insomuch as she didn't want to jeopardize the case, but she felt she'd done all she could. Keira seemed a far greater priority right now. Time passed as she vacillated, until she could allow no more and she burst forth from her seat. Even though the lawyers were still assembling themselves for progression it was still noted to be highly irregular, and in defiance of court room etiquette. But there would be no stopping her and her motion was so swift that no resistance could be voiced from anyone there. Out of the court there was no sign of Keira. Just empty corridors. So Amy set off in 'best guess' pursuit. As an 18 year old, recent high school graduate, she wasn't that great running in heels. She figured she'd catch Keira though. She'd be no better. And depending on how much Connor was in her, maybe worse. After a couple of incidences of misdirection she eventually spied her quarry. Keira was out of the courthouse by now and was walking intently, but not hastily, further away down the street. Amy exited the building through the big double doors and called to her from the stop of the stone steps that lead to the entrance. She called out to her a second time when her first went unnoticed, but Amy may have been beyond audible range, factoring in traffic noise, for Keira still did not turn. Amy had no choice but to clip clop down the stairs and trundle after her down the footpath. (Sidewalk) Eventually Keira did sense her closing in. It was hard not to with the clunky heel strike on concrete echoing up behind her. She stopped and turned. Waiting. "Hey," she began, when Amy was close enough. It was pleasantly unrevealing. "Hey," Amy replied breathing heavily. "What are you doing out here?" "Chasing you. Where are you going?" "Just out really." "Are you about to lose it?" "Well that's direct!" Keira was a little startled by the impertinence of the question, but not offended. "It's just that, well, you looked so controlled in there, but something told me that it was mostly front, that you were barely holding it together." "What told you? Your spidey senses?" "My Connor senses." "Oh!" It was surprise, but Keira's disposition changed quickly after consideration. "Well fair enough. I'm trying hard not to, if that's what you want to know." "So where are you at then? When did you remember? And what?" "Back where I was before I think. And only recently. And the third question... most of it I suppose." "Why didn't you say anything? Why didn't you come to me? I know you're all about the big reveal; but was it so necessary?" "To be honest. Yes." She looked a little apologetic. "I'm sorry. Maybe I need to tell you how I remembered, so you'll understand why." "Go on." "Not now. Not on the street. You need to get back to the trial. And I need to go somewhere where Stefan can't find me. I think you're safe from him now; because he'll be too busy looking for me, but just be careful for the time being anyway." "What are you talking about?" "He was so confident of winning, he wasn't even going to wait till after the trial to come after you. He felt like he had a free pass right now, such as the way you were perceived after yesterday. But even before then. He felt he could do whatever he liked to you, and absolutely no one would believe you now." "But that's insane. He'd have to be, I dunno... a psychopath?" Keira's expression suggested agreement, at least in part. She spoke. "I take it in Connor's reality, Stefan didn't have a steady girlfriend?" "No. He seemed to get around though." He had a reputation as a very much 'love 'em and leave 'em' type, Amy recalled. "Amy. I'm pretty certain, the night of the party, with what happened...well...you were far from the first girl he'd ever done this to. I'm sure with time, more women will come forward, now that you showed them the way. How to be brave, I guess," Keira paused. "At least if it's any consolation, you were the last. Because, like you once said, you gifted me to him. He didn't need to be a predator any more. He had his own stay at home sex slave. I know I accused Connor of being your doormat. But he had balls of steel, pun intended I suppose, compared to me, to the way I capitulated to Stefan's reign of tyranny and terror." Amy stood with her mouth wide open, unable to respond. "So, I gather you know I went back to him. After I recovered from my 'mysterious' time lost in the woods. And of course you were right. It didn't take long for it to be clear he hadn't changed at all. Anyway, he got pretty mad when you pressed charges, and he had to take it out on someone. And trust me he did. I know you haven't seen the big fat file of photos. Just take my word for it. You don't want to." "Keira....." "Hang on Amy. I need to finish." Amy went immediately quiet, allowing Keira to continue. "So a few weeks back he was choking me so hard I was starting to black out. I honestly thought I was gonna die right there with his hands around my neck. I thought maybe it was the lack of oxygen, some near death hallucination, but I had flashes of some werewolfy type creature holding me up by my leg and flinging me through the air......and then after that.." she swallowed hard. More of a loud gulp really. Tears began streaming with sudden abandon and she started to shake. "Fuck!" she squealed. "This is exactly what I didn't want to be talking about out here. Please go back to the trial Amy. I just wanna be left alone." "But Keira...." Amy tried yet again. "Just don't Amy!" she couldn't contain her restless agitation. "Surely you owe me at least that much common decency to respect my wishes. Now go away," Keira turned and began to leave. "You think he'll come after you?" Amy asked, to try and draw her back. "Honey, unless he's behind bars, and I'm not na?ve enough to think he ever will be, he'll hunt me till I'm dead. And I feel like he'll be a much tougher thing to stop than even a demon like Madame Zenith proved to be." "Let me help you." "I'm sorry Amy Price," Keira expressed her sadness in her words. "But I think it's pretty clear I'm beyond help." Keira walked away after that last, and Amy did not try to stop her. Amy had the sick feeling though, that if Keira's predictions rang true, Amy would never see her again. On top of that, Amy was confused and disillusioned. She had assumed, maybe optimistically, that she'd been the reason Keira remembered a second time. That the force of nature Keira had described, was love. But it seemed Keira implied it was something darker. Mortality. Imminent death. Fear. In the back of her mind, Amy felt none of this was right. She wanted to believe in her first impression. She had to. Amy turned back towards the courtroom, and trudged slowly down the road. *** Amy knew it was a long shot to begin with. A fair way to travel on a hunch alone. Something like six hundred kilometers from home. The beauty and the chagrin of a country as large and sparsely populated as this was, meant that if you wanted to disappear, needed to, then you truly could. She felt that perhaps she'd been too influenced into following the plot of a Nick Sparks movie, minus the ghost of the dead wife at least, in searching here of all places. Walking down the near deserted streets she remembered the time she was last here, high summer, in her youth, if one could describe a few years ago as that, the place had a very different feel. It was buzzing with activity. A hive of holiday makers. Now though, early spring, it seemed only the true locals remained. It clearly was a very seasonal town. Situated on the South Australian coast, facing the wind blasts of the Southern ocean, which at this time of year still came unimpeded straight from Antarctica, Robe probably only had a native population of fifteen hundred. As the starting point for the aptly named, '90 mile beach', Robe was where you could four wheel drive on the sand for over 150 kilometres, and deep into the wilds of The Coorong. This favoured pastime meant Robe's December/ January population was a very different proposition. Ten times what was listed in census, at least. Many wanted to get their "Storm Boy" on it seemed. Providing the weather was acceptable that is; which seemed to be the major caveat. Children Australian born and raised could in no way finish their schooling and completely avoid being inflicted with the Colin Thiele novella. And every now and then the movie would be remade. In spite of all that, this beautiful and remote part of the continent remained unseen by most. It was over two years since Amy had last seen Keira. True to her predictions, the other girl had vanished into the ether after walking away from the courthouse that day. Amy had got on with life as best she could, in spite of the ongoing legalities proceeding. She was 19 now. Soon to be 20. She was studying at University and working on a future. The repeated appeals process was more than distracting, but finally, it seemed, Stefan had run out of avenues. Amy had gone to the Mckenzie's soon after Keira's disappearance, scared that the prediction Keira had shared had come to fruition, and Stefan had indeed got her. They assured her this was not the case. Yes Keira had gone. On the run. Hiding. They didn't know where. She'd left everything behind. Phone, cards, the lot. But she would ring them from time to time, from a payphone, or what they assumed was a cheap burner; never the same number twice, to let them know she was still safe. Amy wanted desperately to talk to her. Seeking answers to the many questions she had. But mostly just because she missed her. But Keira either couldn't or wouldn't reach out. The Mckenzies certainly had warmed to Amy though. Whilst their relationship never reattained the level it had when Connor existed, they became close. So close in fact, that it was the information Amy gleaned from afternoon visits to the McKenzie's for status updates, which had lead her here, so far from home. When they were 15, Connor and his parents had set off on a big road trip holiday, to Robe. The idea of off-roading over sand dunes had appealed to him greatly. At his instance Amy had come with them. She was practically part of the family anyway, the Mckenzies had told the Prices. It turned out to be a wonderful summer holiday. Connor and Amy were closer than ever. Amy had a boyfriend left behind back home, and at the time she wondered if anything might have happened between them if she didn't. Both Connor and Amy agreed it was the most beautiful place they had ever seen, and Connor had vowed to one day return, perhaps even buy himself a holiday shack there, were he ever rich enough. Of course the romanticism of the holiday became quickly subdued on return home. Connor was just Connor after all. Amy was glad at the time she hadn't been foolish. Now, of course, she truly wished she had. Their lives would have taken a very different path if impulsivity had lead her heart. What she had learnt, in the new rescripting of the world, conversing with the McKenzies, is that they had in fact never been to Robe. Never even heard of it. To Amy it was perhaps the most glaring divergence. A place only Connor knew and Keira didn't. A place Connor loved. If Keira needed to hide from the world, would she use this secret knowledge to her advantage? Did she even have that knowledge anyway? Such was the line of thought that lead Amy here. But it had all been pointless. The best she could do was dredge up old yearbook photos and ask around. She had spent a couple of wasted days. The locals were decidedly suspicious of her, as one would tend to be with an outsider snooping around, but no-one had ever heard of Keira or seen the girl in the photos. She'd probably long since changed her name and appearance anyway. Amy just wanted to find her; to tell her to come home. It was safe now. Certainly for the next six years at least. But hopefully forever. All Stefan's appeals, long drawn out process that they were, had not got his conviction overturned, and he faced a surprisingly sizeable minimum six years for his crime. Keira needed to know. Maybe her parents would tell her in the next sporadic phone call. But no-one knew when that would be. And for some reason, Amy really wanted to be the one to break the news, and convince Keira to come back with her. But it was not to be. Keira's parents knew she was still in the country. She couldn't afford to leave most likely, and had no passport anyway. They had absolutely no idea where she may be though. Like she'd reflected, it was a big country. So very big. Amy realized that beyond this fanciful straw clutching, she had no idea where Keira may be either. She hoped that Keira was safe, wherever she may have been. And dare she dream it, happy. But it was time for Amy to go home. Keira was lost to her. Amy walked along the marina, past all the yachts, securely moored and battened, awaiting better days to have their sails and flags unfurled. It truly was beautiful here. She was glad she had come again. Even if she'd technically never been before, and more pointedly, her objective had not been realized. Beside the still waters of the protected bay, the most lively place in town, this day at least, seemed to be the aptly named Marina caf?. Unlike many of the others in town, still closed from the winter just left behind, the caf? was open, and attracted business by virtue of lack of opposition. Amy realized she was hungry from fruitless searching. She peered at the menu plastered to the window beside the door. Absolutely nothing remarkable. Breakfast till 3pm. Obligatory smashed avocado and so forth, with an overlapping lunch menu. She squinted at it for long enough in the window that she eventually attracted a waitress from inside. "Hi!" she began cheerily. "Would you like a table?" The waitress was a chirpy blonde who looked to be in her twenties. Her name badge said she was Clara. She wore a straight black skirt over black opaque tights, ballet flats and a white button up blouse. Over the top of her clothes she wore a logoed black apron. Standard caf? uniform really. "Yes, I guess so," Amy replied without much commitment. The waitress turned her attention back inside, a little more than half full with lunch time patrons. "There's a few spots in there," she remarked. "Or you can sit out on the deck if you're game. Not much wind and the gulls haven't come a swooping yet. So it's quite nice." Amy weighed her options. The deck was virtually empty. It definitely held more appeal than the moderately peopled tables inside. She indicated such and the waitress handed her a laminated A4 version of the menu in the window, leading her to an outdoor table by the waters edge. Amy ordered a skinny flat white before she even seated and the waitress promised to return with it and take her food order then. Amy decided what she wanted reasonably promptly, but when we she felt the standard length of time to make a coffee had well been surpassed she worried she had been forgotten. Amy, was on the far side of the deck, nearer the water than the building, from her seat she looked back through the window to the innards of the caf?, hoping to spy her waitress and make some sort of eye contact, but she could not see her. There was another waitress that she could see, working the tables inside. She was a brunette, dressed in synchronicity with her counterpart, her hair colored and styled not dissimilarly to Amy's own. Maybe she could attract her attention instead. But of course that thought stopped dead in its tracks. Amy watched her from afar, as her heart split at the seams. She flitted between tables, smiling and chatting. Many of the patrons were probably locals, and the waitress certainly seemed to know them. Her demeanor radiated warmth and Amy knew it was not merely for the sake of the customers. This girl was happy. Amy watched her as she tucked a wayward clump of her bobbed hair back behind her ear, effusively conversing with an elderly lady sitting alone. Her hair was so much shorter and darker than the last time Amy had seen it. Amy didn't remember doing it but somehow she had stood up and walked back across the deck, to be standing directly outside the caf? window, gazing in. But no-one paid her any heed. Especially not the busy waitress on the other side of the pane. Amy knew then, she could not go in. She had to leave. Here was a girl who had started over. Built herself a brand new life. She did not want the person who had destroyed her old one walking back into it. Keira looked so content and full of joy. The best she'd ever looked since Amy had regrettably created her. She had crafted a home for herself in a place that she had once loved as Connor. There seemed to be a satisfactory symbiosis in that. Amy lost all sense of temporality standing at the window. It was probably only moments but it felt like a lifetime. In a way, maybe it was. "Did you think I'd forgotten you?" a voice asked beside her. Amy turned. It could have perhaps been Keira standing there asking that question. Instead it was blonde Clara, holding Amy's flat white. "Oh God honey!" the waitress exclaimed. "You're crying. What's the matter?" she was filled with genuine concern. "Oh it's nothing," Amy replied. Wiping her eyes but not being able to rid herself of the tears as quickly as they formed. "I suppose they should be happy tears." "But they aren't?" Clara asked inquisitively. "It's complicated." "Maybe you should come inside and sit down." "Oh no! I can't! I should just go. Here. I'll pay for the coffee." She began to fish in her handbag for a note. She pulled out a ten. She knew it would be less than 5 for a simple white coffee, barista made or not, but she wanted to exit quickly without inconvenience, or being noticed. She went to hand the cash to Clara but the waitress was no longer looking at her. Amy followed her focus back to the window. There, directly on the other side of it, stood the other waitress. They faced each other. Only the glass between them. Maybe that was symbolic. Or maybe it was just glass. Their eyes met. Neither made attempt to speak. There was no point. It would have been inaudible to the other. But the girl inside raised her hand and placed her palm against the glass. She looked at Amy, then at her own outstretched arm. Amy knew what to do. She reciprocated in kind. But for the window, they were in tactile contact with each other. Tears from both of them emphasized the uncanny semblance to a reflection that both of them must have felt they were seeing. Amy smiled at Keira. Of course her name badge indicated she wasn't known as Keira any more. Perhaps it shouldn't have been a surprise, but it was. The name tag said the brunette waitress was called 'Amy'. When Keira realized what Amy was looking at she grinned sheepishly and shrugged slightly. "Oh!" Clara the waitress said beside the real Amy's ear, coming to what seemed a great revelation. "So it's you!" "Well thank God you're finally here!" Clara added warmly. "She's been waiting for you." "For me?" Amy sought to clarify. But she did not take her eyes off the girl she loved. "Yes of course for you!" Clara confirmed. "And for such a bloody long time too!" The End