Author's Note: Certain details have been altered for the idea of the plot to flow better. However, I tried to remain true to each character's demeanor.
Juliana Crain's peaceful life ended once her half-sister, Trudy, pressed a duffle bag into her arms. "Run, Sis!" She hissed, seconds before she tried to escape around the corner and was shot dead.
Juliana froze momentarily, fully aware everything just changed. Then she followed her sister's instructions and ran down the dark streets, not stopping until she was inside her boyfriend's house.
"Are you alright?" Frank asked as he looked at Juliana, who was panting on his doorstep.
Not responding, she put the duffle bag on their kitchen table. Forcefully, she zipped the bag open and began searching inside. There were a few items of clothing, money, and then her hands touched a film container wrapped within a scarf.
"Juliana, what's going on?" Frank questioned.
Without giving a reply, she went to their closet to pull out their film projector.
"Juliana!" Frank spoke more harshly this time as she placed the film in the projector and images began flashing on the white sheet against the wall.
Frank was now silent as they watched World War II footage before them, except this wasn't footage they had seen- or could have possibly happened. They saw Japan being bombed and Nazi statues being pulled onto the ground.
When the film stopped, they didn't say a word. Juliana searched through the bag again, finding a ticket to Canon City- leaving on the last bus tonight.
Once again, Frank asked what happened. This time Juliana responded, "Trudy handed me this. Then she was shot by the Kempatai." They both knew she was part of the Resistance.
"I knew she'd get herself into trouble one day that not even her father could get her out of..." Juliana looked at Frank with a disgusted expression. She was in disbelief that was his response to her half-sister's death.
Juliana's stepfather, Trudy's biological father, left his job at the post office to work in the Nippon Building for the Kempatai after Japan took control of the west coast. Arnold had been seeming more and more anxious lately, and it was understood by the family that this was due to his efforts of keeping Trudy safe. Except no one was truly safe from the Kempatai.
Once again, Juliana looked at the ticket in her hand. After seeing the film, it was clear this is what was meant to be passed on to Cannon City. This film showed a different world, not the world they lived in.
Without speaking, Juliana went to her closest and threw some of her own belongings into the bag and then her wallet.
"You don't think you're going, do you? That would be insane, Juliana!" Frank shouted.
Juliana was not a member of the resistance. In fact, she didn't particularly mind the peaceful life she led, full of Japanese culture. She'd rather live in the west than in the east. The idea of Nazi's terrified her. She heard of the concentration camps that existed on the other side of her county shortly after the war was won by Germany. The lack of tolerance in the Reich was horrifying to her.
Juliana went to their shared bathroom and threw in her necessary toiletries. When she turned to leave, Frank was standing before with a livid expression.
"If you leave, don't come back to me."
Juliana looked at her watch. It was already time to head to the station. She understood Frank's resistance. His grandfather was Jewish; he didn't need any attention brought to him. Just Trudy's involvement gave him anxiety that kept him awake late some nights.
She kissed his cheek softly. "Goodbye, Frank."