"Clarissa! Clarissa! Anyone...?"

Nona shuffled along Main Street, wringing a hand across a cuff of her oversized sweater. She'd been calling out for ten minutes, hoping to find a friendly face after that nutso laser explosion threw everything out of whack. One minute she and Clarissa were having a perfectly nice conversation, then kaboom! Next thing she knew, she was on her back staring up at one of the old-timey lampposts in town.

And I thought this place looked deserted before…

Nona continued through the edge of the town, not really thinking of a destination but hoping to give her near-atrophied vocal chords a break from shouting. Well okay, maybe "atrophied" was a bit strong. It's not like she never talked, she still functioned like a person! She just, y'know, didn't yell a whole lot, and chose to speak softly so as to not draw attention from eavesdroppers and creeps, and maybe she let Clarissa carry most of her conversations because dear lord talking is so stressful…

"Huh, maybe Clarissa's got a point." Nona said aloud, "I should find a second friend."

A slight bit of paraphrasing on Nona's part, Clarissa actually told her something more along the lines of "Why don't you get a girlfriend? You need a backup person in case my claws slip from you."

Nona grimaced and ran a hand through her raven bangs. She couldn't really remember how that particular conversation went, just that a lot of stammering was involved with plenty of assurances that no I'm not like that besides anyone would probably be scared away as soon as they found out that they'd need to get through you.

Clarissa had laughed at that one. A friend, she could probably find another friend eventually. Taking a breath to calm herself down, Nona pulled out her phone to check if she had a signal yet.

No bars and no wifi. Teenage hell.

The pale girl pocketed her phone and leaned against one of the numerous shops with a huff. It's not like she had anything against girls who were...like that. Or guys who were like that! Just...it was for other people, people who were good at that sort of thing. Come to think of it, Alex was good at that, even when thrown a curveball. When Clarissa told her that Alex had "the most obvious girl boner" for someone named Amanda Wheeler, Nona initially dismissed it as just another rib at Michael's kid sister. That was until Amanda's big going away incident.

*CRUNCH*

The sound of splintering wood jolted Nona upright, a strangled noise escaping her throat instead of a cry.

"H-hello?"

The orange-clad girl hugged the brick wall she was against, tip-toeing towards the source of the disturbance. She concentrated, listening for any more alarming noises. Nothing, just quiet. Not even the sounds of seagulls or crashing waves of the nearby Pacific. Too quiet.

A dark orange beanie followed by a single gingerbread eye peeked around the corner, seeing where the cause of the noise was found; the Parks and Recreation Office, with its door forced open. Nona slowly walked up to the threshold, inspecting the assaulted entryway.

The door's open to the outside and the latch is broken outwards, she noted, it's like someone broke out instead of breaking in. And wouldn't it be easier to just break the giant window? These old buildings definitely have tougher doors than windows.

Peering inside, Nona saw the floor cluttered with what looked like random papers and chachkies. Stepping to avoid a toppled snow globe, she flipped on a light switch and saw where everything fell from, a tipped over cardboard box. A service table stood near the door, and among the touring pamphlets rested an off-white corded phone.

Perfect!

Nona swiped the handset and quickly dialed Clarissa's cell number until she realized A: her own cell phone wasn't working so what were the odds that Clarissa's would and B: there was a distinct lack of a dial tone.

Perfect.

"PICTURE picTURE pICture PiCTure PictURe"

Thankfully, Nona was already on guard so instead of leaping out of her skin she merely dropped the phone in terror. At least until the lights surged and popped and the broken door slammed shut, leaving one frightened teen in a wide-eyed huddle.

"W-w-what's going on? Who's there?" she called out to the pitch darkness.

It was silent for a few seconds, until what sounded like an electronic groan filtered through the outdated Camena High loudspeakers emanated from the dangling handset.

"Orange gal. Pale gal. Look. The. Picture."

A single inky red light flickered from the ceiling, mercifully not blinding the cowering teen but doing little to put her at ease. Nona hastily rose to her feet and rushed to where she knew the door was, but the knob refused to turn.

"Let me out!" she demanded as she pounded against the previously splintered door, "Let me out!"

"Run. Why. " the voice (voices?) laughed (cried?), "No. Place. To go."

Nona gulped and turned her attention back to the ground, searching the floor under the meager red light.

"Look. The. Picture."

A facedown picture frame lay directly under the sputtering bulb, but screw that what she really needed was this!

Nona hefted a large brass spyglass, undoubtedly a valuable and coveted antique.

More importantly, it's a heavy blunt instrument.

Anger and panic fueling her limbs, she smashed the wall-sized window to the outside with an enthusiastic, clumsy swing. The glass shattered in a cascade of a million tiny shards, moonlight spilling from the newly created exit—

KZZZZZRK


And I thought this place looked deserted before…

Nona strolled along the edge of town, peering into display windows of the darkened shops taking a break from shouting for her classmates. With everything long since closed for the night, there was little hope for any assistance. But as she rounded the corner, she spotted the Parks and Recreation Office with a dim light glowing through a wide open door.

"Hello? Is someone in there?"

With no response forthcoming, Nona eyed the inside of the building from the doorway. A flickering red bulb dimly highlighted a cardboard box spilled on its side, its contents littered about the floor. A shoddy corded phone sat on a nearby table, the wire severed.

Someone has to be here, Nona picked up the useless handset, but why would they do this?

"Orange gal. Pale gal. Naughty gal."

The handset clattered to the ground, garbled voices grating through the speaker.

"You. Hate. To be. Trapped. We. Hate. To be. Trapped."

"W-who are you? What do you mean 'trapped'?"

"Look. The. Picture."

Nona squinted in the dim red light, "You're trapped on a jet?"

"DoWn doWN dOWn See down."

Her gaze was drawn to an upside down picture frame at her feet, the kind that would be propped on a desk.

"This?"

She picked up the frame and turned it in her hands, finding an old black and white photo. Two young women, one with dark hair and one with light hair each stood with an arm around the other, their bright smiles of the contrasting the crisp army uniforms they wore.

"Dark hair. Smart gal. Margaret Adler. She. Trapped. Us."

"Wait, Maggie Adler? I still don't understand, what do you mean trapped, who are you?"

"She. Was. Like you." the crackling voices continued, "Her friend. Anna Shea. Was. Like you."

"I don't even—that's not what I asked! What's going—"

KZZZZZRK


And before I thought this place looked deserted… now it looks like Maggie Adler having a yard sale.

Nona stepped uncertainly through the edge of town, puzzled and off-put by the abundance of old fashioned furniture strewn about the street. An armchair or two here, a grandfather clock there, even bookshelves filled with books.

What is even happening right now, Nona rubbed her temples, Where did this stuff come from?

The sound of running sneakers shot past her and a flash of blue caught the edge of Nona's vision, distracting her from the anachronistic home goods showcase.

"Alex? Alex!"

There was no mistake; only Alex had that bright dye job of teal and her keepsake red jacket, but why was she running away?

"Alex! Come back, what's wrong?"

Though Nona was proud of her physical prowess, her dexterity gained from ballet fell far short of her pursuee's raw athleticism and longer legs and the shock of blue hair quickly escaped from view.

*CRUNCH*

Nona rounded the corner, just catching a glimpse of red disappearing in the Parks and Recreation Office.

"Ale- what the crap?!"

The door lay open, the latch splintered from being forced open.

Geez, how much milk do you drink?!

Nona hesitantly approached the office, "Hey Alex? Everything uh, everything okay? It's just me, like no need to hulk out…"

There was a distinct lack of blue-haired teenage girl in the Parks and Recreation Office. There was a distinct lack of anything inside the office, the entirety of the small building being barren save for a table with a smashed telephone and an upside down picture frame on it.

"How…?"

Drawn by the flickering overhead light, Nona picked up the wooden frame. Under the dim red illumination, the photo captured a moment of two young women kissing.

KZZZZZRK


Maggie Adler and Anna Shea kissing.

KZZZZZRK


Alex and Nona kissing.

KZZZZZRK


Ren and Nona kissing.

KZZZZZRK


Alex and Amanda Wheeler kissing.

KZZZZZRK


Nona dropped the picture frame before she could see its photo and clutched her head.

Ow ow ow...

"You and Anna were a lot alike you know."

The orange-clad girl blinked rapidly, trying to focus through a piercing migraine. It must not have done much; she saw what looked like Alex standing in front of her, but it couldn't be. The strikingly teal ponytail and red jacket were correct but Alex had kind, bright chestnut eyes, not this all-consuming red gaze. Nor did her voice sound like someone reading a teleprompter script through a failing microphone. A dark-skinned hand, shaky and enthusiastic, picked up the picture frame.

"She was quiet, but with so much bouncing betwixt her little ears," Not-Alex pirouetted and hugged the photo to her chest, "And she had a weakness for confident athletes."

Nona opened her mouth to reply but was interrupted, "Precious Anna also preferred… those who were fairer, shall we say?"

Not-Alex replaced the picture frame and strode up to the other teen. Nona took a step back.

"Even she wasn't as weak and timid as you though. She always knew who and what she wanted. Pathetic little Nona, you can't even claim that! If your grandfather could see you now... tsk tsk, at least he'll never know what a disappointment you turned out to be.

Tears welled in Nona's eyes, "Sh-shut up…"

"That has to be the most terrible thing about you," Not-Alex swung her arms out, her face contorting to something resembling a pout, "When your parents suddenly became successful and left you behind to go on business trips and vacations, dear old Granddad was there for you and was more supportive and loving than they ever were. And whenever some boy asked you out, what was it he always said?"

Nona tearfully glared, but said nothing.

"'Only be with someone who will make you happy.' Aw, so simple and sweet. But that will never happen, will it? You had to turn all of those boys away. Because we know what kind of person makes you happy. After all…" The facsimile of Alex flicked her ponytail and leveled her crimson gaze, "You're looking right at her."

"I-I-I don't—y-you're n-nothing like h-her," Nona managed to scowl, the intended effect lessened by her hiccuping, "I-I don't know who y-you are, but I know that you're not Alex. How do you know a-any of this?"

The impersonator gave what it thought was a full toothy grin, but only half of her cheek muscles seemed to move, "We might look like your little Alex, but we are much, much more. We've seen into your past, enough to know that you most certainly have wandering eyes despite what you claim. That you lack the strength to stand by their side, resigning yourself to mooning after the attractive, popular—

KZZZZZRK


"—track star Homecoming Queen," Not-Clarissa sneered.

KZZZZZRK


"—friendly girl who suffered the death of her town darling of a brother and came through strong and whole," Not-Alex laughed.

KZZZZZRK


"—but it's understandable of course" Not-Alex crossed her arms, "After all, if it ever got out that mousy little Nona, a girl, started going out with Michael's sister, another girl, well…"

The crimson light thrummed with intensity as humanoid figures, staticky and translucent, melded through the walls. Nona jumped back towards the door until she saw a crowd of the creatures surrounding the building, each too tall and too skinny with sickeningly yellow eye sockets.

The red-eyed Alex spun on her heel, sashaying and clasping her hands together, "That would put all eyes on you, wouldn't it?"

The horde of faceless apparitions ambled closer without walking, speaking without any visible mouths in electronic, distorted voices.

"Wow, who knew she had it in her?"

"Turned me down last week, knew she was a lez."

"What's that girl's name? Nona?"

"Think she's secretly a dom?"

The collection of voices coalesced into a fluid, throbbing entity, increasing in volume and fluctuating in cadence as Nona clenched her eyes shut, her hands covering her ears.

"She's super short, how does screwing her even work?"

"Think she's as quiet when she fucks?"

"She's gotta be on top, she'd be squished otherwise!"

"Ha! Guess that's what happens when you have the hot chick as your friend, hope she doesn't dyke her up though."

"SHUT UP! Just shut up please!" Nona wailed.

"Oh, but sweetie," Not-Alex cooed, "Wouldn't you just love it? You'd be the talk of the school, talk of Camena even! And you'd of course want to give the hens something good, so…"

The smell of rust and rotting fish compelled the orange-clad girl to look up. The imposter Alex had knelt next to her and pursed her lips to Nona's cheek, a smartphone held in her hand.

"Say cheese!"

*click*

The flash blinded Nona before she could react.

No. Nononono! Why? Why do people care about this shit! About private aspects of other people's lives that aren't their business?! Why do I have to deal with them!?

The wraith-like figures surrounded Not-Alex and the hyperventilating Nona, their yellow eye sockets blazing like spotlights.

"But I don't get it, she has long hair."

"I bet she's faking it, she just wants attention!"

"Someone call her parents and tell them her kid's a freak!"

"She just can't find a guy willing to bone her instead of her friends. Hell, I'll volunteer!"

"I don't want any of this! Just stop!"

Nona scrambled to her feet, stumbling through the gaps between the bright-eyed wraiths. There was nowhere else to run but she didn't care, she just wanted to be elsewhere, anywhere free from the taunting electronic voices—

KZZZZZRK


There was nowhere else to run, for in her mad dash through Main Street she had reached the edge of the pier. Her foot met empty air before she could halt her inertia and she tumbled head first down a 12-foot drop toward the water and rocks below—

KZZZZZRK