Chapter 2: Shadows and Reflections
"Thanks so much you and Alice both volunteered to tour me around the city. You're the best!" said an overly excited Julie as she hugged both of her friends "So, when are you gonna take me to Dan's house, huh?
"Julie!" complained Runo angrily
"Just kidding, Runo. I know that Dan is meant for you, and not me. Or is he?" said Julie with a smirk looking in the other direction knowing what Runo was gonna say,
"Julie!" said Runo even angrier than before, Alice and Julie just giggled together.
Suddenly, Runo saw the mystery girl she saw yesterday. She wanted to give the journal back, but she was afraid of being called a thief.
"What is Runo? You seem upset." Said Alice with a worried face
"That's the mystery girl I was talking to you about, Alice." Explained Runo, Julie looked at the girl she was referring to, and she gave a gentle smile.
"I know her!" Julie said. "Daisy, my sister, reads to other kids when I was still in kinder. She was one of them, she always was goth girl." Julie explained
"So, you know her? Does she know you?" asked Runo
"Yes, I do- I mean, she does" Julie corrected
"So, what's her name, Julie?" Asked Alice
"Her name is Jezabel Moon, you can call her Jez. 'Jezabel' is a mouthful anyways," Julie replied swiftly. Just then, Jezabel walked pass them and stopped in her tracks, she looked at the group of girls beside her.
"J- Julie? Is that you?" said Jezabel softly
"Hi Jez, I want you to meet my friends Alice and Runo." Greeted Julie, Jez was eyeing Runo and said "I know you, Runo; you're that girl I met yesterday." She paused before she continued "I want my journal back!" she demanded
Runo's POV:
How did she know that I was the one who got it? And why is it so important to her? And how did she know my name? Oh wait, Julie just said my name, never mind. But wait, how did she know which one of us is Runo and Alice, if Julie never told her.
"I'm sorry, I just-"
"Found it on the ground, I know." She interrupted
Runo's POV
How did she know how I found it? Did she drop it on purpose?
"Well, I better get home, nice seeing you again, Julie." Jez said quickly after she got her book back from Runo. Suddenly, Julie accidentally dropped her bag, containing her cosmetics, Runo, Jez and Alice helped her pick it up.
But then, when Runo was about to pick up Julie's mini-mirror, she noticed when she looked at it; Jez had no reflection on the mirror! She was shocked and curious about what she saw. She wanted to know more, but, it was already sunset and she promised her mom and dad that she would be home by then.
"I need to go, Julie." Runo said "Alice, please guide Julie to Marucho's house- I mean, mansion." She corrected
"Me too." Said Jez softly, as both of them walked in the opposite direction. Jez walked west, where the sun was setting, and Runo walked east.
The weird thing was, when Runo looked back to wave to her friends, she noticed that Jez had no shadow! "No reflection and shadow? This is insane!" she said to herself angrily.
When she was almost to her house, it started to rain. She started walking in the covered pathway. Suddenly, she heard footsteps splashing in the puddles behind her. She swiftly turned her head, but she didn't see anyone. She started looking around,
"Who's out there? I know you're following me, stop hiding!" she yelled, then, a teenage boy appeared before her.
He had red spiky hair, and fair skin. He was wearing a black shirt and denim jacket and pants. He was wearing a black wristband and a black cross necklace. He had emerald green eyes. He reminded Runo of Jez immediately, well, the necklace at least.
"I can help you know all 'bout Jez…" he said slowly
"H- How? Who are you? How do you know about Jez?" Runo asked
"One questioned at a time …Runo…" he said softly
"H- How do you know me?" asked Runo impatiently
The mystery boy was reaching deep into his pocket, he brought out a card.
"Here, got to this place tomorrow. You'll find what you're looking for…" He answered casually "By the way, Runo, you can call me 'Sed'."
"Sed?"
"Sedrick (Sed-rick) - Sedrick Brown." He replied, he turned and walked away quickly.
Runo looked at the card and ran home…
