Day 0; The Beginning of the End.

She flew up from her bed, sweat pouring down her face as neon blue eyes darted wildly around the area, the pink haired delinquent sure she was falling, falling, falling deep down a dark hole, never to be seen again. However, Aubrey found herself where she always was this late at night- her darkened attic bedroom, the world outside silent as ever.

"...Just a dream." Aubrey mumbled, raising a pale hand to set against her face. He eyes shifted across the room to the window that set in the wall, giving view to the pale night street below. exhaling, she pushed her tangled covers off her, before setting her feet to the floor and approaching the window, sitting on the ledge, lost in her thoughts. Four years. That's how long it had been since she ever had a friendly conversation with her old group- Kel, Hero,Mari, and Sunny. It had been so long since she had even see most of them (Kel consistently made an annoying reappearance whenever she and her gang were having fun.) However, Hero and Sunny hadn't been around for years. As for Basil...

She gripped her fist tightly, shifting her gaze to her nightstand where his photo album sat. She still wasn't ready to forgive him for what he had done to their memories- the one thing she had left of Mari. It just made her blood boil- so he was the last person she cared about right now. In fact, the whole lot of them could go jump off a bridge and die for all she cared.

"..."

So what had that dream been about?

Aubrey figure it out at all- she hadn't dreamed about the guys in so many years now, so that fact that they were haunting her dreams as of now was...something so strange and odd, she couldn't get it out of her head. She had been aware that whole time in her dream- forced to watch from the perspective of her annoying, cutesy childhood self in a strange unfamiliar world. And the way it ended..

That image of Basil, surrounded by dark tendrils. It sent shivers through her body- enough to make her rub her eyes. "God...I must have ate something bad or whatever, because-"

When she lowered her hands from her eyes- she shrieked. For a moment, she thought she could see a shape in the darkness- and she wasn't sure what on earth it exactly was. It looked like some floating beast with a single, piercing, unseeing eye.

And then it was gone.

"...Screw this."

Aubrey knew she wasn't going to be able to fall asleep again for quite a while, so she snatched her cell phone up, and clicked open the text chat.

BatGirl: You up?

Cndyfrlfe: aubs it's like 3:00 am what do you want.

BatGirl: need to tlk- meet at the spot

Cndyfrlfe: srlsy? rn?
BatGirl: Just get dressed and meet me there. now.

She then slipped it into her pocket, before getting up and beginning to change clothing- slipping on her orange jacket, and tying that familiar blue ribbon in her hair, before picking up her baseball bat. Once slinged over her shoulder, Aubrey climbed down the latter of her attic room, and her feet softly hit the floor.

She walked by The Room, ignoring it like she usually did. The one thing that had never changed since Mari's death was her demeanor toward it, refusing to even give it a glance. There was no point, after all. Aubrey stepped out into the living room, to find the same sight as always- her Mother passed out in front of the television, the smell of alcohol and pizza boxes laying everywhere. The television was still going strong, but Aubrey turned it off, before walking over to her mother, and gently tucking her blanket around so she could be more snug.

Then- Aubrey opened the front door, and stole out into the night, locking it tightly behind her.

Faraday was a different world at night, Aubrey had come to realize over the years. In the light, it seemed to be a happy bustling town, with no worries or regrets about what has happened so much over the years. When the moon rose, and the town went to sleep, however..it's true nature was revealed. Still, quite, and dark, shadows lurking in every point and turn. The secrets and the whispers of the towns tragedy were revealed to her at night- and there was no sense in hiding from them. Aubrey's feet pattered on the side walk as she walked, gripping her bat tightly. One would have to watch out for freaks this late at night- but Aubrey was no pushover, especially with that bat of hers.

When she finally reached the hangout spot, Kim hadn't exactly arrived yet, which gave her some time to think. She walked to the edge of the doc, and after setting her bat down, she began swinging her legs as she stared across the mini pond that flowed in front of her.

The hangout brought back so many memories for her- ones that weren't so pleasant now. She could smell the picnic baskets heavenly scent, the delicious baked goods that Mari had made caused her stomach to growl- guess memories triggered bodily reactions now? She didn't know.

They used to have so much fun, all of them out here together. She didn't have to worry about going home to no dinner again, because Mari always insisted she stayed over. Those warm nights, sleeping with her in Mari's bed, feeling like she had a mother once again...

Aubrey didn't feel the tears until she blinked. She raised her hand, and wiped them away with little effort, fixing her blank gaze on the water below. Where did all this mushy stuff go? Back in the box with you! And represssss...this is healthyyyyy... Aubrey mumbled a silent mantra, the memories soon fading from her head.

"Hey, Aub's, next time you need a late night hang out session, text the maverick." Kim's voice echoed next to her as they sat down next to her. Aubrey tensed slightly, but she let out a small laugh. "Sorry...just...couldn't sleep is all." Kim shifted back and forth, adjusting her glasses before raising her eyes to the delinquent. "Wanna talk about it? Maybe it might help. Is it some nightmare...? Maybe about your dad?" Kim offered slowly- But Aubrey shot her a look that made her shut up. "I thought I told ya; that's off limits."

"Right, Right. Sorry. So...if it's not about...that..what is it about?" Kim ventured. Aubrey kept quiet for about a few minutes, trying to find out exactly the best way to answer. She hadn't told the hooligans much about her old past- just that Kel used to be an annoying friend of hers, since he came around so much. However, she had trusted Kim enough to not go blabbing about this to the others, since she had known her the longest.

"...Just...bad memories is all. I don't know how to put it into words...but it was like...I was forced to watch my past take place in another reality...or something like that. and it ended badly. A way I...didn't like." However, it felt like odd to say, but the way it had ended was...abrubt. Like there was more to come, and she wasn't sure if she'd like the continuing story line.

"Huh...that sounds mental as hell." Kim commented, bumping her shoulder. "Like...how did it end? Did you end becoming some boring ass stock broker or something?" She joked, but Aubrey snorted. "As if. I'm gonna be president one day." She flexed her fingers against the docks edge, her grip becoming ever so slightly tighter. "I...can't describe it, but...It felt like I was falling deeper and deeper into a hole I have no hope of ever climbing out of."

She shifted her gaze. "And all the while, the people I was with in the dream never came to look for me. I felt...alone and scared. It was...quiet.I didn't like that." Kim sleepily shifted until her head was resting against Aubrey's shoulder. "Well...maybe..." she yawned halfway through her sentence, her glasses falling halfway down her face. "Maybe you should talk to the people in you dream...next time? if you have it again that is. Maybe only then...you'll..understand...it."

Soft puffing noises left her friends lips- it had been a short conversation altogether, but one that had been...sort of productive.

Talk to the People...?

Aubrey's core values that had formed ever since mari's death rebelled at the very thought. She didn't wanna talk to Kel; he was annoying beyond belief. Hero was away from college, and Basil...She dismissed the thought without a moment. There was no way she could do any of that- none of the choices were good.

"..."

Then again...there was...one...other option. However, doubt arose in her. There was no way it would work; he hadn't come out of his house in four years, and to make matters worse, he was moving away next week. Why would he open the door after so many years of ignoring it? It just didn't make sense.

"...Ugh...I'm not gonna do it! No way, No how, no! Just...No!"

Knock Knock Knock...

Do you want to Open the door?

[Yes.]

[Do nothing.]

The door opened to the cold of night, revealing a girl in a ragged orange jacket, neon pink hair, and startling blue eyes. You recognize the bow in her hair almost instantly, and you know who is in front of you.

"..Hey Sunny. Been a while, huh?"