002

— somewhere in between —

THE STREET LAMPS FLASHED PAST THEM, THE RAIN ON THE WINDSHIELD BLURRING THE LIGHTS. The woman tapped her fingers against the steering wheel, her golden rings bouncing light. Hazel shifted in her seat and glanced at her. "Who are you?" Hazel questioned, keeping her voice low.

"You can call me Kory," The woman answered, reaching into her purse.

"What do you want from me?" Kory didn't answer her, instead, she pulled her hand back, passing Hazel a notebook, the edges burnt slightly. "What's this?"

Hazel flipped the notebook open, different photos of Hazel were cut out from the yearbook and some printed, the colour draining and stuck to the pages. "That's you. Isn't it?" Kory questioned, looking down at Hazel. Hazel flipped through the pages, skimming over the writing. "Do you know Rachel Roth?"

"Do you know where she is?"

Kory sighed through her nose, "That's what we're gonna find out."

March 6th

THEY COULD HEAR THE ECHO OF THE RAIN HIT THE ROOF OF THE CAR. It was dark and both sat in silence, Kory twirling a curl of her hair, Hazel reading through the notebook. "Interesting?" Kory asked, looking down at Hazel.

"I don't know, do you read..." Hazel held the book up to Kory, displaying the mess of triangle-like, sharp, ink-splattered letters, "Whatever the fuck this is?"

Kory took the notebook, flipping through a dozen pages. "Yeah, it looks like... bullshit," Kory joked making Hazel laugh. Kory closed the notebook and tossed it onto the dash. "Look."

Kory pointed ahead to the back door of the building. A woman in a long white pencil skirt and a man in a bomber jacket and plaid shirt dragged Rachel out by her arms, a girl with ginger hair and a thin brunette boy followed them closely, opening the doors of the silver car to push Rachel inside.

"Rachel," Hazel muttered. She reached for her seatbelt but Kory grabbed her hand, stopping her movements. "What're-"

"They have her, which means they're prepared for an attack," Kory reasoned. Hazel sighed and let go of the seatbelt and Kory released her hand. "We have no idea what they are capable of, but they're dangerous." Kory turned her head back to the car, watching it drive from the alley. Kory waited a moment before following the car.

"We could take 'em," Hazel murmured, reaching for the notebook.

Kory chuckled softly, "I'm sure we could. But what if they hurt Rachel?"

Hazel sighed and opened the notebook, thinking to herself, Hurt them back.

❁

KORY STOPPED THE CAR IN FRONT OF A RED AND WHITE GAS STATION. The man from earlier stood in front of the small bathroom, occasionally knocking at the blue door. He called out for Rachel, Kory staring him down. "The rest are inside," Hazel spoke up, watching the three stand almost robotically still in line. "They're like some kinda... weird nuclear family."

Kory hummed and opened the door, "Let's go get Rachel."

Hazel nodded and stepped out, following after Kory. Kory cracked her knuckles, her heels making a click against the concrete floor. Hazel stayed behind Kory, watching as the man turned around. "Oh, gosh," He called out, his voice almost comical as he looked over both girls. "Who are you?"

Kory extended her hand, her skin crackling like molten fire, her eyes lit up a bright green and a flame shot towards the man. The flame grew, tearing into the side of the bathroom, and cracking the wall down. The father of the family screamed, pained wails tearing from his throat as his skin melted and charring as Kory incinerated him.

Hazel's eyes widened, her jaw dropping as she watched Kory real her hand in, the flames disappearing. Kory looked back at Hazel and Hazel stared at her. "You used a house plant to subdue a man," Kory reminded, stepping forward towards the bathroom.

Hazel sighed and her tensed shoulders loosened, "Fair."

Kory walked to the melting bathroom walls. Rachel was covered in dust, try pushed the blocks of rubble off her but the dust refused to move. She looked up at Kory standing in the entry and her eyes widened. "Do you know who I am?" Kory yelled. Rachel pushed herself from the floor, resting on her elbows. "Rachel, who am I?"

"I don't know," Rachel whispered.

"Rachel!" Hazel called, sliding past Kory. Rachel's eyes widened and Hazel pulled her tightly into a hug. "I was so worried- I went to your house-"

"Hazel," Kory called, cutting Hazel off. "Check on her in the car. We have to go."

She nodded over her shoulder and Hazel pulled Rachel to her feet. "Don't move." Hazel grabbed the zip ties that bound Rachel's wrists and pulled them apart as quickly as she could, the thin plastic snapping. Rachel hissed as it nicked her skin and Hazel muttered an apology.

Hazel led Rachel back to Kory's car but Kory called to Hazel before she could slip inside the car. "Can you get rid of their car?"

Hazel looked over her shoulder at the family's silver car parked next to a fuel pump. "Not completely. But..." Hazel trailed off as she rushed towards the car, vines growing from her arms. She knelt next to the car, letting her thick vines weave up through the car, blocking the wheels. Hazel rushed back to Kory's car, sliding into the passenger seat. "That should slow them down," Hazel smiled and buckled the seat belt.

❁

HAZEL HAD THE WINDOW DOWN, THE WIND MESSING HER HAIR UP SLIGHTLY. Kory sped down the highway, one arm resting on the door. Rachel sat on the middle seat, her elbows resting on either passenger seat looking up at the marijuana-shaped refresher that bounced with the car.

Kory glanced back at her and Rachel raised her eyebrows. "That's not mine," Kory defended, ripping it from the mirror and tossing it out Hazel's open window. Kory sighed and tapped her fingers against the steering wheel. "We've never met? Ever?" Kory looked back at Rachel through the rear-view mirror who shook her head. "Fuck," Kory whispered.

"You know it's a weird question right?" Rachel questioned furrowing her eyebrows.

"Just sit there and be quiet. I need to think," Kory snapped. She sighed and leaned further back in her seat, one hand pressing her knuckles into her forehead. Rachel took a breath, heaving through her nose. Hazel looked back at her and shook her head, but Rachel was already reaching forward and grabbing Kory's shoulder.

Kory grasped and Rachel threw herself back into her seat. "Do not do that!" Kory yelled, shaking her shoulders out.

"Just breathe," Hazel said, keeping her voice steady. She looked back at Rachel who stared down at her hands.

Kory sucked a breath through her nose and stretched her hands out. "What did you just do anyway?" Kory questioned, looking between both girls.

Rachel shifted in her seat again, pulling herself forward. "I can feel what other people are feeling," Rachel explained, her voice soft. "But I couldn't feel anything from you." Rachel glanced at Hazel; her stare uneasy.

"What do you want from Rachel?" Hazel questioned and Kory shrugged softly.

Kory took a breath through her nose and glanced down at Hazel. "I don't know," Kory said, dragging out her words slightly. "Just know that there are people out there trying to hurt you and I'm not. Okay?" Rachel nodded softly and leaned back in the seat again.

Hazel sighed and twisted so she could look at Rachel. "Do you know who those people were? Or what they wanted?" She asked and Rachel shook her head. "Did they have any tattoos?"

"Tattoos?" Kory questioned.

Hazel sat in her seat properly, "The man that broke into my house- I'll explain later," Hazel turned to Rachel, saying the last part to Rachel quickly. "But he had a tattoo on his neck, all black and swirled."

Rachel shook her head. "No tattoos. What's your name?" Rachel asked, turning her attention to Kory.

"You can call me Kory," Kory answered, keeping her eyes on the road. "If that's even really it."

Hazel furrowed her eyebrows. "What do you mean?"

Kory sighed and looked between her and Rachel. "I don't know, I don't remember anything past a few days ago, except that I've been looking for Rachel," Kory answered. "The people I was talking to told me I could trust you." Hazel nodded softly and leaned back in her seat.

"Why?"

Kory glanced at Rachel in the mirror and shrugged, "I don't know. I was hoping if I met one of you, it would trigger something but, I..." Kory paused to lick her lips and weaved her fingers through her hair again. "You don't seem to know who I am either." Kory pursed her lips in a tight smile. She reached into her purse and pulled out a photo, holding it out to Rachel. Rachel took it from her, her eyes bouncing over the print quickly.

"Look," Rachel said, handing it to Hazel.

It was a picture of five women at a church, four dressed in nun uniforms and the woman in the middle wore light green clothes, holding a baby tight in her arms. Hazel furrowed her eyebrows and held the photo closer to her face. "Is that your mom?"

"Where'd you get this?" Rachel questioned.

"Your house."

"You were at Rachel's house?" Hazel questioned, looking up at Kory.

She nodded softly, "I was inside when I heard you calling for Rachel."

Hazel turned the picture over, holding it up to the light to read the fading blue writing. "Saint Pauls, two thousand and five," Hazel read aloud.

"What's Saint Pauls?" Rachel asked, taking the picture from Hazel.

"We're gonna find out soon enough," Kory answered, still focused on the road ahead.

Rachel folded the picture and slid it into the pocket of her pants. She sighed and rested against the seat, waiting for either Hazel or Kory to talk again. She huffed and pulled herself forward by the chairs again, "How did you do that back there?"

"Do what?" Kory asked.

"That man... You burned him," Rachel elaborated, her voice slightly uneasy.

Kory shrugged softly, "I don't know. There's something inside of me."

"A power," Rachel guessed.

"I don't really understand it," Kory said honestly, her fingers still twirling her hair.

"Me too," Rachel said nodding. "It's a darkness."

"A light."

Rachel and Kory's words mixed together, and Hazel raised her eyebrows. "So, you guys are opposites?"

"I guess," Rachel said shrugging. "What does yours feel like?"

Hazel shrugged softly, "Somewhere in between I guess." Hazel looked up and smiled at the old diner coming into view. "Kory. Coffee. Please." Rachel laughed at her, and Kory shook her head with a smile.

"That was the plan," Kory chuckled.

Kory pulled into the car park of the small dinner, the blue Bulldogs signs fading and cracking slightly. Kory stepped out first, pulling a pair of large round glasses on. Rachel stepped out, walking to Kory's side but Hazel was already halfway to the door. Rachel shook her head and chased after her, Kory in toe.

Hazel pushed the glass door open, the small bell ringing above them. A younger waitress, with blonde hair and a blue shirt that matched the sign looked up from the notebook and smiled. "Be with you in a sec," She called with a bright smile.

Hazel went to step forward, but Kory grabbed her arm, stopping her movements. Kory's eyes scanned the small shop, some patrons stopping to look up at them. "What are you doing?" Rachel asked, looking around as well.

"Making sure it's safe," Kory said simply.

Hazel looked up at Kory and then the empty booth ahead of them. "It's just a coffee shop, we'll be fine," Hazel insisted, walking ahead to the booth. Hazel pulled her coloured jacket off and slid into the seat, Rachel sitting next to her. Kory looked around once more before sitting across from them, tossing her glasses.

Hazel picked up a menu and Rachel leaned over her shoulder, pulling the stripped rainbow shirt down to cover her stomach properly. Hazel chuckled softly, "Thanks, mom." Rachel laughed at her, dropping her head onto Hazel's shoulder.

The waitress strolled to the booth, smiling brightly. "Can I, uh, get you lot anything?" She asked, looking down at the girls.

"Chicken and waffles," Rachel said quickly.

"Hazelnut coffee please," Hazel said with a smile.

"Hazelnut coffee and Chicken and waffles coming up. Best in the county," The waitress smiled. "Miss, can I get you something, too?"

"No. Thank you," Kory said with a sweet smile.

Hazel smiled, watching the girl walk back to the counter. "Perv," Rachel whispered.

"Not that," Hazel whispered. A group of men stood at the counter, calling to get the chef's attention.

"Three beers," One man finally hollered, and the chef dropped his head.

"We don't serve until after twelve," the chef huffed his explanation, the inevitability of the fight dawning on him.

"Fuck you, Daryl," the man cursed tossing a stack of napkins at the chef. The chef sighed holding up his phone in a threatening manner. The man reached for the chef, but the blonde waitress rushed forward.

"Travis, leave it." Her pleas fell on deaf ears as Travis stumbled over to her, gripping her waist, ignoring her hands that tried to push him away. "Travis, let me go." Two of his friends laughed as Travis continued quiet rambling to the waitress.

"You do what I tell you to do," Travis growled, pulling the waitress harder, his fingers digging into her skin.

"Let go," the waitress ordered, her orders turning into pleas.

"Kory..." Hazel whispered and Kory leaned against the booth, looking over her shoulder.

"Excuse me, Travis," Kory called, stretching her arm over the booth. The men turned to the girls and Kory cooked her eyebrow. "She was taking our order and we're in a bit of a hurry."

Travis looked at the waitress, at Kory and then one of his friends. "Go get us our drinks," he ordered. "You should go find someplace else to eat." Travis held Kory's eyes, trying to stare her down.

"You should take your own advice," Hazel shouted.

Travis let the waitress go and walked to the booth, pressing his hands against the tabletop. His hair was greasy and grimy, his breath smelt of cigarettes and his jacket was falling apart. He leant closer to Hazel, sneering in her face. "Fuck did you just say?"

Kory tapped her nails against the table and Hazel turned to her. "Go wait in the car," Kory ordered, keeping her voice low.

The man smiled, "That's right. You go with 'em too sweet cheeks. Before someone gets hurt." Travis's eyes darted around, motioning the girl towards the door.

"Go," Kory insisted. Kory winked at Hazel, and she knocked Rachel's side. Rachel looked at Kory once more before standing and walking around Travis.

Hazel grabbed her jacket and stood, the men by the counter staring down the girls. Rachel slammed the car door closed as she sat in the front seat, watching Hazel as she walked from the dinner. Hazel slid into the backseat of the car, moving to the middle seat like Rachel had before. "Why didn't you help her?"

Hazel shushed Rachel softly and nodded back at Kory. Through the window the girl watched Travis lean closer to Kory, growling at her. Kory didn't even glance at him, instead, she simply grabbed his collar and slammed his face into the table, shattering the bones in his nose. Rachel gasped, her eyes widening as Hazel chuckled softly. Kory stood, turning to another man and backing him into the tables. He stumbled and Kory struck his face, the hit sure to leave a nasty welt on his face.

A man raced forward, grabbing Kory's arm to try and stop her but as he spun her around, she slammed her forehead into his nose, making him stumble backward. She slid a fork off the table, sliding it between her knuckles. A man ran at her, swinging his fist out, Kory just turned towards him and stabbed the fork into his fist. As he bent over in pain, blood gushing from his fingers, Kory kneed his crotch and pushed him back making him topple over.

Kory brushed her hair back, grabbed her glasses from the table and turned towards the door. Hazel sighed, leaning back, a ghost of a smile still on her lips. "Holy shit," Rachel cursed.

Kory stepped from the dinner, a bag and coffee cup in her hand. She opened the driver's door, handing the bag off to Rachel. "Chicken and waffles. On the house, apparently," Kory explained, handing Hazel her coffee.

"I may not know a lot about you, but..." Hazel muttered, sipping the coffee.

"You're a total badass," Rachel smiled, smelling the chicken. Kory chuckled, sliding her sunglasses on.

— gods —