Sarah's Shadow
^{A Story}
Chapter 11 - Overtures
by Saless
 

Tiffany didn't know what to do. She wondered if anyone had seen her, or her car. She decided to hide everything she'd gotten under her bed. It wasn't a very good hiding place, but it was the best she could do. The cloak was a big help in hiding everything else.

After that she spent the rest of the day hiding in her apartment and watching the TV for any more news. They repeated the same thing a couple of times, and then nothing. Is that a good thing, or a bad thing? I wonder how the others are handling this. They've got to be as nervous as I am. But at least they're not alone. she thought. Maybe I should tell them? But they wouldn't trust me, so it wouldn't get me anywhere. Maybe if I make friends first…

Tiffany had a hard time getting to sleep that night, and dreamed of police breaking down her door and carrying her off to jail. She didn't feel nearly as cheerful or energetic in the morning as she usually did, but made an effort to get into a better mood so Sarah wouldn't notice. By the time she got to work she'd largely succeeded.

She waited for Sarah by the door and saw her girlfriend kiss her goodbye before driving off. They were so obviously in love and Tiffany felt a pang of envy. I'm tired of being alone. But maybe I can do something about that. she thought. She greeted Sarah and offered to be friends. Sarah seemed a little hesitant at first, but soon came around. Tiffany had a hard time keeping track of what she could say and what she couldn't without revealing her own secrets. Even so she had a good time talking with Sarah and began to think she wasn't going to be alone anymore.

Sarah said something at one point, about her parents and their poor relationship, which struck Tiffany as familiar. She was sure she'd heard something very similar before, but she couldn't place where. Wherever she'd heard it, she was sure that it had hidden a great deal and wondered if that was true with Sarah, too.

After work she met Erica, but she seemed a bit distant. Tiffany was glad Jill wasn't there.

After Sarah left she returned to her own apartment and just surfed the net, looking for anything on what happened in the hills. She figured the others would be staying home today, rather than risk being connected with that. She found a few references, but not much. Mostly just about the news coverage.

Tiffany was feeling a little more relaxed by the time she went to bed and slept dreamlessly.

She met Sarah at the door again the next morning, but something seemed off. She finally asked her at lunch and learned that John had broken into her apartment and trashed it! Tiffany felt horrible, because she had stayed home instead of going to Sarah's apartment as she so often did. She had to remind herself that it had happened while she was at work, so there was nothing she could have done. Despite her best efforts, she still felt like she'd let Sarah down and vowed to watch her like a hawk.

After work she went straight to Sarah's apartment. They were very active inside, moving furniture and apparently dropping the old stuff through portals in the floor when she got there. Tiffany didn't dare go inside as the door opening and closing would surely be noticed. She resigned herself to waiting outside, but got her opportunity to get in when they stopped for dinner.

Tiffany looked around in wonder once she was inside, as not only had they completely cleaned up the mess John had left, but they'd replaced all the furniture with much nicer stuff! How could they afford all this, or get it so quickly? she thought. They didn't say, and soon left for Jill and Mike's apartment. Tiffany wasn't able to get in, there, so she just watched as they replaced all of their furniture, too!

To her dismay, Sarah and Erica returned to her apartment through a portal, which Tiffany didn't have any chance of going through since she was stuck outside. She walked back to Sarah's apartment and looked in, but they were nowhere in sight. She tried the door, but it was locked, so she used her key and let herself in. She made sure to lock the door behind her and took up a position where she could see but not be seen in case John came calling again. She'd meant to only stay for a couple of hours, but she fell asleep.

When she woke it was just starting to get light out. She wiped the sleep from her eyes and groaned, realizing she'd have to speed back to her apartment to get dressed and hurry back over to work. Just then she heard a commotion coming from Sarah's room and rushed in. She found Erica on the bed, looking down worriedly at Sarah, who was lying on the floor in a fetal position, obviously trying to keep as much space between them as she could. Before she even knew what she was doing she had one of her throwing knives in her hand and was about to throw it when she realized that Erica wasn't attacking. In fact, she was just sitting there. What's going on?! Is she hurting Sarah, or helping her, or what? she thought, torn between a desire to protect Sarah and attack Erica, or wait and see what was happening as she knew that hurting Erica would hurt Sarah. In frustration she settled back to watch, longing to comfort Sarah but not daring to reveal herself to them.

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