A cacophony of explosions was set loose, their multi-coloured lights illuminating the sky in a display of wonder. More and more rockets screamed upwards on trails of sparks, only to implode in yet another showcase of brilliance. The darkness of the night was completely forgotten and with it the usual silence of a sleeping city.

Dawn Fire was enraptured by it all. Her eyes were wide open, watching the dark canvas above her become a chaotic mess of colour and spectacles. It was supposed to be cold now, evidenced by the thick snow that was still lying everyhwere, but Dawn was feeling incredibly warm. And really happy. This sensation was everywhere, all around her. It made her brain somewhat fuzzy, but she paid that no mind.

“Happy New Year, Aria!”

“Yeah yeah. Happy Ne-Hey, no! No hugging!”

They were currently in one of the parks near their apartment. Several more groups of people were also here, families or close friends, presumably. Many were laughing and talking, others were watching the fireworks, some contributed to it with their own rockets.

Many of the younger ones were holding bottles or glasses with which they were toasting the new year that had arrived. Kids were chasing each other with thin sticks, the tips alight with fiery sparks shooting everywhere.

It was so exciting for the girl that she did not know where to look first. Aria was mainly just walking alongside her, keeping her from running into others.

They were simply walking around the streets, just like many of the cities inhabitants. Everywhere, it seemed, the same mix of laughter and energy filled the air. When the duo was crossing one of the cities bridges, Dawn stopped as soon as she saw the fireworks reflecting in the dark waters beneath them. The beautiful display captivated her for minutes, standing in the chill air that swept over the bare stone of the old bridge.

Eventually though, she turned away from the sight and followed her friend back into the streets. During the few hours that they walked, Dawn seemed to never lose the joyous energy. She also remained completely oblivious of her companion’s constant state of alertness.

Aria herself held neither fascination nor interest in the current event. Rather, she kept herself occupied by gently guiding Dawn through the streets, while also watching for any familiar faces. Recent chance encounters had only strengthened her determination to never be spotted, especially by one of them.

It was this awareness that alerted her to the presence of a face she knew, more or less. This time however, she was already too close to guide her companion away from them without suspicion. Instinctively, she slipped inbetween other outgoers, keeping her eyes on the figure as she rushed past.

Dawn also noticed the girl as she briskly walked by her. Not slowing down in her own wander, she watched her with more random interest than any particular reason. The girl’s long charcoal black hair swashed behind her back like a tail. In the middle of the crossroads she stopped suddenly, turning her head here and there, as if she were searching for someone.

The girl did not see it, even with her concentrated attention, but Dawn did. Another figure detached herself from the seemingly everpresent crow, nimbly walking towards the charcoal-haired searcher. This one had maybe the biggest shades that Dawn had ever seen. That and her electric blue hair would have made her rather easy to spot, yet it seemed the other girl had not. Quite possibly, ‘Shades’ as Dawn nicknamed her, was really good at slipping from other’s notice, evidenced by how her avoiding the lone girl’s field of view while sneaking up on her.

Dawn watched with happy curiosity, a near firework explosion providing her with enough light to catch a cheshire grin adorning white skin, underneath all that mess of blue hair.

Only moments before ‘Shades’ had catched up on her unsuspecting quarry, Dawn felt someone tapp her on the shoulder. It was Aria, mildly urging her forward with that look of indifferent disdain she always seemed to have when they walked among crowds.

The redhead felt a pang of disappointment at being distracted, but she complied. A glance over her shoulder showed her that she had missed the surprise meeting. Though it did bring a smile on her own lips, seeing the two girls hugging each other, spinning together in circles.

They walked through the streets, how long was impossible to say without an actual watch, not like both of them really cared. Sometimes they would talk about things, when not many people were around, and when it was quieter.

Eventually they were walking over another bridge, this one had just as amazing a view as the first one, atleast Dawn was sure that it wasn’t the same as before. They wove between several small groups, steadily making their way across. It was then that Dawn noticed bright red and white bands cutting off a section of the bridge’s right side. There, the ground seemed darker in some spots, as if charred, one could also make out cracks in the asphalt.

“Looks rather centralized to be simple wear and tear. An accident maybe?” Dawn turned to ask her new friend about it.

But Aria was suddenly nowhere to be found. Where ever she looked, the redhead could not spot her friend among the sparse crowd.

Being seperated without warning threw Dawn off, confusion overtaking her. She stumbled around as her head turned faster than the rest of her body could follow. Panic started to slowly well up inside of her, only to be repressed immediately. Dawn trusted in Aria, she knew her roommate would be able to find her, she always seemed to be able to.

“Hey, watch it!” Dawn jumped at the sharp voice. Standing before her was a rather massive young woman, taller than her by almost an entire head. She had just turned, and Dawn would have collided with her, if the woman had not snapped at the careless girl.

The imposing frame alone was enough to intimidate Dawn, as she staggered a few steps back her mind jumbled to quickly form an apology and avoid any conflict. “Uh-sorry, I’m really so, so sorry. I-I did not see where I was going.”

She had bright, almost golden-like eyes that scrutinized Dawn like a bird of prey looking at a mouse. Her shock-white hair was short and unkempt, contrasting her dark skin tone and standing out against the sky. Finally, she seemed to mellow out somewhat, relaxing in her posture and sticking her hands back into her leather jacket.

“A-again, I am so, so s-“

“Alright, alright. Can stop that now.” The woman silenced her with a simple hand gesture, before turning back towards the bridge.

Dawn didn’t know what to do next in this situation. She could go away and forget what happened here. That did seem like the simpler and honestly, like the smarter decision. However, there was something she caught with her own eyes when another rocket exploded relatively near to them. In the light of the firework, she could have sworn to have seen a glistening in the eyes of the white-haired woman. Like barely held tears.

“I’m Dawn, by the way. Uhm, Dawn Fire.”

“Uh, what? Oh. Okay.”

“I’m sorry if I am disturbing you. But, are you really okay?”

“Mm-Fine. Everythings just fine.” She replied. “Name’s Gilda, by the way. And I am completely fine over here. Just… looking at the bridge.”

She didn’t sound really convincing. If Dawn had to say, she sounded more like she was trying to convince herself. This felt somewhat similar to those conversations that she had with Aria a few days ago. Just like then, she decided to press on, although now she had more confidence and less crippling fear from the person in front of her.

“Alright. I can go if you want.” She offered. “You just looked a bit sad and if I can help in any way, maybe if you want to talk about it?”

“Seems a bit random, don’t you think? Talking ‘bout personal stuff with someone you know for a minute or so.”

“You don’t have to say any names. Or anything, if you don’t want to, then I'll just leave. That would be ok too.”

“Hm. Yeah.”

“… Someone I knew… she died over there.”

“I… I’m sorry to hear that.” Dawn nervously folded her hands. She did not want to constantly fiddle around with them, it seemed rude. “If I may ask… what was the cause?”

“It uh… just… whole lotta nasty business.” When Gilda saw the questioning look on the face of Dawn right, she realized she had to elaborate somewhat.

“Was a girl from the Highschool nearby. She… well, there was lots of unrest amongst the students, a website that posted personal shit for all to see. You had to have heard of it, Anon-a-Miss debacle?”

Dawn just shook her head. The taller girl had to process that for a moment. It seemed so bizarre to her that someone did not know about the whole crisis at all. It had been in virtually every newspaper. But this girl had not, for some reason. Most likely she was from out of town.

“Okay then. Well, to cut a really shit story short, that one girl was injured really badly. So, they brought her to the nearest hospital of course. Thing is now, when the medic drove over this here bridge, they created an accident. She didn’t make it. Everyone’s been shellshocked after that for days.”

Gilda sighed. Looking to the red girl, she saw her listening with curious, if saddened, eyes.

“That was about a week before christmas. Now, people have started to move on. Some more, some less. To be honest that girl wasn’t really well-liked in the school, not at that point, but we were all still pretty shaken from all that.”

“And… now, they are doing alright? Are you doing alright?”

“Yeah. Most are kinda accepting now that someone they knew, even if not on a good basis, is never gonna be here again. Me? I’m doing good, I think. Sometimes, my brain starts thinking ‘bout it all again. Always makes me lil' melancholic.”

“There is this group of girls." Gilda recounted after a short pause. She had shortly pondered lighting herself a new cigarette, but had decided against it. "They were close to her, somewhat. They’ve been taking it the hardest, from what I have seen atleast. Some of 'em got real snappy and reclusive, others just... cried a lot.”

“I… know what you mean. Uhm, do you know how they’ve been… you know, coping, with the sudden loss? If it happened only a couple of weeks ago, how do they feel better now? J-just asking, of course.”

Gilda was now shifting a bit nervously. Here she was, basically pouring her heart out to a complete stranger. It did feel good, kinda, she hadn’t talked like that with anyone, not even her own friends.

“Well… there was a funeral ceremony, or something of that sort.” She explained tentavely. ” They were all constantly consoling each other. Brought lots of pretty flowers. They just probably hang out with eachother, doing all that… friendship thing they do. I don't know.”

“Okay. Thank you.”

It was then that Dawn finally saw Aria striding over towards them. The redhead gave her a slight smile and a wave, but from the corner of her eye she could see Gilda suddenly tensing up. If Aria also noticed that she didn’t show it.

Dawn on the other hand could almost feel the young woman next to her getting increasingly nervous, her muscles tensing underneath her thick jacket, as if she was preparing for a fight . Then suddenly, as Aria was just a few meters away from them, Gilda relaxed completely. Her hands unclenched, her shoulders dropped, and her face was completely void of the anger and the nervousness that it had displayed just seconds ago. She simply stared blankly at Aria as she stopped right in front of them.

“Here you are Dawn.” Aria then turned towards the taller woman, her usual mix of indifference and that grumpy disdain painted on her face. “Is there a problem, or why are you looking at me like that?”

Gilda slowly shook her head. Then she blinked several times, as if she tried to clear her mind, before speaking up. “No. Sorry, just thought I recognized you from somewhere.”

“Yeah, but you didn’t. We don’t know eachother.”

“Yeah. I was wrong. We don’t know eachother from anywhere.” Gilda blinked again. “I think I should really go now. Bye.”

“That was… kinda weird, wasn’t it?” Dawn asked her friend uncertainly, as Gilda’s short white hair disappeared into the crowd of people.

“Hm. Sometimes, people think they know someone, but their brain is just playing tricks on them. Say, did you ever have that sort of feeling in your gut? Like you know someone, but you don’t know why or from where?” Aria shrugged casually.

“Hey, Aria?”

“Mhm?”

“This may sound weird, but this place kinda feels weird.”

Aria cocked an eyebrow. “You mean the bridge. Weird in what sense?”

“I don’t know. My neck just started feeling so tingly all of a sudden, my hands too but only really feint. It’s like, electrizity? I don’t know how to explain it properly.” She said with a frown on her face.

Aria seemed to contemplate that.

“Aria?” Dawn began carefully, before deciding otherwise “Nevermind.”

The purplish girl shook her head lightly while smiling, patting the other’s shoulder. “I think you’re getting tired Dawn. Let us just get back home so can get some sleep, alright?”

“Y-yeah, let’s just do that.” She had to stifle a yawn.

“Don’t worry. I’ll be right behind you.

Aria did not follow her. Instead, she turned and looked at the bridge again, right at that one spot. With one slow breath, her eyes closing almost completely, she reached out and felt. It took only a few seconds, but ultimately, she could feel it. The remnants, the last few scraps that she had missed last time.

Swiftly, she walked towards the tape that seperated the spot, still reaching out towards those last scraps. To anyone else, she was just another celebrating person, walking over a bridge with a stunning few, hands both tucked into her coat’s pockets.

Looking back, Dawn had not noticed her slipping away, or atleast not in this direction.

Then, Aria felt it, the edge of the last slivers of energy. She smirked.

Stepping towards the railing, she pretended to enjoy the view of the water beneath her and the reflection of the illuminated sky above her. Casually, her right hand left the pocket and moved up on her body, before opening the upmost button of her coat. In long-practiced motions, her fingers wandered deeper until they touched warm, smooth crystal.

Aria closed her eyes and started to hum again.

It started to pulse greedily, an old sensation in her hand. A good sensation.

She could feel as she pulled all those last strands into herself. All too soon she was finished, after all, most of it had already been consumed by her days ago.

Aria released her gem and closed her coat, opening her eyes to look at the water below. A smirk slowly morphed from her mouth. She wanted to stay like this, simply enjoy the rush of power, however small it was. But Dawn would probably get worried by now.

So, she made her way back off the bridge, careful to hide any change in her emotions. Just like before, Dawn Fire was not really hard to find, even without any assistance. That girl had neither training nor reason to keep a low profile.

She had barely even noticed the sudden and short absence of her companion. Aria quickly caught up to her. Dawn’s realization of being left alone, again, was swiftly disarmed with a teasing comment and a joke. It worked to ease the amnesiastic girl’s mind and soon she forgot about it again.

While walking besides her and keeping the others attention occupied, as well as choosing their fastest route back home, Aria began to lay out more plans in her mind. Tonight’s discoveries would have to be looked into more deeply and built upon.

And she had a couple of places for that.

Author's Note

Hey look, it is Gilda again. Didn't see that coming, did ya?
Also Aria is moving along with her own things regarding her new 'friend'.
Let's see where she brings her next time, in the next chapter.

In a perfect world I would have published the last three chapters according to their actual dates (christmas, new year etc.) However, I didn't and that is my own fault.
Though maybe I'll manage to line sth. like that up in the future.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, if you did (and if you didn't) you can let me know. Same goes for my general writing and grammar of course.
Until next, see ya