CHAPTER 11: Beneath the Surface

One week before While Kaisler trained, outside. In the real world…

Juno dreamed.

No—not a dream. A memory.

She was seven again.

Screams filled the air, thick with smoke and the stench of blood. Her hometown burned around her, reduced to a hellscape of collapsing buildings and mangled corpses. Shadows moved through the firelight—demons, their monstrous forms slithering and stomping through the ruins, slaughtering everything in their path.

Juno stood frozen, her tiny fingers gripping the hem of her mother’s dress. She wanted to run. She wanted to scream. But her legs wouldn’t move.

She watched as the demons tore through her teachers. Her friends.

Then—her parents.

Her mother’s strangled gasp. Her father’s desperate struggle. A sickening crunch as a demon’s massive foot came down on his skull, flattening it against the dirt like it was nothing.

She tried to close her eyes. She couldn’t.

She tried to block out the laughter. She couldn’t.

Demon One: “Think we should keep this one? Might help us get access to human tech.”

Demon Two: “Eh… sure, bro. But first—let’s mess with her memory.”

Demon One: “Ohhh, you know what’d be hilarious? If she remembered everything when she turned sixteen.”

Demon Two: (snickering) “Holy shit—that would be so funny.”

They howled, doubling over in laughter.

Juno’s tear-filled eyes locked onto them. Their grotesque faces twisted, shifting, warping—

And suddenly—

Her parents stood before her.

Smiling.

Demon One: “Hey, Juno.”

Juno (whispers, trembling): “…Daddy?”

Demon One (grinning): “Yes.”

She woke up.

A cold sweat clung to her skin, her breaths sharp and ragged. For a moment, the world around her didn’t feel real.

Then, the hard concrete beneath her reminded her where she was.

Juno sat up outside a run-down hotel, miles away from where she had taken her last beating. The night air was crisp, biting at her skin, but she didn’t shiver.

She was used to the cold.

She was alone.

Juno clenched her fists, shoving them deep into her jacket pockets as she stood. The city streets stretched out before her, glowing under flickering neon lights. Every step she took echoed in the emptiness, but the silence was better than facing what she had just relived.

She had bigger problems right now.

She was broke.

Not “tight on cash” broke—completely, embarrassingly, hopelessly broke.

The thought of calling Kaisler, Buddy, or even Sarah made her stomach churn. She’d rather drop dead in the street than ask for help. Her pride wouldn’t let her.

Her stomach growled, betraying her, but she forced herself forward. She wasn’t hungry—at least, that’s what she told herself.

Then she passed a food stall.

The scent of grilled meat hit her like a punch to the gut. She stopped without meaning to, her body screaming for her to just take a step forward, to ask for something, anything.

She turned away.

The train station wasn’t far now, its neon signs glowing like a beacon. The closer she got, the heavier her chest felt. She reached the ticket machine, staring at the screen as if she could will it to change.

She pulled out her last crumpled bills. Counted them.

Not enough.

Her fingers clenched around the money.

She could walk. It would take all night—maybe longer. She’d probably collapse halfway there. But it was better than calling for help.

Better than admitting weakness.

Her legs ached just thinking about it, but she set her jaw and turned away from the station.

She’d get there on her own.

Even if it killed her.

Present Day

Juno was exhausted.

She had been working overtime—again. The coffee shop was quiet, save for the hum of the machines and the occasional clatter of cups. She was the only one on shift, which meant no breaks, no time to breathe.

Then the door swung open.

She looked up, ready to give the usual half-hearted greeting—until she saw him.

Kaisler.

Her first instinct was to ignore him, pretend she hadn’t seen him. But that wasn’t an option. She was on the clock, and whether she liked it or not, she had to serve him.

Then she noticed the girl beside him.

Juno (tired, forcing professionalism): "Welcome to Brew & Bliss."

Kaisler (raising an eyebrow, surprised): "Didn’t expect to see you here."

Juno (flatly): "Just... don’t talk to me, okay? I’m here to make money, not conversation."

Kaisler (grinning): "Aight, chill. I’m just here for coffee—with my ‘friend’ Ava."

Ava: "Don’t call me your friend. We’re acquaintances."

Juno (dryly): "Still can’t get a girlfriend, huh?"

Kaisler: "I would never date her."

Ava (deadpan): "Trust me, the feeling’s mutual."

Juno: "What do you want?"

Ava: "Black espresso."

Kaisler: "Same."

Juno didn’t say another word, just turned and started making their drinks. When she handed them over, Kaisler took his cup without hesitation, giving her one last unreadable look before heading for the door.

Ava followed, offering Juno a glance—more curious than anything else—before stepping out into the night.

Then they were gone.

Juno stood there for a moment, staring at the empty space where they had been.

She could have said something.

Could have apologized.

Could have cared.

But she didn’t.

Or at least, that’s what she told herself.

Because at the end of the day, none of it mattered. Not Kaisler. Not the past.

Not the feeling in her chest that told her she was losing something she barely had in the first place.

She shook it off and went back to work. She had bigger things to worry about.

Like the fact that she was still broke as hell.

Juno (muttering to herself): "Why am I always broke? This isn’t fair..."

She let out a tired, bitter laugh—before breaking down into quiet, exhausted sobs.

Because she already knew the answer.

She was going to have to work another overtime shift.

For the tenth time this week.

Three Weeks Later…

Juno finally had enough money.

After endless shifts, back-to-back overtime, and running on nothing but caffeine and sheer stubbornness, she had scraped together just enough to buy a plane ticket across the country.

Juno (squealing with excitement): "YES! YES! YES! I FINALLY HAVE ENOUGH MONEY—AFTER A MONTH OF NONSTOP OVERTIME!"

She could hardly believe it.

She wasted no time getting to the airport, clutching her precious ticket like it was a golden artifact. But reality hit the moment she boarded the plane.

Middle seat. Economy class. Six hours.

By the time she finally stepped off, she looked like a walking corpse.

Her body ached, her head throbbed, and she swore the guy next to her had hogged the armrest the entire flight. With dark circles under her eyes and zero energy left, she dragged herself out of the airport and onto the street.

She still had one last journey ahead.

Sarah’s house.

At Sarah’s House…

Juno stands outside Sarah’s door, raising a tired fist. She knocks—hard, fast, desperate.

Juno (knocking): SARAH! SARAH, OPEN UP, PLEASE!

Sarah (opening the door, shocked): JUNO?! Where have you been?!

Juno: Long story…

Sarah: Tell me everything.

One Hour Later…

Juno (exhausted): ...and then I finally bought the damn plane ticket.

Sarah: Damn, Kaisler is such a prick—oh my GOD.

Juno: RIGHT?!

Sarah: I’m telling Buddy to go deal with him.

Juno: No, don’t do that.

Sarah: Why not? He hit you!

Juno: Did you forget the part where I tried to kill him?

Sarah: Okay, okay, don’t remind me about that part…

Juno: Look, just chill. The important thing is—I’m here now.

Sarah: Alright, alright. Just… if you ever need help dealing with him, let me know.

Kaisler walks in, wearing a black tank top and sports trousers, drenched in sweat. A towel rests on his head, his messy dreads falling over his face.

Kaisler (panting): Should I get twists or fix my dreads?—Oh, hey Juno.

Juno (glaring): Don’t ‘hey’ me.

Sarah: Eh, I’d say get twists.

Kaisler: Aight. See y’all later. Bye, Juno.

Juno: Don’t talk to me.

Kaisler (grinning): Someone’s still mad.

Juno: JUST SHUT UP!

Kaisler: "We can run it back anytime you want a rematch—just don’t die."

Juno: "I fucking hate you! Why do you have to be such a PRICK?!"

Kaisler (grinning): "Because… why not?"

Before Juno can react, a flash of light engulfs him. In an instant—he's gone.

She whips her head around, searching. Last time, she could at least see him move, even if she couldn’t match his speed. But now?

Nothing. Just empty air. He was there, and now he wasn’t.

Sarah (rolling her eyes, sighing): "Trust me, You'll get used to it."