The Australian sunlight hit Bri like a physical force, so bright and thick it erased the memory of the terminal’s fluorescent haze. It bounced off everything—windshields, glass, the radioactive purple of Asune’s hair as she shouldered through the sliding doors without pause.

By the time Bri caught up, Asune was already halfway down the curb, flagging a black stretch limo parked at the front of a chaotic pickup lane. The whole scene was a zoo of yelling kids and VIA students. Asune navigated it with a neat flick of her wrist, summoning the driver—a tall man whose shoulders seemed impossibly broad. He moved to intercept them with a professional detachment that made Bri clutch her backpack tighter, feeling like misplaced luggage.

Asune motioned to the bags that were waiting with a porter. “Bri,” she said, not even turning to look, “give the chauffeur your bag.”

Bri edged forward, backpack still slung over one shoulder. She blinked at the sunlight and tried to hand off the bag with something like grace. Instead, her hand stuttered, an aftershock of turbulence or nerves, and she nearly fumbled the zipper open. The driver caught it before it hit the pavement.

“Sorry,” she mumbled.

“No worries, miss,” said the driver, voice rich and round, the kind of accent parodied by crocodile hunters on TV.

Asune grinned at her over her shoulder. “It’s cool. My dad hired him just for this trip.”

Asune stretched her arms up and spun in a slow circle, letting the sunlight hit her face. The purple was even brighter up close, and Bri realized that what she thought were highlights were just sections where the dye had taken differently. It gave Asune’s hair the effect of being painted in, like something from a dream you forget as soon as you wake up.

The driver stacked their bags with one hand, closed the trunk with the other, and moved to open the limo door for them. He did it with a little bow, which might have been sarcastic or just Australian politeness; Bri couldn’t tell.

She squinted at Asune still confused. “How did you know which suitcase was mine?”

Asune didn’t hesitate. “Easy. I looked for the cheapest one.”

Bri rolled her eyes, a familiar sting of truth behind the joke. Her suitcase, a battered find from one of her mother’s movie shoots in Prague, looked like a relic next to the others. It still had a stranger’s initials on the tag, a detail she’d always secretly liked. “Very funny.”

Asune shot her a look—half-mischief, half concern. “I’m kidding. I just know your style. The alien tag kinda gave it away.”

“Oh. Right.” Bri pushed her glasses up her nose, fighting the urge to blush. “At least it’s not pink and sparkly.”

“Sparkles would look good on you. Dibs on your makeup,” said Asune, almost wistful.

Bri made a face. “If I ever wear anything sparkles, you have my permission to euthanize me.”

“Deal.” Asune stepped in, so close their arms brushed, and steered her toward the limo door with a hand at her back. The physical contact startled Bri more than the joke. It was casual, but so direct—like Asune was worried she’d collapse if left to her own devices.

The driver held the door open and Asune dove in first, kicking her shoes off the second her feet hit the floor. Bri hesitated, felt her pulse spike, and then followed. The black leather seats smelled like new car and something sweeter, maybe the cologne from the driver. It was freezing inside, the AC on arctic blast. Bri slid in, shutting the day behind her.

The door closed. Asune immediately sprawled across the seat, hair spilling everywhere, and grinned like she was already on vacation.

Asune tested out her really awful Australian accent.“Welcome to Australia mate. Ready for an otherworldly adventure in the down under?”

Bri almost laughed. She grimaced instead.“Ouch. You better work on that accent.”

She sank back in the seat and let herself believe, for a minute, that maybe the worst part of the trip was over.

The inside of the limo felt even colder than before, a neat, hermetic box of chill air and gray leather. Bri’s glasses fogged for half a second before clearing. She squinted at the rows of tiny blue LED lights lining the ceiling, like the inside of a club built by people who had never actually been to a club.

Asune kicked her feet up on the opposite seat and spun her entire body to face Bri, knees tucked under her chin. The limo had barely started moving, but she was already in motion, hands fluttering, her voice bouncing around the plush interior.

“Okay,” she said, “so here’s the game plan.” She ticked points off on her fingers. “First night is a semi-formal dinner. Easy enough. Second night: angels and demons.” Bri’s mind went blank. “Then the decades party—anything past the ‘60s is fine. Then it’s Halloween, heroes and villains, and the lame pirate night.” Asune finally took a breath. “Did you bring anything that isn’t black?”

Bri blinked, trying to catch up. “I’ve got a pink dress. And it’s not like you’re one to talk,” she added, gesturing at Asune’s skull t-shirt and combat boots. “I brought a white shirt. But it has bats on it.”

Asune beamed, delighted. “Bats. I can work with that.”

The city was a smear outside the tinted window, rows of boxy buildings and low palm trees and the endless scroll of cars. Every so often, a wedge of blue cut through—the sky, the ocean, hard to tell which. Bri craned her neck to look, then remembered she got motion-sick and stopped.

Asune was still going. “For angels and demons, I’m thinking you could do a fallen angel thing, and I’ll go as a demon? You’ll have wings, but, like, bloodstained. Or maybe a demon with glasses. You’d be the only demon who looks like she actually reads the contract.”

Bri snorted. “How do you know I’m not already a demon?”

Asune paused, looking her up and down with a critical eye. “I mean, you’re halfway there. But real demons don’t blush when people look at them.”

Bri’s face felt hot. She turned toward the window, focusing on the blur of the city. It was easier than having to come up with a reply.

“Decades party, you’re with me,” said Asune, pressing ahead. “We’re going 90’s zombies. Matching flannels, baggy jeans, the works. I got us both snap bracelets. You ever wear one?”

“Uhh… maybe? They snap?” Bri queried.

“That’s adorable. I’ll show you.” Asune mimed snapping a bracelet onto her own wrist, then onto Bri’s, precise and somehow gentle, even as a pantomime. “Gotcha.”

Bri pretended to ignore the gesture, but the spot on her arm tingled anyway.

Asune continued.“Or, we could do a 80’s prom zombie? Love it!” Seeing Bri’s expression, she backpedaled slightly. “I’ll let you think about it. You’ve got some time”

“When Bri say anything. Asune barreled on: “Superheroes and Halloween—I have a surprise for you.” She ended in a singsong voice. I’ll just show you. Pirate night, I’ve got you the sexiest pirate costume. You have an absolutely devastating figure. You really should show it off more.“”

“That’s... a lot of costumes,” said Bri, voice drier than usual. “How much luggage did you bring?”

“Four suitcases. I like a plan and options.” Asune shrugged. “And I like not being bored for eight days on a floating mall. You are my new Barbie doll.”

A small, sharp annoyance pricked through Bri’s exhaustion. It was a joke, she knew, but it felt like being handled, arranged. She closed her eyes, the motion of the limo suddenly making her nauseous. A silence settled, roomy but no longer comfortable. She focused on the blur outside, the flat, open city. Out there, everything looked normal. In here, it felt like being inside a package, sealed and addressed, already in transit to somewhere she hadn’t agreed to go.

“Hey,” said Asune, louder this time. “Are you even listening to me?”

Bri jerked her head back. “Sorry. Got distracted.”

“Yeah,” said Asune, but she was smiling. “That’s what I like about you. Nobody else in our class can zone out that hard. It’s kind of amazing.”

Bri shrugged. “It’s a skill.”

“For real, though. You okay? You looked like you were about to hurl at the airport. And you’re doing that thing with your thumb again.”

Bri froze. Her thumb and forefinger were pressed together, a nervous habit she thought no one noticed. Heat flooded her face as she forced her hands flat in her lap, suddenly feeling exposed.

“Well, good news,” said Asune. “We’re almost there. And once we’re on the ship, no one can make you leave until it’s over.”

The words landed like a stone in Bri’s stomach. A whole week with no escape. “That’s supposed to be reassuring?” she asked, the words barely a whisper.

“Asune’s grin faded when she saw Bri’s expression. “Okay, bad reassurance. My point is, you’re stuck with me.” She leaned forward, elbows on knees, her tone softening. “I’m glad you came, Bri. Really.”

Bri met her eyes. The contact lasted maybe half a second before she had to look away, but it was more than she usually managed. For a moment, the dread in her stomach eased. Maybe this wouldn’t be a complete disaster.

“Yeah,” she said quietly, surprised to find she meant it. “Me too.”