Different

Chapter 3

"I agree with him. Red doesn't look good on you."

"Thanks. Go look for you own clothes now. I need to find some matching shoes."

The two nodded before departing. Taking Olivia's words into account, Ashley avoided the hoodies completely. Instead, they searched until they found the perfect, indigo dress. But as soon as they reached for it, a hand reached out too. They looked up to see a girl staring back.

"Heh. Sorry. You can take it," Ashley said.

The girl smiled. "No. You take it. It'll suit you."

They smirked back. "Really. You take it. I'd rather be looking for hoodies."

She chuckled at that. "Are you sure? I really do think you'd look good in it."

"Really. You'd look better."

"Thanks. I'm Eclipse, by the way."

"Ashley. I gotta go. Mabye I'll see you around."

"Hopefully."

The two swiftly departed. As Ashley approached the till, a simple red dress as a replacement, they saw Danny and Olivia waiting. The cashier eyed them suspiciously, but didn't raise his concerns.

"So, who was that girl back there?" Olivia teased once they left the shop.

"A stranger. We just happened to want the same thing. Nothing else."

"Oh really? I saw the way you looked at her. You sure you don't like her?"

"Olivia. No. I do not like her at all. Or, well, I like her. But I don't like lik-ugh! You know what I mean!"

The girl laughed at their frustration.

Olivia stayed at the entrance while Ashley and Danny searched for comics.

"Huh. Nightlight and Darksun comics are both really similar. Why are they enemies?" Danny asked.

"Because, when they were first created, Darksun decided to hate Nightlight. Besides, the two most popular comic companies can't be friends."

"That's dumb. Which one's better?"

"They're pretty much equal. Just get the Start Off Strong books from Nightlight, and the Birth of a Hero books from Darksun."

He nodded and smiled.

Ashley left Danny to look for their own book. It didn't take them long to find the perfect one. The last book for their collection. As they reached out for it, a familiar hand reached out too.

"It's almost like you're stalking me," They said to Eclipse.

"Maybe I am."

They both chuckled.

Ashley finally got to observe her properly. Her jade eyes were almost as penetrating as Matt's. Her flowing, raven hair easily reached her waist, and her tanned face was dotted with freckles.

"Seriously," She said, preventing Ashley from continuing their assessment, "You take it this time. That way, we're even."

"Right. Gotta balance out the universe."

"Exactly. I can get something else."

"I gotta go. You'll probably find me, though."

She laughed again as they walked away.

"Who'd you get?" Ashley asked Danny while they payed.

"Frost-Flame, Æmpath, Nightbat and Healer-K for Nightlight, Whirlwhile, Dustcloud, Techno and Nightshade for Darksun."

"Good choices."

The two met Olivia outside, and decided to get snacks before going. As they were strolling home, Ashley noticed something.

In the middle of an eerie alley, a shadowed, purple figure hovered over a tanned, black-haired girl. Eclipse. They appeared to be talking. Ashley tried their best to lip read.

"Do...think...right?" The purple man said.

"Yes...talked...universe...Panther."

Ashley froze. They know. Is it that obvious? They didn't have time to think while the two kept talking.

"Did...suspect?"

"They didn't...realise...mark."

"Mark?" Ashley whispered.

What mark? Then they realised. She had an arrow-shaped mark on her shoulder. The mark of an Amazon. It was only then that they realised: the two were staring back.

"Tommorrow...collect...and Daniel," The man muttered, before the two sprinted off.

Ashley barely realised how long they'd been staring for.

"Ash! Ashley! What's wrong?" Olivia asked, clearly concerned.

"You didn't see?"

"No! There was nothing there!"

"But there was. I saw them. Danny, didn't you see?"

"N-no. You're acting weird," Danny practically whispered.

There was something in his voice that made their heart ache, but something else, something in the back of their mind, told them to prove their sanity.

"They were there."

As Ashley began to march towards the gloomy alley, Danny grabbed their arm.

"Ashley...please...stop. Y-you're scaring me."

That is what allowed Ashley to snap out of their trance.

"Danny I-...Fuck, I'm so sorry. I don't know what happened, I just...I don't know. I'm so sorry," They felt the need to hug him, but didn't attempt it.

"I-It's okay Ash. Really. You weren't yourself. Just tell us what you saw."

"I saw that girl I met, Eclipse, talking to a guy, but he wasn't human. I couldn't make out everything they said, but they know I'm Panther."

"How could they-" Olivia started, but Ashley cut her off.

"Guys. Go home. Today's been nice, but go home."

The others looked at them, stunned by the sudden demand, but complied. As they walked away, Ashley sighed, and sprinted home.