[COLOR=GRAY][b][sup][u][i][u]One Week Before The Start Of The Semester[/u][/i][/u][/sup][/b]

[i]Harper leaned her back against the rough brick wall of the poorly lit alley, trying to catch her breath. Her heart was pounding so hard that she could feel it. The uncertain glow from her phone's screen cast an eerie light across her face, revealing the furrow in her brow and the tremor in her fingers. She was wearing a well-worn hoodie and comfortable sweatpants, but she felt out of place in the eerie atmosphere of the alley. Shouldn't she have been comforted by this feeling? When had she ever felt like she belonged somewhere, anyway? Before P.R.C.U., that is.[/i]

[i]The message displayed on her phone's screen was stark against the darkness and seemed to carry a weight that threatened to pull her into the abyss. It read, "Meet me tonight. 9 pm. The Driftwood. Come alone!" The words had been etched into her mind by this point, a haunting refrain that she couldn't shake.[/i]

[i]As Harper looked up at the flickering streetlamp above her, she couldn't help but feel like it was mirroring her inner turmoil. Its light danced across her features, emphasizing her uncertainty and fear. She wondered why she had been asked to come to The Driftwood after all this time. [/i]

[i]What did Sierra want? What was so important that she had insisted on Harper coming alone? [/i]

[i]As the brunette stood there, staring blankly at her phone, her mind drifted back to the last time she had seen her sister. It had been an argument that had spiralled out of control and had ended with harsh words and slammed doors. It had been months- no years- since they had truly spoken to one another, and the memory of that bitter fight weighed heavily on her heart.[/i]

[i]Harper carefully slipped her phone into her pocket, taking a deep breath as she prepared to face what was waiting for her. As she entered the bar, the air was thick with the lingering scents of countless nights of revelry. The smell of stale beer mixed with the aroma of aged whiskey, creating a unique, unmistakable blend. The ghosts of patrons who had long since passed away seemed to linger in the air, adding to the heavy atmosphere of the place.[/i]

[i]The dim lighting cast a sepia-toned filter over everything, as if time had mellowed within these walls. The bulbs above flickered restlessly, their filaments dancing like restless spirits. Harper's footsteps echoed softly against the creaking wood as she followed the path that led her across decades of stories. Each scuff, each groove held a secret - a whispered confession or a desperate plea. The floorboards bore the weight of countless souls, all seeking solace in the bottom of a glass. Their collective memories seeped into the grain, etching invisible lines of connection that were impossible to ignore.[/i]

[i]Following her own invisible line of connection towards the back of the bar, Harper's eyes were drawn to Sierra's hair first. It was a vibrant red, a stark contrast to the familiar brunette that she was used to seeing. The colour screamed rebellion and defiance, leaving Harper to wonder at the reason behind the sudden change. Was it Sierra's attempt to distance herself from her? A bright red would definitely accomplish that if that was the case. Her black leather jacket over a fitted graphic tee, ripped jeans, and combat boots only further emphasized her new rebellious spirit. Harper couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness as she looked at her, knowing that things from now on would never be the same again.[/i]

[i]Sierra lifted her sharp brown eyes from the drink before her. The dim light of The Driftwood cast shadows across her features, emphasizing the curve of her lips - a smirk that danced on the precipice of mockery. [/i]

[i][color=#fb0207]"Well, if it isn't my baby sister,"[/color][/i][i] Sierra drawled, her voice a blend of familiarity and tension. The years apart had etched lines on her face, but she remained the beauty the brunette had always thought she was.[/i]

[i]Harper eased into the worn wooden chair opposite her, her spine straight, her gaze steady.[/i]

[i][color=#8A9A5B]“It’s been a while,” [/color]Harper echoed, her words a bridge spanning the abyss. Sierra’s smirk widened, revealing a hint of teeth.[/i]

[i][color=#8A9A5B]“What do you want?”[/color] Harper finally asked. The Driftwood seemed to hold its breath, its walls absorbing their history. Sierra leaned back, her eyes assessing, calculating.[/i]

[color=#fb0207][i]“Closure,”[/i][/color][i] the redhead replied, her gaze unyielding. [color=#fb0207]“Answers.”[/color] Harper’s guard remained intact, but curiosity gnawed at her at this. [/i]

[i][COLOR=#8A9A5B]“Answers for what?”[/color][/i]

[i][color=#fb0207]"Answers," [/color][/i][i]Sierra repeated, enunciating each syllable as if the word held power all its own. [/i][i][color=#fb0207]"About that night. About what really happened to you." [/color][/i][i]Her gaze bore into Harper's, daring her to break the silence.[/i]

[i]Harper blinked, taken aback by Sierra's intensity. The night Sierra had discovered Harper's abilities was one neither of them could forget, though they'd both tried. It had been the catalyst for their estrangement, and the thought of revisiting it now sent a chill down Harper's spine.[/i]

[i][COLOR=#8A9A5B]"And what do you think you'll gain from dredging up the past, exactly?”[/color] she asked, her voice taut with suppressed emotion.[/i]

[i]Sierra's expression hardened.[/i][color=#fb0207][i] "Closure," [/i][/color][i]she said again, the word hanging in the air like a spectre. [/i][color=#fb0207][i]"And maybe, just maybe, a chance to move forward. To understand what happened to you... to us."[/i][/color]

[i]Harper leaned back in her chair, folding her arms, unable to hold back her glare. [/i]
[i][COLOR=#8A9A5B]“I don’t know…I think I got a pretty good understanding of what happened.”[/color] [/i]

[i]Sierra matched Harper's glare, her voice dropping to a low, intense whisper. [/i][color=#fb0207][i]"Do you? Because from where I'm sitting, it looks like you've been running from it. From me. From everything we once were."[/i][/color]

[i]Sierra’s words seemed to strike a nerve, and Harper's gaze faltered momentarily before she regained her composure. [COLOR=#8A9A5B]"I didn't run,”[/color] she said firmly, though her voice wavered ever so slightly. [COLOR=#8A9A5B]"I just... it wasn’t safe for me anymore without the control that I have now. And besides I needed to find my own path. To figure out who I was without-“ [/color][/i]

[color=#fb0207][i]"Without me?"[/i][/color][i] Sierra interjected, her eyes blazing. [/i][color=#fb0207][i]“We were supposed to be in this together, Harper. We were supposed to have each other's backs, always! Especially since…”[/i][/color]

[i]Harper recoiled as if physically struck, her breath catching in her throat.[/i]

[i][COLOR=#8A9A5B]"Don't you dare bring them up,”[/color] she hissed. [COLOR=#8A9A5B]“You know we can't change what happened. And I can't... I can't deal with that right now. There’s too many things now to worry about.” [/color][/i]

[i]Sierra's eyes narrowed. [/i][color=#fb0207][i]"You're not getting it. This isn't just about them, Harper. This is about us, about our family. And if we don't confront our demons, they'll keep haunting us, no matter how many 'things' you try to bury them under."[/i][/color]

[i]Harper's fists clenched as she fought to maintain control. [COLOR=#8A9A5B]"What do you want from me, Si? What do you want me to say?”[/color][/i]

[i]Sierra's voice softened. [/i][i][color=#fb0207]“I want the truth, Harps. I want us to face our past together, so we can finally move forward…. So we can be sisters again.”[/color][/i]

[i]Her gaze dropped to the table as she reached out, hesitantly resting her hand on Harper's. Harper tensed, feeling the weight of Sierra's touch like an anchor, keeping her tethered to a past she'd tried so hard to escape. Despite the urge to pull away, she remained still, willing herself to hear Sierra out.[/i]

[i][color=#fb0207]“You’re in your last year, right?”[/color][/i][i] Sierra continued, attempting a more casual conversation. [/i][i][color=#fb0207]"Time sure flies, huh? Have you decided what you want to do once you graduate?”[/color][/i]

[i]Harper’s guarded nod betrayed her wariness. The sudden shift in conversation felt like a gust of wind threatening to topple her carefully constructed walls. [COLOR=#8A9A5B]“Yeah,”[/color] she replied, her voice measured. [COLOR=#8A9A5B]“It’s been intense—exams, late nights, and some self-discovery, I suppose. But it’s helped me grow in ways I never thought possible.”[/color][/i]

[i]Sierra’s gaze softened in response. [/i][color=#fb0207][i]“You’ve come a long way,” [/i][/color][i]she murmured. [/i][color=#fb0207][i]“From that little girl who used to hide in the closet during thunderstorms.”[/i][/color]

[i]Harper’s lips twitched. [COLOR=#8A9A5B]“I had a flashlight and a stack of comic books in there. It was practically my fortress.”[/color][/i]

[color=#fb0207][i]“And I was your knight,”[/i][/color][i] Sierra teased. [/i][color=#fb0207][i]“Ready to slay imaginary dragons.”[/i][/color]

[i]The years apart—the chasm carved by grief and secrets—loomed between them. Sierra’s other hand rested on the table now, a bridge waiting to be crossed. [/i][color=#fb0207][i]“But you know,” [/i][/color][i]she continued, her voice barely audible, [/i][color=#fb0207][i]“no matter how much you grow or how far you go, you’ll always be my baby sister, right?”[/i][/color]

[i]Harper’s gaze fell to that hand—the same hand that once wiped away tears, braided her hair, and held her secrets. Love and resentment swirled within her, a tempest threatening to spill over. [COLOR=#8A9A5B]“I know,”[/color] she whispered. [COLOR=#8A9A5B]“But sometimes… sometimes growing up means facing things you never thought you’d have to.”[/color][/i]

[i]Harper's heart skipped a beat as Sierra stayed silent, her gaze fixed on Harper's face. She looked at her sister, trying to read her expression, but Sierra's face was inscrutable. Harper fidgeted nervously, her patience wearing thin. She was about to ask Sierra what was wrong when she finally spoke up in a quivering voice. [/i]

[i][color=#fb0207]"Harper,"[/color] Sierra began, [color=#fb0207]"Mom and Dad…they didn’t die in an accident. Everything you think you know… isn’t always how it seems.”[/color][/i]

[i]Harper's breathing faltered as the words lingered in the heavy, humid Carolina air. She had reluctantly agreed to this meeting, hoping for closure, not revelations. [/i]

[i]So what the hell was this?[/i]
[hr] 

[b][sup]| 0750 hrs // University Dorms[/sup][/b] 

[COLOR=#8A9A5B][i]Things were so much easier back then.[/i][/color] 

Harper ran her fingers over the edges of the photograph, feeling a wave of nostalgia wash over her. The picture showed her and her sister when they were young and carefree, captured in one of her fondest childhood memories. They were around 5 and 9 years old and it was taken in Harper's bedroom closet, which had been her secret hiding place. She remembered the joy of that moment, giggling with Sierra as they made the best of the stormy night. It was around this time that she had been introduced to graphic novels, and the picture reminded her of a time when everything felt perfect. She cherished it dearly.

With a sense of longing and nostalgia, Harper let out a deep sigh and slowly closed the photo album that she had been flipping through for what seemed like hours. The memories captured in those faded, yellowed pages had transported her back to a time when life was simpler, happier, and full of promise. But now, as she gazed at the blank walls of her dorm room, she knew she had to face reality and get ready to leave for her first day. 

As Harper pushed herself out of bed, she couldn't help but think about the events of the previous day. Her mind was still muddled by the strange turn of events that had left her feeling off-balance and unsure of herself. She couldn't shake off the feeling that something was amiss, but couldn't quite put her finger on it. 

The brunette glanced at the clock on her nightstand, surprised to see that it was much later than she had anticipated. She had never been one to be tardy, but yesterday's events had thrown her routine completely off balance it seemed. It was as if the world had shifted just a little bit and she was struggling to find her footing again. 

Upon glancing at her reflection in the mirror, Harper quickly checked her appearance. She’d already put her hair in its usual low ponytail. Her white dress shirt looked crisp and neatly tucked into her black slacks. The black blazer she wore was also immaculate, but as her eyes shifted towards the P.R.C.U. emblem on the blazer's pocket, a frown crept onto her face. Despite her impeccable appearance, the emblem served as a reminder of her allegiance to the organization that she was currently having mixed feelings about.

Harper couldn't shake off the impact of Amma's statement, which had struck a chord with her. She couldn't help but admit that there was a certain truth to the idea that this place was, in some sense, both a prison and a refuge for individuals like Amma and herself. Despite Gil's attempts to retain some of the joy that Amma had managed to puncture out of their ballooning dreams, it was too late. Everyone else's expressions had already betrayed their disappointment. 

For Harper, the realization that she agreed with her oddball teammate was a bit… unsettling. She couldn't help but feel a sense of self-loathing for agreeing with her - even if it was just a tiny bit.
 
Harper gently pinched her cheeks with her fingertips to snap herself out of the distracted state. She noticed that her usually rosy fair skin lacked its natural glow. To fix this, she pinched her cheeks a little harder, creating a natural flush that complemented her features, especially her freckles. After admiring her handy work, she put on comfortable black flats and left the dorm.[/color] 

[COLOR=GRAY][CENTER][COLOR=8A9A5B][sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][url=https://open.spotify.com/track/6CagMrZXJUdGGIw6Eaepos?si=35b9da7ddfa2406b][img]https://i.ibb.co/589szLm/harperbanneri-copy.jpg[/img][/url][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=8A9A5B][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Mess Hall[/I] - [I]Pacific Royal Campus[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=8A9A5B][b]Welcome Home #1.044:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Maybe She Likes Her Illusions[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=8A9A5B][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][indent][sub][color=8A9A5B][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR][I] Haven- [@Skai][/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=8A9A5B][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [COLOR=GRAY][I]Dreams[/I][/color][/right][/SUP][/indent]

Once Harper finally arrived at the Mess Hall, she’d managed to join the tail end of the line of the Blackjack members already there, breathing a sigh of relief—her heart going back to its regular pace from the run she’d had to do to get here right on time. She sidled past a few of them, trying desperately to catch up to her second favourite—tied with Katja (and don’t ever ask her to choose between the two)—girly of the team: Haven.  

Once she did, Harper hooked her arm in Haven’s with a smile and a whispered [color=#8a9a5b]“Hello. Missed you this morning!”[/color] before sitting beside her winged friend. 

When a loud voice boomed through the speakers, Harper's attention was immediately drawn to the stage. As she fixed her gaze on the platform, she observed the Canadian anthem being played with great interest, although she still couldn't sing along to all of it. As the anthem ended, a colourful parade of flags followed, adding to the patriotic atmosphere of the event. [color=#8a9a5b]"How noble of you, P.R.C.U.,"[/color] she thought, before taking her seat along with everyone else.
 
As the ceremony progressed in its usual fashion, Harper's attention was mostly focused on the speaker's words. However, her ears pricked up when the Chancellor made a significant announcement - the school's new guests for the year were none other than The Foundation. 

The brunette couldn’t help but search for Amma among the members at their mention, but she couldn’t spot her from where she was. She wondered what her reaction would be…to seeing some of her old [i]friends. [/i]

[color=#ffffff]“Given the current societal climate, circumstances beyond our control have conspired to invalidate our accreditations. To be straight with y’all, Pacific Royal has recently lost its accreditations for our degree programs in the engineering, law and medical fields. Students currently completing those will graduate with a degree not recognized for career certifications.”[/color]

Harper's heart sank as the weight of the announcement hit her. She could feel her stomach already starting to knot with anxiety and disappointment.

[color=#8a9a5b]“[i]WHAT?[/i]” [/color]she said loudly, though her voice was drowned out by the cacophony of shocked murmurs and protests from the gathered students.

Harper was deeply shaken by the news that had just been announced. [i][color=#8a9a5b]"How could this happen?"[/color][/i] she thought to herself, still struggling to process the implications of what she had heard. It was clear from the expressions on her peers' faces that they were all in the same boat. Shock and concern were etched on their faces as they tried to come to terms with the news.

As she looked around, Harper couldn't help but feel a sense of despair. All the hard work and dedication that they had put into their studies might be in vain. The prospect of not being able to achieve their career dreams was devastating.

Harper tried to gather her thoughts and regain her composure. She knew that she had to think quickly and consider alternatives if she wanted to salvage her academic career. She had planned to enroll in a radiology program, but the loss of accreditation could mean the end of her ambitions. Unless…

[color=#d2b48c]"What's with this bitch?" [/color]Harper heard her friend say beside her. 

[color=#8a9a5b]“Yea…”[/color] was all she could manage to say in response, however. After all, none of the Foundation member’s futures seemed to be in trouble. 

As the Foundation's representative continued to speak, Harper couldn't help but feel a sense of unease wash over her. It was as if the words being spoken were causing a chill to run down her spine. And then, out of nowhere, she felt a soft fluttering on her arms. It took her a moment to realize that it was the wings on her friend’s back causing it - a physical manifestation of the same anxiety and fear that Harper felt within her. 

The brunette placed a comforting hand on her friend’s arm, forcing a smile on her face. 
[color=#8a9a5b]“I understand your frustration,”[/color] she said softly, choosing her words carefully. [color=#8a9a5b]“But maybe...that's not the best idea.” [/color]

And Harper couldn't help but feel a twinge of self-loathing after the words she spoke. Honest and practical she was, as always. 

Harper watched intently as Lorcán stormed out of the stadium, followed closely by Haven, whose feathers were still ruffled with frustration. Despite Haven's fiery spirit, Harper knew that it was important for them to remain level-headed amidst the chaos. Lorcán's sudden exit seemed impulsive and Harper couldn't help but wonder if he was planning his next move in response to the news they had just received.

Taking a brief pause, Harper's gaze drifted towards Aurora, her close friend, and she couldn't help but think about how difficult it must be for her to process the uncertainty of her future. With a heavy sigh, she got up from her seat and began to move towards Haven, calling out to her to wait up.[/color]