The two friends met up again after school. This was one of the days that they did not share classes and therefore they did not see much of each other apart from at break time.
“So have you decided who you are going to try the app on first?” Tina asked him as they left the school grounds.
“I thought I would try it out on Sarah. I know she is not my sister and that way I would be able to tell if the app was working or not.” He told her.
Their conversation was interrupted when a young woman with long black hair. Wearing a black leather jacket, a white shirt, and dark makeup Passed them.
“Hey Julie watch where you are going,” Tina shouted after the young woman.
However, Julie just kept on walking not paying attention to anyone nearby her.
“Who was that?” Jon asked Tina
“Oh, that was Julie DeVries didn’t you recognise her? I suppose her look has changed a bit recently. Tina answered.
DeVries Jon thought for a moment The only DeVries he knew in the town was Anthea his original Sister Zoe’s best friend. So who was this person standing at the edge of the sidewalk? As far as he knew Anthea did not have any sisters, could the blue-clad men have replaced Anthea?
“Come on Tina I think we have our test subject,” Jon said as he looked toward Tina.
“You have to be kidding me they would not dare to try and do anything to Julie The rumour around the rest of the girls is that she is some sort of witch you know. She said trying to keep up with Jon who was following Julie along the street.
Julie had not noticed the two friends following her She had her usual serious expression on her face. This seemed to keep everyone that she did not want to talk to away from her. She stopped at the crossing and waited for the lights to change so she could continue her journey home.
Jon and Tina were a few steps behind her when she stopped at the crossing. Jon used this moment to take a picture of Julie DeVries which when he ran it through his new app would allow him to see if it was working or not.
“What does it say?” Tina asked him.
The background of the picture was blurred but the focus is on her face, making her the center of attention. The lighting is soft and diffused, creating a moody and mysterious atmosphere. Julie's gaze was intense, suggesting a sense of confidence and determination. Her outfit being both stylish and edgy added to her cool and rebellious aura.
The app he had opened on his phone provided him with some of the information he was looking for. His hunch had paid off this was not a new member of the DeVries family that he had not met before now.
Under the picture, it read Julie DeVries. Age 16. For more information click next.
Jon clicked the option. He saw a picture of a young woman with dark brown hair and bangs smiling into the camera while standing on a street at night. The background is filled with a collection of tall, bright, neon signs with different colors and lettering. She was wearing a white sweatshirt with the word “TOOKYO” printed on it in large, block letters that are partially red, yellow, and pink. She was holding the hem of the sweatshirt with one hand, gently resting her other hand on her hip.
The woman was lit by a bright, colorful light coming from the street signs, and the effect casts iridescent blue, pink, and yellow light on her sweatshirt.
This time it read Yuki Meshida. Age 16. Jon tried to save the information on his screen only to be met with a bold message This information can not be saved
“Did you know her?.” Tina asked.
“Not that much but she seemed nice,” Jon answered wondering why Tina had not known who Yuki was. Then realized that Yuki had gone missing before he had cast the wish that allowed Tina to be immune to what was happening. This must mean that if anyone had gone missing before the wish was made Tina would not remember them as they originally were. That must be why she did not remember Sarah or any of the others who had been changed at school since then.
“A problem for another day.” He said out loud.
“What is?” Tina asked
“Oh, nothing.” He said trying to move the conversation on.
“So the app does not allow us to save what we find out. That’s a great help.” Tina said giving voice to her thoughts.
“Don’t worry I am sure we can come up with a way to keep what we find. At least we have more details of what is going on than we did before.” Jon told her.
“I suppose you are right. I feel sorry for this Yuki she looks so happy in that picture. I don’t think I have ever seen Julie smile. I can’t believe they are the same person.” An astonished Tina said.
“That is what they do. They change people some much that you can’t recognize who they used to be. I just wish there was something we could do to help. Why you go home and get something to eat and I will do the same. Maybe we will come up with something.” Jon said as they reached the front of his house.
“I will set my alarm for 3 am that way we can see what they are doing tonight,” Tina told him.
“See you then unless you come up with any other ideas,” Jon said to his friend as she turned to head to her own house.
Jon walked in and saw Sarah sitting at the dining table. The more in saw her since this had begun the harder and harder it was for him to see her as the bitchy head cheerleader she had been a few days ago. She looked totally like a member of his family. The resemblance between her and his mother was uncanny. If he looked hard enough he could see the old Sarah but he really had to look for it.
Time that was it. The longer that someone was in their new life the more the new life seemed to be their only life. So to take someone out of their old life and get them ready for their new one must take time as well. That was why some people disappeared for a day or two only to turn up as someone else. That had to be right he thought but how could he use this information to his advantage there had to be a way. Maybe he could ask Tina if she could think of anything.
Tina, he thought. She wasn’t that bad to deal with but she wasn’t Karyn. She had a lot of the same mannerisms but she was not the original article. He wondered where she was, was she still in the warehouse, or had she been placed in someone else’s life by now? Dr. Schreber had said she was still in the warehouse when they had met up yesterday but that was then was she still there or had they managed to break down her defenses? As stubborn as he knew she was he also knew that she could only hold out for so long. He needed his friend back. The two of them would be able to fix this mess.
Yeah, Tina was ok but she was no Karyn.
