Outside the main shrine, there were multiple small houses for people who enjoy sleeping alone in small groups. Inside the shrine, there were large rooms covered in mattresses and sleeping bags where all the cult members slept in an orgy of cuddles and physical attention. Vega and Scarlet were sleeping in one of the small huts, while Libby and her baby slept in the pile inside the shrine.

It had been over ten years since Scarlet slept in the same room with somebody (excluding those she's had sex and fallen asleep with). Vega was a much better roommate than Leona ever was since all Vega did was sit on the cot they had to share and write in her journal. Internet couldn't reach the hut so Scarlet was looking through her Star Zap for something to do. She wished she downloaded more apps that didn't require an internet connection and started thinking of all the times she could have downloaded music but didn't.

"You feel any better?" Vega asked as she closed her journal and put it in the bookbag placed next to her pillow. "Yeah, I puked it all up." Scarlet replied, assuming Vega was talking about the trip. Vega just gave her a nod and got under the covers and lid down facing away from Scarlet. She would have preferred to sleep in her own cot, but they were low. Scarlet wondered if Vega somehow knew she was bisexual and just avoiding something. She remembered when they first saw each other after so long and wondered about holding her hand. Scarlet wasn't anymore tempted now than she was then and just lid down and faced away from her.

She decided to look through her texts just for something to read and was welcomed with walls and walls of unread messages. She held back a laugh, it amused her that some of these Starlings really never got a hint after all this time. She saw familiar names, like Ophelia, Tessa, and Sage.

"Yo, why the fuck is Ophelia texting me?" Scarlet announced, even though Vega had just lid down. "Dude I don' know, maybe try replying and asking," Vega replied sounding pretty tired and cranky. Scarlet rolled her eyes, even though she was trying to kill time, she didn't want to even associate with her former replacement. She also knew Vega was only trying to harass her about the fact she never replies.

A few names she honestly didn't have a god damn clue. Some of the names she knew she heard before, like Nicola Cecelia, she had no recollection of going to Starling Academy with anyone named Cecelia. She scrolled all the way down to texts dating back two years ago and to her surprise saw Leona had been one of the Starlings trying to contact her. Then she scrolled down and her heart sank.

She felt a rock in her stomach and a lump in her throat as her eyes read the words, "Head Mistress Bitch" which was the nickname she had set for Lady Stella as a contact. She immediately closed her text app then her Star Zap and shoved it under her pillow. She took a deep breath, trying her best not to make any sounds that would make Vega feel inclined to ask what was wrong. Scarlet's hands shook and she reached back under her pillow and took out her Star Zap again and reluctantly opened the text app again.

She scrolled down and read the bolded name "Head Mistress Bitch" again. Her mouth felt dry and her stomach was in knots but she opened the message anyway. It was hard to focus her vision on all the anxiety, but she was able to make it out eventually.

It read

ιғ үσυ'∂ cαℓℓ мε вαcк, ι ωσυℓ∂ ℓιкε тнαт :) ι cαη'т ∂σ cαℓℓs тняσυgн ρнσηε, υsε үσυя sтαя zαρ. ι нεαя∂ үσυ мσvε∂ тσ ωιsнωσяℓ∂! :D нσω ιs ιт? ρℓεαsε тεℓℓ мε αвσυт ιт! ι'∂ ℓιкε тнαт <3

She scrolled down a bit more to see it was dated back two years ago. Two years ago there was a conversation with Lady Stella that was supposed to happen that didn't. Scarlet's heart started to beat out of her chest and she stood up and left the shack without putting on her shoes. This was too much to process for her right now and she knew somebody had to have some weed or something to calm her down. Libby brought her here and she doubted mama Libby would bring drugs on a trip with her.

Everywhere she stepped little fireflies stirred up and it made her panic more. The glow, she wanted to escape it. She had tried to escape Starland years ago and it's still following her. As the lump in her throat ached her eyes began to draw tears she started to wonder if she would ever truly escape Starland. Lady Stella did it again it seems and without even trying as usual. Scarlet was alone for so long until Starling academy, and she just wanted to be alone again.

Yet here she was, running through what was basically a campus for Starlings, and the reasons all came back to Lady Stella. Scarlet recalled how Libby spoke to her that night. She said she was sure Scarlet actually loved Lady Stella very much, and Scarlet knew she must have since Lady Stella's death had gotten such a reaction out of her. When hearing about Astra or Clovers death, even when hearing about Cassie becoming a vegetable Scarlet's reaction was nothing bigger than a "Shit, that sucks. Sorry about that."

But Lady Stella dies and Scarlet fucking uproots her entire life to associate with Starlings she hasn't even given thought to in years. She brought everyone together again. Scarlet began crying.

"Are you okay?" A familiar voice was heard behind her. Scarlet turned around and from the doorway of one of the bigger shrines, Piper stepped out into the night. Around her was a blue and green glow that at first made Scarlet want to vomit. "Just... having a little cry?" Piper asked with a smile as she got closer the blue glow started to reflect off of Scarlet. With each step, Scarlet could feel Piper's infectious serenity take her over and she began to calm down. Even the sound of Piper's bracelets clanking together sounded soothing enough to make Scarlet comfortable enough to talk to her.

"Yeah..." Scarlet nodded and rubbed her eyes.

"Or are you looking for this?" Piper's grin got bigger and she handed something in half an envelope over to Scarlet. Scarlet took it in her hands and opened up and the smell of that sweet green calmed anymore shakes that Scarlet had. She didn't question it, although subconsciously she knew Piper probably had a dream about her having an emotional breakdown and was actually just waiting for her to run by. Scarlet has been handed huge amounts of weed by fellow smokers before. Even though Scarlet wanted to be alone right now, she knew she had to thank her. And there was only one way to do it properly. Scarlet opened her mouth to ask Piper where they would be smoking together, but Piper was already taking out a small glass piece and a lighter from her housecoat pocket.