𝗟𝗜𝗙𝗘 𝗢𝗥 𝗗𝗘𝗔𝗧𝗛?, 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟬𝟬 (𝟯)

𝐭𝐰𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐲-𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞

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chapter twenty-three, Violet Miller

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236 YEARS EARLIER

"Woah look" Violet points out as she points the eclipses while Gabriel takes pictures of it. All of a sudden Josephine walks up in front of the camera. "I'm eclipsing the eclipse" Josephine jokes as she smiles in the camera. Violet laughs as she looks at Josephine who continues to look into the camera."Come on, Josephine. Don't you have work to do?" Gabriel asks as Josephine walks over and sits on Violet's lap. "I'm doing it. Our mission is phase 1-- survive" Josephine says looking into Violet's eyes. "Phase 2-- populate" Josephine adds then looks over to Gabriel and looks him up and down. "What do you say, Gabriel? You ready for phase 2?" Josephine asks and Violet clears her throat and looks the other way while Josephine stands to her feet.

"That's what the embryos are for" Gabriel replies and Josephine rolls her eyes. "Fine. Play hard to get. We both know you're obsessed with me" Josephine says as she smiles at Gabriel. "Josephine! Your dad's looking for you!" Simone shouts in the distance. "Ugh! Violet come with me" Josephine says walking over to Violet and grabbing both of her hands. "I wanna watch the eclipse" Violet says and Josephine scoffs. "Lame! Join me... please" Josephine begs as she bats her eyes at Violet. Violet gives in and grabs her bag. "You always give in" Gabriel laughs and Violet pushes him slightly before she runs off with Josephine.

Josephine and Violet go back to their outpost camp and meet up with Josephine's parent in the tent. "Violet.. again" Russel says and Violet shrugs. "What can I say Russ" Violet jokes as she tosses her back on the floor somewhere and stands by Russels desk. "I am perfectly capable of talking to my daughter alone" Russel says looking over to Violet and Simone. "Well, your daughter begged me to come and plus you have better rations" Violet says grabbing a granola bar out of Russels bag.

"Stop with the hair" Russel orders and Josephine rolls her eyes as she stops twisting her hair. "How many species have you cataloged today?" Russel asks and Josephine sighs. "17, still only 3 evolutionary branches -- insect, rodent, and reptile. A few of the weirder ones are hard to classify, so I created a new taxonomic category -- Guaiwu" Josephine answers and Violet chuckles. "Ah! I found 18! And what's Guaiwu?" Violet asks with a mouthful of granola bar.

"Freaks in Chinese. Well, Mandarin, to be exact. One of them eats a berry that tastes like cotton candy" Josephine says with a shocked look on her face. "You ate the berry, didn't you?" Violet asks and Russel looks to Josephine with a demanding look on his face, "Josie, how many times do I need to tell you--" her mom begins, "I didn't try it. I made the kids do it. Leelee loved it" Josephine interrupts and Violet chuckles.

"How long ago?" Simone asks and Josephine rolls her eyes. "Mom, if it were poisonous, they'd be dead by now" Josephine argues and Simone shakes her head. "Mhmm. I'll go check on them. Get me a sample to analyze" Simone says leaving the tent. Russel looks to Violet who just finished her granola bar. "Fine, I'll leave" Violet says grabbing her bag and leaving the tent but not before Josephine looks to her with a smile.

~~

Josephine met up with Violet in a secret tent they made in the middle of the woods away from everyone else. The only other person who knew about it was Gabriel.

Violet slipped off her shirt while Josephine trailed kisses down Violets stomach. Violet grabbed both sides of Josephine's face and brought there lips together. They began to kiss more passionately and Violet was helping Josephine unbutton her jeans when Violet heard everything go silent outside so she pulled away from Josephine and caught her breath.

"Everything okay? I told you. Gabriel's just a fling" Josephine says and Violet furrows her eyebrows and shakes her head. "It's like.. quiet. No bugs buzzing anymore" Violet says as she looks around the tent and continues to listen in on the silence. "Woah, Woah! It's the eclipse" Josephine says and Violet turns to Josephine with a confused look. "Think about it. Animal behavior on Earth is affected by them, too. Crickets go silent when they feel threatened, right before they swarm" Josephine explains as Violet slips her shirt back on. "Swarm?" Violet questions as they hear a loud gush of wind.

"What is that?" Violet asks and Josephine buttons her jeans back up and puts her shirt on over her bra. "I don't know, but it's close. We have to get back to camp" Josephine says and Violet grabs her back pack and leaves the tent and starts rushing back to camp.

"I've never heard anything like that" Violet says as they get closer to camp. "That's because no one ever has. It was a sonic anomoly probably caused by molecular vibrations in the air and trees" Josephine explains as she greets someone at camp. "Then let's find your dad. He'll know" Violet says before a women wails in pain. The get closer and see Simone rush out of the tent in fear. "Mom? Mom! Mom, mom..." Josephine shouts as her and Violet rush towards Simone and hear her gasping for air.

"Simone? Simone?" Violet questions as she looks down at Simone who has black blood leaving her mouth and slowly but surely stops breathing and dies in Josephine's arms. "Oh my god.." Violet breathes out then looks over at Russel who comes out the tent aggressively with a weapon in his hand.

"Dad, what are you doing?" Josephine asks her father with fear spiked in her voice. "Sanctum is mine" Russel says right before he smacks Josephine across the head with a crowbar killing he instantly. "Josephine! No!" Violet shouts as she backs away quickly. "Violet! Run! Everyone run!" Gabriel screams and Russel pulls out his gun and shoots a women in the head while yelling, "Sanctum is mine".

"Russel... Russel" Violet calls out as Russel drops his gun and walks towards Violet who is up against a tree. "Sanctum... is... mine!" Russel screams and swings the crowbar at Violet but she ducks and crawls away from him and looking at Josephine who's eyes are widen open and has blood pouring from her head. "Please!" Violet shouts as Russel rushes towards her and lifts her up by her shirt and hits her across the head with the crowbar making Violet go down but she doesn't die. Russel looks down at her confusingly and hits her again making her go down. Russel thinks she's dead but surprising to Violet and Russel Violet gets up again and looks Russel in the eyes while her black blood drips down her forehead and onto her clothes and cheeks.

"Russel..." Violet cries out and Russel screams before using the other end of the crowbar and stabbing Violet right in the chest. "Sanctum is mine!" Russel screams looking into the eyes of Violet who has blood pouring out of her mouth from the impact of the crowbar in her chest. Russel pushes the crowbar further in Violets chest making Violet go limp while looking into Russels eyes.

Who knew her mind drive would be the strongest one of all...