Jim and Jade had both finished their meals, but rather than pick up the bill, Jim sat scraping his fork against his plate. Jade felt odd getting on her phone, but she needed something to break the awkward tension. Scrolling through Tumblr didn't ward away the amount of awkward that flowed from Jim in waves though. "I have to tell you something," Jim said suddenly.

"What is it?" she asked hesitantly, putting her phone on the sticky table.

Jim licked his lips uncomfortably, started, then stopped. He took a second to gather his courage again and said, "We've decided to adopt Felicity. Are- would you- comfortable with that?"

The world stopped for a second. Jade thought she would vomit. "Why wouldn't I be? That sounds fantastic." Sweat ran cold Jade's neck and back. Why was she reacting this way?

As she wiped her hands on her pants, Jim continued. "Pam and I figured that, since she's your sister, you should know and have a say so. She's already your family, and we're excited to make her part of ours."

Jade shrugged, trying to seem unaffected. "To be honest, she's not really my sister, not by blood at least. We just shared a foster family, and the social worker decided to fudge a few things to keep us together since Felicity was so young." Jade knew she could never thank the woman enough for that. "You should know, if you're going to adopt her."

Jim nodded, unfazed but nervous. "We're not going to be family by blood either. Since Felicity is going to be our daughter, and you're her sister in so many ways, we're kind of family too. I understand that, with your eighteenth birthday coming up, you probably have some anxiety." Something Jade hadn't felt since she was eleven welded up inside her. "I want you to know that Felicity will never have to be one of them. We already love her so much, and we'll do everything to make her life the best it can be."

All of the air left Jade's lungs. She forced herself to smile and replied, "Of course. I know you'll give her a good life. I trust you guys."

Jim smiled and reached out to hold her hand. "I'm so glad. Even though you've no doubt got plans with your friends and whichever college you choose, please promise to visit. I know Felicity would love that."

"Of course I'll visit! I'll never abandon her," Jade vowed.

Jim leaned back in his seat and sighed. "She's so lucky to have an amazing sister like you." As if nothing he said was world-shattering, he changed the conversation. "Speaking of your eighteenth birthday, what plans do you have? Would you like a party or maybe a dinner with friends?"

"Oh, um, I think I'll just get dinner with friends or have a sleepover," Jade replied. A very long sleepover, she added in her mind.

"That sounds like a plan, Stan. Now, let's head to that antique shop, huh?" Jim grinned and carried the bill to the counter.

The antique shop might have been Jim's favorite spot in the city. It was not Jade's. As Jim stood fawning over a lamp shaped like some old ship, Jade riffled through the play jewelry in a box. She spotted a fake jade ring, chuckled at the coincidence, and quickly pocketed it. Just as she casually walked away, she saw the look of wonder on Jim's face and knew she couldn't do it. He'd be livid if she took anything from his favorite shop, even a five dollar trinket. Begrudgingly, she slipped it back and began examining old toys.

This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

Suddenly, a thunderous boom shook the entire shop. The small television behind the counter rang out an emergency alarm. A newscaster quickly appeared with the breaking news headline running beneath her. "This is not a drill. If you are in the vicinity of downtown Juleston, seek shelter. What the police are calling an "uncontrollable, unpredictable force of nature" is heading south-east on Eleanor Roosevelt Highway. The police-" The lamp Jim had picked up fell to the ground, overpowering the sound of the newscaster.

"That's where the tea party is! Eleanor Roosevelt Highway!" He sprinted to the door with Jade hot on his heels. Realizing her close presence, he turned around to face her. "No. You're staying here."

"But Felicity! She needs-"

Jim grabbed her shoulders roughly. "No. You need to stay safe. Raul," he called, turning the shop keeper who was boarding up his windows. "Keep her safe." He sprinted out the door, hopped in the sedan, and sped away.

Raul handed Jade a hammer. "Don't just stand there. Be useful."

Jade took some plywood and began boarding up windows opposite of Raul. The emergency broadcast played in the background. She bit her lip until it bled as she hammered over the dusty windows. A bright purple light flared from the direction of the highway, causing Jade to gasp and drop her hammer. She let loose a guttural growl. "I can't take this!" she yelled and ran towards the door.

Raul grabbed her arm and wrench her back by her shoulder. "It's my job to keep you safe," he said.

"Don't treat me like a child. Felicity needs me, and nobody is going to stop me," she threatened. They glared at one another, creating a cold tension, but Jade was not about to flinch. Raul looked away first.

"Fine. But if you're going to go, take this," he said, pulling a handkerchief out of his pocket.

Jade took it and examined it. It was a simple pink handkerchief with roses embroidered in a corner. "Whatever," she said and ran to the door.

"Put it to your mouth and say this word," he told her, handing her a crumpled piece of paper with "Subitis" written on it.

"Sure, yeah, thanks," Jade said, running out.

Raul stuck his head out cautiously. "Say the word!"

She groaned. She held it up to her mouth and said "Sub-it-us!" Nothing happened.

"Subitis! Like tease! Subi-tease!"

"What language is this?" Jade stopped to yell at the man. A large amount of debris fell across the street. Raul quickly tucked his head inside the store. "Subitis!" Jade said.

Suddenly, a strange feeling crept over her head, down her neck, and across her shoulders. It stopped only once it reached her feet. Jade looked and saw she was wearing something like Faith's motocross gear. It was red and had a lace-pattern with roses embossed onto it. A helmet covered her head. Man, I hope this is just a weird dream, she thought.

Jade ran as fast as she could, but the super suit did not give her super speed. Only one vehicle was approaching Eleanor Roosevelt Highway: a pickup truck that Jade quickly waved down. She knew hitch-hiking was dangerous, but she planned on staying in the bed and relying on the suit's protection if she needed to jump. The truck pulled to the side of the road. "Looks like you're going my way," the man in the truck said as he rolled down the window.

Jade was shocked to see someone in a suit similar to hers. His was green, though, with spikes along the shoulders and wrists. Instead of a helmet, the man only had a mask around the bottom of his face. Jade was too shocked to speak, so she just nodded and hopped in the truck's bed. She knocked on the window when she was ready, and the two of them headed towards the purple light.