Dahlia- Chapter 1

What do you need to be an adult in the world? A house, a car, a job? That's what her parents had, but it all feels floaty, unreal and unnecessary.

"I need-- I need to know things. I was... young, the last time I was here."

She nods sadly, shoulders falling slightly. "Time passes strangely Over There. Sometimes as it should, sometimes faster or slower. People like us could find ourselves returning seconds to decades after when we were taken, not to mention we may well turn up who knows where when we come back". She glances hesitantly at Dahlia before quickly changing tone. "But what is it you wish to learn about? I may be able to help, or at least show you who can".

"How do you... Make money, stay safe? Where do people like... us live?"

It doesn't feel quite right to say they're the same. Just looking at this woman, she can tell something is different. There had been others, under her master, and she knows what they look like. There are no burns on this one. Establishing herself as separate won't help, though. She got out by abusing someone's better nature, no reason to make waves now.

"And why can't everyone see me?"

"The same way anyone else makes money mostly. Jobs mostly, some do find... uses for their new talents, but that's all I'll say on that matter". Her voice grows slightly terse at that last bit. "There's safety in groups. Build a life in mortal society, stay involved in the community of changelings, that works well enough for most. The safest places to live are still here in the mortal world. Some choose to live in the Hedge but that has its own issues. As for your appearance think of it as if you're wearing a mask. Most people? All they will ever see is the mask unless you choose otherwise. But a few people, especially those with conditions like ours, they see your true face".

Dahlia's stomach seizes at the mention of living in the Hedge.

"I'm never going back," She blurts out, balling her fleshless hands into fists on her thighs. "I only have a seventh grade education. I don't... I don't know what I can do."

Breathe. Get yourself under control. Don't show weakness.

"Where does most of the community live?"

Dahlia suspects there are plenty of people like her for whom the real world feels impossibly distant, but she'll find the most in big groups.

She smiles in attempted reassurance. "It's alright, no one will force you to do anything. As for work, again it is my job to help with such things. If you want to find the most of us we'll need to get you to Las Vegas itself".

In the back of Dahlia's head, she can hear her mother, telling her she's too young for casinos. Well, baby Dahlia, at least you'll get to play the slots at this rate.

"They still got burlesque and white tigers?" She asks, trying to downplay how nervous she is. Her heart is still pounding from the suggestion of going back into the Hedge.

"Yes, funny how little some things change". The woman trails off briefly as she is lost in thought. "Alright, how does this sound: I will see to it that you find a first job, are provided shelter, and arrive safely in Las Vegas. In return I ask you earnestly try to help the other changelings who are members of my support network to the best you can provide. Does this sound fair to you"?

Dahlia squints at the woman.

"What kind of help is this? Am I going to be in danger?"

"Not necessarily, no. In this arrangement you get what you give: if you benefit from the simple work of someone else, return the same benefit to them. No one can ask you to break a law, however, and you can refuse a request that would cause you personal harm".

The law. Christ, as if that was something she'd ever worry about. She sent someone to their death less than a week ago and she'd have killed them bare-handed if it had come to that.

Still, if that's something these people worry about, then this probably won't be too bad. She can find some way to get the advantage here.

"Alright. I'll do it."

The woman beams in response as they shake on the agreement. "Wonderful, If you have everything I can take you there shortly. Oh! I'm terribly sorry, I haven't introduced myself. My name is Fatma Demir, here's my card". She hands Dahlia a card with her name, a number, and a picture of a small bird in flight as she pulls out a flattened phone from her bag.

Dahlia accepts the card, turning it over in her ruined hands.

"Dahlia Murphy," She says by way of introduction, feeling like a businesswoman from television. "What's box do?"

"Oh this? This is a phone, they've gotten very small and flat over the few years, and they can do an awful lot more now". She speaks briefly over the phone to someone, you hear the name "Keisha" and mention of a taxi but little else. "Do you have all your things? We can wait outside for your ride, it shouldn't be long".

Fatma leads you outside to a adjacent, empty side street. Though still on guard you're pretty confident you could make a break for it if need be. Several minutes pass until Fatma's phone buzzes with a text message. Glancing at it she walks over to a dumpster and throws open its lid.

A large sedan squeezes through the opening.

It was flowing and crawling onto the street with an animalistic motion. You aren't even sure how something like a car could crawl, but you could think of no other word to describe it. As it came to rest on the street it stiffened into the rigid shape you'd expect a car. A young woman leans out of the driver's window, completely unfazed by her transformative entrance.

"Fatma, you called for a cab?"