"Bina no-!"

-And somehow, the corpse's jaw stretches and let's Bina through-

And she's elsewhere.

Ant turns sixteen in three days. (Ey supposes that means ey's still fifteen, but when ey turns sixteen, Ira agreed ey could get a part time job, so long as eir grades didn't suffer. So sixteen is Important.)

Ant's going to see Ira. Ey hasn't seen her since she left for work yesterday. And ey's pretty sure she didn't actually come home.

Ey knows ey shouldn't take the shortcut through the construction site - especially at this time of day - but ey can't be bothered walking around. And it's not like ey hasn't done it a half dozen times before. (Except this time is different, ey's not sure why, but it is.)

"This is where it happens, isn't it," Bina says, quietly.

Yeah. And really, it's Ant's own fault. Ira had told em not to cut through the construction site. And Mrs Hyung had yelled at em that one time she'd spotted em.

"I don't think it is. Construction sites - they're not safe, but they shouldn't be deadly. I managed taking a loader for a joy ride when I was eight safely enough..."

"Can we change it?"

She doesn't want Ant to die. She doesn't want to watch this.

"I don't think so."

Ey's nearly at the ramp up to the alley behind the laundromat - Ira would go out there to smoke sometimes.

"It's okay. You don't have to stay."

"No. You should have someone with you, at least."

(There has to be a way to change the past without liquefying her and everyone else's brains, there has to.)

-What's that, in the ground? Is that-

Is that a skull?

Ant ducks down to look at it. Yes, that's-

Why is there a skull here?

And then Ira's at the top of the ramp, and scrambling down it, panicked and rapid. "Ant! Move!"

And Ant scrambles to listen (because ey knows better than to question it when Ira sounds like that) except-

Except then ey's falling. And falling.

But not-

And something hits em, and ey's aware of screaming, sharp and cut off and-

("Did I hit something- what did I- oh god, is that a kid?!")

"Ant?! Ant!! You bastard, you fucking- Ant!"

There's a wisp of green, visible only to the part of Ant falling, and to Bina from the corner of her eye - 

Bina ignores it. 

Steps forward.

Starts yelling at people to get back, you call 911, you get a medical kit there's got to be painkillers at least -

It works, somehow, even if they're confused where she came from.

And makes sure Ira can get through.

And Ira collapses beside Ant. "I'm here, Ant, I'm here. I told you- You're- You're gonna be fine-"

Ant doesn't have the strength, or the coordination left to grasp onto the arms Ira's wrapped around em, but manages to look up at her, manages smirk that's marred by the blood bubbling at her mouth.

"Bad- liar," ey manages, painfully, whisper-quiet.

"Hey, no, save your strength, save your-"

"You- can't- kill-"

Ey doesn't finish. Ey can't.

Eir body convulses, and there's an eerie rattle.

(And Ant's gone.)

And Bina's awake.

She thinks she might be crying.

Jenn's arms tighten a little. "Hey. Hey, you're- Are you okay?"

"Dream," she says, shivering. "Ant's death."

Jenn is quiet, for perhaps a moment longer than most people would be in response to hearing that. "I'm sorry." (There's something in her tone, a weariness.)

"I don't know if we can change it, ever, even with - I met a version of myself who said there's machines that can help with the paradox, last dream - but it's why Ira's doing everything. She wants her sibling back."

"-Ah." Beat. "Save ourselves first, insane-kidnapper's siblings second."