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motorcade, and while the Azure himself had survived, but many others didn't. Word had it that Julie's parents had been on the sidelines of the procession, protesting Azure occupation of Civic Demesnes. Bombs never had the right names on them, though. Zeika would always give Julie her tips to help her out, but it wasn't enough. Eventually, she had to leave the diner and support herself in a job that'd singlehandedly pay the bills.
    Beautiful Julie. Her innocent eyes, sweet face, and Midwestern charm was what got 'em, but it also made men think she was a punching bag. She'd come over to Zeika's house one too many times with bruises and sprained limbs. Her ballet buddy since kindergarten, best friend since grade one, and partner in forced truancy since grade six. One of her most loved friends, lost to the war in the beyond, just like she was.
    Julie parted from her. "Your stuff's behind the kids' cubbies, and the bathroom's all set up for you," she said. "The toilet, uh, will unclog itself."
    "And the shit will rise to the top." Zeika winked. "Got it."
    "Behave yourself in there. Don't break anything."
    A smirk and wave of Zeika's hand vaguely acknowledged the warning before she walked to the cubbies and pulled out a long, heavy bag from behind them. She shook it, hearing the comforting clanks of metal on metal from within. Then, she did a few curl ups with the bag to test the weight. Thirty pounds. Just right, just like she'd left it.
    She went to the bathroom to wash up. There was no door to it, just a long curtain that shrouded a speck of a room bathed in broken florescent lighting. Two toilets and two sinks sat squat in the L-shaped space, and a cracked full-length mirror hung on the only free wall. The wolf moon insignia on the back of her robes slipped in and out of her view as she passed by the mirror, and when she turned to face her reflection, the crack in the glass split the dark mocha of her face in two, right between the eyes.  
    "Koa implicated in the disappearances of Civilian children."
    The headline fluttered at the top of the looking glass, freshly inked into the newsprint. This was the eleventh time she'd seen it around Demesne Five in the past month. A new record, but one that no longer surprised her. So long as kids kept disappearing, daycares had been put on special alert just in case any of the missing heads turned up. Thus far, though, no one had seen a thing.  
    And they never do, do they?
    After she had officially dropped out of school for work, it hadn't taken her long to realize how invisible she was. People barely noticed ghosts of war like her and Manja-- shadows hiding beneath the moon-emblazoned sheets that were supposed to protect them. No one watched as they slipped in and out of the dark, picking their ways across fields and mines and death to support their families. And no one ever found a ghost once one had gone missing.  
    So she studied them. Their faces, the bright and yet sunken eyes, how their round cheeks darkened beneath the dusks of their hoods... just in case she saw one. In case she could bring one home.

Missing: Jonathan Espinoza-Quinn.  
    Civic status: Civilian.  
    Male. Brown eyes, brown curly hair. Latino. Missing since January 23, 2153. Current age: 17 years old. Last seen at the Converge, crossing from Demesne Five into Demesne Six for work.

Missing: Michael Cray, Langdon Cray, and Clinton Cray.  
    Civic Status: Civilian.  
    Male identical triplets. Blue-gray eyes, blonde hair. White. Missing since March 2 nd , 2155.   Current age: 9 months old. Last seen at the home of their parents, Lynne and Jeffrey Cray. FOUL PLAY SUSPECTED.

Missing: Sofia Green.  
    Civic Status: Azure.  
    Hazel eyes, dark brown hair, splotchy birthmark on left cheek. Black / African American. Missing since March 19 th , 2155. Current age: 9 years old. Last seen in the playground of Rose Hill Lot 36, Demesne Seven. Last seen wearing pink overalls and a blue shirt. Patchy birthmark on upper left