Speck prisons were a curious thing.

The existence of a smaller population necessitated penitentiaries with appropriate accommodations for diminutive criminals, however it would be very costly to construct separate facilities altogether for a rather tiny demographic. Therefore, most jails that housed specks were built into a ward segregated from the normal-sized prison population.

Jisoo immediately noticed the difference once they crossed the threshold from where the normal prisoners were kept to the significantly more relaxed speck-designated domain. There were fewer than four guards assigned to security detail here, and they seemed a bit surprised to see Jisoo saunter in.

Once she provided her legal name and identification the guards' features soured somewhat, but begrudgingly they escorted her down the corridor towards the high security ward. 

Eventually they reached a small room with a transparent glass barrier between visitors and inmates. Jisoo took a seat and patiently waited for the guard to go and fetch the prisoner she had come all this way to see. Minutes later, a door on the other side of the glass shield opened and the same guard as before walked in.

She carried a sealed box in her hands, which she set down gently upon the table close to the barrier between herself and Jisoo. The bottom of the box slid into slots that sealed it in place, and pressed one side of the container against the glass. Once it was secure, the guard pulled a side off the box to reveal the contents to the observer on the other side of the glass. 

Although she had mentally prepared herself for this moment, Jisoo still felt her heart flutter as the figure within turned to face her directly. Whether it was pity, fear or disdain, she could not tell. 

Even as a measly speck cast down into the dust, clad in a common prison uniform with unkempt hair, Grace Chen was still an imposing figure. Regardless of her size she had an unmistakable aura that sent shivers down Jisoo’s spine. Even if the difference between them now was equivalent to the distance from the planet to the edge of the cosmos, Jisoo still shifted uncomfortably to be under her cousin’s gaze again. 

“You have ten minutes.” The prison guard warned, before she spun on her heel and marched back through the door to give the two family members some privacy. Once she was gone, a green light flipped on which indicated the speaker was on and the two women could communicate. 

For what felt like hours they sat in silence. It was difficult to read Grace through her almost blank, calm expression. Her eyes bore no hatred or malice at the woman who had sent her to be shackled and locked away. They barely even harbored recognition to see her cousin once again.

Maybe it was a mistake to come here. Jisoo thought and considered snapping her fingers to bring herself somewhere else. The indecision was plastered across her face, in sharp contrast to Grace who still appeared relaxed. Yeah, this was most definitely a mistake~

“You look well.” Her cousin suddenly stated rather matter-of-factly. Jisoo blinked in surprise to hear Grace speak in such a voice. It was reminiscent of how she had sounded before…

Jisoo exhaled deeply and forced those remorseful thoughts from her mind. There was no way to return to those days. “I wish I could say the same for you.” She murmured, more as a statement rather than an insult. “Orange was never really your color.”

“I think it suits my hair, actually.” Grace replied and ran her fingers through her thick chocolate brown locks. She smiled and cocked her head to the side, a little laugh escaped her lips. “But you’re right, it definitely isn’t my best look.”

“How have you settled in?” Jisoo asked conversationally, even if she was still very much on edge. 

Grace shrugged earnestly. “Better than most others in the same predicament. You should have seen the look on mother’s face when they dragged her in here, it was priceless. Two meals a day, four blank walls and not a single luxury is a very alien concept to a lot of us.” She admitted. “How’s Lily? Is she alright?”

“…I made sure she’s with family friends you can trust. They’ll take very good care of her, and I’m sure she will come to visit soon once things settle down a bit with the attorneys.” Jisoo replied with a twinge of sadness; the genuine hateful look on the little girl’s face had been difficult to bear. “Despite our differences, I would never mistreat your sister… I know how much she means to you.”

“Thank you. I never doubted that you would keep her safe no matter what happened between us, but I’ve been quite worried. Mother on the other hand seems to have gone numb with what the doctors call ‘trauma induced mania’.”

“Does she ever mention a giant woman in her ravings?”

“I’m pretty sure she’ll be transferred to an asylum soon. The doctors will do their best for her but honestly she’s a lost cause. Without the magic that kept her alive for so long it won’t be too much more time until she fades away.” Grace explained. “I wish I could say that saddens me, but you know what kind of relationship me and my mother have had.” She went on. “What ever happened to Claire by the way?”

“She’s in therapy. I eased some of her pain by removing a few awful memories, and she seems to be doing a lot better now, but it will be a long road to a full recovery.” Jisoo explained. “For my own safety she no longer remembers why she came to my apartment back in Norwich or anything else that happened in that time span.”

“I guess you didn’t have a choice. Maybe one day she’ll be her old self again.” Grace mused.

We’re both trying to talk like friends. Even after all that’s happened between us… it was difficult to look at a person whom she had loved like a sister for so long and feel anger, or even apathy. Now that the rage had time to wither away, Jisoo was given time to look at her cousin in a new light. 

Alone. 

Powerless.

Universally hated by the world that had learned of her crimes. Grace would spend the rest of her life in this prison. Her mundane, mortal life. It was such a miserable fate that felt horribly impersonal. Meanwhile, former enemies like Satsuki had been given an opportunity to be literally reborn and have a second chance at life.

If Grace was a spirit, then perhaps Jisoo might have considered that route for her as well. Sadly, no such opportunity was possible now. 

“How did it feel?” Jisoo looked up at her cousin, confused by the question. Grace looked directly into her eyes. “When you walked across the earth, hundreds of miles tall with billions of people no more than atoms in your path.”

“I don’t derive any pleasure from that anymore, I was just concerned someone might be harmed.”

“That’s very noble of you. I guess we’re very different in that regard; given the opportunity I would have probably rubbed my clit into a few cities.” Grace remarked with a giggle. Her eyes twinkled, as if enamored by the thought. 

Jisoo sighed and was tempted to just walk away, but against her better judgment remained seated. “You’ll never change, will you?” She muttered in despair. “No matter what happens you’ll always be a monster.”

“It’s who I am, Jisoo. There’s nothing that will ever change that.” Grace stated candidly and for a moment appeared quite human. Empathetic, even. “I’m sorry.”

“Sorry about what?”

“I’m sorry that I can’t be the person you came here hoping to find. Some part of you was hopeful I would be repentant for my past actions, right? You had a sliver of hope that we could be friends again?” Grace said knowingly. 

I really wish you were wrong about that. Jisoo thought and rubbed her eyes. “We were sisters once. You were my role model, I wanted to be just like you.” She admitted. “But I guess you’re right, you can’t be that person I wanted you to be.”

“Do you remember the first time we met? It feels like forever ago.” Grace recalled fondly. “Back then you fit in my hand; you were trembling when I picked you up. I showed you the Amrita Corporation, your rightful inheritance that had been stolen away from the day you were born. On the day of your ascension I remember how amazed I was. A scrawny, shy little speck girl transformed into a beautiful goddess right before my eyes.”

“I’m not a goddess.”

“You say that and yet here you are, able to bend reality with an idle thought. There isn’t anything you cannot do. It’s just a matter of your desire to do it.” Grace chided. “I guess I’m proud of you in a way, I take some solace knowing my actions led to you becoming what you are now.” She remarked with a smile.

She’s not wrong. I can change almost anything. Jisoo bit her lip before she continued. Her heart fluttered and she hesitated to go on any further. “...Grace, maybe I can fix you.” She suggested. “I know that ultimately, you’re just a product of how you were raised and it wasn’t your fault you turned out like this. I can alter your mind and you’ll become a better person. You won’t have to stay in this prison~.”

“No.” Grace’s answer was immediate, and unflinching. There was no room for any further debate on the matter. 

Jisoo appeared crestfallen and stared longingly at her older cousin. “Why?” She pressed, determined to squeeze an answer out of her. “Do you want to rot in here forever?”

“...I made my choice the same day we reunited. You used to hear a voice, right? Some part of your humanity screaming inside your own head to stop?” Grace murmured. “I crushed that part of myself and have not once heard it again. I really appreciate the sentiment, really, I do. But I would rather die than live as a prisoner in my own mind and become something that I am not.”

“Your consent doesn’t have to be a factor. I can just snap my fingers and make it happen.” 

“Stop posturing. We both know that you’re not that kind of person anymore who takes pleasure in forcing people to change.” Grace dismissed and called her bluff immediately. “It’s too late for me Jisoo, you need to accept that.”

Grace had lived her entire life the way she wanted to, no matter the consequences. Jisoo sighed and realized she was right. It was something she used to admire about her cousin, now she despised it more than anything. She wished she could return to hating the woman who had almost killed her and tried to kill her friends, but if there had been even the smallest chance, they could have some kind of happy ending after all this suffering…

She took a deep breath and stood up. “Goodbye Grace.” Jisoo said wistfully. “I really wish things could be different.”

“Why did you finish the tattoo?” Grace suddenly asked before Jisoo had left the room. She gestured towards the markings on her arm that took on the form of a nine-tailed fox soaring through misty clouds.

Since the last time Grace had seen it, the details had been fully realized and was now a beautiful masterpiece that followed the natural contours of Jisoo’s toned bicep and shoulder. Evidently it had been very recently completed, since the colors were magnificently bold. 

Jisoo hesitated before she turned around to see her cousin for the final time. “It reminds me of you.”