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As Julie ran through the backstage of the Orpheum Theatre she wasn't sure where she was trying to go - she only knew that the guys weren't there and this was their last-ditch effort at saving them from oblivion so she couldn't, under any circumstances, go onstage and try to perform alone knowing that her friends might be dying while she was singing.
Double dying. Imploding. Burning out. Whatever it was that happened when ghosts stopped existing without moving on. What if they had run out of time without Julie having an opportunity to say goodbye? Would she ever have the chance to see them again, get closure, or was this just . . . it? Or what if Covington had trapped them, forcing them to accept his offer without an alternative? Was there any way to rescue them at this point or was the whole thing moot - could Julie even get inside Covington's club, if she found it, let alone do anything once she got there?
Tears stung at Julie's eyes. Playing the Orpheum was Sunset Curve's unfinished business, and they had been so close. Please, Mom, there has to be something I can do. This can't be the end.
Julie's mind was racing as she burst out of the back door of the theatre. Gasping, she stumbled out into the alley and was faced with . . . a much grungier sight than she had expected. Maybe it was because the sun had begun to set, but the alley looked different than it had earlier that day. Jogging to the end of the alley Julie's unease only got worse the more that she saw; while too rattled to pick out any one issue, she couldn't shake the idea that something felt off. But then, suddenly -
"Guys!" she exclaimed.
Luke, Alex, and Reggie were at the end of the block. A huge wave of relief flooded Julie as she ran over.
"Oh my god, where have you been?" Julie asked. "Are you okay?"
"Uh?" said Alex.
"If you're looking for an autograph or something, that's totally cool," Luke said. "Just let us finish our dogs, here; rehearsal was brutal and we're starving. . . "
"Wait . . ." Julie looked around, doing a slow turn to fully take in her surroundings. She'd been right; the area was different than when she'd arrived at the Orpheum earlier. The buildings, the people . . .
The hot dog stand.
"Don't eat that!" she yelled.
The guys all jumped, the toppings on their hot dogs wobbling precariously. Reggie already had a bite in his mouth.
"Spit that out!" Julie insisted.
"What?" Reggie said.
"Just spit it out!" Julie said, grabbing the poisoned food out of the guys' hands. "Trust me!"
Alex looked on forlornly as she threw the hot dogs away. "That was our dinner . . ."
"I'll buy you a different dinner," said Julie, although she wasn't sure her debit card would even work if it really was - could it possibly be? - 1995.
"No time," Luke said, looking at his watch. "Guys, we've gotta go! Uh, see you, girl. It's been . . . weird."
"Bye! You'll thank me later!" Julie called. "Or not, I guess . . ."
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