Juniper delivered the A-NO nt strains to the suburbanb and instructed Harold to guard them carefully. She then contacted Ebony Fox, reminding her that her treatment would begin soon and forbidding her from wandering off.


    Only when she called did she learn from Dana that Ebony Fox, upon hearing Celine was fine, had rushed back to the Subterra Vanguard main base to deal with some matters.


    Ebony Fox answered her call and, before Juniper could say a word, quickly blurted out, “I''m back, I''m back! I''m at Cloudscape Community, don''t be mad."


    "You''re at Cloudscape Community?" Juniper''s anger subsided considerably, her voice softening. "Fine. Don''t you dare run off again."


    "Okay," Ebony Fox mumbled.


    After hanging up, she felt a lingering sense of fear. Her little sister wasn''t very old,


    but she had quite a temper. A fierce one, at that.


    Ebony Fox slumped into a chair, her breathingbored and her face pale.


    "Ebony, are you alright?" Dana asked with concern.


    "I''m fine," Ebony Fox shook her head, offering a weak smile. “I just didn''t sleep well. A nap should do the trick."


    "Alright, then." Dana sighed in relief. "You get some rest. I''m going out to buy groceries," she added lovingly, picking up her small basket.


    "Okay." Ebony Fox nodded, smiling as she saw Dana out.


    Once the door closed, Ebony Fox quickly took her medicine, and the symptoms slowly faded. She stood up and walked to the bedroom window, leaning out to look down at the street below.


    "So annoying. Why isn''t Juniper back yet?"


    Meanwhile, Kurt Schwartz, after a nasty injury that had himid up for two months, was finally able to stand and was desperate to get out of the house.


    Juniper had given him a sports car, and there were many features he still hadn''t figured out. He''d been itching to go over and ask her for help. Hearing Juniper wasing back today, he had specially bought her favorite cake.


    Kurt limped to the door, a cake box in hand, his leg still not fully healed. The door was slightly ajar. He pushed it open carefully and scanned the living room. No one was there.


    *Shanley and Juniper aren''t back yet?* he thought. *Perfect. I can hide the cake and give Juniper a surprise.*


    Kurt limped into the kitchen, opened the refrigerator, and clumsily started stuffing the cake inside.


    "tter-"


    He identally bumped the fruit bowl next to him, sending its contents scattering across the floor.


    "Crap, crap, crap!"


    Seeing the small mangoes rolling everywhere, Kurt panicked and immediately crouched down to pick them up.


    He didn''t notice a thing. Behind him, Ebony Fox was approaching stealthily, mistaking him for a burr.


    Halfway through picking up the fruit, Kurt finally sensed someone behind him. He whipped his head around,


    face.


    not getting a clear look at her but definitely seeing a long leg swinging his way.


    "Thwump-"


    The leg connected with his shoulder, sending him flying a short distance.


    "Oof-"


    With his old injuries not yet healed, Kurt now had a new one to deal with. He clutched his chest, craning his neck. He stared in bewilderment at the woman before him-dressed in ck, with exquisite features and


    y cold expression. Who


    the hell are you? What are you doing here?"


    "I''m the owner''s sister." Ebony Fox crossed her arms, looking down at Kurt with a murderous glint in her eyes. "Who are you? How did you get in? What did you steal?"


    Steal something?


    "You look more like the thief," Kurt


    shot back. Cooped up at home, he


    had no idea Juniper had found her


    sister "If you''re going to lie, at least do some research The owner of this house doesn''t have a sister."


    Her outfit alone made her look like bad news.


    "Get out now, or don''t me me for what happens next,” Kurt snarled, ring at


    Ebony Fox.