Dark Fields of the Republic
By Fewthistle

Author's Note: Written for the Unanswered Questions Challenge at the LiveJournal community T100. Post "Loss."

It wasn't much of a view. Cinderblock, torn black roofing shingles, ancient television antennas. Hundreds of other rooftops, varying only in shape and size. No trees, no rolling hills.

The stars existed in someone else's sky, not hers. Here, the lights of ten million lesser gods outshone those distant suns; those dying, traveling memories of another earth, another place like this one.

Olivia had been born here, raised under the glow of this unnatural sky. She'd probably die here. Yet, somewhere, out where no false stars vied for glory, the world was wrapped in a cloak of polka-dotted midnight; and Alex was there. Sleeping. Dreaming. Living.

Olivia didn't know where. But it was enough.