AN: Something new I'm working on. To kick it off though, I decided to write a sneak preview to ease the readers into the tone of the story. Think of it like the character trailers from RWBY. The specific scene might not be in the actual story, but it serves as an introduction of sorts. Please leave feedback and let me know what you think!
The room is cast in dark shadows, lit only by the flickering lightbulb above that was screwed in at an odd angle but still somehow works. The whole room is almost empty, save for a small table placed between two boarded windows. On the table is a cubed device streaming a holographic video screen against the stained wall. The screen is tuned to a news outlet.
"There's no way around this, Turq. The world is literally blowing up around us and there's no end in sight with the Huntsmen and Huntresses scattered and in hiding…"
The screen switches channels to another news outlet.
"A small faction of the White Fang invaded the center courthouse in the city of Reliqua this morning, resulting in twelve deaths and about thirty-six injured…"
The screen switches yet again, this time settling on a conspiracy outlet.
"I always knew Professor Ozpin was a liar and a coward! Was I not right fifteen years ago when he mysteriously disappeared from Beacon for a while? He couldn't stick around then, and he's not sticking around now!"
Finally, the screen winks out and the one with the remote controlling it heaves a great sigh. She's a woman in her early twenties with short-cropped black hair that's long enough in the front to dangle over her emerald eyes as if the strands are tantalizing her. She is sitting cross-legged on the floor while trying to recollect her thoughts. Her cybernetic hands rest themselves on her lap as she stares down at the wood floor. Outside, sounds of people shouting at each other and even throwing things at each other can be heard, followed by the squeal of police sirens.
"White Fang triumphs! White Fang triumphs! White Fang triumphs!"
The woman stands up with trembling knees, afraid at first that she might lose her balance and fall down. She removes the cigarette from her mouth and exhales slowly.
There's a banging noise on the door. The woman flinches and stares at the door with worry creasing through her forehead.
"It's me. Open up," a voice says on the other side of the door.
The woman answers the door, and another woman—several years younger—walks in and brushes past the first. In her hands she's holding a large box.
"I came as fast as I could. I wanted to make sure I had all the right materials," she says.
The second woman has much longer hair than the first, being black but with shades of magenta that seems to sparkle every time her hair shifts, and one chunk of it dangling over one eye is completely magenta through and through. Her nose has a silver piercing and one of her eyes is pink while the other is yellow. A scar runs across her neck, and she's wearing a plain, orange shirt and black shorts.
She places the box on the floor and gets down to peel it open. The first woman sits down with her. Once the box is open, she peers in. Half a smile slips through her features.
"Some of the parts might be a little outdated. A few of them might not even work at all. Collecting all this stuff was like a long shot in the dark," the second woman says.
The first woman looks up at her with a rare twinkle in her eye. "These will do just fine, Petunia. Thank you."
Petunia grins but it's a sad grin. She clamps her hands together and wrings them, as if expecting something she doesn't want to see.
"Are you sure you don't want me to stay here with you? Two heads are better than one, as they say."
"I can't let you," the first woman says. "I'm sorry. I know you're alone, but I'm not good company for you."
"You're not the worst though."
"I'm in danger of becoming that. If I need you right here with me, I'll let you know."
Petunia stares down at the floor feeling slightly dejected, but quickly shakes it off. "Okay. I'll leave you with your toys."
Petunia gets up and starts heading back to the door. She stops once she gets there and looks back. "I hope you find your freedom."
The first woman's shoulders droop. "Not as long as I am what I am, Petunia."
Petunia's own shoulders droop and she shuts the door behind her with a sigh. The woman remains sitting on the floor as she starts pulling things out of the box. Behind her, the evening light coming in through the windows begins subsiding, and grows darker and darker until the woman's whole figure is shrouded in shadow and her black hair becomes one with the darkness.
