Hey, guys! Siren, here. I'd like to thank FluffysMate17 for helping me out with this. You rule, Fluffy!

Disclaimer: I don't own it. Yet. -evil laugh-


"Yo?" A female voice called out as she entered the house. No answer, like usual. She sighed and kicked the door shut. "Gone again, huh?" She muttered. She didn't bother to look for a note; there wouldn't be one.

Flopping down on the couch, Tanner grabbed the remote and punched the power button.

The screen flickered to life as she shook her auburn hair out of her face impatiently. Blue eyes trained on the TV, she commenced her usual flipping through channels. The silver bangles on her arm jangled in protest with each jab to the channel button. It was a little after 3pm; Yu-Gi-Oh would be on by now…

Ah, there it was. A small smile twisted the teen's lips as she gazed at the familiar images.

It was a rerun, of course. Duelist Kingdom – really old. Still, watching Jonounchi beat Mai never failed to cheer her up. She absently adjusted herself so that the straps of her backpack weren't cutting into her shoulders quite as much. She had been too lazy to take it off when she got home.

A bright flash of lightning lit up her pale features and threw shadows across her black T-shirt and torn jeans. Her faded, silver locket reflected the light back weakly. Tanner, absorbed with the episode, barely noticed the rapidly approaching signs of a storm.

Just as Yugi and the rest of the gang were headed into the forest, a clap of thunder shook the house. The rain that had been threatening all day broke loose, pelting down in torrents. Thunder sounded again, closer than the last time. Tanner jumped off the couch awkwardly, her backpack throwing off her balance as she scrambled to find a flashlight – just in case.

Her hand closed on the handle and she laughed triumphantly. Turning, she started back toward the TV more calmly than she had left it. At that precise moment, another bolt of lightning flashed brilliantly and all went black for the teenager.

--

"Tanner is so dead," the short, fair-haired girl decided, glaring at the pile of textbooks her friend had left for her to carry. Sighing resignedly, she dragged out the heavy stack and somehow managed to kick the locker shut behind her. Elaine staggered slightly under the weight before starting towards the exit, her cherub face set in a pout.

Outside, the sky was a foreboding gray. Elaine set a brisk pace, and the tennis bag hanging over her shoulder banged her thigh irritatingly with each stride. Thunder boomed in the distance and a cold rain began to fall.

"Damn!" The girl cursed, breaking into an awkward run. Her cute pink-and-white tennis uniform was quickly soaked through and goose bumps began to rise on her plump arms. The rain was coming down harder now, but Tanner's house was in sight. Putting on an extra burst of speed, she raced up the front walkway and grabbed desperately for the doorknob.

A blinding flash of lightning lit up the sky just as Elaine's hand touched the chilly metal. There was a moment of sickening weightlessness, and then everything went dark.


Well, this is Siren, heading out! Read and review, guys!