Sooo, I was playing Solitare (loner much?) and I got this idea for a story. I don't know where it's going to go, but…we'll see. Also, everyone's going to be younger. Sophie about 9, so she hasn't met anyone else yet. Here we go.
She landed hard on the concrete, spinning a few times until she stopped, panting, on her side. No one really noticed; this was Las Vegas, where a child falling on the ground wasn't the most unusual thing they had seen. She sprang up, dusting herself off, and looked around, eyes slightly wild. She was standing next to a tall fountain, sending spurts of rainbow mist into the dark sky. Dark. The last time she had been outside, it had been mid-afternoon, early evening at latest. What had happened?
On the other side of the fountain, three kids were struggling to their feet. Two looked like siblings; they had the same dark hair, tanned complexions and teal eyes. The third was paler, gangly, with messy blonde hair that stood up artfully. The boys were both dressed all in blue, with capes that stopped at their elbows. The girl was wearing a red dress, her hair pulled back with gold pins. They stared at Sophie from across the fountain, as if she was an alien. Then the dark-haired boy, who looked oldest, walked towards her, not seeming to mind that he was stepping in the fountain. "Who are you?"
Sophie had been holding her hands to her temples, trying to block out the blaring sound that was cutting through her consciousness. Startled, she looked up. The boy's mind didn't create any sound. In fact, being near him had a sort of peace to it, quieting the other noise. She looked down at her feet, then the scummy water in the bottom of the fountain, which was littered with playing cards, cigarette butts, and change.
"Sophie Foster."
She'd been told to never give her name away, but this boy seemed different. He made her feel safe.
He nodded. "Fitz. And behind me are Keefe and Biana." He bent and scooped some change out of the bottom of the fountain, as well as a playing card.
"Well, Sophie Foster." He flicked the card at her, and she caught it between her pointer finger and thumb. He opened his fist, letting the wet coins shine in the glow of the storefronts. "What do you say we get some food?"
She nodded, still not quite able to focus, and put the card inside her pocket, sliding it into her school uniform without taking her eyes of this so-called Fitz. As she followed them though the crowded streets, she pulled it out again, wondering whether it meant anything.
But it was just a regular card.
The ace of spades.