Intro chapter. Bella tells a little about her crime fighting and home life. Things aren't exactly as they seem as she will learn.

The Shadow Slayer's Journal June.16th/16 New York City

Day 58 of fighting crime. Day 106 since the bug bite.

It wasn't always running around in tights fighting crime. I had a normal life for a while. 17 and no clue what I was going to do with my life. I wasn't a complete trainwreck at school but I was no genius or valedictorian either. It was weird going through all the training and discovering a whole community of people like me. Then I found out that I could get a specially made costume online and utility belt. I knew superheroes were real, people pass them every day but now that teenagers as young as 15 were allowed to run wild in costume then it became a bigger deal. It was weird getting my license. The weirdest was picking my name, I wondered if it was the same way pornstars got theirs. Shadow Slayer wasn't my first choice. I was no slayer and I couldn't really blend into the shadows with so much red spandex.

"Bella! What are you doing up there? Dinner 's ready!" Renee called from downstairs. I sort of felt guilty about my late night escapades, Renee did so much for me. We lived in this tiny duplex on a busy street in a tough neighborhood. She would freak if she knew her little girl was out knocking down creeps with a single punch and running up walls. I guess I really was still kind of a weak girl, I was more super clumsy than super focused. I really didn't know what I was doing half the time. I still had a following, my fan donation page can prove it.

"What are we having?" I ask, running down to the table after logging off for the night. I see the plates of orange piles. "Kraft dinner?"

"I know, I thought I'd go gourmet tonight!" Renee teased.

"You shouldn't have," I laughed. The steam coming off the noodles was fogging up my glasses.

I felt bad some times that Renee was stuck in the house like this especially on a Friday night. She really had to get herself out there. I was no better, I was a total geek and nobody was asking me to dance or a movie. I guess in some ways we were both hopeless romantics. I wasn't sure what her preferences were. I didn't know mine either. I had a feeling that this summer we were both going to realize what we were both in to.

"You look tired, Bells," I knew I had some harsh rings under my eyes, that's what I get for staying out until 3am. "You hitting the books too hard?"

I shrugged it off, "Yeah...I think I might turn in early tonight."

"You really don't have to work so hard. I mean, you're smart, if you got all Cs it's not like I'd disown you or anything."

"Some of them are Cs. I suck at Spanish."

"Now what did I say about that word," she acted all serious; she always gave herself away too soon, laughing too early to let me know it's a joke which I always know it is. "Gotcha!"

I shook my head, "No you didn't!"

I went to clear my plate, she whipped my butt with a dish cloth, one of her many weird quirks that she thinks is normal in every household. "Ow! Hey!"

"No lights on when you go to bed. I don't want you ruining those eyes."

"Yes, Ma'am!" I saluted.

Renee frowned, "Did you just call me a ma'am?" This time I really did think I upset her. Then she smirked, "I could get used to that!"

She was so weird. I knew she followed all of these superhero reality shows, something that I'm glad I'm not a part of. She actually did find out about my alter ego. She even got in contact with her/me on my page. She thought I was cute but also showed concern about my well being. She fangirled out on me. It was kind of sweet. She said I reminded her of her stepdaughter. She never seemed to suspect a thing so I guess that was good. But then she wanted to meet, get an autograph for her dear Bella. I do autographs all the time but normally just scan copies. Renee only liked doing stuff in person, she was a completionist.

I was meeting her that night. She wanted to meet me in the dark alley behind the Tiffany's; she would always do window shopping there. I just thought it was so risky but she knew how many superheroes patrolled those areas. I had to meet her at 10:30 so I needed to gear up fast. Pillows under the covers to assure her I didn't leave and I was out the window.

I actually did plan on heading back right away just in case she thought of sticking the autograph under my pillow only to discover I was gone.

The back alley behind yht Tiffanys wasnt my usual route. So many rats and filthy dumpsters. The things I did for this woman. I was right on time. It was typical her, never on time.

"What the fuck are you doing over there?" It was blonde superhero, Calamity; I swore she was my high school nemesis, Rosalie but I had no proof of this besides a hunch.

"Uh..."

"Whatever, loser," she laughed as a big dude put an arm around her and left. Calamity was popular, top 10 and I just barely made the top 100.

Sonic Girl, probably more unpopular than me also walked by; I could've sworn she was that girl Angela from my Chem class. We never talked much but I could tell she too wondered why I was hanging out next to a dumpster in the dark.

"Hi, there!" It was Renee, some how she snuck up on me.

"Um, hello," I said like a weirdo.

"Wow, it's really you. Sorry I'm late."

"That's ok, Miss."

She laughed and got closer, "Please call me Renee. I hate thinking of myself as a ma'am or a Miss."

"Ok, Renee. Interesting place you wanted to meet... "

We talked for a while, mainly about how was it I was able to live a double life and if anyone else knew me personally. I flexed my arm for her and I guess she liked that, she held on to my shoulders quite a bit but I never thought anything of it.

"You must be so brave. If you were my daughter I'd never let you out of my sight."

"My mom is pretty cool, I would never mean to upset her. This is just something I gotta do I guess."

I signed an autograph and we said our goodnights. She brought me into a hug unexpectedly and said, "Thank you for tonight. My daughter is really going to like this."

This was all followed by a kiss. No not a kiss on the cheek but an open mouth kiss on the lips! I was in absolute shock and to top it all off she groped my ass! I was speechless, completely speechless!

"Goodnight, Slayer!" She blew me a kiss and left me standing there. I didn't move for a couple minutes, my mind was too busy processing the complete wrong this all was.

What do you think? More soon!