Ruby raced along the city streets, nothing more that human-shaped blur of red light. She loved this feeling. Not being totally insubstantial, but feeling physically looser. Less constrained. And the whole outrunning speeding cars was a plus.
A bullet zinged past her ear, and she winced to herself. 'You're not that fast Ruby. Gotta focus.' That focus lasted all of five seconds as her gaze locked on the young woman passing by on the sidewalk.
Weiss walked quickly down the street, intent on not being seen in a district like this. Not because she was ashamed to be near…those less fortunate than she was. But because if she was spotted, a scene would be made, and then her family would hear about it, and then she would get another long, tear-inducingly ignorant lesson about "poor people" and how they should "get up off their asses and get a job" and how she "shouldn't go near any of those untrustworthy mutts." God. Her thoughts were interrupted by blaring police sirens. For a split-second, she panicked, sure her father had located her and had enlisted the entire city's police force to bring her in. But then she saw the scarlet blur racing up the street, leaving a glowing red trail behind her. Although relieved at her continued anonymity, Weiss's heart went out to this Scarlett Blur. Conduits were being "arrested" by the hour, and escaping when being discovered was near-impossible. As she watched "Scarlett" pass, she swore that their "head" turned to face her as they passed. And Weiss swore she caught a glimpse of silver in the red blur.
And then Scarlett ran face-first into a traffic light at 40 mph.
Weiss winced at the impact. They…she was out cold. Weiss stared. Scarlett was a goner now. The police would be here in seconds.
Something began to stir in Wiess. She looked at this girl, lying defenseless on the street, and knew she couldn't let the police take her. Maybe it was an act of rebellion against her father. Maybe it was human decency. Maybe it was because Scarlett was cute. Maybe all three. But Weiss knew she couldn't let Scarlett get caught. Cursing herself, she nearly-imperceptibly flicked her finger up, and a giant wall of ice shot up, creating an effective road block from the police and Scarlett. Using the distraction, Weiss rushed over to Scarlett, put the girl's arm over her shoulder, and dragged her into a nearby building that rented rooms.