CHAPTER ONE
Catherine Bloom picked her way through the dark alley, silencing her own grumblings, knowing it's her fault that she ran out of supplies. She felt lucky to find a convenience store still open at a powerless night like this.
Or so she thought. She found her way blocked by two looming shadows. She smelled alcohol. Before she could even turn she knew by the scuffling noises that there were two more drunk men behind her as well.
"Hey angel, don'tcha look luvly t'night.." one of the men slurred, approaching her. The other guys all moved in, "C'mon, babe... lesss'ave fun" they sniggered.
She didn't scream nor try to run away. She surveyed the four men…
And took out four knives.
The men laughed drunkenly, "Oooh! The pretty knife-thrower's gonna play!"
Two of the knives hit home, and the cowards ran away cursing. the other two were too fast and managed to subdue her first. This time she screamed in rage and fought for all that she could but they covered her mouth. The men laughed, feeling victorious as they pushed her body against the dirty pavement.
The next thing she knew, the man on top of her was violently thrown aside. She glimpsed long, flowing hair as the other man received a swift and high kick up his jaw. The newcomer grabbed her arm and pulled her up off the ground and out of the alley.
"Go back to the store!" Catherine heard her rescuer's female voice tell her as she was pushed to the direction of the brightly-lit establishment. When she turned around she can see only darkness inside the alley. Confused, she ran as directed while thuds and yelps in pain sounded in the cold night air.
She stood there waiting, safe under the lights and still wondering what just happened. She then felt a tap on her shoulder. She turned to see, illuminated in the artificial lights, a girl with long green hair. With a silent smile she handed Catherine the bag of groceries she dropped when she was attacked in the alley.
Catherine smiled back as she accepted, "How could I ever thank you?"
At that, the girl held up a loaf of bread that Catherine bought earlier. The younger girl bit into it and smiled again, before turning to leave.
"Wait!" the brown-haired girl called out. She saw the girl stop.
She went on, "Bread is too little payment for what you've done for me. I live at the circus camped nearby. Please come home with me, I'm making dinner."
She could only see one side of her face, covered with her green hair. Then she smiled and approached Catherine, "Thank you."
"No job? So how did you manage all this time?" Catherine asked in bewilderment, finishing their meal together back in her circus home.
"I left my last job as a bouncer because the girls I used to protect can take care of themselves now," the girl who introduced herself as Nilca Woods replied, "I taught them."
"A bouncer... it would seem ridiculous looking at a girl like you, but from what I've seen back in the alley, I have no doubt you're capable!"
"People in this colony don't think so, looking at me. So until I get a new job I do some odd jobs here and there, just to get by."
Catherine suddenly had an idea, "How about if I hire you?"
Nilca gave her a puzzled look, "...You need a bouncer?"
"No no, we need an extra hand in the circus since my brother is too busy these days."
"An extra hand? What would you need me to do?"
"Be our acrobat then," Catherine replied, mischievously raising a brow.
"An acrobat...?" Nilca trailed off, a hint of smile playing on her lips.