AN: Hey! Re-write part one, start! The next re-write will be soonish. Then, after that, I'll continue the story!
Faces swim, mixing with each other. The same, all the same. Facing the front on the plaza, staring up at that eyesore statue, and a podium. Dry sun beats down, burning the skin on the back of the girl's neck. Her round, downturned eyes scan the crowd, looking for something… Anything, that might be interesting. A green flash amongst the light beiges. Huh? She has brown hair, but it's obviously a wig. Teal strands hang down around her neck, mixing with the warm brown of the wig. A boy is next to her, talking on and on at length with her. Blonde, hoodie tied around waist, air of confidence and general attractiveness. A much smaller girl with a similar face stumbles up behind him, large bunny-ear-like bow balanced precariously on her head. She smiles, catching the girl's eyes. A finger moves up and down. A message.
"…. . —.— " The girl in the crowd messages back, and they share a conversation in morse, the boy joining in. Slowly, official figures move onstage. The mayor launches into a long-winded speech, the conversation continuing in secret.
"—.—. .— ..— … . .— … —.—. . —. . " The girl nods, waiting for the right moment as the speech reaches it's point.
"This city prides itself on its unity, it's community. We are proud of this fact." The girl screams, cutting the mayor off. Her throat strains, shrill cries echoing around the plaza. The mayor yells over her, ordering guards, bystanders, anyone just grab the bloody girl. Hands wrap around her arms, pulling her into place.
"Yeah, well that's nice and all but, hello, pay attention up here~" The bunny-eared girl calls into the mike with a sing song voice, grin on her face, waving with a gloved hand. The crowd dies down, staring at the strange, strange girl behind the podium.
"Okay, I hate doing these, but whatever. So, hey. We're the Matryoshka. Our next song is "Get the fuck out of here cause shit is going down." And by shit, I mean this statue. And by song, I mean uh… whatever the fuck we're doing. See ya!" As she jumps off the stage, the boy face-palms, muttering words under his breath.
People rush out of the plaza, screaming, running. Tears stream down a small child's face, ear-shattering cries coming from its mouth. The girl in the crowd stands still, watching. Watching. Watching as the plaza empties, and the statue crumbles into dust. A smile. Not a kind, polite smile like the one she's been trained to show. A smile like that of a kid burning ants under a magnifying glass. Laughter escapes her throat. She's free.
The trio move towards her, the tiny, bunny eared girl grinning at her.
"Hello~ Thanks for helping us!"
"No problem… I guess." The girl in a wig clears her throat, her large, tired, blue eyes staring straight at her.
"As my… accomplice… announced, we are the Matryoshka. You seem like someone who wants to get out of here. Am I right?"
"Yeah?" The girl from the crowd shrugs, her eyes traveling around the three. The one with the wig nods, extending a gloved hand. The girl from the crowd shakes it.
"That's enough of those. I'm Miku, the two blondes are Rin, and Len. Guess which one is which?" The tiny girl groans, moving her hands rapidly.
"I'm Rin, and the guy over there is my brother Len."
"I could tell."
"So, do you have a name? Or a nickname? Most people when joining go by a nickname." Miku has one hand on the front of her wig, one hand under. Bobby pins fly out everywhere, little metallic noises echoing around the empty space.
"Yeah? I'm Gumi." She smiles, a kind of cocky looking grin, all teeth. It's pretty. Very pretty.
"I'll make a point remember the name of such a pretty girl." Len finally speaks, scanning Gumi with his eyes. Definetly a pretty one. A small, balled up fist hits in square in the back.
"Ignore him, he's an idiot. So, you coming Gumi?"
"No shit."
"Yeah, that was a dumb question… Come on! Our driver's here." One of those fancy, solar-powered ect. cars pulls over besides them, the doors to the back opening. "Get in, get in"
It's a long drive to the home-base. City 23 is kind of in the middle of nowhere, so it'll be a while. Miku goes of the basic rules, a make-up wipe rubbing at her face. Gumi listens without speaking much.
"So, are you gonna do something crazy with your hair? Like cut it all off and dye it a wild colour." Rin cuts off Miku, blurting it out.
"Bright green would suit you. It'd match your eyes."
"Thank you, and yeah, I guess? I really just wanna get rid of the plait."
"That's wonderful. Now, can I continue?" Miku brushes her fringe away from her eyes, taking a deep breath. She continues on her speil, stopping occasionally to ask questions or break up another one of twins fights. Ah, an actual sibling relationship, what a rarely seen thing. It's wonderful.
"So, Gumi, what are you gonna get for the marks? They're part of the gang's thing and always look awesome!"
"Rin, have I mentioned that you ask a lot of questions? Please stop." Gumi rolls her eyes, groaning internally. Well, at least this beats roaming the city looking for something interesting to do. Rin fidgets around. "So, how much longer?"
"Around two hours. It takes forever to get anywhere…."
After a grueling car trip, they finally pull into an underground car park, Gumi being hauled out the car by the over-exubarent Rin. Len runs behind them, stopping his sister from pulling Gumi's arm out of its socket. God she's a pain, but at least she's not a complete jerk.
"Rin, Len, take Gumi to the desk to sort everything out."
"Yeah, on to it. Rin, slow down, and let go of her! You're gonna pull her arm out!" Rin shoves Gumi into an open lift, holding the doors open for her brother.
"So, what was this place?" Gumi asks, looking around the small lift.
"It was a school or something… We got the building for free after they relocated. Or got moved. Or shut down. One of the three" Right… Rin figets for the remainder of the trip, rushing out to get to the desk as soon as the doors open.
They are met by an older woman, with light pink hair and a kind smile. Her eyes light up when she sees the twins, moving around some documents.
"Ah, hello you two. Is this a hostage or a recruit?"
"Here on my own free will. Not a hostage."
"Ah, okay then. Welcome to The Matryoshka. I'm Luka and it is wonderful to meet you. Please write a few things in these boxes, and Haku and Neru will join you shortly." She points Gumi over to a chair, the twins sitting beside her. They chat a little as she fills the forms out, Luka breaking the conversation apart.
"Gumi, Haku and Neru are here to see you."
Gumi emerges, still wearing the same ugly begie dress as before, but looking more like a member of the gang. Short, bright green hair, and the marks on her face, three notched lines curving over her cheekbones and nose.
"Ah, I knew it'd suit you." Len winks, smiling. Is he flirting? Urgh…
"Great, great…"
"Anyways, Miku wants you to take some sorta test. Come with us. Be warned, this place has like fifty-billion stairs"
"Right…" Gumi follows her down a flight of the "fifty-billion stairs". It's tedious, and the place is echoy, but eventually, they make it to a large room full of obstacles. Miku is standing holding a pile of clothing, the wig off. Her long hair is held back in two waist lenght pig-tails. Yikes, that's really long.
"Take these, get changed. There is no way you could move in… that."
"Yeah, I know. These suck." Miku hands the pile over, escorting Gumi to a changing room at the bottom of a flight of stairs. It's light inside, the flurosent lights glaring above. Gumi slips the dress off, dumping it, her shoes, and her undergarments in a heap on the floor, pulling on the clothes Miku gave her— a sports bra, a singlet top, some jeans and a pair of light grey combat boots. Comfy. It's easy to move in.
Stretching her arms, Gumi walks up the stairs, uncertain about her future, but more sure than before.