Eighteen year old Nicole Reynolds walked home from school alone, shoulders hunched and her head down.
Her chin-length, white-blonde hair fluttered in the slight breeze.
She toyed with her sleek black hairpin, a raven's wing, tuning out the world.
A few rocks were kicked along the way, trying to entertain herself.
It didn't really work.
Rachel Barnes touched her red sash, then threw herself at the guy with a wild scream. She just couldn't fucking stand it. She kicked at his knee hard, then twisted him around and threw him into the table with all her might.
She lunged onto his back and grabbed his head, smacking his forehead into the tabletop twice before he shoved back to throw her off.
"Rachel, you lunatic - let's just go!" Alycia yelled, and ran to help her up. "Screw this party!"
Alycia dragged her toward the front door of the house, squeezing Rachel's arm so hard it hurt.
The guy gave a snarl and started after the pair.
"Stay away from us, I mean it!" Alycia shouted, stalking across the dark night's street toward her car.
The guy didn't listen - he screamed profanities at Rachel, made rude gestures. And he kept after them, until they reached the car. Then he threw himself forward and grabbed onto Rachel, her arm, then her hair, his hand wrapping up in it.
Alycia pushed her blue jacket aside and reached down into it, toward her waist. "Rachel!"
Rachel kneed the guy in the stomach repeatedly, shoved her fingers in his eyes and punched him in the throat, but he held onto her. He lifted her up and slammed her down hard to the asphalt, bruising her and knocking the wind out of her.
And he didn't stop there; he brought his foot down on Rachel's head, spitting and swearing down at her viciously - repeatedly.
Alycia didn't think; her hand withdrew from her jacket, clutching firm, finger curled - and she pulled the trigger multiple times over.
The loud booms echoed up and down the block in the dead of night, for all to hear.
Chloe Wolf walked the halls of her new school very self-consciously. Very aware of her surroundings.
Taking in the new sights, the new scents.
The polished floor and the cool feel of the lockers under her trailing hand.
She hefted her backpack of bright pink and resisted her every urge to whip out her mirror and check her face again - her makeup.
There were two other girls next to her locker, holding hands and talking together. One, tall and beautiful with long brown hair (and a large bandage on the side of her head), and the other, a dark skinned girl of slender figure and her hair styled pretty.
Chloe did her best to squeeze in, but she ultimately had to get their attention with a little wave and a gesture.
They moved quickly enough, looking sincerely apologetic, at least.
Chloe was relieved; she didn't want to start a fight or feud on her first day.
She raised her hands and signed to them. A simple, quick, "Thank you."
Michael Fauss leaned back in his seat after finishing his work, and he dug into his pocket to pull out his painted yellow smartphone. He yawned and stretched, slumping down and tapping idly.
"Mr. Fauss - what do you you're doing in my class?"
Michael glanced up at the teacher. He shrugged.
"Put it away or hand it over," the teacher said.
Michael reluctantly straightened, shoving his phone back in his pocket. He leaned over his desk, arms resting, and sighed loudly.
Would it kill anyone to give him a break? Just give him this? Just this little time of peace?
Apparently, yeah, it would.
From the distant reaches of space, five miniscule objects flew toward the Earth beyond lightspeed - only to inexplicably slow down, break atmosphere, and tumble all the way to the ground.
Right into the heart of a city called Angel Grove.
Five different colored coins, pulsing with light and a mysterious power...