After the Twilight:

Chapter Two: ~ Feather under the Stars ~

Miril finally stopped her blind run in an alley. She looked around tears still running down her cheeks. She looked up she didn't really see the alley she only saw the blood splattered over the walls and her parents laying covered in their own blood on the bed. The electricity running around the room making the lights flick on and off.

Then…

Miril woke in her bed to hear her mother scream and then silence ruled the night once more. Scared the young girl slipped out of bed in her PJs the dark gray top and black bottoms fit loosely and comfortable. She walked quickly down the hall to her parents' room and when she pushed the door open she saw her mother half hanging off the bed and blood all over the sheets. A figure moved around the room pulling through her father's desk files quickly.

A yelp escaped her lips and she ran to her mother shaking her arm as she climbed onto the bed to see her father also covered in blood. She called for them over and over going into hysterics; tears pouring from her eyes. "ADDA! AMME! GET UP, PLEASE GET UP!" She screeched and fell on top of her still motionless parents.

The stranger spun around as he heard her the first time and watched in silence as the girl through herself into louder and louder hysterics. He frowned and brought his gun to bear on her. Before the shot was fired the girl turned and caught sight of him again.

Through her tears she held up her hands in front of her face and bolts of electricity flew from them. Hitting the floor. The lights began flickering.  Stunned and now scared the man grabbed the papers and fled out the window leaving the girl alone. Slowly as she wore herself out the electricity died and she fell unconscious beside her parents.

The next she knew when she woke were police putting her parents in black bags and one of them leaning over her shaking her to wake up. He helped her off the bed and led her downstairs and outside all the while issuing orders to the other officers.

Now…

Tears started falling once more as the images flashed through her mind. The sobs racked her small frame and she fell to her knees almost believing her internal pain and agony was becoming physical as she felt pain rip through her back.

It wasn't until an ebony feather fell onto her cheek that she looked up gasping as the pain subsided. Two wings came from her back and rested folding neatly to her. She stood slowly and tried moving them. To her surprise they unfolded and spread flapping lightly and pulling her a few inches from the ground after a few tries.

It was growing late having turned dark hours ago. A yawn tore itself from Miril's lungs and she looked around for someplace out of the way to lie down. Walking over to a large crate she curled up inside pulling her wings around as a blanket to ward of the snow the and cold as she drifted into nightmare filled sleep.

Five years later…

Feet pounded across the metal framework behind her as she tore across as quickly as possible. Drums pounded in her ears as she ran, racing time, and fate in her own manner. Reaching the end of the platform she leapt swinging herself up to the next level and she headed back turning the corner she stopped and waited back pressed to the freezing metal post.

As the first person came around they ran in her stiff arm and did a front flip. She stepped onto his stomach and she moved back jumping up to come behind the next and kick him across the spine she gripped the next ones arm and flipped them over her shoulder down to the ground four levels below.

One of them got back up and she spun landing a kick in his gut and a punch across his jaw he fell back in agony as she turned jumping off the framework landing on the balls of her feet; straightening she ran off back to the allies.

'Will they never learn to leave me be? Stupid Gangs take a hint. I'm not interested in your egotistical idiots. ' She slowed her pace and walked along the alley running her fingers through her messy Ebony waves. Her dark blue eyes glanced around carefully. Turning the next corner she jumped flipping herself up onto the roof and continued her stroll.

The girl was wearing worn out black cargos and a deep blue turtleneck shirt that looked like the elbows had been patched with strips of ruddy brown leather. Her skin was sienna and her short stature made her look unimpressive but then He had just seen her kick those thug's rear ends.

The boy followed casually behind her a few roofs down. His brown eyes glinted with a hint of what appeared gold. He smiled and turned down another route to meet up with her a few minutes later. He decided he had waited long enough to enlist this street girl in his gang.

Ciara stopped in her steps before she rounded another corner and frowned slightly. "Show yourself." She called firmly into the shadows up ahead and then stood waiting. Moments later a boy stepped out he looked about sixteen with ruddy brown hair that was at the longest just off his shoulders and cut with a blade in layers up from that. He wore loose gray cargos and a large black sweatshirt with a kangaroo pouch where he had his hands stashed. She eyed him but didn't change her stance and didn't say a word.

The boy smiled and offered his hand. "Aiden. " taking his hand after a moment She nodded slightly.

"M-Ciara" Her eyes held his steadily but she offered no smile and presently released his hand dropping her own to her side. "You are part of the H-pack."

"Yes, h-" She gestured to his wrist where a leather band was strapped and shrugged. "I forgot about that. Ciara? You started to say something that started with an M. and come to think of it…you look a lot like that kid. Miril Estelae that was on the news five years ago."

Ciara shifted her weight to her other foot impatiently. So she had changed her name it was her way of moving on to her new life without a family. She wanted to bury those memories anyhow. "Your point being?"

"Nothing. I was just noting. Your Miril Estelae, but that's not important. I saw you in action back there and I also know your smart and capable…else you wouldn't of made it this long on your own." Ciara just raised a brow for him to go on. "I wanted to know if you would join the H-pack."

"The Aiden wants me in his pack, eh?" She stepped around him and started walking once more. "I need reasons." Aiden turned and started following close behind her.

"What do you mean reasons?"

"I'm sure you can guess at that."

"Oh, like three good reasons to join?" Silence followed and he took that for a yes. "Well then. One: We offer you a place to stay money and something of education so we wont have to live like this forever. Two: Things are better in a group and unlike most groups around here; we actually care about our members and offer them something. Three: We could use someone with your skills and capability. We need people like you."

"And if I say no?"

"I can't force the issue; but I'll come back and ask again later if you do."

"You say room and education. What about food and security?"

"We all pitch in for food and there is plenty. We also have several people who keep security for the rest of us."

"Time to think, I'll need"

"As you wish…if your answer is yes. Then meet me tonight at the abandoned warehouse on Hans Adrea blv." Ciara nodded and Aiden turned away going his own path and leaving Ciara to her thoughts.

'Fool. Hans Adrea blv, eh? Well, well. I know why you call yourselves H-pack. How about Street hackers? We will meet soon enough Wraith, but I'll pick the time.'  Ciara walked down the street past the electronic stores and stopped to watch the new.

~Wraith the infamous Hacker's path was caught last night in a minor area of the telephone/internet network…~ Ciara raised a brow slightly and turned walking on down the street. 'If he is smart he'll have someone trailing me all day. So then I have to wait…'

Ciara walked around the town all day, stopping only here and there to look at something or avoid meeting police or the sort. She would look over her shoulder from time to time mentally frowning. It was like a sixth sense she could tell when trouble was brewing or someone was watching her a little more closely and she felt unnatural observation. She hated being trailed but more then that she hated not being able to see who was trailing her.

Ciara turned a corner onto one of the back streets pulling up quickly she looked over at the corner where a young woman stood casually. She turned to leave but the woman called out. "Why are you leaving so quickly?"

"Any reason I should stay?"

"Any reason you should depart?"

"Any number of them."

"Likewise."

Ciara didn't turn back but didn't move to leave either her silence was the only invitation to do anything she gave.

"What are you afraid of?" The strange woman inquired.

Ciara stayed silent for a moment rolling this unexpected question over in her mind. 'What was she getting at with that question?' was what rolled through her mind several times.

"What do I have to fear?" She responded calmly.

"And why should I know the answer to that?"

"Then why do you assume I fear anything?" Ciara turned to look at the woman. The lady smiled slightly and then turned around the corner disappearing. She left Ciara with the distinct impression that she had implied she knew of fears she, herself, didn't even know she had.

Ciara turned down the alley lost in her own thoughts. She unconsciously turned towards Hans Adrea blv, as the light dimmed in the sky. She would stay there, for now.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A/N: For pronunciation of names:

Estelae (B)est-L-i (do not sound the b. and the last "i" is sounded long.)

Miril Meer-ill

Ciara, Keer-a

Aiden A-den

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~Elora~