This story is a remake of my first ever fic. I wrote the original when I was 12 but now I'm 19 and have much more knowledge and experience when it comes to writing. This is by no means the best of the best when it comes to my writing abilities. I am still just doing this for fun so it will not have the same level of planning and refinement as a formal story would, but it should hopefully be a huge improvement compared to the original fic.

"I wish there was more I could do for you..." The Whisperer draped a blanket over the sleeping teen. She slipped a small envelope into the pocket of the girl's tattered jacket. "I hope twenty dollars is enough to do you some good."

The hooded figure shrunk into the shadows of the alleyway to avoid the gaze of a passerby. The man averted his eyes the moment he saw the girl sleeping on the ground, walking quickly to avoid her. From the shadows, the Whisperer cursed the man. Why can't people have more compassion for the homeless?

The Whisperer adjusted her cloak and slung a duffel bag over her shoulder. No matter how much she wished it, there was nothing she could do to make people help those in need. She didn't have the power for that. Her frustration grew the more she thought about it.

A small thud and hushed voices brought the Whisperer's attention upward. She dove behind a corner as she spotted someone beginning to climb down a nearby fire escape. Four light thuds followed by the scraping of a manhole cover caught her attention. Intrigued by the odd event, she glanced back around the corner as the cover was pulled back into place.

Splashing and voices could be heard down below. She hesitated for a moment, debating whether she should go home. Her curiosity won her over and she began to pry up the heavy cover.

She dropped down into the sewer, her path lit by her phone's flashlight. The sounds of a distant argument echoed through the tunnels. She followed it, stepping carefully in an attempt to silence her footsteps. Using her recent emojis, she noted every turn she took as she followed the strangers through the sewers. Many times she hesitated, debating turning back around and going home. The situation was beyond sketchy and she knew it was dangerous. Despite this, her curiosity overtook her. Her mind justified her actions.

My purpose is to help people.

I'll warn people of any danger.

I won't be seen.

I'll keep my distance.

I'll give evidence to the police.

I'll save lives.

The further she followed, the darker the scenarios in her mind became. A drug deal. A gang. Hitmen. Kidnappers. A cult. The darker her thoughts became, the more determined she was to expose them and protect her city.

The tunnels connected to an old railroad tunnel. The rails were dirty and rusted, clearly not often maintained or used. Her flashlight illuminated a faint trail in the dirt along the tracks, showing that this path was regularly walked on.

Ring

Ring

Ring

She panicked as her phone pierced the silence and echoed all through the tunnel. The caller ID filled the screen.

Mom.

She quickly answered it to silence the ringing.

"Uhh, hi Mom," she said in a hushed voice. It sounded more like a question than she intended it to. She pressed herself against the tunnel wall.

"Jade, where are you? You said you would return from Amber's house by 10. What are you doing?" her worry was clear in her voice.

Desperate for the conversation to end, Jade racked her brain for an excuse. "Uh, well, Amber has had a rough day and she needed someone to talk to about it so uh," She paused, acutely aware of how her voice echoed on the tunnel walls, "I wanted to stay with her longer. Until she felt better. I forgot to text."

Her mother sighed, "okay. It is good that you are helping her but I need you to tell me where you are next time your plans change. It is not safe in the city."

Jade nodded anxiously, "Yeah, I know. Sorry. I'll remember."

"Tell me when you leave her house. I need to know that you are safe."

"Yeah, okay. See ya Mom," Jade hovered her finger over the end call button.

"I love you Jade."

"I love you too."

She jabbed the end call button and shoved her phone in her pocket. She held her breath, listening for any sign that she had been heard. After a long period of heavy silence, she gained the courage to slip her phone out of her pocket. Her heart raced and her her arms shook from adrenaline. She crept along the tracks, listening to the sound of her heart pounding in her ears. Every echo and tiny sound made her freeze. Anxiety filled every breath and she began to regret coming down.

I've come too far to turn back.

That one thought was enough for her curiosity to win over reason and push her deeper into the tunnels. As she rounded a bend, a soft glow began to fill the dark tunnel. The entrance to an old subway station came into her view. It didn't look abandoned like the tunnels around it. As she neared the entrance she could see furniture and pizza boxes inside. Clearly someone was living there.

Despite the indications that this was someone's home, it was eerily quiet. The tv was playing a local news channel but the volume was muted. Items were scattered on the ground as if someone had dropped them in a hurry.

Hesitantly, she peeked further into the station. There were various doorways, many clearly being additions to make the original station more homely. A Japanese style paper door could be seen off to the right. Up ahead, past a doorway decorated with a curtain of brightly colored party streamers, was what looked like a kitchen.

Amazed by all the modifications made to the station, she pushed past the turnstiles to get a better look.

Before she could react, she was pinned to the ground. Her struggles were useless, she couldn't move at all. She was on the verge of crying but did everything in her power to keep her composure.

"How did you find this place?" Three figures came into her view. None of them were human, that was clear. They looked like turtles, all with green skin and shells. They each carried weapons and wore colored masks. She could see enough out of the corner of her eye to know that the person holding her down was also a turtle person.

"I'm sorry!" she panicked. She had no idea what to say. Her eyes darted between the figures in front of her, taking in every detail.

"Who are you?" The one holding her down asked, removing the cheap masquerade mask that she used to hide her identity.

"Please! I-" she couldn't find the words. She did a double take of the one in orange. He seemed too familiar. An image of a freckled green face appeared in her mind. In the past she could never tell if it was a vivid dream or a memory. It couldn't be a coincidence.

When she finally spoke, her voice was dull of doubt. "I think I've met you before?"