Morning had long since befallen the Silver warehouse when Raven finally woke.

As soon as her eyes opened, she realized she was alone. Everyone, including Red, had left. It was only natural: everyone was looking for things to steal or people to beg, and the first ones up made the best money.

But the girl had allowed herself an extended sleep because she already had a lot of money stocked up for food (and the drugs she bought and re-sold afterwards; she herself wasn't much of an addict) and didn't need to find more. Plus, she had those shoes that she had stolen the night before.

Looking beside her, Raven saw that Red at least had the decency to leave the Nikes to her, seeing as how she was the one to steal them. Besides, she honestly doubted that the slightly fearful and naïve boy would have even thought of taking the expensive shoes for himself. . . because she indeed had a rare gift of sensing who people really were, which allowed her to pick the right people to hang with: all with weaknesses she could pick on, all disoriented by their sudden loss of home and all dependant on her. She could see people who could fend for themselves a mile away, and stayed clear of their path, because they were strong and wouldn't follow her around like dogs.

Raven yawned loudly, and stretched. She looked around the warehouse, at the beams of light that fell through the broken windows and showed the swirling dust, at the filthy floor and the many mattresses that were used as beds. She smiled at the sinister home, finding comfort in it, because she felt like she was in her element. The girl was sure she'd feel awkward in a rich house, or a just about any house, because as far as her memory reached, her home had been dark and very closely related with everything that happened on the streets.

The raven-haired girl got up slowly, stretching again, and looked down at the shoes she had stolen, and then at her own feet. The sneakers she wore were tattered and filthy, and with a sudden shrug, she kicked them off and proceeded with putting the new ones on.

She hadn't stolen the Nikes for money or anything: just for the pleasure of stealing and for the thrill of a good chase. They were hers now, and she decided she'd rather keep them for herself.

Finally she straightened, feet relaxing in their new envelope, and with a determined step, headed towards the door.

All she needed now was a shower. . .

(0)

Raven glanced over her shoulder, and seeing how there was no one in the parking lot of the old motel, she kneeled beside the door to room eleven and started to pick the lock with a hairpin.

Twisting and turning, it took her mere seconds to get the simple lock open. With a click, the door swung inwards and the girl quickly got inside, before shutting it again.

The motel might be old and not often occupied, but there were still chances she'd get caught inside, and that would be very bad. Raven knew her time was counted.

So rapidly, she removed her coat and threw it on the bed, before shutting the curtains in front of the window to keep any unwanted eyes out of the room. Then, she kicked her brand new Nikes off and walked towards the adjacent bathroom in her black pants and black tube top.

Her socks went flying and landed next to the sink, and the rest of her clothes followed.

Raven faced the small shower, and slowly turned the tap until water came flowing out. She adjusted it to the right temperature and then turned the faucet that connected the shower, releasing the water from above her head.

She stepped in and sighed.

(0)

Raven prowled the busy streets with sure feet, keeping her hands loose in her pockets and her gaze down not to attract any attention. She had just swiped a new sleeveless shirt and looked even less like a delinquent. People paid no attention to her as she passed them, and she liked it that way: the less the community thought about her, the better.

She passed an alley and looked up. There, a rich young boy was being mugged by the Blue gang.

Knowing better than to interfere with the powerful Blue street mob, the girl shrugged and continued her way as if nothing had happened. That was the way things were: if you couldn't fend for yourself, you either found someone who could protect you or got everyone's bullshit.

Street people could smell weakness a mile away, and if you were weak, there was no way you'd escape.

The girl continued her way, and, knowing there was not much she could do this day, she decided to find a quiet place to rest at for the rest of the sunlight hours, thinking of how she had joined her own gang. Like any other street band first initiation, they should have beaten her half to death before accepting her. But no one in her gang even got to lay a finger on her. She owned them all with ease and the leader almost bowed down before her. She was powerful, and they knew it; they wanted her.

Raven smirked.

(0)

Parks were too populated, especially at day. Plus, that's where cops looked for runaway kids the most. In a mall, she would get spotted, or tempted to steal more stuff, and would pull on the string too much, until shit happened.

Cops who thought they could capture kids there in the middle of day probably surveyed the Silver warehouse, and as for schoolyards, Raven stayed clear of those altogether. She didn't like seeing all those kids playing around, living a childhood she had never had; it made her a bit jealous.

There was one last place to go to: a dark spot under a large bridge that was occupied by beggars and other street kids. It was quiet, and since it was in the 'darker' part of the city, no one really wanted to go see it.

She walked the streets, blending in with the crowd, her gaze always down, hands in her black pant's pockets. Raven passed many people, and if she would have looked up for a spilt seconds, she would have seen a blond man with a sleek, pointed face and long blond hair look at her and smirk, before vanishing unnaturally into thin air with a 'pop'.

But Raven did not look up, and she did not see him. She simply continue her way along the street, going down the street, towards the bridge.

At long last she reached it.

It stood over the river like a God, bending slightly, extending with might no one could compare. For a moment the girl stayed speechless, watching the great thing, and seeing, as immobile as it was, that it had some kind of life in it.

Finally she snapped out of her strange reverie and walked slowly down the sandy shores, towards the place where the bridge took root.

It was a tall column at the edge of the water bank, and men, women and kids sat or stood there, talking, sleeping or mumbling to themselves. Raven found her way amongst them, supporting the few gazes that dared to challenge her. She found a spot against the column next to a girl that was sitting with her legs against her chest and her arms locked around them.

She was gazing absently at the water as it crashed onto the edge of the shore. Raven looked at the water as well, feeling it sooth her. The young girl suddenly said something, although Raven wasn't sure if she was aware that she was talking.

"I'd like to go back home. . .I want to go back to my house. . .I'd really want to be back; this place is too dark for me. I was never meant for the streets. . .but there's nobody home. . ." And the girl burst into tears. Raven made no move to comfort her, or even look at her. She continued gazing at the waters, aware that a few people were glancing nervously in their direction. But just like those people, Raven knew that the girl would get up in a few minutes and then, cold as stone and determined, would walk up the bridge by the passage for the people and upon reaching it's highest point, would walk up to the edge and without another gaze down, would let herself drop.

As that thought ended in the black-haired girl's head, the other one stopped crying and slowly got up, a vacant expression on her face. As predicted, she walked slowly around the large column and made her way up the bridge, cars passing at her side.

Raven also got up and dusted her pants, before quickly setting out like most of the people, before the cops would come, alerted by the suicide of one depressed girl.

(0)

She had walked the streets for the rest of the day, and by the time night had fallen, she was far from the Silver warehouse. Raven judged it safer to return to her 'home', before all other street gangs got out on the streets and she put herself in danger. She was strong, but not invincible; even though she could fight, there was little she could do against knives and guns.

Walking back took her about half an hour. But she was lost in thoughts, and her feet carried her automatically so to her, time did not even pass, and suddenly she found herself in front of the large dark door leading to the Silver warehouse.

She reached out a hand to grab the handle, but just then, she noticed a piece of paper jammed in the crack of the door.

Raven grabbed the paper, frowning, and pulled it out with a dry yank.

There was little light, but she clearly saw that it was a Kraft-paper envelope with something written on it in green ink.

Looking closer, she tried to make out the words. . .

And suddenly, Raven gasped and threw down the letter as if it were poison. It fell so that the letters were still readable. And even at this distance, as she took a step, she could see who the letter was addressed to:

LIS TROMG MARVOLO RIDDLE.

That was her real, birth name. She hadn't used it in over fourteen years.

And it was shining at her from a small envelope lying on the ground.

(0)

Tadaa! Cliffy! If you can't figure out what her name means (if you switch the letters around) I'll explain it in the next chapter. Hope you like this. On with the review(s).

Xsummerbabyx: Thanks. It's fun to know that someone is actually jealous of something about me! Lol. Hope you like this chappy!

Next chapter, Raven decides to confront the sender of this mysterious letter. But what he will reveal to her will be as unbelievable as it will be dangerous, and she will find her entire world change.