A/N: Hello there! This is my official announcement chapter that the third installment of the Starlight series is now up. It's called Supernova and the prologue is posted below. Enjoy! And hope to see you on the other side! (Of the story. It might be weird if I saw you after we both died. Since I don't really know what you look like. And also I plan on being reincarnated as a helicopter)
The popping noise should have been Fitzgerald Grant's first clue that something was wrong. Unfortunately, she was too busy climbing up the metal shelves in the basement and trying to avoid burying herself in an avalanche of coffee beans, to pay it much attention.
"Gotcha," she heaved one of the bags to the floor. She then carefully made her way back down the shelves, which hadn't really been made for climbing, but Fitz was innovative. Also, she lacked a ladder.
"Sorry about this," a voice from behind startled her. "But I really need your help."
Fitz turned around, discovering that she was no longer alone in the cafe basement. There was a woman standing there who was a handful of years younger than herself. Tall, dark-skinned, and dressed in some kind of utilitarian uniform. Her short black hair was shaved away on half her scalp, leaving the remainder as a wavy mohawk.
"Whoa, cool hair."
"What?" The woman frowned at her.
"Um. The door says employees only." Fitz attempted to recover some of her authority as the café manager.
"Door?" The woman acted as though it were a foreign concept. Fitz pointed up the stairs as a friendly reminder. But the woman didn't appear to be interested in trivial things like 'doors' or 'restricted access'.
"Look," she said with a shake of her head. "This is going to sound crazy, but I've been sent from the future. I really need you to come with me."
Fitz considered laughing, but then remembered, abruptly, how all the other crazy sounding events in her life had gone.
"I need an adult!" She shouted.
"You're ridiculous," the woman rolled her eyes, fiddling with her watch. As though she'd just popped downstairs to frighten Fitz, and then wanted to check the time.
"Fitzgerald?" A high cheek boned, dark haired, pale, and supremely stern looking man stood at the top of the stairs.
"Oh shit," the woman said as she saw him. She launched herself at Fitz, who failed to jump back far enough to dodge the awkward bear hug. "Time to go." She slapped her watch while still pinning Fitz against her chest. That was when Fitz realized it wasn't a watch, but a vortex manipulator. And also that the woman was quite strong.
"Crap, she's got a-" Fitz tried to warn the man who was racing toward her. Desperate to bring a stop to whatever this stranger was hoping to accomplish. But it was too late, because with another popping sound, they were gone.