It was nearing the end of October and New York City was getting colder. Residents were taking notice, wrapping themselves in layers of scarves and coats to keep themselves warm. Reed, on the other hand, had only a worn down hoodie with holes torn through the sleeves, a pair of faded jeans, and her trusty sneakers. The stocky teen plopped down onto a park bench and began to empty her pockets. Sadly today's haul only yielded two wallets and half a pack of cigarettes. Reeds thin fingers rooted through every pocket the wallets held and then dropped them on the bench. "Nobody fucking carries cash anymore.." She let out a heavy sigh as she pulled a rusted Zippo lighter from her pocket to light a pilfered cigarette. Bringing her knees to her chest she tugged her hoodie down in an attempt to keep warm while the sun slowly dipped below the horizon. She relaxed and let her mind drift off to happier places.
Reed was only 18 and 7 months and had more experience stealing than most people ever should. This was unfortunate, but it was her only means of getting by. Her mother had passed leaving her to pay for the apartment they'd been living in, but Reed had no job and almost no education on top of that. Once the eviction notice came she took what money she'd been left and bought what she'd needed to survive; a knife to defend herself, and a buzz cut to keep anyone from using her hair against her. Up until recently she'd done pretty well for herself, using stolen cash for cheap motels and her speed to get out of stores faster than most but her luck had run out.
As she sat staring into space her burnt out cigarette fell to the ground, which she quickly stomped on just for good measure smearing blackened ash on the concrete. She stood up to brush the ash off her hoodie, only to stumble back in fear as a bright flash momentarily blinded her. "Holy shit!" Reed shrieked, throwing her arms over her face and stumbling into a run along the park path as the fight or flight reflex kicked in. She had gotten about 10 yards on sheer adrenaline before the same blinding light appeared in front of the girl stopping her dead in her tracks. "Get lost!" Reed snarled defensively and whipped her hunting knife out of her pocket, pointing it towards the electrified light.
A man stepped out. He looked like he'd come from a completely different era with a Japanese straw hat, white robes, and a blue vest. He took one step forward and held his hand out to Reed. His illuminated blue eyes piercing through her dull brown ones, as if looking straight to her soul.
"Do not be alarmed. I am Raiden, and I want you to be the hero of Earthrealm."