For summer, San Francisco was always cold. The clouds blocked the moonlight from the streets, leaving the lighting business to electricity. As it was San Francisco, that was no problem. Buildings were outlined with glowing frames. The Bay Bridge's light show glittered behind me as I walked onto Spear Street.

After passing several brick buildings, I caught a glimpse of bursts of light and explosions from an intersection ahead. A guttural roar tickled my spine. I stopped in my tracks, my back straightening. Behind me, a man and woman in black suits ran toward the chaos up ahead, just as a slimy, pink tentacle uprooted a street sign.

All of that sums up to the Men in Black having a regular nighttime alien wrangling. We got a lot of aliens in San Francisco; more than normal. 

The fellow Custodes members didn't pay me much attention as they were currently repeatedly zapping the sliming alien. Although, they did hastily wipe the memory of a homeless man that was passing by at the wrong time.

As I walked farther, the roars and zaps faded, letting the breeze fill the air with a peaceful silence. I stuffed my hands in my coat pockets and kept walking.

~~~~~~~

Why? Why? Why?

It didn't really make any sense, but I kept repeating those meaningless words in my head. I knew why I was here: To re-train and get updated. And fix Metis, of course. I just couldn't bring myself to open those familiar elegant wooden doors.

I stood on a dim porch, hand hovering over a set of silver, back-to-back B shaped handles. Through the hazy glass hung a red sign that read "Sorry! We're closed. Come back soon!" It kept regular people out and brought C.D.A.D.U.O. agents in.

The bar was a red brick building, about two stories high. A ramp at the front led up to the porch that I was standing on right now on the left side. The porch was sheltered by a pyramid roof. Rectangular shaped factory windows were scattered over the front wall. Green and purple neon tubes lined each one, giving the bar a punk-ish feeling. Shades were drawn tightly from the inside, but from the light shining through the door, I could tell there we people inside.

The bar was located next to the San Francisco Bay along the Embarcadaro. The silver lights along the Bay Bridge illuminated the dark water. There was something about San Francisco at night that makes one feel alive. While some people slept, others wandered the streets like it was a normal day. It felt like being alone to experience all of this was the goal of life. I was pulled out of my trance when a voice behind me made my soul jump out of my body.

"BOO!"

I swiveled around with my fists raised, ready to defend myself. The only thing I needed to defend was my dignity.

"Not again," I groaned. "Why can't you ever say 'hi' or something, Anne?"

Anne Arlington was doubled over, clutching her stomach in laughter--hysterical, evil witch laughter.

I rolled my eyes and sighed. Every time she greeted somebody it was either by singing a whole song about herself--traits, qualities, warnings--or by crawling up from behind your back and scaring the pigeons out of you.

Anne wiped a tear off her red cheek. "When will you ever"-laughter-"learn, Loretta?"

"When you stop doing that," I answered.

"Too bad for you because I am not stopping." Anne leaned against a porch pillar. " 'Specially if I keep getting that reaction."

I quickly changed the subject; I hate being tricked into giving somebody a reaction. "Where's Olivia?"

As I may have mentioned earlier, Olivia Walker and Anne Arlington were broadway actresses that collected information for C.D.A.D.U.O. together.

"Oh, she's already inside. I was just talking to some fans over there." Anne vaguely waved her hand behind her.

"Mm," I nodded.

"Anyway, let's get this show on the road." Anne paused before snorting. "I see what I did there. Funny me."

I tried not to laugh. Sarcastically, I said, "Yeah. Good one."

Anne walked forward and opened the door. "After you," she gestured to me.

I hesitated before walking into the hallway. Hung on the wall were neon purple arrows leading to the end of the hall. The wallpaper was a black and plum-colored renaissance pattern, the type you would find in an old woman's fancy mansion.

The only lights beside the neon arrows were antique wall lamps--a painted glass orb placed on an elegant gold arm. They surrounded themselves in a warm gold aura. The hallway floor was littered with delicate, dancing shapes cast from the decorative patterns painted over the orbs. Darkness obscured everything else.

At the end, the hall lead to the right--the bar. Cheerful talking and laughter were emitted from the bar. Glasses chinked, liquid poured, stools screeched against the marble floor. I could feel the animated mood from here.

Anne pushed me forward. "Come on. Keep walking."

I hadn't realized my feet weren't moving until she mentioned it. I took in a deep breath and let it out. How bad could it be?

My heeled boots loudly clicked against the floor while Anne's flats muffled her steps. Sacramento must have heard my noisy boots. Apparently, the bar heard.

The chatter slowed to a whisper, the glasses ceased chinking.

Anne walked around me and into the bar. I slowly followed her. As soon as I came around the corner, the entire room had their eyes on me. 

Hey! Sorry this chapter is so short. I just needed to add a sliver of a scene to get my ideas started in that author-y way. If you have any recommendations/improvements you would like to see made or have some advice you would like to give, feel free to tell me! Thx❤

~Andra