It was a great day you know?

I ate, I slept, I barely got trough an explosion, I punched a couple of guys who tried to steal my stock then I went for a drink

What went wrong you might ask? Well, THIS BITCH KIDNAPPED ME!

Ha, like they could in normal circumstances. But no, not this time. Enough blabbering, let me tell you a story

I walked inside the bar, completely aware of each stare that I got. With my head held high and a walk I had perfected for years I knew no one would come talk to me. That was the point

There were no stools available so I went to the end and tapped someone on the shoulder. He was big, more muscle mass than it was practical and turned his oily eyes around to scoff at me. The moment the man recognized who I was his eyes began to widen and a faint "Excuse me" slipped from his lips

I watched as he walked away and smiled to myself. The whole reputation thing was finally paying off

I signaled for the barmen and ordered my drink "Give me the strongest you've got"

He raised an eyebrow but didn't object. I put my head on my hands and waited. A moment later I saw whatever alcohol he had poured being slammed on the table in front of me. I nodded in a quick thanks and took the wooden cup

I was so focused on my drink I didn't see him nod to someone behind me. Too consumed in my slumber I didn't even feel the pair of eyes on my back as they passed by

"You seem upset" I heard his voice say while he was cleaning the bottles on the shelves behind him

"What gave you that impression?" I smirked a little, a playful look in my eyes but I knew he could tell I was off by the way my shoulders dripped, the faint sweat marks on my face or better yet, the fresh red scars on my face

He didn't even have to turn around to answer in a light tone "Just a hunch"

I started toying with the drink, swirling it around as I thought "When doesn't something happen?"

He nodded "Good riddance. But it still doesn't answer my question"

Did I really want to tell the goddamn lord of the underground what happened to me? Maybe. Was it a stupid decision? Definitely

But the more I observed the situation the more things I found pointing their ugly heads against my doubts. His body was relaxed, welcoming if not actually a little bit concerned. But when I looked at his twitching eyebrow I knew he didn't have much control over his body language

Decisions, decisions...

"Somebody blew up my shop" I sipped the alcohol. He didn't seem impressed

"That's bad"

"Gee, Thanks Sherlock I didn't know"

He chuckled and I smiled a little. Ah, warming up "You should clean those wounds of yours. Might get infected"

I instinctively touched my forehead, only to have to suppress a flinch instead "I don't have anything to clean them up with"

Was it me or did my voice seem hallower at the realization? Only then did the thoughts I had been pushing away since I came here resurface. I was alone now, once again

He still wasn't turning around. There was a sudden silence to the table. It rang in my ears even if there was a band singing just a few meters behind me

Then the alcohol decided to finish. I rolled my eyes at the audacity and put it down. Vander was just about to say something before I stood up and cut him off "I'm gonna go now. Thank you for the talk"

It was one of the only times my smile seemed genuine. Small, but genuine

"I have some medical supplies down in the room if you want any"

That was sudden. I frowned and instinctively straightened up. What are you planning old man? "No thank you"

He closed his eyes for a second before shaking his head. He looked down at the table and wiped the crumbs away from the surface "I'm not here to threaten you. I just want to help. Plus, you could gain an ally"

Now he was speaking my language. I tilted my head as I considered the off "Fine. But if you try anything I won't hesitate to kill you. I don't care about your reputation"

He smiled and tossed the rack on the table "Very well"

As we went down a flight of stairs, the music was barely able to push trough the faint cracks in the walls, slowly dissapearing after the minutes ticked by. He stood in front of a door and knocked

I leaned against the wall and looked around. It was dark so I couldn't really see anything beside the bold fact that we were in a hall. There were no personal belongings as far as I could tell. Just walls and a couple of other shapes that I couldn't make out

The door opened and I turned my attention towards the situation once again. Only then did my eyes snap at a brown haired guy "Why did you bring her here?"

"Long story short Mylo, she needs help"

"We aren't the mental hospital"

"Mylo"

"Fine" He gestured to the door "Come in"

* * *

An hour later I put the rag down and looked in the small mirror. The wounds were finally clean. Well except for the ones on my back

There were a couple of people here when I came. A blue hair that looked like she was 12, a guy with goggles and a guy with anger issues

They were gone now

And against all my protests I was left alone with the supposed Vi girl. My guess was that Vander had to do something and for the safety of everyone nobody was here except her so she could supervise me

Which meant she could probably take me down. By their logic

"I can practically feel the gears turning. What's the big question?"

I don't know why I wanted to punch her "None of your business pink hair"

That seemed to get her angry. Her eyebrows furrowed ever so slightly "I asked you a question raven girl"

"Going in with nicknames now? I'm flattered"

"Had to match the energy" She smiled. I glared. She glared. I stared. She stared. She didn't give up, but neither did I

I had to admit she was beautiful and only a fool would think twice about that. Both of us were leaning forward and I could feel the tension physically dencening the air. I was tempted to actually try and slice it with a knife

"I need help with my back" I blurred out finally. How long had we been staring? Ten minutes?

I glanced at the clock. Nope, more than that

Vi rolled her eyes but stood up from the couch and walked to sit right next to me. I handed her the thing I had used to clean them up and she took it in her grasp. I pulled over my shirt and tossed it to the side

If I tell you that I felt like I was in some knock off romance novel then that would be completely correct

But whatever she was using on my back stung more than I would have liked. I flinched and turned around to grab her hand. After you had done this for years it would be your first response as well

She twisted my arm and I didn't have a choice but to let go. If she was ever to become a murder I must admit her stare would be pretty on point "You want my help or not sunshine?"

"Sunshine? Really?" I couldn't help the laugh that echoed in the room

She rolled her eyes "Turn around"

I grinned and held my hands up "Fine fine"

The sting wasn't so bad this time. It wasn't bothering me that much but with the lessened pain I could feel her fingers caressing my back and, I was dying

I was good at keeping still but I had never been more frozen in my life. I tried to push the feeling away but God was it hard

Was I breathing?

Ha no. You thought

Maybe I should move...

....Nah

The moment her hand swiped for the last time and finally left my skin I could feel myself being able to breath properly again. I reached for my shirt and put it on

I turned back to her "Thank you"

She nodded and put the things back in their place on the table "Don't mention it"

* * *

*Cough cough* So, you like the story so far? Me too

Oh but it's not the end yet

No no no we are far from it

The kidnapping part is yet to come. Now, I will leave you to enjoy my story

And remember, we all make mistakes

*

I walked out the building and ran past the rooftops, each one blurring faster than the last. Once I was finally out of breath I stopped and kneeled down, my muscles burning with an ache that I had learned to love

I looked over the edge of the concrete only to find the crowded main street below. New people had arrived

So I did the only natural thing and slid down the pole until my feet hit the ground. Nobody seemed to pay me much attention anyways

One of the ladies here waved at me and I returned the gesture. Soon I was in front of my favourite place, a secret booth tucked in the corner of the building that was selling sweets and cookies from the upper cities

I took off my hood and grinned at the old man "Heya Hercos"

He looked up from where he was chopping a suspicious looking onion and gave me a high five "Y/n! You finally came back. I was starting to worry somebody ate you"

I rolled my eyes and went behind the counter to take a piece of cake with me "I'm harder to kill than that and you know it Hery"

"I told you to never call me that"

"We all have nicknames we don't like. Deal with it" With that I proceeded to grab a plastic fork, one of the few actually clean stuff in here and leaned my back against the counter

He returned to his chilling services, a firm sound of the blade hitting the board that would have probably made normal people flinch, but hey, over here this is normal stuff "Where did you get lost?"

"My building exploded. Next thing I know I'm meeting new people"

"Found someone you like?"

I cringed "Ew no. Stop asking me every time I tell you I talked to someone for three seconds"

"I will once you find someone you can lean on"

"Fair point I guess"

"So, found anyone you like?"

"More like hate"

"You know love and hate are pretty close right? They are produced by the same chemical in the brain. Same with pain and pleasure which is why most people enjoy it"

"I came here to eat my cake not to discuss your sex life"

"Hey kiddo, I'm just stating facts"

"But after I finish with my date"

"I will never understand your love for sweetness"

"It's called a sweet tooth jackass. Never discriminate my chocolate"

He laughed and I could finally eat in peace. It was a plain cake with chocolate topping but it was the best thing I had tasted so far in my life

"You know" he began as I put my fork down "I heard people were starting to dissapear recently"

I was trying to swallow my last bite as I said "Nothing more than usual"

"Because of Silco"

Now that made me freeze with my plate half above in the air. I blinked and slowly put it behind the counter "You think? Where did you even hear that?"

Another loud slice "He came to me a week ago. There were a couple of people accompanying him. The man with some weird golden teeth said something about some 'Shimmer' to that arm woman"

I nodded and stood up "But we don't know what that is. For all we know it could be a dog"

"I don't think so"

"Why?" I asked carefully, not entirely sure if I should be pushing this topic. The pit in my stomach was growing the more we talked about this but my curiosity wouldn't let it go

"When they came to me Silco seemed...weird. Different. I don't know kiddo I'm just telling you. I'm not god"

"Thanks anyway. Oh and Hercos?"

He turned around "Mm?"

"Your chocolate cake is amazing"

He laughed and put one hand to steady himself "You are something else I must give you that"

"Of course. It's my charm. Now, I gotta go. See you later tho. And save me some chocolate"

"Anytime kiddo"

Then I was off and back to jumping from  rooftop to rooftop but something still bothered me. His words stuck with me and deep down, something was telling me bad times were coming

Really, really bad times

I shook it off but it wouldn't let go. I felt the feeling tighten around my chest until I physically had to stop to catch my breath

"Ok Y/n think" I mumbled to myself as I caught my breath "Silco is a good guy. Well, relatively good anyways. But I don't trust him. But can you really judge someone based on assumptions? So I need facts"

"You're going after Silco? Really?"

I wasn't even surprised when a set of pink hair popped up from behind the building

I sighed and shook my head "I'm not in the mood"

I looked down at the people passing by, or more like the person passing by, and leaned my head against my knee. I didn't look at Vi, instead listening to her body as she quietly sat down beside me

"I'm sorry"

I frowned and turned to look at her "For fucking what?"

That surprisingly made her smile. God damn she has a nice smile. Wait- "I don't know I felt like saying it"

I blinked. What the fuck? But the more the thought swirled in my mind the more it made me want to laugh "Jesus and I thought I was the weird one"

Vi punched my arm but it didn't help my histeric laughter "Take that back"

"Nah. I enjoy seeing your face in agony"

"Y/n"

"Mhm?"

"Shut. Up"

"N.O."

"Yes"

"No"

"You already did"

"What?"

I realized that I had, in fact, stopped laughing to start arguing with her. My mouth hanged open while she smirked, a satisfied look on her face

Ooof Uno reverse card. That hurts personally hahahha. Ok ok fine I'm letting you go back to reading Jesus

"Now that's just mean miss Pink hair"

"It wasn't mean miss sarcasm. I was just talking to you not my fault" Her grin widened and as much as I was trying not to smile I was fucking loosing it

"Idiot"

"But I'm your idiot"

I didn't object. I didn't know why. I just kept staring at the buildings below

"See that sign there? With the middle finger?"

I turned to look at her "Yeah?"

"Milo drew it when he messed with the enforcers. They were so mad they chased him for half an hour until he had to jump off a roof to escape them but he just ended up covered in trash"

I laughed "Really? He deserves it"

She soon joined in with her own chuckle "Why do you want to find Silco anyway?"

"Shit" I mumbled under my breath which the other girl seemed to catch but didn't say anything. She was waiting for my answer

"I have a..." What was he to me? Could I call him a friend or a foe? Stranger? "....friend and he told me Silco had been acting weird for a while. Somebody had mentioned something about 'Shimmer' "

Vi frowned "Shimmer? What's that?"

I shrugged and rolled my neck "I don't know Vi. Maybe you could ask Vander?"

As the time flew by I could almost forget about the world and what shithole I was livinh in, I could forget the desperate need for food or the chilly air that didn't seem to bother me as much as it usually did

Her voice was calming. Nice. I could listen to it on repeat for years and never get tired of it. I swear this is why you should never talk to people. You become soft and squishy on the inside

I leaned in closer to her, shivering against my will. I just couldn't stop my body from doing this. Vi put her hand around my waist and pulled me in even closer. I looked up to see her large smile "So you don't like the cold"

"Not one bit"

The stars sparkled brightly tonight, one of the few times we got to see them from here. I leaned my head against her shoulder and waited for a protest that never came

And that ladies and gentleman is how you write a first chapter