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Post by America on Apr 2, 2012 20:09:53 GMT -7
From a story I'm writing called "Brightest in the Dark"
I looked from Secret to Leaf. Trick shifted nervously on his feet behind me. I watched the sky as Secret did what she did best. “I wouldn’t trust you as far as I could kick you,” Leaf said. For the first time in ages, Secret smiled. “Then I would love to see how far that would be,” she replied. Leaf stared, and I knew why. Secret was a fighter, a legend on the street. I slowly smiled. Today was going to be a good day. “Ororo,” Trick said. I held up my hand. Secret spun into a snap kick. She reached down and pulled a tracker out of Leaf’s pocket. “I knew I couldn’t kick him that far,” she said. Trick and I fell over laughing, then I heard it. In the distance the sirens started to ring. Secret’s head snapped up. I watched the word form on her lips. Snatchers. A shiver trembled down my spine. Without thinking I turned and ran, Trick and Secret right on my tail. Secret was swearing under her breath, knives already in her hand. Trick was ahead of me, his keen eyes looking for trouble when none would come. The sirens were getting closer. Secret shifted, the long cloak traveled over her slender frame. Her eyes flashed silver, a reminder of what was underneath. Quicksilver appeared beside her, eyes glistened gold. Blade and Namar on either side. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
Chapter 1
Ororo
I was one when my mother died in childbirth. Moving from orphanage to orphanage is harder than you would think on a one year old. It was always me and Trick. When I turned five we met Blade and Namar. They were different. More than I could ever imagine. They joined us and we wandered the streets of Seattle alone. Then they caught us. The Snatchers. They changed us into what we are now. Mutants. We called us Shifters. Some are warriors, some are leaders and some are healers. When I turned ten I met Secret and Quicksilver. Both shifters themselves. They were young. Secret was seven and Quicksilver was eight. On the street since Secret turned three. Children of a young mother. The victims of Snatchers. The process changed Quicksilver. Making her look nothing like her sister. It always pains me to see them together. So different, yet so alike. They were survivors. People who lived like they were dying. I rolled over. Snuggling deeper into Blade. Watching Trick curl up next to Secret reminded me of how Trick watched her; caring, always looking out for her. By the fire, Quicksilver and Namar where talking. I knew that someday we would be torn apart. I didn’t want that to happen yet. I closed my eyes and slept. Note to self: When you wake up to Secret shouting and the smell of smoke you know something is wrong. “Damn it Ororo,” Secret grunted, “What have you been eating? Bricks?” My eyes flashed open. Secret was running barefoot, as usual, across the road. In front of her was Trick and Quicksilver, behind her was Blade and Namar. The old firehouse we had stayed at, had caught on fire, ironic isn’t it. “A) You can put be down now,” I said. Secret dumped me on the pavement, not very kindly, “B) What in the hell happened?” “Genius over there,” Secret started, nodding towards Namar, who grinned sheepishly, “Decided to start a fire on a pile of wood sitting in the back.” I glared at him. He stopped grinning and slowly backed away. “The rest you know. I smelled the smoke, screamed at everyone to get up, you were out like a sack of potatoes so I carried you out. And now we have to run for it. Again.” Already I could hear the sirens in the distance. Secret was shifted, so was everyone else. I shifted too. “The lets do what we do best,” I said, “Run.” Secret flashed me one of her rare smiles and then jumped, changing in mid-air. A wolf landed besides me. Then looked at me, silver eyes ablaze. I nodded, and she charged off. The rest following her. I changed with them. Feeling the gravel beneath my paws. The thud of the tires as they jumped over the bumpy road. Then I ran after the others. Living, feeling alive in the first time in ages. Never afraid of death. Secret and Trick took the lead, followed by Quicksilver and Namar. Blade and I went last. I was with my family. The one place where I was needed. Quicksilver
We ran for what seemed like ages. It felt good though. To run. I had no idea where we would stay. But we where survivors. I slept on picnic tables, under highways, in the gutters of Seattle, I’ve been everywhere, seen everything. Suddenly Secret skidded to a halt. She changed, and flipped her hair out of her eyes. Trick changed besides her. They still showed that they were shifters. I changed too. “Damn,” Secret said, her eyes staring at the place we use to sleep at, “What in the hell went wrong.” Trick shrugged. The blacked building was a carcass of what it used to be. Ororo was walking up to us, followed by Namar and Blade. Secret slipped the swords off her back. I saw Ororo speak softly to her. Secret growled and tossed them on her back again. “You,” I said, “Have to teach me how to do that.” Secret snorted, very un-ladylike, but nothing about Secret was ladylike. “Ororo has about as much chance of teaching you how to do that as Namar has of becoming the crown princess of the United Republic of Chimarica (Chimarica- What becomes of the US after China nukes us),” Secret retorted. “Damn you,” I replied. “You like saying that a lot” “Stuff it Secret” Ororo sighed. She started walking. Secret gave me an elbow in the guts for good measure then followed her. I growled. Namar snickered. “Damn you,” I hissed. “See, I told you she liked saying that a lot,” Secret commented. I flipped her off. She grinned, did a back flip, and landed perfectly. Damn her. Ororo glared at me. Secret looked normal, as normal as a homeless kid who is a shifter can look. Still... Damn her. I stopped paying attention. Only focusing on the swirling thoughts inside my head. Two seconds too late. My eyes darted sideways as a fiery pain erupted in my left side. I saw Secret take down the attacker with a knife before I blacked out. “You need to be paying more attention you asshole,” Secrets voice floated towards me through the haze. “Fuck off,” I muttered. “Yep,” Secret said, “She’s okay.” “Damn you” “For Christ's sake! Stop saying that” Something wet and slimy plopped on my leg. Already, waist was covered with wet and slimy things. I heard Namar grunting in the distance. “Blade,” Ororo ordered, “Go help Namar before he injures himself.” "I don't injure myself,” Namar protested. “Yes you do,” Secret replied. Someone snorted. I think it was Trick, or maybe Blade. Most likely Trick. I heard footsteps as Blade moved across the floor. “Ororo,” Secret said. “Yes Secret,” replied Ororo. “If Snatchers take a part of our soul, does that mean that they have the power to bring us back from death?” Secret asked. “No,” Ororo replied. “But” “No” “Fine, I’m going for a walk.” I heard footsteps as Secret run away. “Trick” “On it Ororo”
Secret
I needed to punch something. I shifted and let my claws sink into my arm. The pain reminded me that I was here. I wasn’t dead. This wasn’t some horrible nightmare. I was really alive. “You idiot,” I whipped around, staring as Trick seemed to materialize from the wall, “What do you think you’re doing?” “Why did you follow me?” I demanded. Trick was momentarily speechless. I turned and walked away, feeling my blood stain my hands. Trick’s hand rested on my shoulder. I shrugged it off. His hand grabbed my shoulder, spinning me around. I barely had time to speak before his mouth met mine. “What in the hell are you doing,” I snarled. “Changing your mind.” He replied. I spun around and changed. Feeling my power. Being me, I ran off. Letting my thoughts wander. Of course I wasn’t going to admit I loved him. This is me we’re talking about. Me and my dysfunctional mind. I let a howl go. Then changed back. I ran, far away, never to return again. A normal teenager would have stayed there. That just goes to show how I am not like normal teenagers. Also a normal teenager would have been paying attention to where she was going, and what she was wearing. Note to self: Shift before running from Trick or anyone in that matter. I Groaned. Rubbing at the ropes that tied my ankles together. I scanned the alley way where I was currently hanging upside down. A figure stepped out of the shadows. “So,” she drawled, “A Shifter.” “Who are you?” I snarled. “I am Leaf,” she (Leaf) replied. “Let me down,” I growled. “You’ll kill me,” Leaf. I glared at her. She melted into the darkness. “Meet me in ten minutes right here.” “Done,” I replied. I fell to the ground. I ran back to where ever home was at the moment. “Hey guys,” I yelled. “Oh, Secret, good,” Ororo said. “Oh dear,” I muttered. “I want to become a warrior,” Ororo replied. “You! A what?” “A warrior” “Who would train you?” “You would” “You,” I stammered, “A warrior. You have about as much chance as becoming a warrior as Trick here has of becoming the crown princess of the United Republic of Chimerica. Anyways I have someone who wants to meet us.” “We’ll go,” Ororo said. “Praise the lord,” I replied, “Someone hasn’t lost her mind.” “Do you value your life,” Ororo asked as we walked to the alley. “I can kick your ass from here to the next decade without even trying,” I replied. “You came,” Leaf stepped out of the shadows, cutting off Ororo’s reply. “Of course we came,” I said, “What do you want?” Leaf
I looked from Secret to Leaf. Trick shifted nervously on his feet behind me. I watched the sky as Secret did what she did best. “I want freedom,” Leaf replied. “Can’t help you there,” Secret muttered, “Unless you trust us.” “I wouldn’t trust you as far as I could kick you,” Leaf said. For the first time in ages, Secret smiled. “Then I would love to see how far that would be,” she replied. Leaf stared, and I knew why. Secret was a fighter, a legend on the street. I slowly smiled. Today was going to be a good day. “Ororo,” Trick said. I held up my hand. Secret spun into a snap kick. She reached down and pulled a tracker out of Leaf’s pocket. “I knew I couldn’t kick him that far,” she said. Trick and I fell over laughing, then I heard it. In the distance the sirens started to ring. Secret’s head snapped up. I watched the word form on her lips. Snatchers. A shiver trembled down my spine. Without thinking I turned and ran, Trick and Secret right on my tail. Secret was swearing under her breath, knives already in her hand. Trick was ahead of me, his keen eyes looking for trouble when none would come. The sirens were getting closer. Secret shifted, the long cloak traveled over her slender frame. Her eyes flashed silver, a reminder of what was underneath. Quicksilver appeared beside her, eyes glistened gold. Blade and Namar on either side. “RUN ORORO,” Secret screamed at me, “Run and don’t look back.” With those words she dropped back and faced the Snatchers. “Secret,” I yelled, “Come back.” It was too late, she was too far gone. I watched as she sank her claws into one snatcher, then hit another with a knife. I was amazed. In no time they were all gone. She turned and ran back toward us. “More will be here soon,” she said, “Let’s run.” I nodded and changed, watching as the rest did the same. Only Secret remained as a Shifter. I’ll run with you as a Shifter, not as a wolf. Secret? Trust me. I do. Then let me run with you as a Shifter, not as a wolf. As a fighter, as a survivor, as a thief, as a warrior. I will let you. Just for this once. Thanks. Then she took off, and I admired her strength. Her ability to keep going even when times got tough. She’s stronger then she thinks but she refuses to admit it. I howled the command. Run. The pack ran with me. Soon she dubbed it safe and changed. Her lithe black body slipping in and out of the shadows, a secret on the streets. Her eyes shot me a look. I read it instantly. Danger. Her thought slid into my mind. Who? Snatchers. Where? Two blocks left. Follow me, I know how to avoid them. You? I grew up here. Before you found me, I know these streets better than anyone here does. But you’re a warrior. Warriors have feelings too. Lead on. Thanks. She growled, and Trick’s ears pricked up. He nodded and turned to follow her. Quicksilver, Namar, go left, keep going straight, and don’t look back. Ororo, Blade, Go straight. Two blocks down turn left and keep going straight until you run into Trick and I or Quicksilver and Namar. Everyone clear. I watched as the pack nodded. I didn’t agree with her tactics but I had to trust her. I nodded too. Then watched as she and Trick leaped forward and melted into the shadows. Blade and I went straight as Quicksilver and Namar darted to the left. Blade looked at me, I snarled and we flashed onward, into the fog of Seattle, the unknown future. I heard the thud of Blade's paws as he followed me down the twisting alleyways. In the distance I heard a howl. I froze, sending Blade crashing into me. The howl was full of pain and sorrow. I knew that howl. It was Secret. Ororo. Trick! What’s wrong? Secret, hurt, ambush, Snatchers, come quick. No, not Secret, not her, why her? Hurry, please. I don’t know what to do and there are too many of them for me to take by myself. Help. On my way. Hurry. Not Secret, not my little girl, not my warrior, not my sister. We all needed her. I needed her courage and her ability to survive in the streets. I ran, following the trail she ran only moments before. I didn’t reach her before another howl sounded. Quicksilver. One word could only describe how I felt when I heard Quicksilver’s howl. Fuck. Blade
I saw Ororo freeze, I didn’t know what happened, but it must be bad to make Secret howl like that. Ororo? Just run as fast as possible to Secret. Ororo? NOW BLADE. That’s an order. I stared. Ororo had never snapped before. It must be bad, I just nodded and took off running, hoping that it was better than everyone else thought. Namar
Quicksilver had sped up at Secret’s howl. I knew she was worried about her sister, I was worried about her too thought. She was a sister to everyone but Trick. They were more like the soul mates you only see every once in a while that no one knows about. It was like Blade and Ororo. But Secret was fearless, she was strong, she was the one who would charge headlong into a fight to protect us. She would not be gone. She couldn’t be gone. I ran faster, praying that my younger sister would breathe, would live again, would smile her sly smile and dart out of my reach as I tried to punch her in the shoulder. She could not die. Ororo
I charged into a fight. Trick and Quicksilver where protect Secret where she lay still on the ground. I shifted and felt the flames form in my palms. We each had a special power. I could create and control fire, Namar could turn lead into gold, Trick could ‘fade’, Blade could track, Quicksilver could control and read minds, and Secret could control air, earth, water, and lightning. I whirled into the fight, feeling Snatchers crumble underneath me as the world around me seemed to shatter with the one fact I knew. Secret was dead. My little girl was dead, my adopted daughter was dead, and my fighter was dead. I couldn’t believe it, I wouldn’t believe it. She could not be dead. I heard Trick cursing under his breath. Then I remembered how he felt about her. More like a soul mate than a sister. I knew that this was harder on him and Quicksilver than anyone else in the group. Her blood sister had just found out she might have died, and her boyfriend had seen her possibly die. I closed my eyes and watched the world from above. Letting my body do the moves I knew all my life. I needed a hero to save me. I needed Secret. She could not be dead. All that was left was the shell of a fallen warrior. I watched the fight disintegrate before my eyes. The Snatchers disappeared. I closed my eyes, never wanting to open them again.
Chapter 2
Trick
Why her? Why Secret? They could have killed me, or Ororo, or Quicksilver, or Namar, or Blade, but they choose her. Why her? She was the one who kept us together when we fell apart, who could smile and make your day just a bit brighter. She found where she shined brightest. She shined brightest in the dark. Unwelcome and unnoticed by society. Just the way she wanted it to be. I remember how she fought, using her opponents momentum against them. Creating worlds that only she knew, telling the most wonderful tales with details so vivid you could feel the wind in your hair. I needed her, Quicksilver needed her, Ororo needed her, Namar needed her, and Blade needed her. So why did she have to fuck this up and die? Why? Why must she be the one to bring the pain? It isn’t even her fault yet somehow I want her to wake up. Why? That’s all I can ask. Why? Quicksilver
Damn. Them. All. They can go die in the pits of hell with all the other traitors. They took my sister away from me. They had to intruded and FUCK UP! Why must they have done this to her? Out of all the people in the world, her. My little sister, the only happiness I get to see in the world every living moment of every painful day. Her death snapped everything into perspective. I needed to kill something, Ororo needed to get revenge, Trick needed to be alone, Namar and Blade weren’t that close to her but they probably wanted to feed whoever killed her to goats or something. Or maybe llamas? Most likely goats. I continued to hurriedly shove stuff into my bag, they took her body. I will be wanting that back. My sister was gone, dead, and no longer with us. Only so long ago I saw her smile, saw her wrapped up in Trick’s arms. She was so happy, so free, and so... young. I never knew that pain could feel this bad. I slid my pack over my shoulder and set off to find her. Ororo
Never have I ever experienced pain such as this before. It felt like someone ripped out my soul and fed it zombies. Why zombies? Why not? But Secret was different. I remember her poking me in the back, me jumping up and swinging my fist around. Her laughing and dodging out of the way. Trick wrapping an arm around her waist. Her fighting to be set free but giving in eventually. Quicksilver and her sparring, practicing, and pretending that this was real. Secret moving smoothly from one punch to another. She used her appoints movements against them, turning the tide of the fight. Her fists flying. Her nickname on the street was Kage Tatsu. Shadow Dragon. She couldn’t be dead. She was my sister, my daughter, that girl who was there for everyone else. That time she needed someone to be for her. I promised her I would always be there for her. I wasn’t there. I promised her and I broke that. I was the leader. I made the decisions. I called in the gang. “Ororo?” Blade asked. “Are we doing something?” Namar wanted to know. “Will it be productive?” Trick said. “Quicksilver knows what we are going to do,” I replied. “Well...” Blade said, “Quicksilver?” “We’re going after Secret’s killers,” Quicksilver whispered. Blade smiled, Quicksilver punched the air, and Trick tackled Namar. I knew I had made a good decision. It was time for our pack to move out and find a friend. Trick
I listened to Ororo speak. Only enough to hear and to reply no. Not enough to understand what she was truly saying. I needed to run. To hide. I knew Secret wasn’t dead. Just taken. Only taken. I needed her back. I swiveled and punched a wall, watching the blood run down my fingers. A gentle hand took my arm and healed it. “What do you want Namar?” I asked. “Why can’t you tell Ororo?” he replied. “Tell Ororo what?” I asked. “That you love her” “I can’t” “That is your problem” “Why?” “You can’t face the truth. You can’t tell Ororo you love Secret because you’re afraid she wouldn’t be pleased. Tell her. It will make everything better. Trust me” “How did you know?” “Huh?” “How did you know I love Secret?” “The way you looked at her, like she was the only one you cared about in the world. The way you acted when she was around. We all love Secret. She’s Quicksilver’s sister, my sister, Blade’s sister, Ororo’s daughter, and your girlfriend. You have to face it. You two are nuts about each other. Or, were nuts. Secret is out there, she isn’t dead. Go. Find. Her. And. Bring. Her. Back. Now.” “What are you two talking about?” Ororo stepped out of the shadows. “Nothing,” I automatically said. “Listen,” Ororo told me, “I know you love Secret. You couldn’t have made it more obvious, even if you hired a plane to write it in the sky.” “You?” I gaped “WHAT!” Ororo giggled. I hope she never does anything like that again. It was terrifying. Ororo? Giggling? It just didn’t fit. “Told you so,” Namar muttered. I shoved him. Ororo grabbed my hand a dragged me away from Namar, who just HAD to crack up about Ororo already knowing. “Listen,” Ororo told me. I shook my head, “Listen. You don’t have to be scared anymore. You’re a fighter, Secret’s a fighter, Quicksilver’s a fighter, Blade’s a fighter, Namar’s a healer, and a fool, and I’m a leader. We are all brought into this world for a reason and yours is to find Secret and get her back. If you won’t do it for you, do it for me.” “What about everyone else?” I asked. “They. Will. Be. Fine.” She replied. “I’ll go,” I said, “Not for me, not for you, not for Blade, not for Quicksilver, and not for Namar. I’ll go for Secret.” “Well,” Ororo said, grinning, “What are you waiting for? Go get her.” I changed and dashed off, feeling my paws thud against the blacktop and the wind whistle through my fur. I’m coming Secret.
Secret
They dragged me away. Far away. “Come with me,” a robotic voice said. “In your nightmares C-3PO,” I replied, weakly. “Secret, Secret, Secret,” this voice wasn’t robotic at all. My eye’s snapped wide open. A cloaked figure walked into the room. “Oh how I have missed you so much.” “Mom,” I whispered. She smiled. I felt my heart break, something inside me cracked. I found my mom, and she was evil. I’m coming Secret. The message flashed through my brain. It was Trick. Trick? Secret? Oh my god, Trick, it’s you. Where are you? You’re not dead Of course not Why not? I’m the only shifter they’ve captured. They won’t lose me that fast. Trust me on this. Trick please. I’m coming to get you. Trick, I’m fine. Are you sure? Yes, trust me. Secret? Yes. Don’t be dead, don’t die, don’t do anything drastic, just don’t. Please. For me. Trick. This is me. My life is drastic, my mood is drastic. That’s what makes me, me. If you really want to see me again, trust me and stay back. I’ll tell you when it’s the right time. Secret? Trick. Trust me. Please. Just do it. Secret? Trick. I am fine. I will be fine. Just trust me on this. Please. If you want to survive just do it. I don’t know... Trick What? Just do it. Trust me on this. Please Secret? Yeah? Shika, no rae mre ka. Shika lo cree no. Karae. (Are you sure you can do this? Are you really sure? Secret?) Shita, pokku no. Jyane ni que le shachi. (Yes, I am sure, now let me do this. Live like you’re dying.) Stay strong. Keep fighting. Live The Life Of A Warrior. Jyane ni que le shachi. (Live like you’re dying.) Jyane ni que la shachi. (Live like you’re dying.) “That was Trick,” Mom asked, “You were talking to him. Weren’t you?” I stared at the wall, pretending that I didn’t hear her. “Secret,” I shook my head, “You’re going to tell us in the end. I know it.” I snarled at her. She stepped back. “You would know if you stayed with us,” I hissed, “If you decided that giving Quicksilver and I to the Snatchers was bad. If you never did it. You would know what was going on inside my head. You would know how to actually act like you care about something. Not like you do now. You hide and you wait to die. You coward. You just lay there waiting for something or someone to discover you secret and take it away. You wait for them to fall down and the you can live another day. You live in hate and fear and pain. You have no feelings. I am ashamed that I am related to you. You can go die for all I care. Maybe, if you didn’t do this, then I might start to think about protecting you when you needed it. But. I. Don’t. Happy? I don’t give a fucking damn whether you live or die. No one does. I don’t. Quicksilver doesn’t. Ororo doesn’t. Blade doesn’t. Trick doesn’t. Namar doesn’t. Ya, you’re a snatcher. We. Don’t. Care. You can go die!” “Oh Secret,” Mom said, “You really don’t know what we have done to save you. To protect you. To raise you so you could be free. We taught you to survive by letting you live on your own. Everything we have done has been for you own good.” “Throwing me out on the street?” I stammered, “For my own good? My own good my ass. That taught me how to hate you. I learned how to survive without your help. Suck. On. That.” “Secret.....” “Don’t. Even. Talk. To. Me.” I turned my back on her. “We just want to help,” she replied. “You... Want.... To... Help?!?” I stammered. “Then let me out of here and let me go back to being me. You. Can’t. Accept. That. You don’t get that by leaving me on the street you got a rebellious little brat of a child who doesn’t follow rules. Accept it.” “I refuse to accept that,” ‘mom’ said. I snarled and let my claws slide out. The long cloak covered me, the swords formed on my back, the knives were in there sheathes on my ankles. Everything was in place and everything was perfect. I was seeing the world through different eyes. Seeing the world through the eyes of a homeless fourteen-year-old, through the eyes of a wolf, through the eyes of a Shifter. I was free to do what I wanted and no one could ever change me. No one would ever change me. I would rather die than be changed into one of them.
Ororo
“She’s alive,” Trick burst into the circle we were sitting in. Quicksilver was on her feet in seconds. “What?!?” “She’s alive! Secret’s alive!” I let them bask in their excitement. Blade squeezed her hand and Namar cheered. I looked around at my family. We needed Secret in our pack, she was the only one who could ever survive on her own. Without her we were nothing. “And she is where?” I asked. “Close,” Trick replied. “How do you know?” I asked. “I could communicate with her,” Trick explained. “Telepathically.” I walked out of the circle, letting trick take my place to celebrate. I closed my eyes and contracted. Secret? WTF Trick? Leave me alone. I’m not Trick. I still don’t care. Leave. Me. Alone. Please, Are you okay Secret? Ororo. Leave. Me. Alone. Goodbye Ororo. “Well, she’s definitely not dead,” I muttered. I turned back to the rest of the pack. Their cheering made me hopeful.
Secret
I love him. Hopelessly, completely love him. Yes, there's passion and desire and want, but it's so much more. There's also a contentedness, happiness, and a calm that somehow lets you know everything will be alright. The type of love that is natural and real, genuine and authentic. That’s how I felt about Trick. That’s how it felt when he kissed me earlier, when I had ran off. If I hadn’t, would we have gotten into this mess? Would I be here? I will never know. “Secret,” It was ‘mom’. “What?” “We have a problem.” “Oh? Well, I’m sorry. Your problem should be diverted to ireallycouldn’tgiveaflyingfuck.com. It really helps.” “This isn’t the time to be sarcastic Secret.” “I didn’t know that, and yes it is.” ‘Mom’ did a face palm. I continued to silently weaken the metal bars.
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