Two people got into a car. They looked pretty much the same, both of them being jacked and wearing tuxedos. One had a big sack of money. A pair of street gang members. Someone stepped out onto the road. They had the shape of a woman and wore a grey zipped up hoodie. She was wearing sweatpants that were also grey. She had a bandana to cover her face.
Thug 1: Just keep driving.
The person threw an axe at the car and into the hood. Liquids from under the hood started pouring everywhere. They were forced to stop the car and they got out. Looking down at the person. Thug 1 grabbed her by her arm.
Thug 1: What are you going to do? Kill this little rat!
Thug 2 came up and charged up a huge punch and swung at this mystery person. She caught Thug 2's punch and a huge burst of energy came from her. Sending Thug 1 into the car and Thug 2 into a nearby wall.
???: What? Can't take your own punches?
She punched Thug 2 In the face. Knocking him out. Thug 1 punched her in the back. Sending her to the ground.
Thug 1: Not so powerful now.
Thug 1 slammed both of his fists down on her. She took her hand and blocked the hit. But still felt the impact. She got up into a kneeling pose and pushed one hand off of her. But Thug 1 grabbed her by the leg with his other hand. The girl was quick to grab her axe and cut herself in the arm. She faced towards Thug 1 and a blast of energy was sent into him. Knocking him out cold as well. The woman got up and cheered for herself.
???: Holy shit! I actually did that?! Ha! I'm awesome.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
???: Hmmmm. Coke or Pepsi? Why not both? Why does my generation have disputes like this?
Terra picked out both Coke and Pepsi off the shelf at her local department store. A vulgar woman pushed her cart close to Terra.
Vulgar woman: Excuse me. You are blocking the aisle!
Terra: O-oh. Sorry. I'm not used to city life!
Terra moved her cart out of the way.
Vulgar woman: Are you a hick?
Terra: Hick?
Vulgar woman: No? I guess you are just a dumbass.
Terra whispered to herself
Terra: rude…
Terra continued looking around the department store. Her hair was the same as always. Her bangs braided and short and it was more tended to. But there were some parts where her long, messy hair stuck up. It was just impossible to keep down. She wore a newly acquired green headband. However she had not found new clothes yet. She wore a plain white shirt and jeans which she hated. She had received these clothes from Amala. She had some loose-fitting sandals on. Fitting the summer spirit. She still had the same short but muscular physique to her that nobody would expect when seeing her for the first time. Terra continued shopping for things like clothes and food. She had to walk 5 miles back to her house. But she didn't mind the atmosphere. She felt like the city atmosphere was refreshing compared to her lonely life in the White Mountains. Terra saw a group of kids around one kid.
Asshole kid: Hey. Kris. Kris with a K? What kind of name is that? You really want this back?
The asshole kid held up Kris's phone.
Kris: Hey! That doesn't belong to you! Why do you have to be such assholes!
The asshole kid was guarded by a bunch of other asshole kids.
Asshole Kid: What will you do about it? I don't see your asshole sister around! Haha!
The asshole kids pushed Kris down and walked away from him. Kris sighed heavily and decided to walk away. Terra memorized Kris quickly and walked casually behind the asshole kids.
Terra: Hey! You kids have something that doesn't belong to you?
Asshole kid: Why are you getting in our business you thot?
Terra had no idea what 'thot' meant but it was obviously offensive in some way.
Terra: It's not right to mess with that kid over there! So can you give me his uh, phone?
Asshole kid: You have no evidence I took this phone. It's a present for my mom.
Terra: Fine. I'll call 911 if you don't give me it back you brats.
Asshole kid: You don't have any evidence!
Terra contained her anger.
Terra: I'm serious.
Terra took out her flip phone.
Asshole kid: Wait, What is that? A FLIP PHONE?!
The kids laughed at Terra and walked away.
Terra: Looks like I'll have to be more creative about this. But it's wrong to attack some defenseless kids. As much as I want to.
A woman with a grey hoodie, black undershirt, grey sweatpants and a bandana walked over to the kids. The woman talked to them and they immediately panicked and handed over the phone. The woman speed walked over to Terra.
Woman: Good job trying to do the right thing.
Terra: Uh...Thanks?
The woman walked away from Terra and turned into an alleyway instantly.
Terra: WHAT?! How did she do that?! Are they really that frightened by her?! I guess this is a loss for me.
Terra figured that the woman would do the right thing so Terra walked back to her apartment. She sat down and looked over her new items and stored them away.
Terra: Today feels like a successful day! I guess. Maybe I should think about actually getting a job instead of just selling old things. Maybe I could make a business selling old things! What are they? Antiques! People are into that right? I guess I can try. Even though I don't even know how to sell things. I have a lot of things from my journey through the white mountains.
Terra went shuffling through her old bag she had made out of vines. She dumped out all the items in her bag. Leaving some dirt on the ground of her apartment rug.
Terra: Shit. Ah it's fine. It adds character!
Terra spent the evening organizing all of her objects she got from her bag. She was listening to her TV. The news was on.
News: ...In other news. Hell's Kitchen has heard about a new hero in town: Repulse. Is she the new Devil of Hell's Kitchen? Or a hometown hero? More on the story at eleven
Terra: Alright. I can't just sit still now. I'll go to bed for the night and maybe I'll set up a stand in the morning.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
It was the morning and Terra had set up a stand filled with various antiques she had got on her journey. She had changed her clothes. With a t-shirt that had some sort of chinese dragon design on it and she wore black shorts. She sat there for a good 30 minutes and everyone just walked by her. Only giving her passing glances. Terra started to feel like this was no use. She started to fall asleep. Someone walked up to the stand. There was a woman who towered over her. She wore a tank top under a grey and black sweatshirt that acted as a sort of crop-top. She had sports pants on. Black and baggy with a white stripe traveling down. She had dirty blonde hair that was about shoulder length. That she looked like she at least attempted to groom. She had bags under her eyes and looked like she hadn't gotten sleep in days
Tall woman: Hey, I've seen you before haven't I?
Terra: Uh maybe?
Tall woman: Oh yeah! You live a couple doors down from me.
Terra: What?
Tall woman: This apartment complex behind us. I live on the same floor as you.
Terra: Oh! I had no idea. Nice to meetcha!
Tall Woman: Yeah. I'm Millie.
Terra: I'm Terra.
Millie: I'm sorry if I threw you off. Sometimes I'm a bit startling to see. Especially because of my height. How much for this?
Terra realized she didn't even price any of the items and didn't even think of prices for them.
Millie: You don't know do you?
Terra: Honestly no. How about $500?
Millie: Ha! Coming out with prices like that isn't gonna get you anywhere. Nobody even knows what this is. What is it anyway?
Terra: It's a small piece of soul steel. It's an ancient rare metal.
Millie: The people who live here wouldn't buy that at all. What about this?
Millie held up a piece of paper that Terra had ripped out of her Artemis book.
Terra: That's a rare piece of paper that tells you about a spell called "disaster."
Millie: This stuff only seems to be rare to you. Judging by the way you look, you have no idea how to bargain right?
Terra: Wh-
Millie: Here, how much for this?
Millie held up a fang that Terra had got from a hellhound
Terra: I'd say like $100.
Millie: How about $50?
Terra: 50? I can't sell that for 50…
Millie: Alright then I'm good.
Millie walked away and then came back.
Millie: See? If you can't actually bargain with someone then you can't get a really good deal. Both for you and the customer. If you told me 300 and I thought this was worth 300 then I'd say 100 and you would get your real price.
Terra: Woah...That's actually pretty helpful. Thanks. But I don't really feel like I have the guts to do this yet.
Millie: Hmm. You wanna get a bite to eat? You are really interesting.
Terra: Really? Sure!
Millie: Here, we can go to Bibble and Sip.
- - - - - - - - - - - -
Terra cleaned up her table of "artifacts" and her and Millie headed to Bibble and Sip. They both had coffees.
Terra: Bibble and sip. I've never had coffee. But this is really good!
Millie: You are so friendly! Where are you from?
Terra: Oh. It's kinda a long story but I'm from New Hampshire.
Millie: Really? That explains a lot.
Terra: Yeah, Probably not everything though.
Millie: Oh, like where you got those artifacts from.
Terra: Yeah. I lived in New Hampshire but I lived in the White Mountains.
Millie: You from a tribe or something?
Terra: No. I had a village that was away from all of society up there.
Millie: Yeah that explains a lot. Like the way you look at any electronic here. You seem like you've never seen a TV or nothing.
Terra: Well I haven't until like 6 months ago. Are there any jobs I could get?
Millie: Well, you aren't 18 right? I can just tell by the way you look and act.
Terra: I'm actually 17.
Millie: Really?
Terra: Yeah I sold a part of my armor to the person who ran the apartment complex to get myself a room. I would only be able to pay for groceries for so long before I run out of money. God I hate money. My village would support each other. Not compete for it!
Millie: I really met a weird case. Maybe try and work at things like a dunkin donuts or something. Because you probably can't get a well paying job here. What are you good at anyway?
Terra: Oh! I'm really good at martial arts!
Millie: Really? I have a little bit of experience. Like how good?
Terra: I trained under my sensei for 5 years.
Millie: Maybe you could teach?
Millie's phone went off.
Millie: Hello? Oh hey. It's time already? I'll be there soon.
Terra: Who was that?
Millie: That's my younger sibling. It's just me and him living together. I gotta support both of us. Either way, it was nice meeting you.
Terra: Same to you!
Millie went to leave the bakery.
Terra: Uh, wait a sec!
Millie: Yeah?
Terra: Why don't we share our contact info? Just in case we decide to go out again.
Millie: ...Alright.
Millie and Terra exchanged numbers and Millie left with a wave.
Terra (thinking): Hmm. I could train martial arts. I have to be able to do more than just that with my abilities! I may not have the book anymore but I can do good with my gifts.
Terra went back to her room and laid down. She looked outside at the bright moon.
Terra: I guess I could go outside. Maybe I could find some crime to fight or something...That would be kinda stupid to just fight some random bad guys though.
Terra left her room and got outside onto the dark streets of Hell's Kitchen. She didn't know about the bad things that went around this time of day. Murders, good girls going bad, robberies and more. She aimlessly walked down the street. She felt a sense of freedom and yet felt trapped at the same time. She had no meaning here.
???: You really think you're a hero? You attack lone drunks like me!
???: You're a part of an evil organization.
???: We aren't evil!
Terra looked to see what the commotion was. It was Mina. From the Chaste.
Terra: What is she doing here?!
Terra quieted down and hid behind the back of a nearby truck. She listened in. It sounded like the same woman who interrogated the asshole kids from earlier. Talking to Mina? Why?
Mina: I have my own business to take care of! Leave me alone!
???: You are here with that blind sensei. You are not here to do any good!
Terra hated the Chaste. But she couldn't let Mina be interrogated by some random "hero". Terra jumped out into the two people's vision.
Terra: Hey! Leave Mina alone! What did she do to you?
???: Seriously? Let me take care of this person. She's a criminal.
Terra: No she isn't! She didn't do anything. It sounds like you're just harassing her.
???: If you want to get in my way then so be it. I'm taking this woman in. No matter what.
Terra: No you aren't.
???: Then I'll have to go through you. Call me Repulse.
Repulse took a closer look at Terra and hesitated for a second. But Terra had already made up her mind. She hit Repulse with two roundhouse kicks from each leg and threw a punch which Repulse blocked. Blasts of energy came out from where Terra had hit and hit her. Terra was pushed back by this blast.
Terra: What…?
Repulse threw a punching combo at Terra. Terra ducked under and hit Repulse right under the chin. Sending her a little bit into the air. Terra sent a kick into Repulse's stomach and knocked her out. Repulse convulsed and let out an energy blast into the air.
Terra: Mina! What are you doing here?! Are you trying to escape the Chaste?
Mina: What?! You're crazy. I've been sent to get you!
Terra: What?
Terra was hit in the back with a tranquilizer dart. She fell unconscious. There was someone else behind Terra.
Mina: Good Job. Let's get outta here!
Repulse cut a large cut on her hand and it was blasted straight at Mina and the other person. They were both knocked down. Repulse grabbed Terra and ran off with Terra's body over her shoulder.