[b]AUDREY[/b] [u][b]District 2 - 12:15PM[/b][/u] [i]"Good afternoon, citizens. That was Let it Die by Ozzy Osbourne. We've got more oldies for you, coming up on your favorite station in just a hot second. Don't go away..." "More like ancients if you ask me, T-"[/i] A pale, slender arm reached out from underneath white sheets to silence the mild-mannered radio alarm personality. At the root of that limb was a nest of dark chocolate hair, clean and elegant while splashed sharply against the linens like a stain on a baker's apron. After a moment of silence, Audrey emerged. As her body stretched and twisted to break from night's stiffness it made a sound akin to a pinched balloon releasing air. The purposely over- sized shirt she wore was hanging off at the shoulder, obscuring the ridiculous name brand on the front. For the shortest moment she was allowed to marinate in frumpy, uncombed heap. One shower and a handful of yawns later, Audrey was in the kitchen enjoying her second cup of coffee and reading [i]The Zone Alpha Daily[/i]. The hefty aroma of freshly-ground coffee beans was one of her favorites. It had a way of filling the emptiness in her family's spacious glass home. The decor, while beautifully ornate and antique, was minimal. It was her mother's attempt to appease Mr. Webner. He'd always wanted land to raise a family on, grass for his children to play in - the kind politicians and presidents monopolized. Audrey didn't complain, though. She was happy to live in a second tier home that others in Zone Alpha only dreamed about. "Good morning, my precious gift." Audrey lifted her speckled blue eyes from the finance section to greet her mother, who'd already been up for hours and out of the house at least once to visit her father's office. "Good morning, Mother. How is father?" "His hair is getting whiter by the minute with the new Finance Initiative passing. That's nothing new, I suppose." Audrey only chuckled into her cup. "Did you hear about the Happier Homes charity event in District 13? Michelle Carnaby mentioned it was today." Outside ears would've heard an innocent comment made in passing, but Audrey knew it was an artful attempt at manipulating her schedule. Michelle Carnaby was Audrey's pre-destined nemesis, after all. "Yes, ma'am. I actually planned on stopping by for a couple of hours," she lied, sacrificing her free day on the spot. [u][b]Subway D12:D13 - 2:43PM[/b][/u] The trek from District 2 to District 13 was tiresome and boring, and the farther she travelled into the districts the more uneasy she became. She had never been beyond District 13. Even in adulthood she'd only visited the area once, alone, for a much larger event similar to the one she was commuting to. D13 was hardly a threat to be concerned about, but for a sheltered woman like Audrey it was enough to put her on edge. What she disliked most were the eyes. More passengers stared at her as she drew closer to her destination, not really bothering her until she reached D10 - where she needed to have her Access Card handy. They oggled her dress-tops, her layered ensembles and designer jeans, mentally undressing her, examining the clothing as if they could purchase it right off of her back! One brash woman actually asked if she could "try on" her [i]Debbie Plakington[/i] flats, badgering Audrey until a decent gentleman shooed her away. How her mother handled the trips was a mystery... [u][b]District 13 - 6:09PM[/b][/u] "Have a good night, Cheri. You, too, Michelle." "Good night, Audrey. Thanks for doing what you [i]could [/i]today. Maybe next time you'll stay a bit longer... We love your company!" "I'll try, Michelle." After a final wave - which was one more than that pious charlatan deserved - Audrey left for the subway, tugging the leather shoulder bag at her hip to make sure it was secure. The streets were crowding with bodies dressed for nightlife, so she couldn't be too careful. All she had to do was keep her nose down for a couple blocks, following the weather beaten cracks of the dirty sidewalk. She'd be fine - if it weren't for the faults of hot tempered young men. Up ahead, two men were arguing. One was tall and lean, his veins effortlessly present under his taut tan skin. His face was dirty, and his buzz cut was glittered with sweat that was as easy to see as morning dew on grass. The other man, inches shorter and dark-skinned, had an angrier face with nostrils flared to the size of dimes. Thick raven tendrils hung down to his beefy shoulders, reminding Audrey of snakes resting on a log. They couldn't have been much older than herself, but they glared at eachother with a seemingly ageless hatred. Suddenly, the heated gabble erupted into bestial shouts that made Audrey's throat raw just listening to them. The herd of passing bystanders came to a hault, pushing back to create room for the violent match that had evolved. Most were able to detour away from the conflict, but like a rip tide, Audrey was swallowed by the rabble-rousers and disoriented masses. "Excuse me. Pardon me! Exc- hey!" Uncaring elbows and shoulders shoved her weak body this-way-and-that until her back met the cold metal frame of a large door. Her weight shoved it open which sent her stumbling backward into an establishment that smelled like sweat and bad habits. The air was thick with smoke. One breath led to a short fit of coughing, drawing judgmental eyes her direction. "Need a hand, princess?" An older man with stained facial hair and a groggy voice asked. "I got a shoulder you can cry on," he added with a menacing grin. The dark-haired Alpha cowered away from him, falling further into the loud music that filled the bar. "Look who's far from home," another stranger with a neck tattoo shouted in a blatant attempt to gather attention. "Need a place to stay, sugar lips? You could warm up my bed tonight!" "She could warm up other things!" The atmosphere burst with mean-spirited laughter. Hands were everywhere, combing through her hair, pinching her clothes and grabbing indecently. Escape felt impossible while she ricocheted from one smelly chest to the next, wishing someone could hear her cries over the dull roar of the crowd. [i]Thud! Rattatataa![/i] She tripped, twisting to grab anything that might save her from the fall. Then, all at once the world seemed to slow. Hands clasped to the metal rings of a giant cage, Audrey felt a wet, sticky spray paint her cheek, and a brutual weight jerk against her. Muted cheers and rude applause followed for several seconds until she realized what had happened. Beneath her was a bloodied man knocked unconscious, his face so swollen and marred that he was unrecognizable. If he was still breathing his chest didn't show it. Towering over the defeated warrior was a man who wasn't in much better condition. His bare chest heaved from exhaustion, beads of sweat dripping downward despite the cool temperature of the bar. His eyes pierced the space between them like a wild animal, or maybe a monster, needing more blood than was already spilled. But she'd never forget the scar across his shaven head... like red lightning. For one reason or another, she couldn't tear her wide eyes away.