"Crime is an everyday occurrence. But here in the Big Apple, it seems to be much more than just a series of small, isolated incidents. It's apparent an organized element is at work and, at the moment, business is good. So good, in fact, there appear to be no eyewitnesses to any of these crimes. With complaints ranging, from purse-snatching, to breaking and entering, police switchboards have been swamped with the angry voices of more and more citizens, who have fallen prey to the recent surge that continues to plague the city..."

The apple. The big old apple. Everything seems to never quiet down, or go dark, even after the sun goes down - hence the famous title as "the city that never sleeps". It was the time of the 90s, where records, surrounding crime, remained high. The city's reputation for chaos and disorder were jeopardizing the safety of the locals, to the point where it officially became part of daily life. The illegal drug trade flourished, murder rates soared, and the city was divided by gangs and syndicates. Not to mention that homelessness and the jobless was a serious concern, having to fill the streets, where not even people can evenly walk.

"...merchandise of every size and description, from skateboards to stereo systems, has been disappearing from store shelves and storage areas at an alarming rate. Even the victims themselves rarely glimpse the thieves. Many don't know they've been victimized until it's too late. In fact, police have yet to come up with an eyewitness..."

With April O'Neil's report on the same topic appearing on television screens daily, including the week before (and the week before that), it felt as if nobody could find control in the streets of the Big Apple. Not even the police didn't seem to care on what goes on around them. So, amongst the many, they had to cope and open up their awareness in the alleys and subways.

That very same report came once more, as Jennifer walked by the screen that sat in the display case of a store. A pizza box in-hand, she headed towards the building, where she found solace, with another like her: Charlotte. Oddities appear in the city, all the time, but then, that one night changed her perspective entirely, having to be fused with another organism she recently came into contact with.

It was only but a few months ago that Charlotte was found on the fire escape, one night, by the other teen - on the same night, where she found her to also be inflicted by the same mysterious substance that struck upon Jennifer, back at her job. The chances of being discovered for scientific purposes had to be on the down-low.

"She's talking about the Foot Clan again." Charlie said as her roommate walked in, eyes glued to the rabbit eared TV the two had. "Looks like they've struck again with stealing packages from cars, pickpockets, the usual street thieves stuff." She added before glancing at Jen. It was hard to believe their lives had changed so much after coming into contact with whatever made them into what they were now.

"Thankfully nothing's come up about anyone seeing me swimming a few nights ago. I thought it was going to be the end for us; testing and everything." She said as she walked over to the kitchen to grab a couple of plates for them. "I know I have to be more careful, but it's New York! It's impossible for me to go swimming without being seen."

The Asian teen walked towards the entrance of the apartment building, and pressed the buzzer, hoping that Stacy would be able to know of her return. Since her tremendous transformation, and crossing paths with the younger brunette, the two girls decided to stick together, especially at night, when crime was at its worst. It was an instinct that she had - to protect, causing her to quit her current job, and find a smaller one, where it wouldn't make her seem suspicious; all for the sake of her shrouding their secret, and prevent further harm.

It was really a few months, after they met, that they have been sticking to each other by-the-hip, like two friends adopting each other, like sisters. It was a small family, she and Charlotte; one that was formed, out of their own shared differences and similar interests. Even if she had to take Charlotte for a midnight swim, Jennifer was always there.

Making her way up to the room that she and the other teen shared, only about a good few floors above ground level, she opened the door with her key. Jennifer smiled to herself the second she heard the sound of her brunette roommate. Things have been rather grim when she was on her own, before she met Charlotte. Of course, after having to find some common ground, there wasn't much for the Asian teen to rely on, other than the girl that she now shares an apartment with. Placing her key into the bowl that was next to the door, Jennifer spun the box on her finger and giggled.

However, she immediately got serious once she mentioned about the state of things outside. "I haven't been jumped yet. But everything seems to have quieted down. At least, for now", Jenni said, having to hear the sound of April continue ringing through the room, as she helped prepare their plates.

"...crimes without criminals? An invisible gang at work? Who are we going to call? Unfortunately, the police are the only ones available to combat what some are dubbing 'the silent crime wave'. But perhaps the most disturbing silence...is that coming from City Hall. April O'Neil, Channel Three Eyewitness News..."

"Yeah...for now." Charlie echoed before opening the box and grabbing a couple of slices. She wished she was more combative like her roommate but she was just a little too passive to be violent. That wasn't to say she wouldn't fight back if cornered or provoked. She just didn't want to hurt anyone.

She sighed softly before sitting back down on the couch. It was clear something was pestering her mind. "Jen? Do you think there's others out there, ya know, like us?" She asked her Asian roommate. It was definitely a question that buzzed around her lately and a good one at that. She wasn't sure what to think.

With that report finished, Jennifer took the remote, and changed the channel, hoping to find something to brighten the gloomy feeling. “I can’t be sure, Lottie. It can only be a coincidence that we have already been exposed to the ooze. For others, they could be on the other side of the city, if we know it. Or, living underneath it”, she sighed, while continuing to flip through the channels.

Letting her long dark hair down, Jenni took a bite of the pizza that was in the box. “You going swimming again?”

"Yeah. And don't call me Lotte. You sound like my aunt." Charlie replied, wrinkling her nose in disgust. She hated the nickname but she was stuck with it thanks to her name. "Don't wait up for me." She said before leaving. She manoeuvred her way through the streets of New York towards the water, being careful that she wouldn't be seen.

Once on a bridge that wasn't too occupied, she looked for the right point to jump into the water below. Upon finding it, she carefully climbed onto the railing, balancing herself as she looked down. To any passerby who noticed it looked like she was going to jump to end her life.

Jennifer chuckled at Charlotte’s reply, shortly before she noticed her leave. Shaking her head, she took the plates, and washed them in the sink. Looking out the window, she noticed the reflection of her katana hanging on the wall.

Meanwhile, a tall individual in a trench coat walked across the bridge before having to notice the girl standing on the very edge. He was silent upon his approach and, by the time he walked passed her, he pulled her by the back of her shirt, and back on solid ground, at a safe distance near the railing.

"Ack!" Charlie yelped as she was pulled back, landing a little roughly on her butt. She looked around for who grabbed her before seeing someone in a trenchcoat walking off. "Hey, what gives, jerk?!" She shouted at him, not fully thinking of the consequences of her reaction. She was just upset some bozo stopped her from her swim.

She growled softly before climbing back up onto the edge, not caring if he'd try to stop her again. She was jumping off this bridge for her swim, damnit!

The individual in the trench coat turned around, once he heard the faint clink of the railing, and found standing on it again. Was she out of her mind? It was a long way down, and he didn't know whether or not the water was shallow. It made the person groan. What was up with these humans?

Charlie heard the person groan but she didn't care as she edged forward on the edge, getting ready to take her bracelet off once she jumped. But something nagged at her as she felt the eyes staring at her. "What's your deal?!" She finally snapped at the guy, turning to face him. She didn't move from her spot on the ledge.

"This isn't what it looks like, so just go away!"

The individual in the trench coat just stood there, continuing to look at her in silence. A car drove by, and the light managed to briefly put a shine on the stranger. It only made a shadow, like a silhouette in front of car headlights. There was even a brief instance where his eyes appeared.

Even when she was yelling at him, he didn't move, only shaking his head in silence, and turning away.

"Weirdo." She muttered before turning back to look at the waters below. She had done this before and knew it was just the right spot to jump. Not too shallow but deep enough for a dive. She leaped off, taking her bracelet off at the same time. Unfortunately, she let go of her bracelet as she launched herself, causing it to softly clatter on the sidewalk of the bridge.

Soon as the jewelry was off, her legs fused together into an orange fish tail that faded into sunset colors. She landed with a slash, quickly swimming off a ways should someone see her. She smiled, finally feeling free as she swam around.

By the time he saw her lean forward, his instinct told him to grab her again; to catch her. However, the look in her eyes told him to stay out of it. Aside from his brother to tell him what to do, something inside him told him to comply with what she said. Seeing her fall, and hearing the splash, he immediately ran to the railing, nearly stepping on the bracelet on the ground.

Picking up the trinket, he didn't know what to make of it. Should he wait? Instead, he listened to his head, and silently placed her bracelet at the side of the river, where the path was, if she ever wanted to get out. Walking away, he left, disappearing in the shadows. He wasn't aware of her change.

Charlie swam around, laughing at her freedom as she chased after some fish. Even in the dark she could see clearly as if it was day. She slightly wished she could share it with someone like her. She shook the thought away before jumping out of the water akin to a dolphin, letting out a happy yell.

It was close to midnight when she hauled herself onto land, blinking in surprise upon finding her bracelet there. She then realized she had left it behind when she jumped, but wondered who left it for her. She shrugged before putting it back on, changing back into a human before heading home.

By the time Charlotte managed to make it back home, Jenni was sitting upon the fire escape, right outside the window, trying to think. Although she could have also been meditating. The Asian teen smelled the air, and listened to the noise. Her katana sat nearby her figure. She heard the apartment door open, and turned to see her roommate walking through the door.

"You will not believe the night I've had." Charlie said before telling her about Trenchcoat Guy and how he stopped her from jumping the first time. "No one's stopped me before, so what gives?" She asked before heading to her room to change into dry clothes.

Jennifer listened to Charlie's story about the stranger that tried to break her fall. Weirdly enough, this individual saw her take the jump. The teen wondered if she should have went with her. But then, she wondered if she had to, especially every time they go out. This person could have seen Charlotte transform. Whilst it was quiet for some time, a great yell sounded. "DAMN!"

Charlie flinched at the yell, brown eyes widened in fright. "What the hell was that?" She asked before looking outside the window in some hope she'd see who had shouted. She drew back in, shrugging in confusion.

"Nothing." She stated as she looked at Jen.

There was a certainty that at least half of the city heard of the very angry yell that sounded. Someone would have quickly assumed that it was someone on a drunken rage. But then, it was New York, where something new and odd would come up every day and night.

The next day, Jennifer crashed on the couch, after a long night, causing her to drastically over sleep that morning. However, she managed to be up to see the television on, with the interview of April O’Neil interviewing the chief of police. Would she be able to get it through his thick skull that something was wrong with the economy?

"He's sooo not happy with her. You can see it in his eyes. Body language too." Charlie said as she ate her breakfast. She had gotten up early despite her midnight swim which was oddly normal for her. Well, since her change that is.

"Honestly, I'd vote for her a mayor or something like that." She said before eating a spoonful of cereal. "She'd clean up this town." She added.