--Mia--

"MIA!" I heard the drunken voice of my so-called 'father' yell "MIA LOUISE PROWERS!" Even though I was a block away from my home-if you could even call it that-I could hear him calling out my name. He'd found it again; the vodka that I always had to hide from him. It was times like these when I wished I had a normal life like anyone else. I wished my dad could go to rehab and get a job. I wished that I didn't have to live in such a dirty, gross part of Raima.

I took a deep breath and stood in front of a run-down three story building with an ash-covered door. As I opened it, I felt my dread begin to grow with each step of ascending the stairs up towards the third floor apartment. The place where I lived. I opened the door ever so carefully to be met by the sight of my dad curled up in the fetal position with blankets covering his body; clutching the vodka in his large, meaty hands like a baby would a bottle. I tried to sneak past him and into my room without him noticing, but I had no such luck.

I didn't even look behind me as my dad slurred "Where in God's name were you, Mia?!"

"School." I answered quietly. I only go there every day. I thought to myself ruefully. If you were any real father you'd know that.

I heard him get to his feet and snarl, "Don't you give me that kind of attitude, young lady!"

Nothing came from my mouth in response. I knew that if I said anything back, my dad would only get angrier. Instead, I retreated to my room and picked up my suitcase. My mother would be here soon to pick me up. Then I wouldn't have to deal with this drunkard for a whole month. It wasn't perfect, but at least I'd get a break from this abuse.

As I came out the door, I saw my dad standing no less than five feet away from me; his entire body tensed up like he was getting ready to fight "You traitor! You'd leave your own father to be with that crazy woman?!"

I kept quiet.

"ANSWER ME, MIA!" He roared

"That woman is my mother." I answered calmly "By law and court order, I have to spend alternating months between the two of you."

"Screw the law." My dad growled "You need me. That woman can't provide for you like I can."

I grimaced as he took a swig of his vodka. I loved my dad, but it killed me to see him like this. I was perfectly fine with my mom. If anything, she could take care of me at least fifteen times better than he could; my father was the one that needed me. My mother was far more financially stable than him, so if anything she deserved full custody over me.

I said nothing and walked out the door before my dad shouted one last "TRAITOR!" at the top of his drunken lungs. I was glad beyond words to be out of there. I was already depressed when I was there alone, but my mom would always be my shoulder to cry on. I smiled as I looked down the street and saw mom in her car with the most joyful of grins plastered on her face.

People say I look a lot like my mom, and it's true. I have her frizzy brown hair, umber skin and chocolate brown eyes. My mom was my one true role model in my crazy life; the one person I could look up to when I had tough times with my dad. In spite of coming from a poor family, she was able to work hard and get a PhD in genetics to achieve her dream. Although I want to be a doctor, in every other sense I want to be just like my mom.

I laughed and ran to the car, hopping in the passenger seat to be tickled playfully and repeatedly attacked by kisses all over my face. She pulled away and giggled "Mia, I've missed you so much!" She looked me up and down "Have you grown?"

"A whole two and a half inches!" I affirmed happily

Mom chuckled "So where does that bring you up to now?"

"Five foot one."

Her eyes began to water, filling with tears of joy "My baby's growing up!" She sighed and took my hand, squeezing it gently "I am going to get you out of there, Mia. Whatever it takes. I promise you that."

I sighed "No, it's okay, Mom-"

"It's not okay." She said calmly as she started up the car, putting it in drive "I'm so sorry, baby. I'm a horrible mother for leaving you with a man like that to be your male guardian."

"Mom, I-"

She reached over and pulled up my sleeve to reveal my forearm, which was covered with various crisscrossing scars from where my dad had repeatedly hit me with a broken empty glass bottle because I refused to tell him where I had hidden his alcohol. Ashamed, I quickly pulled it back up. The two of us stood in silence as we drove. It was a few minutes before mom said, "If that monster was any shred of a father to you, he'd see how amazing you truly are."

"It's not your fault, mom." I muttered "You're the best mom in the entire world. It's not your fault that I'm in this situation. You did everything you could to protect me."

She sighed "But it wasn't enough."

I adjusted my glasses with my pointer finger "Don't worry, mom. Once I graduate from high school and get a scholarship to the Institute, I'm going to move out and go straight to their dorms. Just leave it to Mia."

Mom squeezed my shoulder and the tiniest smile spread across her face "That's my girl. You've got a strong spirit just like me."

I nodded and relaxed until we pulled up to my mom's house. It was a beautiful two-story baby blue Victorian style house with an exquisite garden around the driveway. It was a nicer house in one of the more acceptable neighborhoods in Raima, but it had cost a lot for my mom to buy it. Despite all of her efforts, she was the only one that lived there.

"Mia, would you get the mail, please?" Mom asked me

I nodded and got out of the car, walking towards the familiar orange mailbox. As I opened it up, I only saw one letter. It was strange because my mom usually got a lot of mail due to her job. I took it out and read the address. Mia Louise Prowers. What was going on here? There wasn't even a return address on the envelope.

Looking around, I saw no one around me-save for my mom, who was bringing my stuff inside the house. I gingerly opened the letter and pulled out a slip of paper. I began to read the neatly printed font.

Dear Mia,

You have been accepted for a project that will help save humanity. If you in turn help us, we will personally pay for any college tuition of your choice. There is a needle inside this envelope along with a memory re-programmer. If you accept, you can use the re-programmer to change your parent's memory, then Inject the serum. We'll be waiting for you at the abandoned gymnasium. If you refuse, We trust you'll re-program your own memory and never speak of this again. For what it's worth, we hope you make the right choice.

-S + M

I smiled. I could do this. If I got this tuition, I might be able to raise enough money to move in with mom. Permanently. I reached in the envelope again and pulled out the re-programmer, aiming it at my mom and typing in some quick coding. I placed it back in the envelope and began to run. This was for me. This was for my mom. This was the start of a new life.

***

When I arrived at my destination, I looked around at the crumbling arch that was the gateway to the entrance of the abandoned gymnasium on the far side of Raima. No one appeared to be here. Was this all some trick? Just a prank for some bored neighborhood kid to sit back, watch and enjoy? There didn't appear to be anyone else here. Against my better judgement, I called out anyways. "Hello? I got your letter! Is anyone here?"

The only reply I was met with was my own echo bouncing off the old stone walls. I sighed and mentally slapped myself for taking it all so seriously. Letters don't just arrive in the mail and give you a new destiny. This was real life. A real life where a girl ran off dreaming about a fantasy probably leaving her own mother worried sick. I sighed and began to walk away. Before I could get very far, I heard, "Wait."

I turned around. I still couldn't see anyone there. "Who are you?" I demanded "Come on out so I can see you."

There was a small period of silence before the voice replied "Are you sure about that? You might freak out."

I scoffed "Why? Do you have two heads and five eyes?" I teased

"No," They replied "Let's just say I'm not exactly...normal."

"Nothing's normal." I pointed out "Come on, you can't be that ugly."

There was a long stretch of silence. The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife. Just as I thought the voice might have left, they said, "Just keep an open mind and remember that you asked."

I saw a small flash of movement in the shadows. A foot stepped out, followed by a body, and then a face. She had white hair and ice blue eyes and...a tail?! What?!

"Who are you?" I asked

The girl winked "Name's Seira. Nice to meet you, Mia."

I was scared "How in the name of Syntoria do you know my name?!" I exclaimed

Seira face-palmed and sighed "I sent you the letter...You know what, just don't ask me anymore stupid questions like that. I already have to deal with Mandy as it is."

I was curious, but I didn't ask who Mandy was. I was too scared. I didn't want her to beat me like my dad did.

"Well," Seira started impatiently, tapping her foot "Do you have any questions?"

I cocked my head "But you just told me not to ask you any questions." I pointed out to her.

Seira swished her white tail "I told you not to ask me any dumb questions." She clarified "If you want me to explain anything, I can."

I shook my head "I get it, kind of. As long as I'm getting my college tuition paid, it doesn't matter."

I handed Seira the needle and she quickly injected it into my arm. I had only blinked and then woken up in an entirely different room with a pounding headache.

"What happened?" I moaned, rubbing my temples. I took off my glasses and realized something. I had crystal clear vision! There was a woman with pink hair in front of me as well, with a creepy smile on her face.

"Hello!"

I jumped and fell back, getting caught by Seir. She handed me a mirror, so I didn't know what else to do but use it.

My hair was now pumpkin orange with two feline ears popping out of my head. My eyes were now the color of bleached almonds. When I turned around, I saw that I also had a small little poofy tail.

"Wow." I breathed "I turned out cute!"

Seira's jaw dropped "How are you not freaked out by this!?"

I shrugged "I honestly don't know either."

The pink-haired girl-who I assumed was Mandy-hugged me and squealed "Welcome to Team Animalia! Now Arcia isn't alone!"

"Arcia?" I asked

Seira pointed to herself "My code name. Speaking of which, what should we call you?"

I smiled "Swift."

"Why Swift?" Mandy asked

"I just like the name." I clarified

Seira looked at Mandy "Aren't you going to write in that little yellow pad of yours?"

Mandy snapped back to full attention and let me go, immediately dashing off somewhere. This was going to be fun. I had made new friends. I looked back at the mirror and frowned. My hair didn't look too good down. I dug in my pocket and pulled out the hair ties that I used for studying to keep my hair out of the way. I quickly tied my hair up in pigtails. There. Much better.

"That looks good, Mia." Seira commented.

"Thanks."

"Swift. DNA of Eurasian lynx or Lynx lynx." Mandy muttered to herself, writing as she spoke.

I pointed to her "Is she always like this?"

Seira grimaced "For your sake, I hope not."