Violet's POV

Everything happened so quickly. We were just about to go down to the Shaft to see Professor H (at least, that's what I assumed would happen). My mom told me that we would all be safe there.

Next thing I knew, I was running for my life in the many busy streets of downtown. All I wanted was to escape this reality. I didn't want to be different anymore. I just wanted to go back to where everything was normal, where I didn't have powers, where no one or nothing was trying to get in my way or kill me. I wanted to be normal again.

I rushed past people who must've thought I was going insane. A 16 year old girl? By herself? With no source of light what-so-ever? Pshh... Save it for the movies, kid.

Yeah, yeah, I know, alright! This might not have been the best idea, running away from the only source of balance, safety and comfort in my life, but I just wanted to escape. To run away from the world. To get a glimpse of what life would be really like.

I need to go someplace safe, I thought, even though being downtown would be the safest option. I guess I just needed some alone time.

I ran for a bit, turned lots of corners and made lots of twists and turns, and finally found myself miles from the city, standing face to face with what must have been the biggest forest in the city. I took a look around. There was a little winding dirt path that led into the forest, and judging by the busy streets behind me, there probably wasn't going to be another entrance to this one particular forest for a while.

Right then and there, I burst into tears. "What have I done..." I whined in between sobs, gasping for air.

A twig snapped behind me. I stopped my sobbing and froze, not sure what to expect. I turned around slowly and faced the weirdest thing a person could've seen in the history of time... I'm not sure what it was called, or what I could call it, but it looked like some kind of monster. 

It was a huge purple fluffball with tiny, dark-purple bat wings sticking out of its back, barely holding its weight a couple of feet off the ground. It also had one huge green eyeball and a wide, gaping mouth, full of at least 3 sets of sharp teeth. The thing was drooling. I don't know why, don't ask. I'm not a monster expert - but it did kinda remind me of one of those monsters that you defeat multiple times in Clicker Heroes, but 10x the size, and round and furry with one eyeball. Know what I'm saying?

My eyes widened at the sight of the hideous creature in front of me, and I could feel my fight-or-flight instincts slowly kicking into gear. The monster took a big long look at my body, and I started to back up slowly. No way was I becoming a monster's dinner just because of my own will to run away from the only safe zone that I will ever have. 

I felt all the adrenaline rushing through my veins as I turned around and sprinted. Somehow I still had enough energy to try to escape. I heard a sudden roar come from behind me, so I figured that the monster would be chasing after me any second now.

Aaaaand I was right. I could hear it tearing through the many trees behind me, roaring its face off. I mean jeez, you got my attention with that big fat mouth of yours, no need to make it worse.

I ran for what seemed like hours, and I finally found myself in a clearing. I looked around as everything was surrounded by darkness. The sun had finally set. And judging by that monster thing that just popped out of nowhere, it's probably dinner time... And I'm the main course. 

I looked around once more, seeing that I had lost the creature (for now). I placed my hands on my knees and started taking deep breaths. 

That... was a heck of a long run... I thought to myself as I panted, trying to regain whatever stamina I had left in me. But then I heard some rustling from the bushes to my right, and I knew that I was in some serious trouble. I slowly turned my head towards it, not sure what to expect.

There was a low grumble coming from those bushes. Terrified out of my skin, I backed up slowly, not wanting to make any more noise, but I bumped into something... Something furry.

I whipped my head around, and I became face-to-face with another bat-like monster, except this one was green in colour. I screamed and ran in the other direction, only to be faced with several other monsters like that. I was surrounded, and it was my own fault.

Astrid's POV

~10 minutes earlier~

I grabbed the stupid cat and headed out the door. At least he wasn't reluctant to come with me this time. We walked along the quiet streets just so we wouldn't have any trouble with people roaming the streets, even though I could turn invisible.

We watched the sun set over the horizon as everything faded to the black of night. It was actually quite beautiful, and I'm not a fan of the outdoors, so that's gotta tell you something.

As nighttime came around, the wind in the air started to get colder and colder as we walked the not-so-busy streets. Merlin jumped up into my arms to stay warm.

"It's downtown, right?" I asked Merlin as he rubbed against my face, emitting a soft purr.

"Yep. Just keep going that-a-way." Merlin pointed out in front of us.

"So we just go straight?" I scratched him behind the ears.

"Yep." He said, absolutely loving the attention I was giving him.

"Some inside cat you are. You've stayed inside the house for at least 5 years and yet you know every little nook and cranny of this city? That's crazy bonkers."

"Says the girl who has super powers." 

I rolled my eyes in response. "Stupid cat." I said as I bapped him on the nose.

"Yeowch! Who're you callin' stupid? At least I know where I'm going!" He pawed at his nose.

"Whatever."

Suddenly, an ear-piercing shriek rang in the distance. Merlin and I both looked at each other.

"Violet!" We screamed.

"Hang on!" I exclaimed as I held onto Merlin and started sprinting towards the high-pitched shrieking in the distance.