The Unexpected Journey: Claws

Chapter One

Voitsekh grinned his goofy smile as his friend laughed. His ego was only matched by his charm. He had glossy black hair that grew in a halo of curls, a single neon red stripe running back from his temple and getting lost in his hair.
"Voi, my man, I know that joke is eternally funny, but we need something new," Sagittarius told him, still gasping from his laughing fit. Sag, as his friends called him, had neon green hair shaved on one side (though it always grew out an inch before he got to freshening his hair cut) and always wore his paint-stained scarf. He was obsessed with bright colors and messy coloring, whether it be with hair dye or pastels, watercolors or oil paint. He liked his music extra loud, along with his voice.
"Well, you're hairs an eternal joke. Doesn't mean I tell you to change it."
"You have dyed hair yourself."
"I was taken hostage."
"You wish."
"My dignity!" Voitsekh wheezed, clutching at his heart comically.
"Oh stop it. Anyhow, how's it going with that chick you tried to fetch?"
"Oh, Jean? I dunno, she wasn't at school today."
"Aw, that sucks, bro. I guess you just scared her off with your face."
"Dude, stop!" Voi laughed, pushing Sag, who fell over with a theatrical flourish of his hands.
"We're both such drama queens," Sag noted while still laying on the grass.
"That's why we're friends: we're only as much as the other deserves. In any case, I need to get home. Leo's coming home soon," Vio pointed out, referring to his little brother.
"Okay. Tell him I said 'hey.'
"Sure thing." Voi pushed himself off the ground, collected his things, then started walking home. Suddenly, he stopped. He looked carefully into the bushes near him. He could swear he just saw a pair of eyes looking at him from the shadows. He shook it off and resumed his walk.
Suddenly he heard a scream from behind him. He turned around, and a passing lady had what seemed to be a person on her back. Only, this person had long claws on their hands, long teeth which were sunk into the ladies neck, and their eyes were completely red except for black pupils. However inhuman they seemed, something struck Voi familiar about them. Putting the thought aside, he quickly turned around and ran home.