The Darkest Of Souls

Ⅱ

...5 years later...

Esther walked up the stairs of the subway station, jumping over the gates and opening the side doors for the other people. a few thanked her as they passed through the door, she paid them no mind as she walked up the stairs and into the busy street of Queens. Popping her earbuds into her ear she put on her playlist, dropping her skateboard on the floor and rolling down the street towards home. Maneuvering through the crowd she rolled to a stop when she arrived at her apartment complex.

Esther tied up her long wavy black hair into a ponytail, slamming the door behind her. She leaned her skateboard next to the shoe rack, standing by the door her ears strained for any noise in the dark apartment ignoring the loud busy street outside.

sighing she went into the kitchen and found a note on the table, it must be from her aunt; Esther got another job, won't be back for a couple of weeks. I already enrolled you at Midtown High, you're starting your senior year tomorrow.

Esther's jaw clenched, scowling at the note, "tch" crumbling up the paper and throwing it away. opening the fridge she frowned, there was only a half-empty carton of eggs, two oranges, a bar of butter, and a nearly empty gallon of milk.

' she couldn't even bother to stock up the fridge' she thought irritably slamming the fridge closed. sprawling on the couch in the living room, her arm over her eyes. She let out a long breath of exhaustion, the golden hours of the sun disappearing under the horizon as she thought back to her conversation with her aunt about her studies.

----------2 days ago -----------------------

Mariana sat in the dining room, papers scattered on the table; of important documents. She looked up at the clock on the wall; 4:33 in the afternoon. She glanced over at the front door as Esther walked in, taking her shoes off and shoving them to the side with her foot.

"Esther, we need to talk," she said, crossing her arms over her chest and glancing back at the documents on the table, her face blank.

Esther looked up, taking off her dark red jacket and hanging it up by the door, her face stoic raising an eyebrow in confusion. She hummed in acknowledgment walking up to the dining table and leaning her leg against the table. Picking up one of the papers and inspecting it, she had no idea what kind of job her aunt had, Aunt Mari wouldn't tell her. She noticed the word 'SHIELD' stamped at the top of the page and what seemed to be a profile of a guy; Jasper Sitwell, glancing at the other papers she noticed they were profiles of people. A manicured hand blocked her view, grabbing the papers along with the ones she was holding and organizing them in a folder.

" You will be attending Midtown High School as a senior in two days." her aunt said, her eyes staring at Esther. Esther's eyes widened before narrowing at her aunt in suspicion.

"What about my training? You promised that it'd be my last test!" Esther's voice rose a little towards the end. She was showing promise and natural talent with her powers, excelling in her studies in all subjects besides magic. She had no clue as to why she had to attend a public school if she was promised to graduate early.

" I got somewhere to be in about one or two days, and you need to socialize and get some friends, '' Mariana replied coolly.

" I do have frie-"

"I meant people your age, not the old ladies down in the lobby"