After Effects - Completed

I twisted my hair into a ponytail, tucking it under my cap and lowering the brim, making sure no one would be able to see the colors underneath. Then I took a final look around the room full of strangers, wondering which of them would help me escape, and which would try to kill me.

In my own imagination, I could see this going one of four ways. One, I could just walk up to someone and take a seat next to them, commenting on the lack of windows in the place. Two, I could start break dancing right where I was standing and make people think I was even more crazy. Three, I could simply sit and ponder the options over and over again by myself, creating the illusion of being a loner. Or four, I could do what I always did and cause some trouble. The fourth option being the least likely.

Instead I chose to be brave and decided on the first, the next dilemma was who I should sit by.

“See that guy over there? That’s Max, we don’t really talk to him that often. Most of the time he’s lost in his own mind anyway. I don’t think he notices much,” a golden brown haired boy said from beside me.

“Hi, I’m Samuel. Nice to meet you,” he again spoke, lifting his hand to shake mine.

I turned to look at him, wondering why on Earth he thought he could just walk up next to me and start talking. What was he, the welcome committee?

“You’re not much of a talker...I understand. I wasn’t when I first got here either,” said Samuel. We both remained silent for a few moments, the awkwardness of the space between us disappearing. Finally I spoke up.

“Trina,” I said, giving him something to call me. The boy looked at me, a smirk forming on his lips.

“Interesting.” Samuel sounded. He walked ahead of me to a girl wearing a purple hoodie, the strings in it obviously taken by reception. Damn policies. It looked like an $80 one too. I would’ve thrown a fit if they had done that to one of mine. Lucky enough for me, I didn’t bring any with strings in them, they had all been torn out by me at some point and time from my hand. Besides, what the hell would I have done with them anyway?

The girl snapped her head up after a few words from Samuel and looked at me. She stared as if she was trying to dissect me, taking every bit of me into account. I didn’t like that. I was almost about to walk up to her and get in her face, asking what her problem was, but she beat me to it. She nodded at Samuel and got up to greet me.

“You’re Trina?” the girl asked me dryly. I nodded my head, unsure of where this might be leading. The girl with the same golden brown hair as Samuel grabbed my right hand and checked out my tattoo. She rolled her eyes at the two intertwined spirals and finally said, “Follow me.”

I didn’t know if I should trust her, in fact I didn’t at all, but since no one else was making a move, I went with them. I had to find out which side these two were on anyway. Good or evil?

Samuel and the girl lead me to an unoccupied janitorial closet organized with metal shelves. The girl looked around cautiously before opening the door and pushing me inside before her.

“What are you?” she asked rudely.

“Uh, excuse me?” I returned with the same ferocity she had given me.

The girl grabbed my hand from my side and pushed it to my face. “What. Are. You? And don’t try to lie. We’ll know if you do.”

I zeroed in on both of their faces, trying to read something I was obviously missing.

She took the hat off my head and pulled the ponytail out of my hair, leaving it to fall around my shoulders, showing the solid streaks of pure white mixed within my very own golden brown hair.

She stepped back in fear, her mouth gaping open. “You’re one of the Fallen?” she exclaimed.

“Yeah, I guess so. Why, is that a problem?” I asked her. She still gawked at my appearance and it started to get under my skin. “Dude, I’m human, just like you. Don’t freak out at me just because I have these white streaks in my hair. People look at me weird enough as it is. And if you know so much about Fallen Angels, then you know it’s my soul, not me. This shouldn’t surprise you.” 

“I’m sorry. I’ve just - I’ve never met one before. This is...such an honor.” She acted like this was the most important thing in her life, to meet a Fallen. I honestly didn’t think I was anything special. Sure, my soul was thrown away by my own Father and it was left to fend for itself, but I’m here on Earth at the present, and I’ve been trying my best to get into the good graces of the Original.

“Oh God!” she suddenly gasped, “They probably already know you’re here, don’t they?”

“Who?”

“The Watchers! We’ve got to get you someplace safe! “ she cried.

“Hey, look, I’m fine on my own. I don’t need your help,” I said. Why did she all of a sudden think I wanted her help, just because she knew what I was? I was not going to let her control me. Not. Happening.

“Oh, but you will!" she exclaimed. "You will!” She acted like she was put here to protect me. Wrong.

“This is ridiculous,” I said. “I don’t even know you. Just because you recognize the features of my hair - it doesn’t mean anything to me.”

Samuel had been watching our debate unfold and he finally took this time to step in. He stepped closer to us, reaching for the collar of his shirt and showed me the skin underneath, “How about this?” he asked. On his chest, Samuel had a scar stretching the length of three inches with four dashes going vertically across it.

My eyes widened and my hand immediately flew to my collar bone. I had the exact same scar except mine was a little bit higher, on my collar bone, and on the opposite side.

“No,” I whispered. “Where did - How did you get that?” I asked exasperatedly. There was no way he could possibly have the same scar. Even if it was on the opposite side of mine, there was just no way.

“That same way you got yours,” he replied simply.

“B-But I was born with mine,” I stuttered, still slightly surprised.

“Exactly,” he said, fixing his shirt. I looked at him for a moment longer before switching my eyes to glance over at the girl, and then landed them back on him again.

“How?” I asked curiously. "How in the world did you know who I was?" My voice was filled with a little bit of anger now. This guy just randomly came to my side, started talking to me like he knew me, and the next thing I know he and this girl drag me into an abandoned closet. For all I knew they were going to ambush me. But no, I get this. The one thing I had been avoiding my entire life. It was one thing wonder, but to know what you found and still question it is quite another.

Samuel shrugged at my question and gave me an answer I didn't expect, “I sensed you the moment you stepped on the ground.”