Terra: The Beginning

TWO

CHINA, 5:01 AM
SONG
Song stretched and yawned as the first rays of sunlight hit her face through the dusty curtains. She sat up, surveyed her bare, cupboard sized room and sighed.
A rapid hammering on her door ensued.
"Wake up girl! What are you waiting for, a royal escort?! Lazy oaf!"
Song gritted her teeth together. Keep cool. It's just for a little longer, and then you'll be out of this dump.
"Coming, Auntie!" she yelled back sweetly, and under her breath, "you nagging old hag."
She quickly washed and dressed, and ran downstairs to the soup kitchen. She had been living here for as long as she could remember. Auntie said she had been left on the doorstep as a baby and wasn't Song lucky she was good enough to take her in instead of dumping her in some orphanage? Yeah, I'm just overwhelmed by my good fortune. Really.
Auntie was a ruthless taskmaster, and had started working Song to the bone since age four. She isn't even my real aunt! What's with all this 'auntie' business?
Still, Song couldn't really complain. She'd seen abandoned kids begging on the roads, and having to sleep on the cold, hard ground every night. At least she had three meals a day and a bed to sleep in.
Auntie chose that moment to bustle into the kitchen. She was a short, stubby sort of woman with a permanent scowl on her face. And she never stopped moving - she was always bustling around and doing things as if her life depended on it. She bustled around Song now.
"Well, don't just stand there gormlessly, girl!" she yelled. Oh yes, she never spoke normally either. She either yelled or snapped. "Take the dishes outside and start cleaning! And I want them spotless, hear? I'll be checking!" She wagged her finger underneath Song's nose.
"Yes, Auntie," replied Song and hauled the rack of dishes to the back of the shop. As she lay them down and started running the tap, she felt something cold touch her elbow.
"Po-po!" she smiled, rubbing the skinny stray dog affectionately. Po-po licked her face and wagged his tail happily.
"Wait here, boy."
Song slipped back inside and strained her ears for any sign of Auntie. When she was sure the coast was clear, she snuck into the storeroom and took two pieces of fish and a handful of noodles. She threw them to Po-po who pounced on them greedily. She shook her head. "I spoil you." 

Suddenly she noticed a deep gash on Po-po's side. She clenched her fists. "Those stupid dog-catchers have been trying to take you again, haven't they?" 

The wound seemed to be about a day old, and the dried blood had matted Po-po's fur. He yelped slightly when she put a little pressure on it. She was so angry, her fingers began to shake. How could anyone be so cruel, when there was already enough sadness and pain in the world? How? 

She tried to control her temper, something she always found difficult, but this time her rage was too great. She could feel it bubbling up inside of her, rising higher and higher, until she felt like every fibre of her being was vibrating with its intensity. She was staring at the rack of dishes, and they seemed to match her fury, rattling and shaking around, and when she thought she was about to burst with rage, the entire rack exploded, sending pieces of metal and shards of glass and porcelain flying through the air. Out of the corner of her eye, Song saw Po-po yelp and run for cover, and then, still shaking, she fell to the ground and everything went black. 

Screaming. 

Lots of screaming. 

A woman - short and stubby looking...Auntie? She was clutching Song's arm and screaming right next to her ear. Song wished she would stop. She just wanted to sleep. 

Then a face. No, not  a face. A mask. Plain black, with holes for eyes, but the eyes were in shadow. They were looking at her. 

"Sleep." 

Song thought it came from the mask, but she wasn't sure. Sleep sounded good, though. 

Yes.