Presage

Chapter 1 ♚ A Ninja On The Lose

A/N: Photo of Zoe Hanielet Beauprè, but with blue eyes :D

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San Francisco
Present time

The pellucid drops of water fell from the tree and merged with the pool of water gathered by the pavement. When the rain had left, the wet asphalt glinted like a mirror, reflecting the warm glow of street lamps. The cold weather turned the subdivision of Millialuche into silence, except for one, the great mansion of the Beauprès.

"Lady Hanielet!" a guy in black suit shouted. He paced the huge garden while holding a flashlight, looking at every direction.

The solar powered outdoor lamps lit the green landscape, giving radiance to the bed of red tulips, tall evergreen trees, and round bushes.

"Have you seen her, Alex?" another guy in a black suit approached.

"No, maybe she's at Madame Victoria's rose garden."

"Okay," Von turned on his Bluetooth call receiver and listened to the conversation. Time stood still as information sipped in, causing more sweat to dribble down his face. "They didn't find her in the attic and the basement. We should go—"

The sound of the gates opening made the two bodyguards spun. They looked at each other with faces plastered with alarm.

"Damn it! I thought we have a few more minutes." Von scratched his neatly combed black hair. "Go check the garden and I'll relay this matter to Gilbert. I hope we find her before the head of the house finds out, or else we're fired."

Alex, the newly hired bodyguard, turned pale and stared at his colleague, his jaw hanging in the air. Von checked the surrounding once more and turned to find a stunned Alex.

"What are you doing?" he snapped. "Go!"

The two turned on their heels and disappeared faster than the wind. As soon as the coast was cleared, Zoe released an exaggerated exhale.

"Phew! That was close," she pushed back her red bangs and leaned on the tall stone wall, feeling sorry for the two bodyguards. "I can't believe Mom and Dad are here, not to mention even Gilbert. But I need to get going."

Zoe picked up the rope she used to propel herself across the stone wall surrounding the mansion and shoved it in her backpack. She glanced at both sides and wasn't surprised by the empty streets. Even she was tempted to sprawl on her bed and play moblie games all day while sipping a cup of hot chocolate. But today was her only chance.

Voices echoed from the other side of the wall. She slung her backpack and dashed across the street, blending with the shadows of autumn trees. Her all black attire served as a perfect camouflage.

Zoe glanced at the white mansion and smiled, "I'll be back. I need to do this on my own."

Without a second thought, she continued running beneath the shadows of autumn trees, feeling the pulse of excitement as she headed to the convenience store.

Through the help of Google Map, Zoe reached the convenience store adjacent to the subdivision. The doorbell rang as she entered. The sweet scent of donuts played a smile on her lips and put twinkles in her azure eyes.

"Good evening," the cashier greeted.

Zoe returned the gesture and proceed to look for the school supplies section. Chocolate bars and chips left her turning side to side. It was the first time she entered a store without her bodyguards. The feeling was so different. No one was paying her any attention, and for once, she felt so free like a normal teenager.

When she found the school supplies section, she grabbed a small bottle of Elmer's glue.

"Now I could finally complete my gift for Catalina."

Being one of the richest family in the world, she could buy anything for her younger sister's birthday. That was how she used to think. But as she grew up, she realized that money and material things could never make you happy. So she came up with a gift made by her own hands, a pop-up storybook about a lost heroine.

Zoe's face was beaming with a smile as she stepped out of the store, with a small paper bag in one hand and a box of donuts in the other.

"I finally did it!" she giggled. Bystanders and passerby turned to her direction, but the red haired girl was immersed in her achievement. "Oh my gosh! I need to take a selfie! Gilbert, could you hold this—"

She spun and was surprised to see a passerby. "Sorry."

Zoe transferred the small paper bag to her other hand and pulled the cell phone in her back pocket. "I forgot that I went on my own. Anyway, I have to show this to everyone. I bet Gilbert would be dumbstruck!"

With the convenience store in the background, she pulled out her tongue and raised her purchase close to her face. She was about to press the capture button when a shadow passed in front of her, disappearing together with her cellphone.

"What the!" Her eyes instantly caught a guy in a hoodie running across the street. "Hey! Give back my pho—" She started chasing after him when she realized that shouting wouldn't help.

She hugged the box of donuts to run faster, thankful that she wore her favorite Timberland boots. Gilbert always warned her that this world turned dangerous by each passing day. She never thought that by letting her guard down to take a selfie, she would taste the bitter reality of this world. There was no hope.

Another shadow ran past her and quickly caught up with the hooded guy. Zoe watched in disbelief as a stranger fought to retrieve her cellphone. Her heart blazed with delight. This world still had hope.

The moment she caught up, the guy in the hoodie was running away.

"Thank you!" Zoe managed to squeeze out of her lungs.

Her hero spun and looked down at her. "You're welcome."

She thought that his neatly trimmed blonde hair matched the light of bravery in his blue eyes. Never had she met a handsome and brave guy. Zoe searched his hands for her cellphone and her smile vanished in a whim. A gun was pointing at her.

"Sorry, kid." She looked at him with an ashen face, thinking that the box of donuts wouldn't probably do as a shield. "Give me your bag."

At that moment, she knew that this world was hopeless.

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Dedicated to KatrinePaul

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XOXO