Core: The First Step

Chapter 6: Meet Hera Xanders ( Stella, Sam )

( Stella )

The car roared across the street as Tia pressed the gas pedal hard. We passed through the traffic with ease, switching lanes to get around cars ,trucks and buses. I prayed that the cops wouldn't come for us and would be eating donuts instead, with the speeding and all that. Tia took the exit of the highway, that leads to Zone 14, her house. She switched the gears using the modified manual gear shift lever like an experience racer would do. Even at one corner, she veered to the right with a clean drift, smokes given away by the back tires.I hanged on to the door as if my life depends on it ( because it is ).

" Huh, this guy convert the car to rear-wheel drive. Maybe he wants this car to be a drift type. The traction is a little bit loose, but I guess it helps with the oversteer. The launching power isn't much, but it does give promising speed," Tia commented. Honestly, I have no idea what she was saying.

" Um, Tia, do you actually know how to drive?" I quavered. Tia whistled as she skids to another corner. " Yeah! I learned from a game I bought two years ago, set with game racing wheels and clutches," she bragged. " How is it that the same?!?" I cried. " It's the same as driving an actual car!" she countered.

" How would you know?"

" Well, I'm driving here right now! And we're not involve in some kind of accident, right?"

" What kind of argument are you talking about?!?"

" My argument. And I'm the driver here! So relax, okay?"

Despite our bickering, I have to admit she's a pretty good driver ( even though I almost pissed my pants at one point ). I'm amazed that we haven't been caught by the cops yet, but I was relieved as well.

Finally, she slowed down to a certain neighbourhood. Except for the varieties of colours, the numbers and a few different decorations, the houses looked similar to each other. They all are two storey tall, with a garage connected to the main house. They were all build beautifully, a balcony above the entrance door and a strong pillar connecting the balcony, roof and the cement ground. The tile roof on every house were connected with a solar panel to get energy from the sunlight. The houses can be mistaken as a shelter for the rich ( even though the residents here are supposed to be around upper middle, middle and lower middle class ).

" Hey, Tia. Which one is your house?" Sam asked. Tia answered by halting next to a grey house. The house have only bushes as a fence separating it's area from other houses. The garage was closed by a wooden door with a few small windows. Besides that, it looked like every house I saw in this neighbourhood.

Tia slammed her fist to the dashboard of the car, turning it off in an instant. Before I asked why she needed to do that, she stepped out of the car. I saw that the key slot was empty, meaning that we have drove this car not with keys, but with Tia's electricity.

Sam and I exited the car as Tia knocked on the door. We slowly walked towards Tia. I can't help but to smell a sweet scent of rose from my friend. But she also have a slight metallic scent with her. Probably from her electric abilities.

After a while, someone swung the door opened. A woman with curly brown hair with a streak of grey was standing in front of the door. Her fair skin was still smooth, she could have been mistaken as a 26-year-old lady. Her honey coloured eyes were bright as she saw Tia.

" Hi, mom. I'm ho-" Tia didn't finished her sentence when her mother wrapped her arms around her daughter. " Oh god, you're safe! Thank you," she sobbed. As she pulled away from Tia, her eyes were teary, but it's also filled with pride. " Are you alright?" she said with full concern. Tia nodded.

I was envious of Tia. Her step mother was a lot more caring than my own real mother. When this young lady looks at her daughter with pride, a red hair woman simply...