(D)Evolution

Chapter One - Hazel

Hazel woke up in the same white room. White bed sheets, white walls, white pajama set, white everything. She always had to squint when looking up to keep her eyes from burning, it was just that white. The only contrast to the room was her bright red hair that matched her fiery personality. Despite her statement hair, her eyes were a boring brown that she did not take pride in, yet surprisingly she didn't want to go get colored contacts. To her, that's unnecessary and useless. She'd rather walk around with her bland eyes than have to act like her eyes were different than everybody else's.

After stretching and really waking up, Hazel leaned against the cold cement wall and checked her phone. Because she was in a government official building, she only had government approved apps on her phone, excluding social media. She didn't mind, in fact, she enjoyed the simplicity of her life; the pure bliss of not having to constantly check many digital platforms each day and hope that people like her appearance. It was refreshing to her and she didn't want to change this aspect of her life. On the contrary, Hazel disliked some days at her so-called home. The constant laboratory tests gave her daily headaches that she learned to cope with. Therapy sessions that lasted for hours did everything but coax her mind from the trauma and shame. What the top-tiered scientists said would help was only hurting her, and it was only a matter of time until Hazel caved in on herself and disappeared into thin air. Until then, she would have to suck it up and deal with it. She didn't have a choice anyway.

-

At the young and fragile age of nine, Hazel was walking home from elementary school. She recently learned her quirk, manipulation, and didn't know to handle it. Depending on perspective, this could either be a blessing or a curse. To her, it was a curse. That curse scarred her for life only moments later. After greeting her parents hello and getting no response, Hazel decided to go to the living room and see if they were watching their daily news. Oh, what the poor girl saw! There were her two Regular parents, dead on the couch. Blood was soaked into the cream colored couch and blood still trickled from the knife wound. There, scribbled on a tiny post-it note were a couple words. Hazel trembled, her whole body shaking to its core. Her delicate hands picked up the note and her heart shattered.

I did what you said, Hazel. I'm killing myself now, just like what you said. Goodbye.

Full of shock, Hazel didn't know what to do. Hot, angry tears lined her eyes. Eventually, she fell to the ground, her knees colliding with a puddle of blood. She blamed herself for all of this, for not telling her parents and getting the proper help she needed. The nine-year-old girl punched the carpet and then proceeded to punch herself. She ripped her pink skirt that was now covered with blood. Hazel couldn't contain the anger that bubbled up inside of her, there was too much to handle. Soon her neighbor saw her parents out of his window and called the police. Then Hazel turned herself in.

-

"Claire! Stop that!" Hazel yelled, grabbing the banana out of her best friend's hand.

Claire humorously rolled her eyes and took the ruined banana back. "I will do whatever I want with this banana. Okay?"

Hazel sharply inhaled and gave in to the stubborn girl. With a snap, the banana was gone. Hazel's eyes widened and hastily scolded Claire for being so ignorant! They were not allowed to use their quirks in the building, or anywhere, really. Claire didn't care as much as Hazel, which irritated her quite a bit. If Claire wasn't her best friend, Hazel would be snitching on her.

"Hazel, behind you," Claire said. Hazel didn't turn around. "Hazel...Hazel...Oh dear god."

It wasn't until a hand came down aggressively on Hazel's shoulder that she turned around. There was a buff security guard with hostile eyes looking down at her petite figure.

"Follow me. He wants to see you." And just like that, Hazel was swept across the building.

-

Hazel sat down on the black leather chair. The office smelled strongly of lavender, so strong that she was almost choking on it. She laced her fingers together and placed them on her lap. She looked around the room to calm her nerves. There were many windows in the room and the morning sun shined right through them. Her grey jumper matched the grey walls, and her red hair was once again the only contrast in the room. Hazel quickly settled down as she heard the door behind her creak open.

"She's here?" A deep, husky voice asked. "Ah wait, I see her. You may go now, I've got this under control."

A tall man, nearly six feet tall, walked around her and sat in the chair opposite to Hazel. He rearranged the dying plants on his desk and scoffed at the stack of papers that took up majority of his work space. He looked young, maybe early twenty's, but he already had wrinkles from managing the facility. Hazel couldn't blame him, it was tough managing Specials that had a tendency to use their quirks when they aren't supposed to.

"Hazel Adams, correct?" The man looked up and stuck his hand out. "I'm Robert Lorino, nice to meet you."

Hazel smiled warmly at the man and shook his hand. "Yup, I'm Hazel Adams. Nice to meet you, sir."

"Nice to meet you, too." Robert said. "Ah, you must be wondering why you're here, huh?"

Hazel nodded her head. "Yes, sir."

Robert handed her a packet of papers as he spoke. "You're going to be on a mission, Miss. Adams. There's a headquarters for Specials like you. They protect Specials and try to tear down the government." Hazel grimaced. "You are going to go there and act lost so then we can swoop in and destroy them once and for all."

Hazel nodded her head. "When do I start?"

"Right now."