SUBTERRANEAN

Chapter one

Before leaving Echo city, she always made sure to take her pepper spray. It was quite ironic considering the fact that she could have the entire city blown up at any moment she chose fit. It was also pretty depressing. Carrying pepper spray and occasionally enrolling herself in karate classes gave her life meaning.

The idea of someone else possibly having more power over her than she did them, brought her peace. Her mom always "worried" about her because of this. They were supposed to be independent, confident, assertive, and almost... god-like.

She hated that idea.

"1 hour, please."

Willow grabbed her ticket from the clerk and walked out of the front gates, making her way down the long dark tunnel that was dimmed slightly at the end. The light became more visible as she approached the exit.

One hour, it's all she had.

Leaving her city, her hair flew more effortlessly. Her skin glowed brighter. The seemingly heavy weight on her chest began to soften further away from those gates that she got.

"One hour, one hour. What to do with one hour." She mumbled under her breath. It was a calming mechanism. While the elimination of her presence in Echo city brought her a sense of peace, it was often replaced with more doom as she approached the above-ground entrance into New York City.

Yes, an entrance into NYC.

The entrance was small, it was chilling and mind-boggling once you were aware of what it led to.

One side led to Echo, and the other led to New York City. The 'entrance' was located in a quiet alleyway behind a group of dumpsters to be exact.

The best part, nobody knew about it.

It was one entrance of 3 in the entire world.

One in Korea, one in Paris, and one in New York City.

The chilling and scary part of it all, the part that brought a sudden hitch to willows' breath, was the fact that anyone could discover their secret. Anyone could find out who they were.

Who she was.

•••
Willow

The breeze. I missed it.

Most people describe the breeze as being quite dry, cold, and chilling. But the moment I'm greeted with it outside of those gates, I know my life has just begun.

I have to see the world today.

I have to be honest, I'm slightly dreading my responsibilities tonight. Only because the eagerness to explore the city feels like an itch that's been biting at my skin for years.

Sadly, the lack of time I have is a huge factor. As usual.

Finally approaching the end of the dark alleyway, I forget what I left behind. To be fair, I forget what I ate this morning. Not because I'm forgetful, but because I don't care. I don't want normal anymore.

Not that normal anyway.

Normal people eat breakfast of course, but normal people also walk their dogs and meet with their friends for wine.