Chapter 3

The days pass with content, but Yin gradually grows distant. Mia is suddenly thrown into a series of trials as two goons aim to destroy her. Could this be the emergence of her powers?

     We soon arrived at my home to which no one was home. I took this as a sign of relief, and Yin did too, as she explored around the house on foot, occasionally getting a snack from the fridge. While she did this, I put my backpack down and got changed into more comfortable clothes, which consisted of a tank top and some sweatpants.

     I started my homework over my bed as Yin watched. "It's just some algebra," I said, a little nervous from her watching over my shoulder.

     "Hm.." she simply uttered in understanding, watching as I scribbled numbers, letters, and symbols down. She squinted as the lightest tint of pink overcame her cheeks.

     'She must be trying to understand this,' I thought, taking a glance at her. I smiled and giggled at the thought.

     A big, bull-like snort came from Yin's nose as she turned around. She made herself comfortable on my back, slumping over like a rag doll.

I shook my head and rolled my eyes as I continued working.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

     Hearing the garage door, I could tell that my grandmother soon arrived home, along with my mother. I gently wiggled Yin off, slumping her body on my bed, before getting up from the floor. 'They seemed to have gotten groceries,' I thought, glancing out of the window to see the trunk opened and full of filled plastic bags.

     "Yin, I'll be right back, I've got to go help my family," I called out, only to hear a groaning response. I chuckled a bit before quickly slipping my sneakers on and running downstairs to get outside.

     Opening the door to the garage, I saw my mother with many, about ten, grocery bags. I took them from her and headed upstairs, placed them on the table, and then returned downstairs again. This time, I saw my grandmother.

     "Your mom is such a.." she stated in anger. The last word, I prefer not to have heard.

     My mother, affected by this, muttered a, "Mom! I, ugh."

     I took the rest of the groceries upstairs. The argument increased, it was the common problem of my mother sometimes doing her own thing in the grocery store. I quickly put the rest of the groceries into the fridge and cabinets before heading to my room, making the excuse that I was working on homework, which I had actually completed just before they arrived.

     I quickly escaped to my room, the yelling growing louder. My grandmother complained of her involvement with the family and my mother countered with accusations of my grandmother upsetting me. In truth, however, their entire pointless argument was making it worse.

     I stood leaning against the door, my hands clenched against my chest as my breathing grew audibly ragged, despite my efforts to suppress it. The walls began to enclose me as I prayed that they wouldn't drag me into their black hole of madness. My panting increased and my eyes locked straight forward as I began trembling. Yin had already woken up and gave a surprised look as she rushed towards me.

     "Mia!" she called out, bringing me into her embrace, this instigated tears to fall from my eyes. I was embarrassed. After all this time, all this time alone, why can't I just control myself around others? Now she's really gonna call me weak...

     More tears streamed down my face and into her chest. "Y..Yi..n.." I uttered, my voice ragged, I was so embarrassed. She hugged me tighter.

     Yin's voice grew ragged, but gentle, "It's okay, "I'm here.." She rubbed my head as my body relaxed into a still-teared slumber.

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

     I awoken hours later, my books were on my desk and put into a somewhat tidy order. I looked to my side and jolted in surprise. There, leaned against the wall, arms crossed sitting on the bed was Yin, sleeping. 'Yin..' I thought, nodding to myself. I tiredly got up from my bed, wiping my eyes of the crust that had formed from my now dried tears. I opened the door and exited, heading to my grandparents room, preparing to get scolded. Upon reaching the room, I noticed my grandmother to be drowsily sleeping. I gently poked her with my finger a few times, which woke her up.

     "Oh, I must have fallen asleep," she said, looking at the time, which was about 8:30pm, "You fell asleep, we couldn't wake you, so there's some spaghetti in the fridge for you, and some meatballs."

     "Ah, I see, I'm sorry," I said, "I'll go get myself some to eat, thank you."

     I headed to the kitchen and opened up the fridge. There, I took out the leftover cooked spaghetti noodles and two meatballs, which were the only meatballs left, and placed them into a bowl. I took a small plate and two forks with me before heading back to my room again.

     Upon my arrival, I turned on the light and noticed that Yin was awake. She squinted from the light and stretched, bearing a long, and rather loud, yawn before slumping onto the bed, lying down with half her face in the pillows. She uttered a minor groan before looking up at me as I sat down on the bed beside her.

     "Good morning," I said casually. "Well, not really morning, but I'm glad to see you awake."

     She nodded with a simple, "mm," of agreement. "How are you feeling?" she asked, propping herself up with her arm, her long, messy black hair flowing carelessly against the pillows and blankets.

     "Ah," I began, blushing as I remembered what happened, "I'm better now, thank you," I said sincerely. "Ah! Here," I said, taking an extra plate and filling it with some spaghetti and a meatball. I handed her the plate, smiling, "You must be hungry."

     Her eyes lit up quicker than a camera's flash. She eagerly took the plate with the lick of her lips. Quickly, her gaze went from one of delight, to one of disgust. "What is it?" she asked me suspiciously.

     "Ah, well, it's spaghetti and meatballs," I explained, "it's well, noodles and meat."

     "Hm," she said, examining the meat, "what kinda meat?"

     I got a bit nervous, but soon found the answer, "well, it should be ground beef."

     "Ah," she said in understanding. "Such a simple meat, some things never change do they? And in balls? What? You wanna store it?" She spooned up the meaty spheres before dropping them on the plate, as if waiting to see if they'd bounce. She proceeded to laugh mockingly, "You sure you don't have anything else?

     Failing to think of meat from anything bigger or more exotic than a cow, I slowly shook my head in embarrassment.

     She licked her lips before drooling, "Ah, if only it was dragon or griffon, or a catoblepas." She seemed to slip into her imagination, clearly distracted.

     "Uh," I muttered, a bit confused before laughing nervously and politely, "hehe, well, it's good, trust me," I said, "there's chopped onions and bread crumbs in it."

     Without hesitation, Yin gobbled up the meatballs, occasionally having some spaghetti. "Mmm," she uttered, licking her lips before smiling. "Meeeeeat" she contently sung. "No matter what form, it's always good."

     I laughed a bit as I sat by my pillows, my feet close up against me and knees bent as I ate my spaghetti noodles. "mm.." I stated happily, "so good!"

     I looked back at my plate and saw that my meatball was gone. "Hey! I was trying to save the best for last!"

     Yin swallowed nonchalantly. "What can I say, you snooze, you lose, so try not to get a bruise," she stated before punching my arm.

     I pouted in embarrassment before watchfully eating my spaghetti.

     We made small talk before falling asleep for the rest of the night. The rest of the week was casual, I would have occasional times of emotional stress from some arguing, but overall, it was nice. Yin's antics distracted me from such misfortune. She also made school much more fun, we would talk at times when others wouldn't really notice, or care to notice much, and I never really felt lonely in gym class. We'd laugh and joke quite a bit, though as the week grew to an end, she tended to grow quieter. She would tend to tell me that my time would be coming soon, whatever that meant...

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

     It was Saturday night, my grandparents were out on a date, and my mother was just relaxing in her room. Yin was sitting on the bed, in a tank top and shorts, gazing to the window from time to time. I had just finished doing the dishes from the meal we ate before I noticed her repetitive actions.

     "Yin?" I asked, "Is everything okay?"
    
     She slowly looked to me, her usual confident expression was lost; It was replaced by a serious purple abyss. "It's time.." she stated.

     "Yin," I spoke growing closer to her, slowly reaching to place my hand on her, unsure, and a little nervous.

     "Now.." she said coldly. Her wings quickly became outstretched, whipping wind and feathers throughout the room in a violent fashion. This was followed by a flood of darkness that shrouded the space and sent a chill down my spine.

     I stepped back. "Y..Yin!" I called out to her, shielding my face with my arm. With the other, I reached out to her, my eyes set on her.

     Her form became a black mass, similar to that of the evening we first met. No, it was the fear-induced vision I had of her. The monster of the night with eyes that glowed like purple flames; Pupils of diamond-like stars; A gaze that was ready to pounce.

     "Yin!" I yelled again. As I got closer to her and began to grasp at her, the darkness had overwhelmed me. My hands phased through her, as though she had become one with her shadows. Unable to see neither color, nor shape, I was able to hear. What I heard was something like static, something crumbling, no, rushing.

     The gathering of sounds grew louder before hitting me in the form of a massive tidal wave. The watery temporarily deafened me as I tumbled. I clenched my eyes shut, holding my breath as I flailed my arms in hopes of being able to grasp something, anything. However, out of fear of worsening my odds for a harmful impact, I held myself in a fetal like position; Well, the best I could anyway. What felt like minutes may have only been seconds and eventually, I made impact.

     Feeling the water growing shallower above me, I hit the ground, tumbling like a shell in the surf before hitting a large, hard object. I felt a pain overcoming my body, but it was still a good sign. I wrapped my arms around what seemed like a large rock, holding onto it for dear life. The water splashed against me, growing more shallow. I climbed up with weak coughs, gagging some water in the process. I panted, pleading for the air to give me breath. My eyes slowly adjusted to the surroundings. Odd shapes and shades of greens and browns slowly became clearer.

      "Ugh.." I groaned a bit. Standing up slowly, I brushed my legs and arms, and even butt, of dirt, only to find some bruises. I pushed my hair out of my face. "Y..Yin.." I weakly spoke. My eyes adjusted but my mind still needed believing. From my room and through a vicious flood, I was now in a dark forest...

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

     I walked through the forest, stumbling at times over rocks and branches. The only thing that brought any luminescence to the darkness of the night was the moon above, and some generous insects below. Still, my search for Yin was failing, and my exhaustion and injuries only furthered my guilt. All of a sudden, I heard something from the distance behind me. I remained quiet and prepared myself, lowering myself closer to the ground. There was some talking. One person, no.. two?

     "That dumb girl," spoke a youthful, joking-seeming, male voice, "she'll be worth so much!"

     "Not to mention she's wanted dead or alive," said a deeper voice.

     I backed up, only to accidentally slip and crunch up some leaves. 'Damnit!' I thought in my mind with terror. At that moment, I got up and started sprinting, hoping that I wouldn't be noticed, and definitely not caught.

     "There!" shouted the deep voice. I could clearly tell it was in my direction, despite my hopes that it wasn't. "I can smell it, human.. and angel.."

     "Finally! I've been waiting years for this!" the younger one said, "the kill of a lifetime." he finished with a snicker.

     Their footsteps chased in pursuit of mine. 'Dang it!' I screamed in my mind, clenching my teeth as tears streamed down my face. 'Just what the hell am I?! What makes someone like me so special anyway?!' my thoughts raced. My eyes felt like they would burst from all of the tears gushing out.

     The younger man snickered again. "This will bring her out!" he screeched in evil delight. I got even more nervous, begging my feet to move faster, which I felt already impossible, as I could barely feel them from how scared I was. Suddenly, a burst of glowing green fire flew right past me and hit the tree directly next to me as I was running.

     Upon instinct, I turned my head. My pursuers were right behind me, however, their appearances were rather hazy in the dark of the night. For that moment, I tried to figure them out; The younger-seeming one was shorter and skinnier than the other one, who was large and muscular, and seemed to be holding something large.

     Unfortunately, me turning around gave them my appearance.

     "There she is!" said the muscular one.

     "You better hurry your heavy butt up!" joked the younger one, his voiced seemed to fade upward.

     'No, he can't be,' I thought, 'in the trees??' I heard rustling above growing closer and closer towards me. Within a few minutes, he was already above me, despite my hopes to escape.

     He jumped down, his skin was light green and his face bore something similar to a monkey, with his deep green sideburns and upward styled hair. He had a tail which had some hair flowing to the tip. He wore a dark green tank top, whose sleeves had been previously ripped, with an ivory white belt wrapped around it. He completed the ensemble with a pair of black capri pants, dark brown boots, and a knife of sorts hanging on his side.

     He bore a sick grin upon his face as he started fell upon me, arms outstretched, ready to grab me and tear me apart with his sharp nails.

     I ran ahead, trying to dodge his blow. However, after a few steps, I fell into a huge ditch in the ground that suddenly opened up before me. It felt almost endless with the dirt and roots at the walls within it. I prepared myself, ready for my burial. 'How? How did it become like this..? I'm so confused.. What am I? Yin.. my new friend.. where are you..? I'm alone.. I always was alone.. and now, I'm gonna die alone..' So many thoughts as well as many others raced throughout my mind, but in the end, none of them mattered. I braced myself, tears in my eyes, flying downward, as I accepted my fate... until...

     All of a sudden, I felt a certain chill. I slowly and cautiously opened my eyes. I felt something soft gently brush across my cheek as I was falling. "A black feather..?" I thought aloud, "but.. Yin..?" My hopes arose and I turned my head, trying to look around. The number of black feathers increased as they surrounded me. A chilling darkness enveloped me, almost cradling me like a child. The shadow began to swallow me up, causing me to close my eyes.

     I opened my eyes to whipping winds pushing my body upward, my hair flying violently in the wind of this starry night. But, how? I thought. I searched around me, unable to see the ground below. Besides the wind-filled atmosphere, there were also tall pillars with strange holes in them. I tried moving, but found myself frozen in place. "Yin!" I desperately called out.

     She appeared behind me, fading back into view from her shadows. She wore a long, hooded, dark purple robe with a sash of stars that danced around her waist and over her shoulder. I turned to her. She slowly looked up at me, her gaze reaching mine. "Yin!" I called out, happily. I wanted to go closer to her, but couldn't.

     I slowly returned my mind to the situation at hand. "Yin! What's going on?!" I asked, fearfully, "Where are we? Who were those people? What's going on?!"

     She remained silent for a moment, closing her eyes before slowly opening them up, giving me a serious look. "It's time for your destiny," she spoke.

     "What?" I asked, "Yin, w-what do you mean? I--" I was cut off by laughter, the same sick laughter from earlier.

     "Finally, we caught up with you, human angel," spoke the same young voice of the green skinned man who attacked me. I turned around quickly, quivering as tears yearned escape my eyes, but panicked just as I did to find an exit.

     They floated right in front of me in the same violent breeze that somehow kept us suspended. There was no where to run, as the wind kept us in our own confinement.

     The man next to him bore the face and massive, sharp horns of a bull, along with thick blue fur as well as a dark blue mane, and powerful hooves 'Is that.. a minotaur..?' I asked myself.

     Silver armor blanketed his chest, though his abdominal muscles were still evident, along with large horned shoulder armor. He wore a tattered, shredded skirt as well. With such, there was more silver armor at the sides, along with a large, heavy bronze belt.

     In his hand, he held a large, powerful axe with a hammer in the back. The axe portion was long and sharp, with minor chips and stains on the blade, showcasing its experience. It instantly instilled fear into me as I imagined the many victims of such a weapon. The hammer portion was a heavy mass which was just about the same size as a human head. I couldn't imagine any other comparison. The thought of skulls being crushed made me close my eyes and shiver. I tried taking a step back, knowing well that there was no ground behind me, but wishing there was so I could run. However, even if I could run, it would be hopeless.

     This man, no, this beast, stared at me with his gold, empty eyes, as if digging them into my soul. All that I could visualize from his presence was what he would do. I quivered in fear, shaking as the readied himself, taking a step forward, which only made me take a step back. My gaze was fixated on them, despite how desperately my eyes wanted to turn away.

     The man with the green skin just laughed with a big open grin upon his face, showing four sharp teeth, two at the top and two at the bottom, his canines. His elf-like ears perked up as he ignited two hot green flames in his hands. "This is gonna be such FUN!" he exclaimed, his tail wiggling around in anticipation.

     "Unfortunately I'll have to make her face identifiable.. Such a shame, but the pay will be worth it," spoke the minotaur, contracting his mighty muscles.

     "Use your powers!" Yin called out to me, "Gather the powers of shadow and light within your hands to defeat your enemy!"

     "What?" I questioned, but I attempted to unleash some sort of power. I tried jabbing with both of my hands, one at a time, again and again, trying to force something out of them. My struggle only brought them comedic joy out of it.

     "Commence, Ventus Inter Proelium!" Yin called out as she held a winged staff of sorts. Within that moment, the confining vortexes of wind were destroyed. Since I was out and free, odds were the two men were freed as well.

    The wind whipped wilder than before. We were kept suspended, but by a weaker bond than previously. The poles randomly changed position, turning slightly or drastically, altering the wind currents.

     The green skinned man laughed more, "Let's do it!!" he yelled in excitement, throwing one of the fireballs at me. as the wind blew him backward.

     I dodged my head to the side a bit in fear, resulting in it incinerating the tips of part of my hair. Some smoke rose as I gently touched my wind-whipped locks.

     "You need to concentrate!" she yelled at me. "Take your emotions, your yearn to protect! Force them out of your palms, your very heart and mind!"

     I continued trying to gather such power, but how could I? What power was there? How could I even accept it? I tried as hard as I could, tightening my arms, trying to calm down but my heart wouldn't stop panicking. I was embarrassed. Even my enemies saw through me as they laughed at my failures. "I can't! I don't know how!" I screeched at the top of my lungs, "I don't know what to do!!" My voice was cracking as my nose ran and tears streamed down my face, blinding my vision as I continued to try to force out a power unknown to me.

     "What an pitiful display," grunted the beastly grinning Minotaur, "wouldn't you say, Tatsurou?"

     His green partner smirked a toothy grin, "It was a cute attempt, but this time it's final" he spoke in a more serious tone, confident in bringing my demise.

     A bigger fireball shot at me, I stumbled backwards as I tried to escape. I tried to cover my arms across my body, somehow hoping to deflect it, but it was useless. Burns overcame my forearms, hands and thighs.

     The blow hit my body against one of the poles. I noticed a lever of sorts protruding from it, one of many which were on the poles. I desperately grabbed at it, ignoring the pain it put on my palm, pulling it as it turned the pole. The winds from it changed, as one of the holes now blew me upward. The duo grew smaller beneath me, granting me a moment of relief.

     "Aw, flying away so soon?" Tatsurou commented before grasping at the pole.

     "Hold it!" his partner commanded, "you've failed one time too many today. It's my turn now."

     "Heh," Tatsurou laughed, giving in. "End it, Ryuuto."

     "You're not going anywhere little birdy," The Minotaur confidently spoke. Fiercely grabbing the pole's lever, he used the winds, but mostly his brute strength, to force himself up to my level.

     Within an instant, he was above me. Everything slowed. His eyes, bright as the evening stars. Mane flowing almost without end. His horns and nose, beastly. Half bull, have man. What was it that was killing me? The hammer side of his axe, faced the heavens. Then, with one great swoop, it fell upon me.

     ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

     Everything grew dark, but it was a white darkness. A great pain consumed my body, as though it had been crushed at the core by a steamroller. The body that was mine now felt heavy. The wind whistled words of forgotten translation. The many voices had passed me far too fast as I plummeted like a rag doll towards the earth. "Yin.. I'm sorry.."

     I began closing my eyes before a figure appeared next to me, causing my eyes to shoot back open. It was Yin, falling next to me with her arms crossed over her chest. She wasn't phased by the rushing wind, or even the idea of the earth growing closer and closer towards us. Her hair was flying in her face and directly upward. "You giving up?" she simply stated.

     I looked at her, my empty expression growing sadder. I looked down, "I don't know what to do, there's nothing I can do.. nothing.." I concluded before breaking the wind consumed layer of atmosphere.

     Creatures varying in size and color alike flew in harmony in a now calmed breeze. Their forms were unlike anything in basic mythology. It was beautiful, their own paradise beneath what seemed like an ancient trap.

     Suddenly, a purple, almost magenta, dragon flew in our direction. It's head was massive as his body was so much smaller. It's eyes glowed as it approached me. I wasn't sure if it was real, or just my imagination. With no control of my descent, all I could do was close my eyes as it swallowed me up.

     In the belly of the beast, I sat, waiting for some inevitable fate in my warm, acidic cell. "I'm hopeless.." I said out loud to myself. I brought my legs close to my body, hugging them as I sat in a ball-like state.

     "Yin you dummy!" I shouted upwards, "I don't have any powers!!" My depression deepened as I continued to sob. My eyes were slightly pained from the pressure of my tears. "I hate this.."

     Then, a gentle voice called out to me, "Are you truly giving up?" I looked up, not knowing of the source.

     "H..huh..?" I uttered. I thought it was Yin, but it didn't sound like her, nor anyone I'd ever met.

     "You must look deep within yourself. For deep inside, you hold a power greater than any, man or woman alike. Think of all in your life, your family, your friends, your loved ones, of both days of past and present. Rediscover the memories that connect their hearts, to yours."

     "But I'm just a disappointment," I uttered with a smile of reluctant acceptance. "I try to make them happy, but I can't! And despite what I try, they will always have better! I just wean my way in and hope, but I know where my place lies and they know where it lies, too. I mess up, bring them unnecessary memories. If only I could truly accept the nothingness that I am."

     "Hmm.." The voice spoke in an understanding manner. She took a moment to gather her thoughts. "You say you are nothing, yet you are here. You say you shouldn't try, but you do."

     "Yes, and that's why--!"

     "Even nothing is something, and yours sparkles."

     I looked ahead, without her figure to be seen. My eyes widened, without thought to assist the emotion. A certain cloudiness overtook my head, starting at my ears, and ending with a certain coldness at my forehead.

     The kind voice continued to speak, "A great evil is upon your world and many others. You hold the key to defeating such evil while maintaining the balance of our worlds.. You mustn't let fear grasp you, but turn such fear and frustration.. such happiness and hope.. such sadness and hopelessness.. hatred and love.. and turn them into luminescence and shadow.. Manifest them into a new power, transcend your gift.. into light.. and darkness.."

     "Light and darkness" I felt the words wrap warmly around me, "but what if your mistaken? What if I fail? What if I can't do it?" I spoke in such soft curiosity and doubt towards the voice.

     I felt a certain guiding glow as it responded, "give yourself faith my child.. Turn away from such doubts and look within yourself.. then look outwardly upon the world.. It will take time and experience for your heart to balance. My beautiful daughter of flesh and bone, of such a race full of such industriousness and curiosity.. such ingenuity.."

     Heat trickled through my arms and down my back.

     "With the very wings of the kingdom shall you soar? Or shall you fall? Shall you protect, or cower? Balance the universe's most powerful abilities, to bring forth a new light.. as well as.. your own light.."

     Somehow, I had recognized that the voice had left. "My own light.. my destiny.." I tried to formulate to myself before slowly nodding, "what I want.. What do I want?"

     I sunk myself deeper into the flesh of the beast, 'I...'

     Thousands of feathers of dark and light magic alike swarmed around me, suffocating me as I fell into them. However, their tightness pillowed me with comfort. Everything then, an odd, hesitant blur.

     A blinding purple light overcame my surroundings before exploding in a flesh-ridden mess.

     For a moment, two large masses cloaked my vision. One white, the other black; Both somehow glowing. They parted like a curtain, unveiling streaks of white and black that flew together in a vibrant dance. I felt myself trustfully supported, most likely by the curtains that felt comfort as they connected to my back. Accepting their support, I flapped my wings soaring into the sky, passed the differing currents of the ancient winds. I soon found myself encountering my enemies.

     The two men clenched their fists and teeth, but soon grinned in anticipation. "Now we're talking.." Ryuuto spoke.

     They rushed in attack. Tatsurou with bright, flaming green fists and Ryuuto gripping tightly to his hammer axe duo-weapon as he rushed forward, ready to swing with the shining blade in my direction.

     I felt almost in a state of unconsciousness, as though I was watching myself. Yet, at the same time, I was in control...

     I outstretched my arms in front of me, lowering my head as I gathered power. A sphere gradually produced, gaining white light and black darkness, creating a powerful ball of energy. The light and shadow danced, swirling around each other, merging as a purple tint joined their festivities. I felt my heart being grabbed and pulled in all directions, yet, in the palm of my hands. The power of light and shadow.. as well as of my very soul and being.. was becoming one...

     I lifted my head up once again, my eyes felt slightly different as my hair flowed and twirled in the wind. Viewing my enemies as they grew closer as I drew the power towards my chest before shooting the sphere at them, overpowering them; They were blinded by the light, and torn to pieces by the darkness. The power destroyed them completely as they broke away into nothingness.

     The earth turned to the sky and the sky to the earth after that. Yet, the two glowing, opposing essences remained as they fell with me. Everything faded, as I fell comfortably to rest.

___ ___ ___ ___

     When I awoke, I was in my bed. My head and chest hurt as I felt a burning sensation in my chest above my breasts. "What the hell..?" I tiredly spoke to myself, curious of as to why I was feeling such pain. I staggered to my bedroom mirror. There at the location of my pain was a pair of wings, one slightly glowing brighter than the other, as a mysterious purple magical circle joined the two. "W-what the...?! So it wasn't a dream after all.." I touched the symbol curiously as it slowly faded.

     Suddenly, the door creaked open, causing me to stumble back. "Ah!"

     "Yo Mia," Yin called to me from the opened door. "Come over here, I gotta show you something."

     I nodded before following her, holding my hand in a slightly closed fist to my chest. She led me to the deck, which was also on the same floor. It was fairly early as the sunrise was just barely beginning. What she said would open my world further than I thought possible.

     With an arm outstretched, Yin spoke.
     "Mia, this, is your team.."