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Ryder bounced from shop to shop, the sales were still going strong and she'd managed to pick up some useless junk that was sure to sell for a higher price later in the year. The pink haired woman was laced head to toe in tattoos and was attracting stares and whispers of people who clearly didn't agree with where the ink was placed. She didn't really care though and just continued on before reaching a smaller store, checking her bag she nods and mutters to herself about being out of cigarettes... Again.

Entering the store, the cashier looked up and did his usual routine of 'Welcome to the store, how may I help you?' And Ryder did her usual routine of ignoring it, ambling round the shelves like she was about to collect a large grocery run but in actual fact, what she was doing was slipping small items into her bag; a box of chips here, a can of soda there, then she went for her true prize, the cigarettes. Waiting for the store clerk to look away before swiping a box, the pink haired girl got suddenly cocky and tried to go for another box before bolting through the door but her arm stopped dead as a hand wrapped round her wrist.

''I saw you take those! Dirty little thief, get back in here before I call the cops!''

The man's voice boomed out over the mall and attracted a small crowd as the pair duked it out in a stalemate tug of war, Ryder wouldn't let go of the cigarettes, he wouldn't let go of her arm. After a few minutes of pointless struggling, she dropped her bag and used her now free hand to slap at the Store clerk, but when he still didn't let go, she screamed at him and her fingers curled into a fist that was aimed for the man's nose. It made contact with a sickening crunch as blood began pouring out of the man's now broken nose. Ryder shook her hand in mild pain before grabbed her bags again and legging it, she had no intention of sticking around for the cops.

She often wondered on how things turned out, what she could have done differently. If she could have done anything at all to change the past, she kicked the crumpled up pack of Marlboros that lay on the street as she walked along. The fiery red head that was her sister deep on her mind, Rabies was always a troubled soul turned too young to ever be a adult and forever considered a teenager . It had been rough on the young woman.
It had troubled her more than Mortll ever knew and she hated loosing the fire to the darkness forever .



Suddenly there was a row up ahead a tall man was yelling at the top of his lungs and grabbing a fleeing young woman by the arm yanking her about . “You you get back here I saw you take them … You little thief. The cops will toss your *** in the jail you.” He shook the girl that was 3 times smaller than him by the arm as she screamed at him to let her go. Suddenly the girl was all arms and punching the man in the face his nose burst in a spray of blood as she wrenched her arm from him and took off with her loot a carton of cigarettes.


Mortll smiled and followed.

Ryder's feet pounded the ground for what seemed like an age, putting plenty of space between herself and that small crowd of people. Her trainers hadn't been so abused in a while so it wasn't long before her feet began to ache and she had to stop, slipping round a corner and down a side street to catch her breath, heart pounding in her ears as her blood was littered with adrenaline and oxygen. She took a deep breath and stood up straight, popping out a cigarette, deciding to spark a victory smoke before making her way home. Enough excitement for one night!

Click.. Click.. Click.. The lighter refused to share a flame and even after she shook it, it wouldn't give up the ghost. Tossing the useless device down the empty street, she turned back into the main road with the cigarette in hand. She'd stop a randomer and ask for a light, yeah, that worked in the past so surely it wouldn't fail her again right?

One person, two people, third time lucky? Nope, another six walked past her all with a shake of their head. Desperation was setting in and she grumbled. Then she saw the woman watching her, maybe she had a light? Ryder strode over like a woman drowning with intent. Thrusting out the smoke with a forced smile and a set of manners that were clearly feigned.

''You got a light? Please?''

The girl was fast for a human Mortll walked along tracking the girls aura it shined bright purples and pinks not hard for her to follow and look as if she were casually walking along she stopped Her eyes once again catching sight of the girl. She chucked as she approached people for a light. Mortll studied her as she walked up to her “You got a light?” The girl was cocky … “Yeah I think I do “She replied as she fished a book of matches out of her coat pocket.

“I bet you’ve heard a million times those things will kill you “ she said as she nodded towards the cigarettes . It being the last thing on her mind just making conversation “You have one hell of a punch too” she stopped waiting to see what the girl would say .

Ryder took one of the matches and placed the filter of the cigarette between her glossy pink lips, shielding it with one hand as she lit it, a sudden plume of smoke rising between her fingers and she shook the match out and threw the burnt wood aside. Nodding in thanks before taking a step back so the smoke wouldn't go in the woman's face.

''Yeah, I heard it a few times but hey, we all gotta go sometime.''

The answer was a smart arsed one and she didn't even bother to remove the cigarette to give it, the burning cherry bobbing up and down with her lips as she spoke, clearly a thing she'd practiced and perfected. She was about to turn and leave when the woman mentioned her punch and Ryder froze mid step. Great.. Just great! Though how? She didn't see anyone following her when she bolted. This was just trouble in the making.

''You.. You saw that then yeah? Ain't gonna hand me to the cops are you? How'd you even follow me? I ran everywhere..''

“Strange the places you end up when your not looking to go there “ Mortll shrugged “ Nah I’m no friend of the cops I think it took guts to do what you did back there not many would have taken on a guy that size. Where did you learn to fight like that? I’m Mortll by the way ?” She offered the girl her hand