“Ha…ha…ha…”

Tiny droplets of water splashed as Rain ran forward, her breath hitching as the cold wind choked her lungs. Why her, of all people? The contemplation racked her brain as she ran on the endless stretch of concrete, eyeing one of the many trash bins that outlined this wretched street. She dove behind the steel pillar, squeezing into a small crevice near the wall. She did her best to remain still, but that beating heart of hers continued to pound her chest in like a large mallet. “Shit, shit, shit…” She covered her nose as those retched smells began to creep in, her senses magnifying them by an ungodly amount. Moldy food, rat corpses; Rain questioned the part of her that continued to prolong this mortal game of hide and seek. For what reason did she…?

“Get back here!”

Two dingy looking men stormed the dilapidated street corner, kicking, tossing, and destroying everything in their path. Rain gulped and shoved herself further into the crevice. Trash spilled all over the ground, and rodents would scatter. Their eyes were like searchlights; even if she wasn’t looking, she could feel them beam down upon her.

“Man, fuck this! How’d that little shit run so fast?” He screamed, throwing one of the bins. “Fuck if I know. All I know is that if we don’t find this thing, our ass is grass.” His partner replied. “Damn right.”

So their search continued, and with each slight alteration to her surroundings, Rain jumped. The sounds of numerous bins, bags, and other assorted garbage being tossed around was murderous, and it went on for what seemed like an eternity. She felt so wet and slimy, unable to tell how much of it was her own sweat or the mysterious liquid from the wall she found herself attached to.

“Fuckin’ shrinkies!” The man’s foot caved into a trashcan, leaving a large dent as he stepped back. “Screw this, let’s get outta here!” The idea would immediately be shot down by his partner. “And let that little money bag slip away? Hell no!”

The first man begrudgingly obliged. They would rip and tear everything to pieces, searching every nook and cranny. Rain’s body recessed further into the cracks. She could feel them getting closer and closer, and…

“Found ya’!”

The girl’s soul almost leapt out of her body as the giant, fleshy pillars gripped her form. She clung onto the grainy concrete, blood spilling from her hands as the sharp edges cut her skin. She winced and held on until she no longer could, but her iron grip was broken with ease by the giant’s mighty palm.

“Look at 'er, what a beaut!” The man yelled as he stared at his prize. “How much do you think we can run her for?” He turned to his partner in crime, devilish grins forming on both of their faces. “Upwards of 10K, easy.”

Rain quivered, clutching her body as the two greasy looking men discussed her fate. Was she nothing more than a product now? This feeling of violation only grew as the jeering got worse, the digits wielded by her captor poking and prodding at her like she was a toy.

“Stop fuckin’ around. We gotta bounce.”

“Buzzkill…”

As the two turned to make their exit, a figure would rise from the shadows, staring at them with black, piercing eyes. The two men jumped back in response to the stealthy figure, who aimed her laser-like sight at their jittery forms.

“The fuck!?” The first man cried out. “…” The other made not a peep, retaining his cool composure as he analyzed the woman.

She was short and incredibly thin with a body type that resembled a twig, donning an enormous hoodie and baggy sweatpants to seemingly disguise her frail physique. Everything about her was scratchy and aged, and her thickly layered eyebags indicated a certain restlessness. There was a certain aura she held that screamed danger, and those killer eyes of hers did this woman no favors.

“Why so jumpy?” The stranger in black spoke with a voice so cold it threatened absolute zero. “Hiding something?” She began to approach with an intimidating level of confidence, the two slowly moving back in the wake of their adversary. “Hey, wa-” The shadowy creature moved in on her prey before they could finish, equipping a canister from her side and ripping it on her enemies with great efficiency. They would scream and cry, falling to their knees as a firey sensation raptured their bodies. She shot an icy glare towards her prey, her callous voice wrapping around them like a viper. “I know you have it.” They seemed insistent on not giving her an answer, and in response she’d assail the two with mighty kicks to the groin, causing both of them to recoil. Goon 1’s fingers would uncurl, dropping the item of interest cleanly on the ground. “Thank you.” That’s all she would grant the boys before turning to her prize, eyeing it like a hawk.

“I…Wha…Ah…”

Rain struggled to formulate her words as she stared at the skyscraper that stood before her. The titan’s jet black hair extended for what seemed to be miles, and those eyes… they were like a set of black holes, draining the last remnant of Rain's will to live. Weighing her options didn’t lead to a satisfying answer; not a single outcome seemed ideal. She’d scurry back into a corner, the giant slowly pursuing when enough distance was generated. Her shoes resembled full-size RVs, fully capable of running over and crushing her body into a red smudge any moment they so chose. Her body screamed at her to run, but angering this entity was the last thing on her bucket list. She had to do something, anything, to ensure goodwill with this being. With great shame, Rain would bow before the enormous dreadnought that threatened her existence.

The titaness slightly tilted her head, observing this creature with a vested interest. This strange ritual would be cut short as a fleshy prison snapped up Rain’s body and jerked it from off the ground. Rain closed her eyes as the wind tore at her body, getting worse and worse until it all came to a brief halt. Fuzzy cotton embraced Rain’s body and warmed her cold skin, protecting her from the newfound dangers of the outside world. She nuzzled herself into a corner, pressing her face into it as the gentle sway and bounce of this cozy prison kept her restless the entire time. Many thoughts raced through her mind as a contemplative frown crossed her face. This… this was the end, wasn’t it? The boundless dreams which gained nothing but ire from her peers, the stressful college life she prayed would come to an end... All. Gone.

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