Part 2
OMeGA Owls:
Issue 0: Part 2
A 14-year-old boy with dyed blonde hair and brown roots shouted as he threw his opponent to the floor. Panting, he looked at his opponent before scuffing.
The boy looked around, scowling. All around him were people practicing their karate, and just from their forms alone, he knew that none of them could match his skills.
“...Why do I even come to these practices anymore,” the boy asked himself, turning his attention to his karate instructor. “Instructor! I had been here long enough to qualify for the upcoming tournament, right?”
The karate teacher looked at the young man indifferently but nodded nonetheless. The boy replied to the gesture with a quick bow, then headed to the locker room to shower and change.
“...Adam Blight, you may be one of my most talented students,” the teacher muttered to himself, “But that attitude could use some tempering.”
(SC)
Adam left the locker room, skillfully balancing his backpack and sports bag. The young man had changed into black jeans, black loafers, a black dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves, and a lilac sweater vest.
“Hey, Blight!” a female voice called to the young man.
Adam looked to his right and saw a girl with pink-dyed hair strolling up to him. The girl wore gym shorts, long white socks, and a black tank top under a letterman jacket with a B on it.
“What do you want Boscha?” Adam asked, slightly on guard. “I’m not in the mood to deal with you.”
The girl made a mischievous grin and got close to the martial artist. Boscha took off her backpack and took something from it. Adam’s eyes snapped open when he saw the black cocktail dress Boscha was showing off.
“BOOOSSHA!” Adam screeched, face reddening.
The young man shoved the dress into Boscha’s pack, eyes darting around the area. When Adam saw no one, he grabbed Boscha by the shoulder and dragged her into a corner.
“What have I told you about doing this in public?” the young man hissed, glaring at the girl.
Boscha rolled her eyes and took out the dress again. “Relax, Blight,” she retorted. “Like I would be dumb enough to expose my best cash cow. Now, do you have my money?”
Boscha held out the dress, and Adam growled at the girl. Still, he took out his wallet and handed Boscha three hundred dollars.
“Thanks for doing business, Blight,” Boscha said, a hint of smugness in her voice as she handed over the dress.
The girl then took his leave, offering Adam a smile.
The karate practitioner glared as his supplier left the area, growling under his breath. He then turned his attention to the dress in his hands. Adam smiled, blushing lightly, as he ran a thumb over the dress. He was already imagining what accessories he could match it with.
“...Maybe I will see how a lilac wig would go with this dress,” Adam mused softly as he gently placed the article of clothing into his backpack.
Adam looked around and hurried off when he saw no one in the immediate area.
(SC)
Outside of Hexside High School, a boy was watering flowers in the gardening club’s garden.
The boy, who had a slightly wide frame and blueish-black hair, was wearing a pair of overhauls with dirt smugs on them and old, worn brown boots. Under the overhauls, he was wearing a green t-shirt and gardening gloves.
The boy fixed his large round glasses as he continued with his club’s duty.
“Will! Will!” a voice called, getting Will’s attention.
Willis Park looked up from his task and smiled as he saw his good friend rushing up to him.
“Hey, Golly!” Will called his friend warmly, waving. “What’d you get this time?”
Abigail Potter, Golly to most of her friends, stopped in front of Will, panting slightly but still smiling.
Golly was two years younger than Will, so she was slightly shorter than the boy, and her dark skin was a little pale, like the girl hadn’t gotten a lot of sun recently. Her black hair was slightly poofy, and she had some loose strains.
Golly’s outfit was simple: a pair of relaxed-fit blue jeans and a cyan sweater with white high tops. On the girl’s right ear was an earring in the shape of a mirror with a gold frame.
“Will!” Golly exclaimed, looking at her friend with a big smile. “I finally figured out what happened seven years ago!”
Will rolled his eyes in a good-natured way and smiled at his friend. He knew what was coming next but wouldn’t crush Golly’s mood. The young man gestured for his friend to continue, and Golly’s smile exploded.
“I think it was a secret underground society that attacked our town!” Golly exclaimed, taking out her phone. “See!”
Golly opened her phone and showed it to Will. The young man frowned as he looked at the photo, which showed someone retreating into a manhole. Because the image was so blurry, the figure couldn’t be made out.
“Golly, what makes you think it is some kind of underground society?” Will asked his friend curiously.
“Think about it!” Golly exclaimed. “Seven years ago, our town was attacked!”
The dark-skinned girl began to pace as she continued with her theories.
“But here’s the thing! No one can figure out how they got in or out of the city, right?”
Will frowned as he processed his friend’s words. Thankfully, his family was out of town during the attack, so he didn’t have much firsthand experience from that incident. Still, he had heard the rumors that those behind the attacks had vanished just as mysterious as they had appeared.
“Even weirder is that they attacked only Wittebane Medical!” Golly continued, stopping in front of her friend and giving him a look. “Why not go after Blight Industries.”
Will looked away so Golly didn’t see the bitter scowl crossing his face at the mention of Blight Industries. The young man forced himself to think about Golly’s theories so bitter memories didn’t overwhelm him.
Will could admit that Golly made some good points. Why attack a company that researches and develops medical equipment rather than a place that makes weapons?
Will frowned as a thought came to him, then looked at Golly. “This is interesting, Golly,” he said softly. “But I still can’t see how the attack was carried out by some underground society.”
Golly groaned and held out his phone again, pointing at the image on it. “Doesn’t this guy look waaay too big to be lost in the sewers?” the dark-skin girl exclaimed dramatically.
Will frowned as he stared at the image. The picture was too blurry to see any details, making it hard to get a sense of scale.
The gardener looked at his friend and saw she was about to go on another rant.
“...Speaking of Wittebane Medical,” Will quickly interjected, “I was talking to Holly a few days ago, and she’s told me something cool.”
Golly looked at her friend, noting that her friend was smiling and that there was a hint of red on her cheeks as she mentioned Holly.
The dark-skinned girl didn’t mention this and gestured for her friend to continue.
“Luca’s coming back!” Will said, getting excited.
Golly’s eyes widened, and an excited smile spread across her face. “Cool!” she exclaimed. “Maybe I could ask him what happened as his family company.”
Will’s eyes widened, then narrowed into a scolding glare. Golly realized her slip-up, and shame overcame her features.
“...I will shut up now,” the dark-skinned girl muttered shamefully.
Will sighed and set his watering can down. He got close to his friend and put a hand on his shoulder. Golly looked at Will as the gardener offered his friend a soft smile.
“Hey, it’s okay,” Will said softly, “Just…be careful around Luca. I don’t think he would like to be reminded of what happened.”
Golly wanted to look away, to hide her shame and regret, but she steeled her nerves and nodded. Will’s smile filled with warmth, and she hugged her friend. Golly was quick to return the gesture.
After a few seconds, the two separated, and Will looked at his friend.
“Now,” he said, her tone cheerful, “Want to help finish me off with my club duties? Then we can head into town and get some smoothies.”
Golly simply nodded, still too ashamed to say much. The dark-skinned girl went to get a spare watering can, and Will watched her for a second before sighing.
He grabbed his can and returned to his task, trying to keep his mind off what happened seven years ago.
(SC)
In a semi-dark area, a woman in a black dress and a tattered hooded cape panted heavily. Under the raven mask covering her face, the woman’s eyes darted around as she tried to look everywhere at once.
The woman felt the ground shake under her and dive forward. A large vine burst from where she stood a moment ago. She rolled forward and sprung to her feet.
The woman spun around and thrust out her hand, a white glow surrounding it.
An object flew from somewhere in the area, heading towards the woman. Before the object reached her, a hand grabbed the item, a staff with a bird ornament on it.
The black-dressed woman glared as an elderly woman emerged from the shadows. This new woman wore a pink, sleeveless dress and a flower-shaped headdress that covered her eyes.
“Oh, Claw Raven,” the elder said in a sweet but mocking tone, “So close, but as always, so far.”
Claw Raven didn’t reply to the elder’s taunts. Instead, she held up her hand, showing the gold bracelet on her wrist, and snapped her fingers. The staff in the elder’s hand suddenly flashed a bright light in the woman’s eyes, blinding her.
The elder screeched as she dropped the staff and covered her eyes. Claw Raven took that opening and rushed up to her opponent. With a short cry, she delivered a palm thrust to the elder’s chest.
The elder grunted as she was knocked to the ground. She moaned and looked up. She growled when she saw her opponent pointing her glowing fingers at her.
“And your arrogance doesn’t befit a soldier of your age,” Claw Raven stated coldly. “Now yield, Dragon Snapper.”
Dragon Snapper snarled and tried to move to attack. Claw Raven saw this and released a blast from her fingers. The beam of energy flew past the elder, missing her right ear by a hair.
“...I yield,” Dragon Snapper said reluctantly.
Claw Raven lowered her hand but kept her eyes on her defeated foe, not trusting her.
Suddenly, the area was flooded with light, and thunderous clapping filled the air. Claw Raven looked around, taking in the area she was in.
Claw Raven was in a large arena with black robbed people surrounding her, all clapping at her victory. The black-dressed woman continued to look around, and soon, she spied someone sitting above all others.
The man was wearing a brown robe with gold trimmings. His face was pale, and his fading blond hair was long. Two things about the man immediately catch Claw Raven’s attention: the green, mold-like horns sticking out of his head and the moldy scar running vertically down his face.
The man stood, and immediately, things grew quiet.
“My brothers and sisters,” the man spoke regally. “After seven long years, the Titan had regained enough power to bless us with his light once more.”
The gathering roared with thunderous cheer at this news. The man raised a hand, and the cries immediately died down.
“And as such,” the man spoke, “the one who best all in this trial by combat shall go forward and reclaim our birthright!”
The man looked at Claw Raven, and the woman dropped to one knee, bowing her head in respect.
“Claw Raven…are you prepared to receive the Titan’s blessing and return to the surface one more?” the man asked.
“I am, Lord Belos, “Claw Raven replied respectfully.
“Then go forth,” Lord Belos commanded boomingly, thrusting an arm out, “ Delivered our vengeance on those inferior surface dwellers!”
The gathering broke into thunderous cheering as Claw Raven stood and walked out of the arena, head held high.
Mysterious narrator: The stage is set, and the heroic but tragic tale of the Omega Owls is about to begin!