THE MOMENT
"What's after the fairy bazaar?" Tessa asked Monday. The pair of teen girls walked a narrow dirt path through a large dense forest. It was early in the day but the forest floor was dim as evening.
"Didn't plan anything else today," Monday shook her head as they walked; her short, rainbow hair wobbled with the motion. "It's kind of hit or miss. If the turnout isn't great we can leave early and go do something else. I didn't want to have other plans just in case it's actually profitable." As they traveled, it wasn't long before they heard a distant commotion from the trees ahead.
"We're not quite there yet, but it's sounding pretty lively," Monday's pace sped up. There was money to be made. However, after a few more steps, a child emerged from the trees. She was a young brunette girl wearing jeans and a t-shirt and she ran towards Monday as soon as she saw her. Her mouth was smeared with rich, red smudges that glittered with green specs as she ran.
"A fairy bit me!" she shouted once she was close enough to Monday. Her eyes were wide with fear and she kept glancing back towards the forest. "So... I ate it!"
"What?" Monday didn't have time for more of a question. The girl started sobbing as soon as she confessed; but, she stopped instantly moments later. Her eyes were still wide; but, they no longer trembled with fear. Instead, they seemed to be stuck staring through Monday. Then, jagged, glowing, green lines began glowing beneath the red stains around her lips. The lines formed jagged triangles around her mouth, giving the impression of a sharp toothy grin. Green lines also started glowing around her eyes.
"Ah hell," Monday took a step back and Tessa followed her lead. Then, a brilliant rainbow crown of light began glowing above Monday's head. "Go to sleep," she said. The girl nodded, then turned her back to them and looked up at the forest canopy. Then, she turned to Tessa and shrugged.
"Bazaar's canceled I guess, I won't be selling anything today."
"What's going on?" Tessa asked.
"Turbo Zombies," Monday said as she nodded at the child's back. Tessa couldn't help but immediately burst into laughter.
"I'm sorry...," she giggled after the first initial outburst. "Turbo Zombies?" her question was followed by more chuckles.
"Or, I guess you could say, Turbo's Zombies," Monday nodded. "He created a strain of zombie nanos. It's short-lived, and the effects usually wear off in four to eight hours. Unfortunately, not everyone knows that and people tend to go crazy. Someone must have brought some to sell and they got out."
"Ohhhh, Turbo," Tessa nodded. "I've heard of him, it just wasn't my first thought when you said Turbo Zombies'," she giggled again. "So, that's it. Same deal as regular zombies, except it wears off?"
"No, they're as powerful as Supers and they can regenerate," she said. She had more she wanted to explain; but, as she gave that answer a black portal opened next to them. Dara, a pale, dark-haired girl in a white suit similar to Monday's stepped out of the portal and greeted them.
"Hey, I wanted to ask you two for a favor," Dara said. Then, she was distracted by the child. "You busy?" she asked.
"Not anymore," Monday shrugged. "I was headed to sell at the fairy bazaar; but, they had a zombie outbreak."
"Turbo Zombies," Tessa giggled again.
"Oh... really?" Dara took a sudden interest. She turned her attention to the child and walked around in front of her to get a better look. The girl stared up at the treetops with a blank expression. Her pupils were dilated and glowing with soft green light. The lines on her face were gone. "Wow, yeah," she nodded. "I'll have to tell my mom about this," she mumbled to herself. Then, she looked up at Monday and Tessa again.
"So, what's the favor?" Monday asked.
"There's a Derby Match coming up in April, I need you two on my team, please," Dara said.
"I'm in!" Tessa nodded.
"No thanks," Monday shrugged.
"Aww, nuts," Dara sighed. "I was hoping you'd say yes; but, now I kind of have to insist," she said. "More specifically, my mom's telling you to... sorry," she said. Monday giggled and shook her head.
"Not that I don't like you; I happen to like derby less. Next time just tell me what your mom wants me to do. I'll do anything for her and it's faster that way," she said. "So, Ms. Sharp says I'm on your team, I guess I have to know what's on the line."
"Spider accepted a challenge, so we’re on his team,” Dara replied.
“Spider doesn’t need us..,” Monday said. Dara nodded in agreement.
“Not normally; but derby requires a team. My mom doesn’t think he needs any heavy hitters, so he gets us,” she shrugged.
“Not that I’m questioning your mom; but, what about the rest of your team?”
“Ace and Abby will be joining you, Tessa, and me,” Dara said. “My mom doesn’t think Riot or Frost would work well with Spider,” she answered. “And… Keys will be on the opponent’s team.”
“Really?” Monday and Tessa both smirked at Monday’s question. “Why?”
“I don’t know,” Dara shrugged. “By the time my mom heard about Spider accepting the challenge, Keys was already on the other team. She doesn’t feel like dealing with this whole thing too much, and it’s not like Spider needs the help. He asked her for help putting a team together and she told me to grab the two of you.”
“Yeah, I can understand that,” Monday nodded. She glanced at the zombie girl still staring upward, then she shrugged.
“Well, we got nothing else going on today,” she turned to Tessa. “Wanna practice?”