#opentotheshadows

Shadow stared at the cave and sighed. She lived in apartments and things for to long. “Should’ve figured I’d wind up here again,” she mumbled before entering the dark hole now to be  called her home

A young girl, probably no older than seven, walked through an alleyway. She had a blue jacket on with it's hood up. It was obviously to big for her and the hood hid her entire face. Jeans and tennis shoes hid the rest of her. She was absolutely alone but she didn't seem very afraid for some reason. Even when she started hearing footsteps

Shadow stumbled along. Her mind was a mess and the pain in her skull didn't help sort it. She was pretty beat up and for some reason she couldn't remember how it happened.

Shadow smiled as she walked on the road into town, wearing a strapless black and white stripped shirt and jean shorts. She had a detached sleeve covering her left arm, hiding a bandaged area. Despite the hidden injury she was still in a good mood. New town, new life, and hopefully a life she can keep. Pausing, she heard some kind noise behind her and flipped around to see who it was. 

Shadow was cleaning the tables at the bar she worked at. The last year had gone pretty well for her. The hunters after her had left her alone and she had managed a pretty normal life. Job, apartment and all. She heard someone enter the bar "Hey. I'll help you as soon as I'm done," She said, not looking up yet

Shadow felt her vision fading. The pain shooting throughout her body, making it hard to keep running. She slowed down as she reached an alleyway. Using a little bit of her strength left, she made her way into the warehouse before collapsing in dazed pain. The disguise that took so little of her strength on a normal day to day basis, had to be put down so she could not completely pass out. It seemed just as painful though, because it revealed all of the many scars that brought back her bad memories of more pain, It hurt nearly as much as the current wounds she had now.

Shadow stared at herself in the mirror she had hung up on the wall of the appartment she had been renting before she went missing a month prior, tears streaming from her face. She let the shadow disguises drop and one by one the scars of years of torture and pain appeared on her skin, visible even through the fur. Some looked fresher than others, some were nearly gone, but they were still there. Every single shot, every single whip and punch she had taken... All the painful reminders crashed down on her. She collapsed on the floor in tears and brokeness. She couldn't take it anymore. All of it was to much.

It was Halloween night Shadow  was getting ready to go out. With the one night where she  isn’t called a freak, how could she resist. Making sure she looked at least a little bit scary before she shadow traveled between houses in a neighborhood. However, as she started walking the streets she noticed how there weren't many kids out in this neighborhood. It kind of creeped her out how little. She felt a hand on her her shoulder and jumped, nearly kicking the person.