[center][img]http://i1062.photobucket.com/albums/t486/isthistaken1/Fiona-Redmond.png[/img][/center]
[color=fff200]"Happy birthday, dear Fiona, happy birthday to you.”[/color]

Those closest to Fiona had surrounded her, singing, celebrating her turning nineteen years old. [color=0072bc][i]‘Yeah, happy birthday Fiona,’ [/i][/color] the redhead would think sarcastically.

She dragged her wrist against her forehead, wiping way the sweat. People always jokes, an Irish girl living in Texas, one day they’d find a pile of ash in her place. She thanked everyone who had just sung the song and faked being surprised, she was pretty good at faking things, so this wasn’t all that hard. It’s not that they didn’t hide the party from her; that much was done pretty well, it was just the fact that they had a surprise party every year, on the same day. But the act itself was nice enough as is. 

Fiona’s father rushed up to her and put his meaty palm on top of her head, ruffling her hair up a bit. She promptly fixed the damage he had done as soon as he removed this hand. He was a well-built man, wen to the gym three days a week, had a hard working labor job down at the plant, and ate well enough. He dragged her away from the commotion, something Fiona considered to be her best birthday present so far, including the homemade butter tart she was given to her by her grandmother that was more of an annual thing as well.

[color=fff200]”So listen Fiona,”[/color] her father whispered in her ear, pulling her towards the front door. [color=fff200]I know you were expecting something pretty big this year, but you know times have been tough on everyone and we can only make some much magic happen.[/color] Her father grumbled into his salt and pepper beard.

[color=0072bc]”Dad it’s fine-”[/color] Fiona began, but her father placed an hand on her shoulder and another on the door handle behind her. He quickly spun her around and out the door. The view was never much to scoff at, but there were surely better places to live. There was the same old roads, a nice view of the main city from where she lived, her father’s Honda Civic and a Jeep Cherokee with a red ribbon on it- 

[color=0072bc]”What the shit is that?”[/color] Fiona said grabbing her father’s arm with a pincer like grip.

[color=fff200]”I may have lied about the magic I can make happen, as it turns out.”[/color] her dad smirked, rubbing the back of his head with a deep chortle. “Here, she’s all yours, why don’t you take her for a spin?”

Fiona’s first thought was to hug her dad, unfortunately by the time she managed to churn out her first thought she was already putting the key into the car and starting it. She waved enthusiastically at him as she slid the car into reverse. Something about it just felt right, probably a feature they added in to make you okay with spending the amount of money one does on a car these days. She ripped out of the driveway and took off down the road. Through the rearview mirror she could see her Dad grumbling about the way she drove, he hated it. But this was her car, and who knows, maybe it was her world. 

[hr]

Fiona had been driving a long time when she finally realized she should be getting back home soon. She had already had to refill the tank back to fill once and was now half empty. The sun began to dip down to her level, her favorite part of living in Texas was just how orange the sky got when it finally began to slumber. She drove out to a local lookout point in order to catch the last few glimpses of the fleeting beauty. There was a certain appeal to it, perhaps knowing that it will be gone so soon, knowing that you only have a few minutes to enjoy it while you gaze into what seems to be the answer to all things. And then before you know it, it’s already gone and all you’re left with is a beautiful memory.

And just like that, the sun disappeared from her line of sight. Fiona let out a long sigh and stretched her arms towards the sky, pushing all the air out of her body. As she was getting ready to head back another car pulled up to the same lookout spot that she was attending. A man got out of the vehicle, probably about thirty or so years old, he was wearing a suit. Which was strange. Fiona was wearing a summer dress and she was sweating and this man was standing in a full suit, he seemed fine. He also sported an expensive pair of sunglasses, real Men in Black style, Fiona couldn’t help but think.

[color=8dc73f]”Huh, seems I missed the sunset, huh?”[/color]

[color=0072bc]”Sure looks that why doesn’t it?”[/color]

[color=8dc73f]”Well Fiona, thank god I didn’t miss you.[/color]

[color=0072bc][i]’He knows my name. He’s either a stalker or this is the second surprise party, I don’t know which one is worse.”[/i][/color] Fiona’s thoughts raced at hearing her own name mentioned by a stranger.

[color=8dc73f]”Fiona Elizabeth Redmond?”[/color] The man said, his voice was steady, unwavering, he seemed worried yet confident. 

[color=0072bc]”Should we skip to the part where you attempt to assault me and I kick your ass or are you a fan of the foreplay?”[/color] Fiona’s voice wavered, it faltered even.

[color=8dc73f]”I’ll be honest Fiona, I don’t really have time to do this with you right now, there are others. Take this, read it carefully.”[/color] The man reached into his pocket and he pulled out an envelope. Not one of those shitty envelopes either, it looked like if you ever got mail from the president minus the eagles or American flags or whatever. [color=8dc73f]” If you're smart you'll follow the instructions inside. Wait until you get home to open it. The information is... sensitive. Please destroy it when you have read it in it's entirety."[/color] He handed the letter to Fiona and before she knew it she was holding the envelope and he was gone. Or, rather, she was and she was exhausted.

[color=0072bc]”Shit, I can’t believe I’m still accidentally running places. Who does that when they get stressed anyway, who goes for a goddam jog…”[/color]Fiona mumbled to herself cursing her lack of control and newfound exhaustion. She tore the letter open as her eyes darted back and forth confirming each word was what it appeared to be, along with a plane ticket she now had on her. It read:

[color=8dc73f][i] 'Fiona. You don't know me, but I know you. I know it's hard to trust someone you don't know, but I'm asking you to just read this letter and give me a chance. The government has targeted you. Just like your mother did, they’re going to pin the evils of this world on you. That blood test you took last month was taken by every teenager in the country. It was looking for people like you. Special people. You're not the only one. There are hundreds, if not thousands. I'm giving you a choice. Stay where you are now, and die, or be taken away to live out your days as a lab rat - or, alternatively, leave your home, get on that plane and do not look back.'

'You will never be able to have the life that you have planned now, but I can offer you a new life. A life where you can be a part of the downfall of the government's genocide of people like you and I. Your powers are a gift, I can help you use them for good. If you decide to take that ticket, know that a lot of hard work and danger will be coming your way. But ask yourself - is that not better than death? I hope to see you in Haiti. Look for a man holding a sign saying 'Smith Family' when you arrive there. He will take you to your new home, should you choose to take the flight.

'Regards, -W.V.'

'P.S.: If you have family, it's best that they don't know where you're going.' [/i][/color]

[hr]

If Fiona was sweating before, she was now leaking. She threw mismatched clothes into a bag with a fervor. She wasn’t looking at what she was packing, in fact she was pretty sure she had thrown in at least twenty pairs of socks and one bra so far. But that didn’t matter. Only one thought raced through her mind and that thought was of death. Was it impending? Was it unavoidable? Fiona was fast, but she feared that she wasn’t fast enough. 

If this were all some cruel trick she reminded herself that she would have to full on murder someone after this. But that was absolutely not a trick she was willing to bet on. She took one last skeptical look at her plane ticket, the plane was taking off in thirty minutes. That was absolutely ridiculous. Fiona had no time to leave a note. She had no time to thank her father for everything that he had done, for shielding her from this insane world. 

A part of Fiona felt that maybe this could be her way of shielding him. No one would ever know that she had powers now, she was moving to Haiti.
As Fiona sped down the interstate at speeds she considered to be fatal, she silently cursed the man she had met today. [i][color=0072bc] ’30 minutes…' [/color][/i] Fiona cursed him silently eyes dashing between the road and the clock. Finally arriving at the airport she grabbed her back and looked at the clock one last time.

Ten minutes.

Fiona raced through the airport, she had only a carryon bag so it didn’t take long at security. She finally reached the terminal and dug around for her ticket to give to the attendant. But it wasn’t there. She had no ticket. She watched as the final passengers bordered her flight and quietly swore under her breath.

She was panting hard in a seat, she was sure sweat would stain it by the time she got up. Her chest rising and falling as if she had just resurfaced after spending hours underwater.

[color=0072bc]”Ma’am could I get a ginger ale here, maybe two or three actually?”[/color] Fiona said grabbing the wrist of a passing attendant who just nodded and disappeared towards the back of the plane.

[color=0072bc][i]’Happy fucking birthday.’[/i][/color] Fiona thought to herself, passing out in her seat for what would inevitably be a long ride.