[center][color=slateblue][b][u]10:48 PM; February 28th, 2026 344 Clinton Street, Room 237; Metropolis, Delaware[/u] [i]'I have to go to Gotham. I can't stop thinking about it.'[/i][/b][/color][/center] Sliding the letter under the door to Marilyn's bedroom, Stacy sighed, readjusting the straps of her backpack. She knew she had to leave while Marilyn was sleeping; if she tried to say goodbye, it would only end with her staying. But she knew she couldn't, she had to get to Gotham City. Maybe there, she could find some answers about all these things she's been remembering... Shaking her head, Stacy focused on her objective. She headed over to the window, opening it up, and climbing over it and onto the fire escape. Closing the window, Stacy climbed down the ladder and dropped onto the ground into the back alley. She looked around for a moment, before heading out onto the sidewalk. She didn't know how she'd get to Gotham, but for now, she would walk. With determination in her step, Stacy began her journey out of the city. [center][color=slateblue][b][u]3:12 AM; March 1st, 2026 US Route #9; Outside of Metropolis, Delaware[/u] [i]'Gosh it's cold... I really wish I had a thicker jacket.'[/i][/b][/color][/center] Stacy rubbed her hands together, shivering slightly. The cold night air was unrelenting, gusts of wind blowing so strong she wasn't sure if she'd be blown away or frozen solid, or rather she wasn't sure which of the two would come first. She needed to get off the road, find shelter or better yet hitch a ride to Gotham. But then, who would stop for her? She doubted everyone was as kind as Marilyn... No, no that's crazy talk. There were good people out there, someone would st- [b][i]*HONK!*[/i][/b] [color=pink][b]"Yo kid, are you, like, crazy man? It's like, below freezing out here!"[/b][/color] Speak of the devil. The voice came from a beat up white panel van, the person behind the wheel being a man who looked barely out of high school. [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rlXbur56zAE]Music[/url] was blaring from inside the van, and smoke rose out of the windows. On the side of the van facing Stacy were messily written words in bright red paint: 'The Musical Chairs'. Weird. The man in the driver's seat snapped his fingers. [color=pink][b]"Hey, Earth to weird little girl, you alright?"[/b][/color] [color=slateblue][b]"Oh, uh, yeah, I'm fine. Um... What's up?"[/b][/color] [color=pink][b]"Are you like, lost or something man? It's pretty dangerous to be walking out here in the middle of the night. All sorts of weirdos could be coming and going."[/b][/color] He paused. [color=pink][b]"... Woah, maybe I'm one of those weirdos. I like... Never even thought about that, man."[/b][/color] This guy seemed funny. And, yeah, like a weirdo. Stacy just cut to the chase. [color=slateblue][b]"Hey, are you heading to Gotham? I need a ride there."[/b][/color] The man blinked. [color=pink][b]"Oh, yeah, for sure man. Let me just..."[/b][/color] He pressed a button inside the van, and Stacy heard the back doors unlock. [color=pink][b]"It's open for ya, dude. Just don't break the guitars or anything."[/b][/color] With that, Stacy walked around to the back doors of the van, opening them up and hopping in. Inside were two guitars and a cooler. In the passenger's seat was another young man, also looking just barely out of high school, who was holding a lighter to what looked like a cigarette. The smoke inside the car was thick, and Stacy coughed as she took in a lungful of it. After a moment, however, she found herself breathing it in easily, and feeling pretty... Calm. [color=palegreen][b]"So, like, what's up with you man?"[/b][/color] the guy in the passenger's seat asked. He passed the cigarette to the driver, before reaching his hand into a bag of potato chips and tossing a few into his mouth. [color=slateblue][b]"I'm just like, uh... Trying to go to Gotham and stuff."[/b][/color] [color=palegreen][b]"Oh that's cool man. We're, um, like... We're heading there too. We're like, a two man band, man. Gonna play in bars trying to make it big."[/b][/color] As Stacy took more and more breaths, she started to giggle uncontrollably, just smiling. [color=slateblue][b]"Woah that's... That's really cool. You guys should like, play a song for me once we get there."[/b][/color] The driver finally passed the passenger back the cigarette thing, before speaking to Stacy. [color=pink][b]"Oh crap, we like, forgot to introduce ourselves. My name's Will, and this is my buddy Andy. What's your name, lil dude?"[/b][/color] [color=slateblue][b]"I'm uh... I'm Stacy."[/b][/color] Andy chuckled, nudging Will with his elbow. [color=palegreen][b]"Yo man, I wonder if her mom's got it goin' on!"[/b][/color] Will gave a snort of laughter. Stacy looked confused for a moment before giggling along, and soon the entire van was shaking with their combined laughter. [color=pink][b]"Aw, man... What were we laughing about again?"[/b][/color] [color=slateblue][b]"I dunno."[/b][/color] [color=palegreen][b]"No clue."[/b][/color] And so, the van continued its journey into the night.