[h3][b]Casa Enrique
Long Island City, Queens, New York, USA
July 4, 2023 9:13PM EDT[/b][/h3]

Samira held a hand over her stomach as they left the Michelin-starred restaurant. [color=purple]"That was incredible. I wish my stomach was bigger so that I could have eaten more."[/color] She said with a laugh, looking over at her father. The wide grin on his face told her that he felt exactly the same way. [color=purple]"Not only that, but I wish you didn't have to leave."[/color] The past 48 hours had gone by so quickly. She finished her exams at her private school in Paris. Knowing that she would be leaving immediately she made sure to say goodbye to all her friends and have everything packed and ready to go. From school, she mother father at the airport where they flew to New York City. 

Today was even more hectic. Her father got them tickets for the matinee of the latest Broadway show. Then they rushed over to Casa Enrique to have some of the best Mexican food she had ever tasted before. The lime cured fresh ceviche simply melted in her mouth. It wasn't hard to understand why they were such a high ranking restaurant. Now, the father-daughter pair were walking down the block to Hunter's Point South Park to watch the fireworks. Actually, only Samira would be watching the fireworks. Her father, Enitan would be getting back on a flight tonight back to Paris. 

When they arrived at the park, Samira could barely hold back a sigh. This is where they would part ways. From here on in she would be on her own in a brand new city. Part of her couldn't understand what she was so afraid of. This whole plan was her idea. She wanted a summer to fully feel the effects of being a legal adult. The only way she could do that was to go to a place where her father wouldn't be right there to catch her, or criticize her. Since she was going to attend college in New York City, it just made sense to spend the magical summer there as well.

[color=yellow]"Samira, don't be so upset. I'll only be a phone call away. And you'll have these."[/color] In his hands was a small box with a ribbon tied around it. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously before pulling off the lid. Inside were two slim, steely gray bracelets. She pulled them out of the box and slipped them on, one on each wrist. Simple, yet elegant. She turned her wrists over to examine the bracelets from all angles. [color=yellow]"They're vibranium. So that you never forget your home, no matter how far you may go."[/color] 

The older man smiled down at his daughter, but all she could do was blink to keep the tears from spilling down her cheeks. She wrapped her arms around him in a tight hug. [color=purple]"Thank you."[/color] She whispered, her voice thick with emotion. How was she supposed to be upset about her dad leaving when he was so good at encouraging her to try new things? Sniffling, she stepped out of the hug. [color=purple]"How much longer do I have you?"[/color]

He checked his wristwatch before responding. [color=yellow]"I have to leave when the fireworks start. Traffic is going to be a nightmare."[/color]

The voice on the stage drew their attention. [I][color=royalblue]"Everyone! My name is Catherine Davis. I'm a scientist at Grayburn Labs, well an intern, but you all have to get out of here! There's a toxic gas-"[/color][/I]

Without waiting for more information, Samira ran further into the crowd to try and usher people away. It was obvious from the blank looks on their faces that no one was going to leave anytime soon. She'd rather people be upset about losing their spot for the fireworks if this turned out to be fake than to sit by and watch as people got sick. Each person she passed, she either yelled at them to get back or pushed them to get them moving faster. When the boom sounded overhead she came to a grinding halt. Staring up at the sky, she watched what was supposed to be fireworks quickly turn into a blue fog that covered the entire park. 

She couldn't see anything in front of her. Not that it made any difference. She was coughing so badly she could barely stand up straight. Someone ran past her and knocked her down onto the sidewalk. She could feel the cuts and scrapes on the palms of her hands, but she couldn't stop now. She had to find her dad.

By the time she got to her feet the fog was clearing. She looked through the crowd trying to remember which direction she had been running in. That's when the person beside her started bleeding...everywhere. Samira stepped back with a gasp as the woman collapsed and then began to seize on the ground. Within seconds, it was like everyone was dropping to the ground. 

Racing through the park and jumping over bodies she found her dad when she spotted the ribbon of the jewelry box on the ground. It was easier to breathe in the thick, blue fog than it was to watch her dad shaking uncontrollably on the ground. She dropped to her knees beside him. Quickly rolling him onto his side all she could do was sit there and hold him, praying that he would be okay. When the seizure stopped Samira rolled her dad onto his back. She was hoping to see his warm brown eyes meet hers. But what she saw instead were cold, lifeless orbs. Pressing two fingers to his neck, she felt no pulse. Her hands began to shake from the shock. She could barely stay still long enough to close his eyelids. She knew her dad was gone. She could feel it. The world got a little bit darker, a little bit colder, she felt empty. [color=purple]"Rest, Baba. You are with Bast and our ancestors now."[/color]

Tears were streaming down her face, she could barely see. She used the back of her hands to wipe her face, smearing her makeup across her cheeks. But she couldn't care. She didn't have time to care. Whatever exploded in the sky was what killed her father and she was going to find out who was responsible. Lucky for her the girl who made the announcement from the stage was standing on the docks. She began the long march across the park to find out what she knew. She knew enough to warn people to run, maybe there was something more.