(17 YEARS LATER)

(NEW CITY, 2020)

It's been 17 years since the demise of Alice’s father; and she’d been living with Billy and his daughter; Annie.

The girls being sisters and having a favorite friend; Bella.

Now all were in Alice’s room together; having a conversation. Alice; currently 27 years, with long black hair which rested on her shoulders, she was putting on white pajamas, with multiple teddy bear illustrations on it. Annie; 22 years, red haired but not as long as Alices'. Hers was at the level of the back of her neck. She was putting on a black cardigan, and dark-tan trousers. Bella; 26 years, her hair was black and just as Annie’s length. She also had the most attractive body, cause the two others looked slim in their outfits, while Bella was putting on a black jacket, and a black tight trouser which showed off her curves.

Annie and Bella looked ready to go out, except Alice. “You know… it’s actually been fun using our powers together secretly”, Alice said, smiling sheepishly. Annie nodded, while Bella replies, “Yeah that’s right… except that, I think we should move on to the next level” 

    “By doing what?”, Annie asked. Bella exhales and answered, “fighting crimes of course”. Alice chuckles softly and said “That’s right, that was what I wanted to suggest… I've thought about it too”. 

Annie looking worried spoke quickly, “Both of you can’t just go out there showing off your powers to the world, it’s risky, and dangerous…” 

    “we’ve got super cool abilities…”, Bella said, and then continues, “… the best thing we could use them for is to help people, and we’ll keep our identities secret”. Alice replies immediately, “but three people who shouldn’t know about our powers already do…”

.

Annie asked, “Who?”. Bella grins, “Mr. Mark Eddie and two guys who work with him; Michael and Danny” 

Annie shook her head sideways saying, “Careless girls”.

  “Hey, watch your mouth little girl…” Alice said, and chuckles, then continues, “but they kept it secret and I don’t think they would reveal it to anyone… even if we wanted to be superheroes, they have everything we need to help us”. 

Bella replied, “Yeah, that’s right. I think we should seek for help from them, we’re gonna be heroes, and we’ll clean this city of bad guys if they rise”.

 Annie scoffs, and said, “that’s definitely a bad idea, very bad one”. 

Alice looked to Bella's direction and said, “So, we should go meet them, and ask for help?”. Bella nodded while Alice said concluded, “Okay ladies, let’s move it”

(MR. MARK EDDIES’ HOUSE)

Alice now on the same outfit as Bella; but blue colored. Bella and Annie had gone through the gate already and then they entered the house without knocking.

On opening the door, Bella said as they came in, “Hello guys”. Mr. Mark and two other guys stared at them in surprise, while Mr. Mark; in his early 40s replied,

    “Why did you come here and even came in without knocking…? if you didn’t see the doorbell” 

Bella sat on a couch comfortably, “We need your help, I know you’re gonna say no, but how would it feel… how would you feel to be the leader of a superhero team? Like Alice and I”. Mr. Mark replied “I'm not doing that, never gonna do that, leave and don’t misuse your powers”. 

Danny added, “And that would put our lives at stake; so please just leave”. 

    “Bella let’s just go, they won’t help us”. Alice said, while Annie slowly came in too, saying,

     “coming here was just a waste of precious time”

Bella retorted back sharply, “No, it’s not, I’ll have to play my last card”.

 She moved closer to Mr. Mark with a mischievous grin on her face, “Do you know what a great honor it would be… to have us obey your commands, and follow your magnificent tactics?... this is about the three of you, you can have anything you want, we will have us to carry out tasks for you, or what do you think, don’t you ever wish to feel more like a boss? Or you just wanna be… filth?”, she emphasized on the last word.

Annie asked Alice, “Why is she saying all of that, why is she talking like that? They’re gonna get angry”. Alice whispered into Annie’s ear, “it’s her persuasion power… one of her super powers, it’s the main reason she calls herself a devil girl… it also worked on me” 

.

Annie replies, 

   “so she did that to me earlier before we came here?”. Alice nodded with a smile on her face while they heard Mr. Mark say, “it’s a nice idea, we just need few little things and then it starts” 

Michael added, “alright, so girls get ready to amaze the world”. “But first… your identities matter a lot, we’ll come up with names for you later” Danny said, while Annie replies, “don't worry about that… they have names already” 

   “Yeah, I’m Devil Girl… don’t ask me why”, Bella said first and winks, while Alice smiles broadly before speaking, “And I’m The Amazing Girl”

(NEW CITY)

(MR. MARK EDDIE’S HOUSE)

Alice, Bella, Annie, Michael, and Danny were together having a discussion, but Annie was rather quiet. Michael asks looking curious,  

    “So how old are you ladies?”. Alice smirks and answered almost immediately, “Well, you might not believe me, but I’ll be 27 on September 25th, while Bella will be 26 on December 15”. Danny looked surprised while Michael said, 

   “December 15 is also my birthday but I’m one year older than Bella… which means Alice… you’re 3 months older than me” 

Alice smiles and replied, “so you better show some respect to the queen here”.

    Bella asked “Danny, how about you?”. 

    “I’m 24 already. Wait, why is Annie so quiet?”, He asked and Alice answered,

  “She’s just shy, she doesn’t relate with guys, never had a boyfriend, and the first which she would have dated was actually planning to play her, but Bella and I kicked his ass”.

     “Sometimes I just wish I did it myself” Annie finally spoke

Michael replies “But remember, everyone isn’t the same”. 

   “She’s only Two years younger than you” Bella said to Danny; allowing him heave a sigh before speaking, “Okay, thanks for telling me”.

   Alice got up saying, “Firstly we’re gonna rearrange this house so it won’t look like a house on the inside”. Bella stood up as well nodding as she added, “Time to prepare our outfits ourselves”

       “definitely with a little help”, Alice chuckles.

(Few Days Later)

(MR. MARK EDDIES' HOUSE)

The whole place was redesigned already and there were computers on tables as well. Mr. Mark, Danny and Michael were in there when the door flung open, and in came, Annie. 

She was putting on a white singlet which was beneath an unbuttoned shirt, lips painted red, and a blush make up on her face. The shirt was red, and her trouser also red and fitted, “morning guys!” she yelled.

    “hi, how’re you doing?” Michael replies, while she sat and asked, “I’m fine, where's Alice… and Bella too? They told me they were coming here, so, where are they?”. 

Mr. Mark looks at her and answered “what are they?” 

    “Oh… superheroes” she said to herself.

(NEW CITY BANK)

A gang of armed robbers were robbing at the bank, while the people were all laid down and terrified; one of the guards had been shot on his leg. 

They were yelling at the people while stealing valuables, even some were shedding tears already.

Suddenly, two ladies (Alice and Bella) dressed in their new superhero outfit came in.

Alice was putting on a blue top with white ‘A’ on its’ chest, the top had a collar as well, and all ends of the top were white, she was putting on a white belt as well, and white tight trouser which was a little beneath her knee, and it had a blue ends. 

The top had a blue cape behind it which reached to the level her trouser stopped, and a hood attached to it but not covering her head. A mask also covered the region of her eyes, except her eyeballs; it was also blue.

 Bella was putting on a sky-blue top with black designs on it, as well as tight shorts which covered half of her thigh, a black shoe as well, which started from almost her knee, and a mask which covered her eye region. Her hair was also combed to the left side. The top she was putting on revealed the lower part of her stomach, and she was on a whitish make up.

Both were smiling as they came in and all the robbers turned to them while one of them yells, “Freeze!”. Alice and Bella chuckled softly as they looked at each other, while Bella replied,

    “No… you’ll freeze”. She was about to move ahead, but Alice drags her back and whispers into her ear, “c’mon they have guns, we’re gonna die, this is a bad idea”. Bella rolls her eyes and said, “No it’s not, watch me do my thing”

Bella began to cat-walk towards them slowly while the leader yelled, “shoot them!”. The others were about to shoot at them, but Bella stretched forth her hands and shot frosts of ice at their guns freezing them, then she froze the hands and legs of the robbers. They began to scream due to the extreme cold.

The leader who was behind was not shot at yet, and the people were getting up already, then he pulled out a gun from his bag and before Bella could get to him, he opened fire as he shot multiple bullets at the people.

 But as Alice saw him shoot, she reacted as everything began to moves slowly to her like it was on a standstill, while she moved really fast catching the bullets one by one then she dropped them on the floor.

As movement continued normally again, the people were amazed, as well as the thieves. The gang boss was infuriated then he opened fire on Alice and Bella together and yet again, Alice moved fast to stop the bullets, but she didn’t notice two which were very close to hitting Bella’s shoulder and leg. Then as movement was back to normal, Bella was hit on her shoulder and thigh, she screams in pain and fell on her knee while Alice rushed to her opening her, mouth wide open in surprise. 

The gang boss took the opportunity as a chance to kill them, then he shot at Alice twice from her back but she speedily turns to catch the bullets and threw one at the hand in which he held the gun, and the other bullet to his leg, he fell immediately due to the pain. Alice turns back to Bella, only to see Bella already going up with the two bullets removed and frozen; she had healed up quickly

The cops arrived just in time, so Bella freed the others from the ice bondage and handed them over to the cops.

Meanwhile as the duo were about to leave, there were people gathered around them outside, asking questions, as they were also taking pictures,

    “Who are you?”. “Are you human?”, “What are your names?”, “Please say something!”

Questions kept coming and Bella said first, “New City has its’ heroes now… I’m Devil Girl, and she is…”. 

   “Amazing Girl,” Alice cuts in then both of them levitated slowly before they left flying out of sight.

(MR. MARK EDDIE’S HOUSE)

Alice and Bella entered still on their superhero outfits and Michael was clapping already,

  “and here they are, Devil Girl and Amazing Girl… you were fantastic out there”, 

Alice chuckles softly and replied, “You can say that again”, she pointed at him.

Danny added, “Yeah, and people recorded how both of you dealt with them”. Bella chuckles while Alice asked, 

  “Where’s Mr. Mark, and where is my sister?”. Michael answered saying, 

  “Mr. Mark is a busy man so he’s not here, but Annie’s inside”, he said. 

Annie instantly came out of a room, her hair was rough, and she looked dull. She was also staggering like she was drunk. Bella shook her head and said, 

  “Annie has started again, hmm”. Alice sighs, “She never stopped”, she said. Danny asked out of curiosity, “So, she takes alcohol, like…”. Alice cuts in quickly, and said,  

  “she’s not drunk, she’s been thinking, not drinking, I would say she’s…”.  

  “…. Drunk in thoughts”, Annie interrupted, and continues, “you’ve said that a lot of times, stop saying it”. 

Michael looked concerned and said, “You’ll find your soulmate one day, it’s too early to start thinking, even Alice is older than you, well… I don’t know if she’s found hers”. 

Alice stares at Michael for few seconds and replies, “if you’re asking, the answer is no, I’m single and searching for the Mr. right, I don’t wanna be heartbroken three times”. 

Bella chuckles and scoffs,

    “While I’ve lost count of the guys I’ve dated… I make them love me, and when I’m sick of them, I just… discard them!”. Danny’s mouth was wide open, and he replied, 

  “That’s not a good thing… is that why you call yourself Devil, or something else? it’s not like you’re related to the devil or even generate fire”. Bella exhales and said with a smile on her face, “Alice, let him know”. 

Alice clears her throat and started, “Persuasion is one of her powers, she made those guys date her and she made them get over the heartbreaks too, but not immediately, she punishes them too… so she calls herself the devil, got any other question? Or can I can continue my explanation...” 

######## 

(Introduction of Tyler (Bravo)

(SHARK ISLAND, 2010)

On this small remote island, bushes were the most common; though there were hills and low Savannah grounds, but most importantly, at the center were some buildings and open grounds. The constructions were wooden, but rigid and a lot of teenage boys and girls dressed like kids learning martial arts stood together like they were on an assembly ground. 

But they were split in two parts; on the side were some of them hand red headbands while the others didn’t put that on.

Right in front of them stood their tutors, as well as their grand master whom they called ‘Old Master’, putting on a black robe, with white stripes. He was addressing them all saying, 

   “You’ve all shown me that you are determined… when your parents brought you here, you were unhappy, but now I bet you all are, or is there anyone who’s still sad?” 

  “NO!” They all chorused.

The Old Master smiles then continues, “Good. Those of you with the red headbands who are graduating today, once you leave this island, you are free to go back to your homes… Dan, come forward”  

One of the boys with red headbands came forward and knelt down, then bowed his hand and raised his head up again.       

    “Rise” The Old Master ordered, and he stood up immediately, saying, “Thank you master” 

   “I am certain you all wanna know why I called him out” The old master said.

 Another boy with a red headband raised his hand immediately, “Why did you call him out?” he asked. The Old Master sighs with a slight smile on his face, and answered “Good question Tyler, Dan here, is the most skillful and most powerful amongst all of you…”

      “But none of you should be discouraged by this… so, when you all leave this place, keep training, all of you must continue your trainings and learn to use your powers better… so you can be stronger, and as for those of you who haven’t completely harnessed your powers, never give up, Dan is the best, because he was the most determined… you all should be too”

Tyler replies, “Master, if he’s first then who is the second” 

A girl beside Tyler with a red headband replies, “I’m sure it’s you”, Meanwhile another boy on a red headband said “No, Nina it’s me” 

The Old Master replies, “it’s Tyler. Ray it’s not you… you weren’t too serious cause you keeping running around Nina” 

Everyone burst into laughter while Dan returned back to the midst of the graduating ones. He stood beside Tyler and said to him silently, 

     “See that? Everyone knows you can’t beat me”

   “Why don’t you let us fight once more before we leave this place” Tyler whispers back, “you know we might not get another chance” Dan smiles and said aloud, “Tyler just challenged me for a farewell battle, Old Master… grant us your permission to fight here right now”

The Old Master picked up his rod and hits it on the ground and all the students feel on one knee on with ground while the other tutors bend their heads, then the Old Master said as they were all quiet 

      “Tyler has challenged Dan as both are the best; this is the last chance to pick who the better fighter is… the last chance to pick who possesses more power… for today here and right now; Dan and Tyler will be having their final duel as trainees on this island… Step forward”

Dan and Tyler got on their feet and came forward before falling back on one knee again.

    “Listen to the rules… The first round will be shooting of arrows with a blindfold covering your eyes… Second will be fighting with your fists, third will be fighting with swords, fourth will be fighting with your powers and last, I’ll tell you if there will be something else after you're done, so are ready?”

    “Yes master!” They both said.

Everyone stood up and moved back while Tyler and Dan were given five arrows each and a bow. They stood beside one other and their targets were the center of a tree which was painted red. Their eyes were covered with black clothes and they got ready to shoot their arrows.