Chapter 1: Sewn Shut

Scars - TS3 Generation 1

Genesis 

Kitty sat patiently, quietly in the social services office.

Her sapphire eyes glaring at the men before her behind the curtain of her ebony hair.

“We checked everywhere, Sir. The girl has no known living family members.”

“Surely she must have some distant family members.”

Stop talking about me as if I weren’t here.

“No Sir. She’s completely alone.”

I told you that already. 

Kitty thought bitterly, glancing sourly up at the men who spoke so casually of the situation she had found herself in.

“I guess we’ll just put her in foster care. I don’t think anyone will want her though, not at the age of sixteen.”

Kitty’s eyes widened as she shot up from her seat.

“No.”

Her lip quivered as she glared into the dull brown eyes of the man that stood before her.

“Young lady, I don’t think you fully understand the severity of your situatio-”

“You think I don’t understand that I am alone? That I don’t understand my father is dead and my mother has abandoned me, and now you want to attempt to send me to a family the will only use me to get the state’s money?”

Kitty’s petite frame shook as she spoke. She would rather be alone than unloved any day.

“There’s nothing else we can do at this point and time-”

“I can emancipate! I’m sixteen years old and my father left everything he possessed to me in his will. I have more than enough to be able to live on my own.” Kitty snarled, interrupting the older gentleman once again. 

“I refuse to allow myself to be entered into a system as flawed as foster care.”

“Look you’ve gone through a traumatic experience. Maybe you should think about it before making this decision so rashly.”

One of the other men spoke up, receiving an icy glare from the young girl.

She held her head high, despite the trembling of her petite frame. 

She would not show weakness in front of these men.

“Thank you for your concern. However, I’ve made my decision and it is final.” Kitty responded simply, even going so far as to smile politely. 

She was realizing quickly they would not take her seriously the more she acted like a hot headed teenager instead of the young woman who could take care of herself that she was trying to be.

“Miss Caine you-”

“Also I would like all records of my last name to be changed to Ashton. In case you were not aware my father’s murderers are still at large.” 

The men stared in stunned silence at the girl before them. It was clear she was putting forth a brave face, but none dared to say more than had already been said.

“If you insist then, Miss… Ashton?” The man’s voice was questioning, but she paid it no mind.

“I do insist. I guess I’ll being seeing you in court over the process of my emancipation. I intend to hire the best lawyer money can buy, so I suggest not putting up much of a fight. It’d be pointless.”

She stepped outside of the building into the warm June afternoon. 

She’d only been in Bridgeport for two weeks and already she found herself alone again due to her mother’s disappearance.

She inhaled deeply, making her way towards the sidewalk to hail a cab. She didn’t know why her mother was gone. Only that she’d left shortly after the move and now she needed to learn to survive on her own.

By the time August rolled around the lengthy, though simple, emancipation process had been completed and Kitty was living independently by herself within the mansion purchased prior to her mother's disappearance. 

Living on her own had proven to be slightly challenging, though money was not an issue, she still found it difficult to be completely responsible for herself.

Getting to school on time of her own accord had proved itself to be one of the more difficult tasks.

Kitty arrived to the school late, pausing to stare at it for a moment. 

Bridgeport High School

The placard over the doorway and the school itself were both simple, and yet she felt very small standing before it.

It was her junior year and she was the new kid attending a public school for the first time.

She was anxious, and she was late. 

Nervous about the challenges she’d face, and excited for the changes she would make.

She never could have guessed just how much her life would indeed change in the coming year. 

...

Rain fell heavy on Spike's shoulders, strings of her wet black hair clinging to her face and tears falling from her seemingly copper eyes as she sat beside her brother's grave.

It had been seven years since she had lost her only family member.

She faintly smiled through her tears, glancing up at the sky. "We always loved the rain, didn't we Kado?"

She took a moment to rub her right eye, the contact she wore to make her eyes appear the same color had begun to itch.

"I don't think I've ever seen you smile on the anniversary before." A woman's voice spoke.

"Blade?" Spikes questioned, surprised by her mentor's sudden appearance. "I didn't expect you to come. What's going on?"

"I know it's shitty timing Kid, but something's come up." Blade spoke. Her voice quiet as she avoided eye contact. "I'm gonna be gone for six months at the very least."

Spikes shook her head subconsciously. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. Couldn't believe she was going to be left again. 

"Ok, w-where are we going this time?" Spikes stuttered, trying to convince herself of something other than the inevitable truth.

"Don't play stupid Spikes. You know I ain't bringing you with me this time." Blade stated. Her voice carried sadness with it's finality.

Spikes jumped to her feet, growling at her mentor. "How could you do this to me?! How am I supposed to survive on my own Blade!"

"How the hell did you survive before I found you, Pup? Same way we're survived this whole time." Blade spoke, the anger in her voice was clear. "Look... I had some money set aside for you to last at least two months. You need to figure it out on your own from there."

Spikes clenched her fists, glaring angrily at Blade as the tears streamed from her eyes.

Please... I don't want to be alone again... don't go... please...

"So That's it then? You're just leaving and I'm on my own?"

"I have shit I need to take care of Spikes. Take care of yourself Pup." Blade said, patting Spikes's head for a moment before turning around and walking away.

"Yeah... You too Blade."

...

The months flew by and soon Spikes suddenly found herself at the start of the new school year, and at the same boring school as in years past.

She sat on the wall in front of Bridgeport High, watching both cars and students go by. For a moment she considered the possibility of dropping out and continuing on with her life.

She shook her head dismissively. She got free lunch at school. She could put up with all the other crap for a guaranteed meal.

"This year is definitely going to be interesting." Spikes muttered to herself before jumping off of the wall and made her way into the school.