1 Chapter 1

It was a calm beautiful night in Vita city as the moon was shining and the wind was blowing. I was working on a project at Harold Stokes Research Faculty where I have been interning at for the past four months now. I got hired as an inter here through the connections of one of my science teachers at school. He saw a lot of potential in me to become a great science analyst along with the fact he knew my mom once worked for one of the most known and powerful developing science companies for decades prior to her dead.

While at the lab, I was writing my data down on my clipboard analyzing a chemical substance that I was testing substances to observe how it reacts to different high and low concentrated temperatures. Looking over my notes I noticed that the numbers didn't add up right with the reactions I recorded. I sat down in a chair sighing trying to figure out what was I doing wrong. I pull out my phone and text my girlfriend Lizzie to see if she had made it home safe from the doctor.

" Hey Liz, are you home yet?" I text.

" Yeah. I actually just walked in. where are you?" She responds.

" I'm at the lab love" I say.

" oh ok, well don't be there too long make sure you get home and get some rest." She responds as I smirk.

" I won't and I will. Love you" I say before putting my phone up getting on the bus.

Me and Lizzie have been dating for a few months now. We met freshman year, but things didn't really get going until this year. We both got partnered up with each other for science class and the project was to study the partners genetic structure. We came to an agreement that we would study the eyes and hands. We talked, laughed and had fun, so much during the project that we started hanging out a lot more later on she became my girlfriend.

Once I got all the data I needed I went into the next room to tell my lab coordinator I was finished. I explained to her that I would need more time to figure things out with the observation and she agreed upon it with me.

" These types of things take time. Don't rush yourself and don't try to get it right all on the first run. It will come together soon trust me." She said as I thank her for understanding.

I gave her my clipboard as she thanked me for coming in so late on a Friday night. I went to the hallway getting my jacket, bag and books out of my locker. I hung my lab coat up grabbing my glasses. I look into the mini mirror on the inside of the locker door as I fixed my hair. I put some lip boom on as I rubbed it in a little before heading out.

I walk down the sidewalk of the street feeling the cool breeze sick at my skin as I clenched onto my jacket. I made my way down another street before turning a corner onto a dark neighborhood block. Something didn't feel right to me, but I kept walking trying to make it to the subway before I'd miss the train. Just when I was coming up to the street of the subway a dark figure grabbed me from behind pulling me by my jacket. I jerked back screaming once I turned and see a guy with a mask on reaching grabbing me by the neck pulling me into an alley.

" Help! Someone please help me!" I cry out as the guy demanded I be quiet.

" You are in the wrong part of town don't you think little girl" he smirks pulling out a knife as I started to shake in fear.

He got closer to me waving his knife back and forth. I stare at him with fear in my eyes crawling back against the wall as something cane swooping down kicking the guy across the alleyway. The dark figure looked at the guy as he started to laugh in pain getting up.

" Whose there? Don't come any closer or she gets it!" he says.

" Your worst nightmare." the figure says stepping forward as it was a guy in a red outfit.

" Ah! Get back!" He panics.

" What are you doing out here?" He asked

"Nun of your business. So if you don't mind I'll get back to it" he mutters as the one called Red without hesitation dashed at the guy twisting his arm slamming him up against the wall.

" Not a chance. Now talk." He snarls.

Before anything else could be said a smoke was dropped from the guy pocket causing everything around to get covered in fog. As it started to clear up we both noticed the guy was gone. Red clenched his fist in annoyance as he walked over helping me up.

" Are you alright miss?"he asked.

" Yeah. I'm fine."

He grabbed my hand looking at my arm as it was a cut going across my wrist.

" When did he do that?" Red ask.

" I-I don't know he must have did it when he first grabbed me dragging me into the alley...I didn't even feel him cut me"

He took a moment wrapping my wrist for me as he picked up my bag handing it to me.

" Thanks." I say looking at my bag about to close it as I noticed he had taken my blueprint notes.

" That guy stole my lab data"

" Lab data? What for?" He questioned

" There were notes on chemical reactions to high and low concentrated levels of temperature. It's for a project I'm doing."

" Don't worry I'll find him and get it back. I wonder what he would've taken them for." He mutters.

" Please I really need them."

" Where do you do your research?" He continues.

" At Harold Stokes lab center just around the corner and down the street"

" Alright. If I find anything I will let you know there."

"Thank you."

" It's not safe here. You should get somewhere safe. Away from here." He says turning his back.

" Wait!? who are you?"

" I'm the Red Crusader...Most people just call me Red though" he responded before jumping up onto a building a dashing off into the night.

Once he left, I quickly made my way to the subway going back to my house. As I got closer to my stop I didn't like the idea of being home alone, so I texted Lizzie to see if I could go over here house for the night. After I explained what had happened to her she agreed that I needed to be with her where I felt safe so instead of getting off the train I stay on a few more stops before getting off heading to the surface. I walked down the street looking around cautiously making my way to Lizzie place. I came up on the block she lived on walking through the game and buzzing the house door bell as she came to the door embracing me with a hug. I sigh for a moment before hugging her back as she asked if I was ok.

" Yeah I'll be fine."

She brought me inside going upstairs to fix her room up as I went to the living room greeting her mother with a smile and her father with a hug. Me and Lizzie parents talked for a moment on how my internship was going so far at the Lab along with other things like school. After moments went by Lizzie came back down, asking if she could still me for them as her parents insisted and she took me upstairs to her room. Once we got to her room she pulled me into another hug only this time she leaned forward kissing me on the lips. I kissed her back for a moment before asking her what the kiss was for as she responded:

" I just missed you a lot...plus I was worried about you,"she sighs.

I looked into her eyes for a moment then wrapping my arms around her waist.

" It's going to be ok. I'm here now. I'm glad that guy didn't get to steal anything important other than just some notes from my lab."

" Your notes? What kind of robber was he to just take on notes?" She ask wondering.

I shrugged my shoulders smirking embracing her to another kiss before leaning her back on her bed crawling on top of her. She giggled softly telling me to get comfortable and asked if I wanted to watch a movie.

" Sure what movie you had in mind?"

" How about? Fable?" She asks.

" Alright."

" Great." She responds as I put my bag and jacket on the chair by her desk.

" So do I have to make the popcorn this time?"

" Yes Ma'am...you know how I like it." She smirks pecking my lips lightly smacking me on my butt.

" As you wish my Queen" I say in a funny accent.

I went downstairs to the kitchen making some popcorn asking Lizzie parents if it was anything they needed while I was in the room.

" Oh no sweetie we are fine. Just don't you two get wild up there alright?" She says.

" Yes ma'am"

" Oh Maria let the girls be. They are fine. As long as we can't hear you do as you please" her father said.

I slightly chuckled before putting the seasoning on the popcorn and hot sauce. I make my way back upstairs to Lizzie room when I got a text from my dad reading:

" Hey sweetie! Got caught up with things at work will be home later than usual. If you want you can go over to Lizzie house for the night until morning. Love you baby girl"

Lucky enough I had already thought ahead and came over to Lizzie house. My initial thought was to tell my dad what happened when I was on my way home, but I didn't want to worry him. I responded to the text with a simple 'Ok dad' making my way back to Lizzie room where she was laying across the bed waiting for me. I walk inside the room as she asked me to turn the light off and push her door up as I did so walking over handing her the bowl of popcorn.

" Thanks baby" she said cutely as I smiled.

I laid across the bed with her wrapping my arm over her as I pulled her blanket over the lower parts of our body. The movie was starting as Lizzie was eating the popcorn she looked back asking if I wanted any.

" No I'm fine. Besides you know I don't like hot sauce on popcorn."

" Oh come on. You've never even tried it. Please for me" she says begging as I rolled my eyes.

" fine."

She flustered with joy feeding me some of the popcorn as I actually somewhat liked the taste of it, but not completely.

" It's alright I guess. It's not bad"

" Told you" she replies.

Once the movie started we began watching it at first before Lizzie got sleepy and cuddled up on me falling asleep. Of course I wasn't surprised by the fact she fell asleep she does this every time we watch a movie. I found it cute and adorable which was one of the reasons I loved her so much. Turning the volume of the TV down I brought the blanket up on us more as I laid back dozing off to sleep as well with Lizzie right beside me where she belonged.