Snippet #2561874

Raven stepped downstairs slowly, silently dreading the day ahead. She was fully decked out in her oldest clothing: black leggings, a black and white plaid skirt, black combat boots with white laces, a black t-shirt with a white skull, a black sweater with a white zipper and the white Homestuck symbol on the back, along with black fingerless gloves and her favorite black and blue headphones hanging around her neck. She was carrying Louisa's huge traveling backpack as her own. It was rainbow striped, a unicorn in the middle with a rainbow mane and tail. It was the only color she had on her. When she walked into the kitchen, her mother smiled an awkward but kind smile, setting a cup of coffee on the table for Raven's father.

Breakfast passed without a word, and Raven left as soon as her father came downstairs. He blamed her for Louisa's death. Even though he didn't say so, it was visible in his eyes, in the cold way he looked at her. She never spoke to him anymore. She barely spoke to her mother, and she could hear her parents arguing quietly night after night about it. Raven never left the house. This was the first day she'd been outside since their relocation, and it was only for school. Raven would've dropped out of school entirely if she hadn't been so determined to make it into the Police Academy. She wanted, needed, to get into the BAU. It was her best shot at avenging Louisa.

Raven barely moved her eyes from the ground the entire time she walked. The school was on the opposite side of Tokyo, so it was a long journey. She wished it had been shorter. It gave her time to think, and every time she would she'd be reminded about how Louisa's death really had been her fault. The train ride was uncomfortable and it made her think of how much Louisa had loved trains. Every animal she passed reminded her of the times she and Louisa had always stopped at the Pet Shop on their way home. Raven was grateful when she arrived at the school. It was huge, big enough for her to get lost in. And from there, she wandered around for almost an hour before going to class, since she'd gotten there hours early.