Rule 35, Alpha

The subway car hummed, a metallic drone against the late-night quiet. Tempest Mercer shifted, the worn leather of her pants creaking with the movement. Her purple hair, a vivid shock against the muted business suits around her, seemed to draw every eye. Three oversized duffle bags, magically lightened, sat beside her, a testament to her new life on the move. She wore a red hoodie zipped high, concealing not just her low-cut shirt, but the subtle rise and fall of her chest where Zuzu, her ball python, slept soundly.

Then, a familiar tingle spread through her. Rule 7: If you feel like you're being watched, you are. Every nerve ending prickled, confirming the weight of unseen gazes. She was used to it; her appearance alone was enough to make her stand out. But tonight, it felt different, more intense.

Suddenly, Zuzu began to stir, his tiny head nudging against her collarbone, tongue flickering. He wanted out. Tempest pulled her hood up and zipped her jacket higher, creating a cozy nest around her neck for him. Just as he settled, the subway's automated voice announced her stop: Misty Oak.

With her phone clutched in hand, a taxi waiting outside, Tempest gathered her bags and prepared to step out into the rain-slicked night. Her new beginning was just outside the doors.