Prologue
Welcome to Curious, Ohio. A relatively small town where I, Renascent Rider aka Reni, reside. The population is 9,823. Small? I know. If you live in places like Los Angeles or New York City, of course it is. But this suburban maze of a town is my home.
I moved here when I was in seventh grade, and dominated Curious Middle School with my fire, while my feline doppelganger, Atomic Fireball, dominated the town's cat population. My loyal pet AF and I would laugh (or at least I would laugh) about how easily people are taken over and brainwashed in this town. In no time, the popular clique had accepted me, and molded to my punk rocker image by making their hair all zany and learning to play instruments. Wannabes, definitely, but it was so cute how I became their role model and "queen bee" in less than a month.
My status had followed me to eighth grade, but things got even better from there. I started going out with guitarist Davie McCall, who, unlike all the posers running around, is actually cool all by himself. Together, the two of us formed a band. We agreed on The Malice Patrol v. Green. Like it? Hate it? Deal with it. Either way, that became our name, and our emblem was a drawing of the Supreme Court on fire. If you didn't get it, The Malice Patrol v. Green is a representation of a court case, which means Davie and I write songs in which we fight about stuff. I'm The Malice Patrol, he's Calvert Green.
We'd soon rounded up musicians for the punk band. I became lead vocals and lead guitar, Davie became duet vocals and rhythm guitar. I got my prissy/goth best friend Kayley Anne Collins on bass. That was a breeze; she's a slight pushover. You didn't hear it from me. We also convinced the resident rebel—because she's had more detentions than anyone—Jade Van Roux to rock out with us on piano and keyboard. I'll tell you, I think the chick can play any song by ear with her eyes closed on that instrument. Hell, the girl won a state championship with her jazz rendition of "Flight of the Bumblebee".
I know it's weird, a string section in a punk band, but we did it anyway. Shemiah Doherty, this school's only African American girl due to our incredibly racist principal, agreed to play violin with us. We also got Arnold Adams on cello. He goes by Dusty, because he's the fastest track runner in the state and leaves everyone else in his dust. Finally, rounding out the band with his smooth skills, our drummer extraordinaire Marty Gallos, the school's only African American boy. Principal Baxter had to keep the school board happy, though he detests Shemiah and Marty. You could say having the school's only black students in our punk band is a form of rebellion, and it probably is, but truthfully, I like them. They're just like us except for the color of their skin, and Principal "Bastard" treats them like they're not. I'd stab him if it weren't illegal.
Anyway, MP v. G went half a year in the Curious spotlight. Why'd we break up? Why'd I lose my fabulous boyfriend and social status? Be patient, my pretties, for I shall tell you why.
Where to start…
Where to start…?
Okay! This is a good place.
Early September, three weeks prior to the incident that cost me everything.
Welcome to the life of Reni Rider, soon to be Reni Notorious the Great.