Two unidentified voices are discussing the awakening of the Slayer. Her name is Melaka Fray. They dispatch Urkonn to deal with her and worry that he will not be able to overcome her. They point out that the Slayer is but a mortal.

Elsewhere, in Haddyn, the future incarnation of Manhattan, Melaka Fray falls off a roof, having stolen an amulet for her boss, Gunther. She’s being pursued by Ruebrin’s boys, who she swiftly defeats. She takes the amulet and reports to her boss, Gunther, who’s a human that’s been mutated by the sun’s radiation and requires water to live. He offers her a big reward for her theft of the amulet. Melaka is concerned about the overpayment, but continues on her way without a second thought.

Walking home to Versi, a district inside Haddyn, she’s approached by vampires, who in this time period are referred to as Lurks. Before the Lurks can attack her, the police show up and an officer named Erin approaches Melaka and questions her about the amulet. Melaka claims that she hasn’t seen it and has nothing to do with it, even though Erin has a description of Fray falling from the roof. A heated argument begins, with Erin pointing out that she’s only trying to help and Fray electing that she doesn’t want any help: it’s clear that the two women know each other. They both leave the scene upset, with both focussing on an incident involving a boy from their past.

Finally arriving in Versi, Melaka is met by a child named Loo. The child seems to admire Fray a great deal, and has an important message to give Mel. However, she becomes distracted. She claims that a man came looking for Fray, and before Mel can enquire, the man appears behind her, dripping in fluid. He claims that she is the Chosen One and that only she alone can stop the demons and the vampires, but before Mel can respond, he lights a match and lights the fluid he’s doused in. As he burns, Mel tackles him into a river as Loo watches. She gives up and elects to go home, exhausted. Returning to her apartment, she finally thinks that her bad day is over, but there’s a demon behind her.

CONTINUITY