Golden Arches and Secrets

Chihiro pressed her nose against the McDonald's window while Mom and Dad ordered their usual. The red and yellow plastic booth felt sticky under her arms as she watched other families eat their Happy Meals.

"Can I have chicken nuggets instead?" she asked, but Mom was already carrying the tray with three hamburgers.

Dad slid into the booth beside her. "This place looks different than our McDonald's back home."

Chihiro nodded, noticing how the teenagers at the corner table kept glancing around nervously. One girl with bright purple hair whispered something urgent to her friends. They all wore matching black jackets with strange silver symbols.

"Mom, look at those kids," Chihiro whispered.

Before Mom could turn around, the purple-haired girl stood up quickly, knocking over her drink. The liquid splashed across the floor in an odd pattern.

The Huntrix Squad

The purple-haired girl suddenly pointed at Chihiro's family. "Those three! They're not supposed to be here during our mission!"

Her friends jumped up from their table. One boy with spiky black hair pulled out what looked like a toy sword that glowed with silver light. A girl with short pink hair whispered something and tiny sparkles appeared around her fingers.

"We're the Huntrix Squad," the purple-haired girl announced loudly. "This McDonald's is our secret base for hunting Saja demons!"

Dad nearly choked on his hamburger. "Demons? At McDonald's?"

Mom grabbed Chihiro's hand. "Maybe we should leave."

But before they could move, the restaurant's lights flickered. Dark shadows began creeping across the floor where the spilled drink had been.