Zodiac Academy: The Awakening

Content Warning: This section depicts bullying and sexual harassment.

Gwendalina “Darcy” and Roxanya “Tory” Vega are twin sisters who grew up in foster care. During their last year in the system, they endured a cruel foster father named Pete. He kicked them out the day they turned 18—three months ago—without allowing them to grab their belongings, including the $2,000 they’d hidden behind a loose brick in their bedroom wall.

Struggling to pay rent on their dilapidated Chicago studio apartment, Darcy breaks into Pete’s home to retrieve the cash but is caught by a police officer and drops the money into the mud. An unknown man orders the police officer to let go of Darcy, and she escapes without the money. Though Tory is disappointed that Darcy dropped the money, she has a “job” that evening that will help secure some funds. The girls laugh as Darcy recounts dipping Pete’s toothbrush into the toilet bowl before leaving his house.

Dressed as a man, Tory hot-wires a stranger’s limited-edition motorcycle and brings it to Joey’s shop. Joey belongs to a bike gang and purchases stolen bikes from Tory. Given how limited this latest bike is, Joey lowballs Tory. Rather than the $300,000 minimum she expects, they agree on a measly $800, much to Tory’s displeasure.