Lucem
Ten Thousand Club
Ezra Knight
SCENE:
Tigers Arc 2: Scene 5 [A Dangerous Game]
LOCATION:
South District
PARTICIPANTS:
Callahan, Ezra, Isobel, Welsha
A DANGEROUS GAME
Despite advocating for peace, Ezra had little faith in the standoff ending without violence. The female Phoenix's retort proved that he was right to doubt, pointing out that a war was already well under way. He couldn't refute that. Even though they were here to reclaim something that had already been stolen, he and the others were still breaking into the enemy King's house, which was considered an act of aggression. Nobody would be in the wrong for protecting their home. However, it didn't matter who was right or wrong right now.
While he was interested in what the white-haired woman implied about the ivory claw, her call for backup was of far greater importance. As she raised her voice, her partner transmuted a shimmering aura into a pair of dangerous projectiles. The man who was referred to as Alex was visibly angry, and most of the rage seemed to be aimed at Isobel.
Alex's words stuck in his mind. What did he mean when he said Isobel had a chance to end this peacefully? He really wanted to know what happened in the room before he entered, but once again, imminent danger forced him to set his burning questions to the side. The javelin-like rods spun in place like an out-of-control drill, threatening to penetrate his skull if he made the wrong move. Just what was the right move here? Making a call was easier said than done.
He was a rookie, only having been in the Tigers for a little over a month. Now he was in a position where he had to negotiate with the most dominant force in the South. He had to do something that let them get away without a single loss. He had to find a golden solution that let them keep the claw and their lives. It wasn't a task he should've been given, but here he was. Should he wait for Isobel to sign? Should he make an offer? Should he offer money that wasn't his, hoping it would be enough to diffuse thie situation? What was the correct choice?
Unerneath his disguise, his concealed poker face was wavering. His heart was thumping loudly again, helping him count every excruciating second that passed. The longer he waited, the more their window of opportunity shrank. More Phoenixes were on the way, adding to the massive weight that had suddenly been put on his shoulders. The stress and anxiety were beginning to eat away at him. If he screwed up, everyone was dead. His brain tormented him, forcing him to picture lifeless bodies of Tigers, Phoenixes, and bystanders lining the streets.
As he kept thinking, he failed to notice that his nervous expression was beginning to morph. The early signs of a smirk began to show, and his covered eyes narrowed. He could feel that electrifying sensation working its way up his spine again, urging him to let go of all those pesky thoughts that made him do nothing but worry. It promised him the answer to all his problems, waving a simple solution in front of his face. It really was just that easy. Whether faced with a King, a Jack, or some nameless bird, it really didn't matter. Who was gonna stop him from getting what he wanted? Certainly not any of the little hatchlings that would have their wings clipped if they insisted on getting in his way.
That little signal neared his brain, eager to crash and wash over him like a powerful tide. However, moments before it could flip the switch in his head, his piled up emotions were overtaken by confusion. When Callahan came rolling into the room, he momentarily forgot about the stress, pushing down his other half.
His confusion only got worse after Callahan called out to the male Phoenix like they were old buddies. The name was different from the one he heard before, but it was clear they were still familiar with each other. Was he the only member of their squad who didn't know the people they were sent to rob?
Everything happened quickly. Callahan surprisingly turned his back to the enemy and sent his ladder straight through the floor as he pushed forward. For some reason, the ghostly aura surrounding him disappeared at that very moment, causing him to push Isobel out the window as she kept a tight grip on the claw. It was a blessing and a curse.
While Isobel had escaped with their prize, Callahan was forced to face the consequences of his actions. The tendrils returned, and with no claw to grab, they found a new target and stabbed through the large man's back. He was stabbed two more times before being thrown out the window like a piece of garbage, leaving both Tigers to fall to their deaths.
After witnessing the horrific display, Ezra stopped thinking. There was no stress, panic, or threat of being overtaken by an unknown force. There was only action. He immediately turned to the window, completely focused on the people who were plummeting. He had to help them. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be so easy.
The man with two names stayed true to his word. The instant Ezra took a step, the rods rocketed towards him. Leaping out of the way, he managed to avoid taking a direct hit, but the burn in his shoulder told him that he hadn't completely escaped. The metal shredded his flesh and the wall behind him. As he fell out the window, he remembered the same uncomfortable heat that tormented him after he'd been shot by molten slugs.
Gritting his teeth, Ezra did his best to ignore the pain. He only thought about his teammates, locking on to them as he channeled his Potential. As the wind rushed through his raven hair, he called the bodies to him, denying gravity and pulling them upward. Isobel remained a small distance away from him, but Callahan was taken into his arms. Gripping the larger body, he reversed time and healed both of their injuries, still soaring through the air.
Focusing on the hair wrapped around his ring finger, he changed course. Pulling Mbaye toward the group of floating Tigers, he got a glimpse of King Cold's calvary as everyone flew away. Ezra moved his flock to the escape vehicle that had been parked in a nearby alley, stopping the effect of his Potential once they were able to land safely on the ground.
Still holding Callahan's body, he opened the car and placed him in the back seat. Afterward, he jumped behind the wheel and waited until everyone was inside. With everyone accounted for, he pressed on the gas pedal, intent on getting the group as far away from this place as possible. Markus and the other Tigers would have to handle the rest.
As he sped down the road, he checked the rearview mirror, wanting to get a look at Callahan and any potential pursuers. "How do you feel? Everything okay?" He'd healed his injuries, but he couldn't do anything for people who were in shock.
As he turned a corner, he turned his attention to Isobel. "Can you let the others know what's going on?" They had to let Markus know they had the claw, and their remaining members at the townhouse had to be kept in the loop.
Once again, he was reminded of the night at the casino. He'd jumped from a building, been hit by projectiles, and driven away from chaos. Now that there was a call to the boss, this mission had turned out exactly like the last. Was he cursed?
While he was interested in what the white-haired woman implied about the ivory claw, her call for backup was of far greater importance. As she raised her voice, her partner transmuted a shimmering aura into a pair of dangerous projectiles. The man who was referred to as Alex was visibly angry, and most of the rage seemed to be aimed at Isobel.
Alex's words stuck in his mind. What did he mean when he said Isobel had a chance to end this peacefully? He really wanted to know what happened in the room before he entered, but once again, imminent danger forced him to set his burning questions to the side. The javelin-like rods spun in place like an out-of-control drill, threatening to penetrate his skull if he made the wrong move. Just what was the right move here? Making a call was easier said than done.
He was a rookie, only having been in the Tigers for a little over a month. Now he was in a position where he had to negotiate with the most dominant force in the South. He had to do something that let them get away without a single loss. He had to find a golden solution that let them keep the claw and their lives. It wasn't a task he should've been given, but here he was. Should he wait for Isobel to sign? Should he make an offer? Should he offer money that wasn't his, hoping it would be enough to diffuse thie situation? What was the correct choice?
Unerneath his disguise, his concealed poker face was wavering. His heart was thumping loudly again, helping him count every excruciating second that passed. The longer he waited, the more their window of opportunity shrank. More Phoenixes were on the way, adding to the massive weight that had suddenly been put on his shoulders. The stress and anxiety were beginning to eat away at him. If he screwed up, everyone was dead. His brain tormented him, forcing him to picture lifeless bodies of Tigers, Phoenixes, and bystanders lining the streets.
As he kept thinking, he failed to notice that his nervous expression was beginning to morph. The early signs of a smirk began to show, and his covered eyes narrowed. He could feel that electrifying sensation working its way up his spine again, urging him to let go of all those pesky thoughts that made him do nothing but worry. It promised him the answer to all his problems, waving a simple solution in front of his face. It really was just that easy. Whether faced with a King, a Jack, or some nameless bird, it really didn't matter. Who was gonna stop him from getting what he wanted? Certainly not any of the little hatchlings that would have their wings clipped if they insisted on getting in his way.
That little signal neared his brain, eager to crash and wash over him like a powerful tide. However, moments before it could flip the switch in his head, his piled up emotions were overtaken by confusion. When Callahan came rolling into the room, he momentarily forgot about the stress, pushing down his other half.
His confusion only got worse after Callahan called out to the male Phoenix like they were old buddies. The name was different from the one he heard before, but it was clear they were still familiar with each other. Was he the only member of their squad who didn't know the people they were sent to rob?
Everything happened quickly. Callahan surprisingly turned his back to the enemy and sent his ladder straight through the floor as he pushed forward. For some reason, the ghostly aura surrounding him disappeared at that very moment, causing him to push Isobel out the window as she kept a tight grip on the claw. It was a blessing and a curse.
While Isobel had escaped with their prize, Callahan was forced to face the consequences of his actions. The tendrils returned, and with no claw to grab, they found a new target and stabbed through the large man's back. He was stabbed two more times before being thrown out the window like a piece of garbage, leaving both Tigers to fall to their deaths.
After witnessing the horrific display, Ezra stopped thinking. There was no stress, panic, or threat of being overtaken by an unknown force. There was only action. He immediately turned to the window, completely focused on the people who were plummeting. He had to help them. Unfortunately, it wouldn't be so easy.
The man with two names stayed true to his word. The instant Ezra took a step, the rods rocketed towards him. Leaping out of the way, he managed to avoid taking a direct hit, but the burn in his shoulder told him that he hadn't completely escaped. The metal shredded his flesh and the wall behind him. As he fell out the window, he remembered the same uncomfortable heat that tormented him after he'd been shot by molten slugs.
Gritting his teeth, Ezra did his best to ignore the pain. He only thought about his teammates, locking on to them as he channeled his Potential. As the wind rushed through his raven hair, he called the bodies to him, denying gravity and pulling them upward. Isobel remained a small distance away from him, but Callahan was taken into his arms. Gripping the larger body, he reversed time and healed both of their injuries, still soaring through the air.
Focusing on the hair wrapped around his ring finger, he changed course. Pulling Mbaye toward the group of floating Tigers, he got a glimpse of King Cold's calvary as everyone flew away. Ezra moved his flock to the escape vehicle that had been parked in a nearby alley, stopping the effect of his Potential once they were able to land safely on the ground.
Still holding Callahan's body, he opened the car and placed him in the back seat. Afterward, he jumped behind the wheel and waited until everyone was inside. With everyone accounted for, he pressed on the gas pedal, intent on getting the group as far away from this place as possible. Markus and the other Tigers would have to handle the rest.
As he sped down the road, he checked the rearview mirror, wanting to get a look at Callahan and any potential pursuers. "How do you feel? Everything okay?" He'd healed his injuries, but he couldn't do anything for people who were in shock.
As he turned a corner, he turned his attention to Isobel. "Can you let the others know what's going on?" They had to let Markus know they had the claw, and their remaining members at the townhouse had to be kept in the loop.
Once again, he was reminded of the night at the casino. He'd jumped from a building, been hit by projectiles, and driven away from chaos. Now that there was a call to the boss, this mission had turned out exactly like the last. Was he cursed?
