Realistic or Modern Superpower school

[Penelope Burns]

"No!" Nialla said, doing her best to recover. "I need... This." She willed herself up, despite the headache, despite everything killing her internally. "Take me to her." She said, grabbing Darke's arm. She had to get to Vi, no matter what. Her eyes burned with will. She didn't skip school and gave up several morals just to give up at the last moment.

 

[KOTA]

Crap why does this stuff always seem to happen in Elastics class. Cobalt was rubbing his head after the impact of being thrown out of the gym. After getting up he saw how Kurt was running past him somewhere and both Starling and Kriss chasing soon after. Which means he is now alone with Aidan so Cobalt walked up to the guy and put a hand on his shoulder. "Looks like its just you and me now huh?"





He didn't mind being with Aidan, heck he knew if he was to leave the poor guy alone, he would only get into more trouble and somehow Kriss would blame Cobalt for it.





"I can't believe that lucky bastard got to fight Elastic, Ive been itching for a fight with that bastard. And too bad my fight with Kriss was interrupted as well, and to think it was starting to get fun." He cracked one of his fingers, showing his wanting for a good fight.

 

[Willow Pillow]

Aidan had a very strange color eye color. You had browns, blues, your greens, and on the rare occasion grey which was really a diminished iced blue... But Aidan had yellow eyes practically golden. No one knee why really. It didn't run in his family on either side...it was just another abnormality he possessed.


Aidan's eyes glossed over immediately when colbat touched his shoulder, like foggy glass. What he saw instead of blackness was a city destroyed. Rubble. Disaster. It looked like mother earth herself wreaked havoc on the land. Men and women in tights and costumes were broken passed out screaming. One mans spine looked completely ruined. A woman was dragging her body to grab hold of a missing arm.


As a telephone pole fell creating sparks of electricity Aidan could see himself looking at his hands....which weren't trembling. There was no remorse. No glee. Just an empty feeling of nothingness.


It was cold.


Aidan's eyes returned to their normal color as he began gasping from it.the world couldn't return to black fast enough. His legs fell over as his back hit the ground. But he scurried to a sitting position pushing himself away from colbat the six footed super of pure destruction. "You....that....I didn't see anything...I did....I didn't mean to....wait." His eyes widened as he mentioned fighting Kriss. His face grew three shades paler. But he grabbed his walking stick and jabbed it until he felt a chest. "You're not fighting her the way you fought those people. Your not." His voice trembled as he spoke as he grasped at whatever courage he could. "I...I...I don't care if you rip spines you're not hurting her!"

 

[The Suspicious Eye]

Min would have laughed at the principals ridiculous mustache, but she was too tired to care. She turns to Mr. Elastic and smiled "thanks for the ride silly string," she smiled and looked back at the principal. She gave out a long yawn and slouched in the chair, rubbing her temples. Lets just get this over with so I can take aspirin and go to bed. I haven't done anything, nothing at all, other then she scoffed at the thought typical teenage hormone induced problems. Yes killing my personality and plotting a mass army is typical of any teenager, just a normal girl. Her headache grew stronger and she winced in pain. Sitting back up she looks at the principal waiting him to start lecturing.

 

[Nthtiho12]

Trish had just watched the fight before her eyes, once again just playing on her lute, almost providing calming background music for the intense fight between that possibly insane kid and Mr. Elastic. She had never witnessed the end of the fight, as the rather rude teacher had forced her and many other students outside when things had became quite hectic inside of the gym.


She soon hit the floor quite hard, but had somehow landed on her back to protect her lute from being smashed under her weight, even if it between the lute and her life, it would be a hard choice for her. Trish started to squirm on the floor, the resulting pain from the crash had caused her shoulders and upper back to ache quite tremendously. The faceless girl soon looked to her side, finding the one with blue hair seeming quite energized. The last time she had seen him, he looked like he was almost dead, but it seemed the resulting crash had activated something inside of his body to make itself active again. Something was off with that boy.


Trish soon started to sit up, resting her back on a nearby wall to relive some kind of pain and started to strum some random tune that again, was quite soothing. Two of the students, the newest kid and Starling had disappeared into some room together, to do something that she didn't decide to check and something happening between the earth bender and the interesting eyed kid. The golden eyed boy had freaked out for some strange reason, resulting in him backing into some wall. Trish continued to watch the events happening inside the hallway, wondering what was going to happen.


--


Scratch was now energized. I wonder how that happened, wasn't when his head had smashed onto the floor resulting in some kind of burst of energy in pure panic that his brain might be damage... No surrey. He loved the feeling of being active, it was quite fun to do everything you please to do, even if it might have some consequences. Hey, whatever doesn't kill you makes you stronger? Right? Well, Scratch's possible head trauma had gotten his brain to actually process information again, to some of their team was missing, one seemed completely scared of the earth power guy, and the faceless girl was being a statue... Again.


Scratch started to walk towards the kid that was using his cane as a weapon and the rather confused looking earth bender, he started to talk with a slight tilt of his head, "Whoa... Some bad vibes are coming off of you blind guy. How about we do something else exciting, that doesn't require you pointing sticks at other people."

 

[Katerang]

IT WORKED! The principal was gleefully smiling at Elastic. Clearly he was being mistaken for some royal king because of this mustache and his accent! He wondered if it would work on the secretary too?


"Mr. Elastic, how may I be of service to you." He was continuing in his gruff VERY fake english accent. He stuck out his chest and tried to look regal. Though he looked over at the student sitting in one of the chairs and was very confused. dropping his "regal" act he asked, "Who is this?" Because he has seen most of the students in school but he didn't recognize this one.


--


March looked at the dangerous element just sitting on his desk... sitting there. Before he got up and ran over to quickly get a container to put it in before it contaminated his mind. Once it was safely stored away in his back room he kinda pouted, an internal battle was raging inside of him. Then suddenly before he changed his mind He jotted down something on a piece of scrap paper and called one of his nano bots out of his new belt dispenser. "Put this in her locker," he told it. And it flew off to do it's duty.


--


"Lets open the door." Kriss said reaching for the handle


"It's locked!" Starling said


"never stopped me before."


"No! he said we should wait so we are going to wait... Besides... Where did you leave Aidan?"


"... He's not a pet Starling!"


"You treat him like one...."


"DO NOT!" Kriss turned from the girl and pouted.


...


"Pouting doesn't work unless I can see your face."


"FINE!" Kriss exclaimed," I'll go get him if it makes you happy!"


"I'll go with you I need to find my other team mate anyway. At least I know where this one is." Starling didn't want to intrude on this kids privacy, She didn't know what was wrong but it was his business.


Kriss suddenly turned towards the door and kicked it down. "He should come too..." She said in monotone. Kicking up the door had left a puff of soot and it blocked their vision from within.


--


Mr. Darke sighed... "Don't you remember our conversation in the car? You need to look like you have everything under control if you are going to do this..." He started towards the entrance again. A few guards had gotten curious and decided to come over but Darke just gave them an easy smile as if everything was fine and kept walking.

 

[Penelope Burns]

Nialla struggled, doing her best to escape him. "No. If I don't do this then this keeps happening. How many times could I do this before my body gives up?" She was scared, tears were forming but she refused to actually cry. She didn't want to die, not when she was so close. "Please." She begged.

 

[Willow Pillow]

"This is min....I don't know the last name. Portals here has a brother not enrolled dropping lava and disasters in my class. Which I don't mind. I actually had fun. Buuut I do mind whatever the fuck place he opened last."


This forced him to care. which he didn't like caring. No. He hated caring. It was easier to beat the living shit out of students than to actually see something that felt like it was a true danger to them


Elastic was an ass....but it didn't mean he wanted or would allow actual real harm to happen to them.


The nurses practically instahealrd you. So you could beat the shit out of them.


What elastic wanted, but you never asked the principal such things, was for the man to play with this girls power to see how dangerous of a scope it was....and to find out what the actual fuck ripped open in bjs classroom that brought on that much fear.


Caring was tiring shit.


--


Lexi had her head low walking down the hall when she saw Kriss kick down a door with starling by her side. She stopped. "What are you two doing?"


She took a step forward and attempted to peep at what they were looking at. ((Punching bad you can totally beat the stuffing out of her. She heals!))


--


Another person but he didn't recognize the voice. All he did was press his stick into the cheat to make sure there was a distance between the Sox foot monster man and himself. "I don't want to fight but I'm not letting him near Kriss!" He said to the stranger. He was shaking still and his voice displayed bravery everything else showed Aidan was scared shitless.


"What did that group of supers do to you to justify that?" He asked colbat. Kriss was a lawyer there was no way she could defend herself with that.

 

[The Suspicious Eye]

Min glared up at him "I closed it, everything is fine. Don't get your limbs in a knot." She turns and looks at the principal "I have a terrible headache, I haven't done anything, can I please go." Min head was pounding at this point, she rubbed her temples trying to ease the pain. Foolish people freaking out over things they don't even try to comprehend, don't worry Silly String, Soon you will know, soon you will all get to know my home. She smiled a little and continues to rub her temples, god what is this headache?

 

[Willow Pillow]

Elastic looked down at her. His brows knitting as he slapped her upside the head. "Forgetting the brother. The one not enrolled." Slapped her again the same spot. "Learn fucking responsibility."

 

[The Suspicious Eye]

"Ow,Hey! Not helping my headache." Min snapped at Elastic, she glared at him and sat back in her seat "I am not my brother's keeper." Min was beginning to hate Mr. Silly String. Oh, Mr. Elastic you better watch out. I will stretch you out as far a you can and then slowly slice you down the middle like a saw in a saw mill. Then s cut you down the middle when I'm bored with you. We'll see what happens when the Elastic man is cut in half. Min rubbed the place where Elastic hit her, all I need is my power back, winced in pain as her head began to throb again. She crosses her arms "I cleaned up the mess isn't that responsible enough. Unlike other people I do what say I will do." Min meant her parents, however this can be taken as a insult to anyone.

 

[KOTA]

"Woah easy there with the stick buddy, I know I said I wanted to fight but Im not going low as beating up a person with no sight..." Cobalt doesnt know what the hell is going on with Aidan for him to be acting like this. Even that tech boy got into the conversation between the two, trying to calm Aidan down. "What did that group of supers do to you to justify that?" he heard what Aidan said as clear as day.


Wait... supers? I dont know any supers unless he means. Then he figured out what Aidan had meant and looked at the guy with a serious face. Cobalt grabbed the stick that was poking him and hold a tight grip on it so Aidan couldnt move it around. "How do you know... HOW DO YOU FUCKING KNOW GIMP!!!" Cobalt hated his past nevertheless talk about it and always tried to erase it but by having another person know of it, oh he cant let this leak out.


He looked over at Scratched and pushed him towards a wall with one hand. Then he used his powers to create more walls that close off the hallway on both sides so it would only be just him and Aidan alone and noise wont be able to come out. Inside, Cobalt took a good look at Aidan again feeling a bit angry. "I cant remember much about what happened back then only that some good people were injured gravely because of me. Now tell me what I need to know and not mention any of this and my past to anyone or else you will need to start learning on how to use a wheelchair being blind." Cobalt wasnt really going to hurt the poor kid, he just needed to scare him good enough to get his answers. Although he has to make this quick before someone breaks down his walls and misinterpret whats happening here.

 

[Willow Pillow]

He was going to die. This was it. His father had been right that a six foot tall man with super strength would come in and kill him.


The shouting only made Aidan wince and tremble more. He wasn't a fighter. He could barely walk straight let alone fight and he knew it.


But he also knew what he saw. Knew what he felt. He wanted to fight Kriss. Kriss! He needed to be brave. It was hard and beads of sweat were forming on his forehead....his pits perspiring with the smell of fear.


"I can see memory.....so I saw it. I felt it. You felt nothing!" He stammered and just humor the writer since she is at an Irish festival on her cell phone so doesn't have the capacity to write a stammering dialogue.


He was scared. No doubt about that. But he gripped his stich and struggled to push it further. No movement. He event let out a grunt of force as it wouldn't budge at all. Damn it.


"I don't care if you put me in a wheelchair. Youre not touching her or going near her." He really didn't want to be in a wheelchair. "You're going to assure me that....that what you didn't can't and won't happen again." Especially to her. "Or...or I'll....I'll break your spine....or something.... Something threatening."


He could feel the sweat of fear drip down his face.

 

[Katerang]

Mr. Darke set the girl on her feet. "Nialla. We are going to do this today. You are going to walk in there and tell your friend what you need to tell her. You not going to feel anything for her or the words that she says." He turns her towards the entrance to the prison, "Don't worry I'm right behind you, If you think you are going to break just turn to look at me. I'll support you." He pat her head and gave her a small push.


--


(Okay.... It's been a while... for Derp... So I changed my last response to him...)


Kriss heard some one shout, "HOW DO YOU FUCKING KNOW GIMP" And took off in a sprint Shifting to her half form and significantly speeding up leaving behind the toppled door. She knew it was Aidan that the person was talking about... and only Kriss was allowed to call him Gimp. Starling heard a shout but didn't hear the words. She saw Kriss take off so she lifted off from the ground to catch up. When she did, there was a wall of rock and Kriss was scratching at it desperately trying to get in.


"What is-?"


"Break it down." Kriss looked at Starling and her eyes were begging her.


So Starling did the only thing she could think to do at that moment... She summoned a star in her hand, and shot it at the stone wall with a good amount of gravitational force.


--


The principal Pondered for a moment... "Well I'm going to have to talk to her brother about not being enrolled here but..." He looks up at min and elastic and simply asks, "Did anyone die?"

 

[Penelope Burns]

"Thank you sir, I..." Nialla thought about what she was going to say next. Was there anything to say? He helped her get this far, and he was offering to help her make it even further. Was this really the same man who, only a few hours earlier, ordered his class to find the weaknesses of each other?


"I need to talk to Vi alone, when I see her. She can't know you're here. Once we start talking, only enter the room to stop us from killing each other." She wanted Darke out of the conversation for multiple reasons, mainly so Vi wouldn't ever consider Darke and Nialla allies, and she would never think to target him. She, of course, wanted privacy, but primary she wanted Darke safe.


Without another word, Nialla walked forward, hoping Vi's cell was in that direction.

 

[KOTA]

Cobalt let out a sigh when he listened to Aidan. Of course all Aidan wanted to do was protect his friend from any danger the best he could. What has he become? He even hated his own guts because deep down he felt like he was becoming the one man he never wanted to be which was his father. He looked at Aidan with a sad look on his face."I'm not the same person I was back then so you don't have to worry about you or Kriss getting badly injured, besides she's not the kind of person who goes down that easily. "





He let's go of the stick Aidan was holding and took a step back. "I think it would be best for the both of us if you stay away from me. I'm not what you call an angel exactly after what you saw and believe me when I say there are way more memories worst than what you saw in my head. "





That's when a hole was blasted in wall and Cobalt could see both Starling and Kriss standing there looking back at him and Aidan."Remember what I said." he told Aidan before he started walking towards the girls with his hands going in his pockets until he stopped right next to Kriss "Don't worry I didn't hurt him much if that's what your thinking." He walks past her only to stopped again, this time next to starling showing that he was ready to start the assignment but he had a very sad look and is not in the mood to talk for awhile.

 

[Willow Pillow]

Why didn't you feel anything? Why was it so empty? Aidan thought.


As Colbat let go of the stick, Aidan was trying to ram his body weight into it. It propelled forward, Aidan lost his footing and landed flat on his face. The stick hitting something hard and snapping in half. What Aidan didn't know it smashed into the earth like rock wall that Colbat created. He just knew he hit his head hard on the hallway floor, letting out a soft groan.


Colbat said it was best for him to stay away from the super. As he pressed his hands on the floor to pull himself up, Aidan could agree with that. IT wasn't so much the memories but the feelings attached to them that lingered in his mind. "You promise you won't go after her or touch her?" Poor gullible baffoon didn't realize that the real world didn't work that way. You don't ask someone for a promise and assume its held.


There was a booming sound as rock debris fell near and on him. There was rock now in the school too? Colbat said to remember....which was probably not to tell anyone what Aidan had saw.


--


((Ignore my Lexi post. DERP, so Katerang and I agreed Kriss still kicked down the door but they left to see what was going on))


Lexi had her head low walking down the hall when she saw Kriss kick down a door with starling by her side. She stopped. "What are you two doing?" But as soon as Kriss kicked it the two of them ran down the hall.


Someone yelled something, but the only word she made out was GIMP. But what were those two trying to look at? Against her better judgement she walked up and looked at the door, carefully taking a step forward to see what the big commotion was about.

 

[Katerang]

Mr. Darke Walked Nialla over to the security desk where he proceeded to give the man another one of his slips of paper. He asked the man to set up a meeting between the inmate Victoria Morales and his guest Ms. Nialla Blake They had to wait a few minutes but the man came back and said the visitation room was set up for them and the guard led them to it. Outside of the room Mr. Darke turned and asked Nialla," Can you handle this?" Out of the corner of his eye he spotted a window in the door and he resolved to watch from there... He wanted to go in with her but it was her decision not his...


--


He HURT AIDAN!?! That was pretty much the only thing Kriss gleaned from what Cobalt had said but Starling stepped in front of her before Kriss could try to punch the poor kid... Kriss even tried turning into a Raccoon and scratching out his eyes, but Starling held on to the tiny squirming form. "Sorry," Starling apologized as Kriss angrily chittered at him. "Knock it off," She whispered to Kriss before saying, "Catch Aidan!" And tossing little raccoon Kriss back at him. "So I think we have enough time to go grab Savolt's ring if you want to try that?"

 

[SirDerpingtonIV]

Kurt looked up, his transformation completing. The door being knocked down had easily swiped away his feeble attempts of self control. He couldn't see much, through the smoke and dust the door had left behind, but he could smell. He could smell the scent of a girl, standing near the door. He took a step forward, his black furred paw moving to a new spot, as he took another step forward, yet still unseen behind the dust. However, the fire, burning from inside, lit him up well enough that Lexi could see him through the smoke. "RUN." he growled, with what little control he could muster.

 

[Willow Pillow]

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.


Why did starling and Kriss leave her alone for this? Lexi took a step back as she looked at the firey wolf. Fire. This thing was on fire. It told her to run. Run where?


Lexi took another step back. If she....god damn it. She couldn't run. Trying to calm her nerves she let herself slip into hyperspeed.


The wolf would feel like his insides were flipped upside down as one second he was in the hall the next he was in a forest clearing.


"I'm not letting you hurt anyone." She said. But she had no idea none at all how to handle this.

 

[SirDerpingtonIV]

Shit. Shit. Shit. Shit.
Why did starling and Kriss leave her alone for this? Lexi took a step back as she looked at the firey wolf. Fire. This thing was on fire. It told her to run. Run where?


Lexi took another step back. If she....god damn it. She couldn't run. Trying to calm her nerves she let herself slip into hyperspeed.


The wolf would feel like his insides were flipped upside down as one second he was in the hall the next he was in a forest clearing.


"I'm not letting you hurt anyone." She said. But she had no idea none at all how to handle this.

He inwardly sighed. He knew what was going on, and he knew what he was doing. He just had no control over it. Almost as if him and the wolf were two separate beings. Ever since the his birth, he could...... feel it there.. waiting, watching. He could even hear it sometimes, begging him to let it free, let it devour. Let it hunt. For most of his life, he never understood what this meant. He actually thought he schizophrenia for a while... until the incident. When he saw the bodies... and saw the gang's name, spray painted on the sidewalk, he agreed to it's demands.


And not only did he set it free, he worked with it. Kurt and The Wolf, he supplying directions and actual intelligence, The Wolf supplying the power. Together, they hunted down every single member of that gang, and killed them, and burnt their homes. But just when he had thought he had settled things with The Wolf, he was most wrong. It's demands had become stronger, and stronger, it's will becoming stronger as well. He could barely even control it anymore. He knew it would come out again at some point, and it seemed now was that time.


And although he was surprised by his new surroundings, The Wolf simply didn't care. It was about to leap forward, and attack, but he stopped it, when she told him that she wouldn't let him hurt anyone, and he actually believed her. So much so, that he attempted to wrestle even the tiniest bit of control back from The Wolf. He found just enough, to utter the words, "T-thank... you....." in his own voice, before he was shoved back out, and The Wolf lunged at Lexi, flaming claws extended.

 

[Willow Pillow]

The beast was large and dangerous. Whatever it was, it had some semblance of control to warn her but it also meant that whatever was in the halls of the school, those people were in danger. Kriss...Starling...whatever commotion that was going down there, this was what was going to come at them in a firey rage. It was safer to bring this thing here, just like she brought Scratch here when they had their little skirmish for class.


"Are you a student?" She asked seeing the creature force out a thank you. Her eyes wide. This really was someone not-


Nevermind.


Duck and roll. Lexi dove out of the way, not using her abilities, and just missing his claws by a hair. In fact it ripped her tang top, long jagged claw marks across as her shirt began to simmer in little flames of fire. She ripped it off, black sports bra as she kept her distance. If this was a student she didn't want to hurt him or it either. "Name. What's your name?" She asked.


This is completely stupid....as if talking to him like he's not a wolf...beast thing....is going to help bring him back from this wolf beast thing. She thought.

 

[SirDerpingtonIV]

The beast was large and dangerous. Whatever it was, it had some semblance of control to warn her but it also meant that whatever was in the halls of the school, those people were in danger. Kriss...Starling...whatever commotion that was going down there, this was what was going to come at them in a firey rage. It was safer to bring this thing here, just like she brought Scratch here when they had their little skirmish for class.
"Are you a student?" She asked seeing the creature force out a thank you. Her eyes wide. This really was someone not-


Nevermind.


Duck and roll. Lexi dove out of the way, not using her abilities, and just missing his claws by a hair. In fact it ripped her tang top, long jagged claw marks across as her shirt began to simmer in little flames of fire. She ripped it off, black sports bra as she kept her distance. If this was a student she didn't want to hurt him or it either. "Name. What's your name?" She asked.


This is completely stupid....as if talking to him like he's not a wolf...beast thing....is going to help bring him back from this wolf beast thing. She thought.

The Wolf turned, growling, flexing it's claws, which gave Kurt a chance to see what he'd done. It seemed that The Wolf hadn't managed to hurt this girl, but he didn't know how long it'd last. At least, she had brought them here, so.. if The Wolf... disposed of her, no one else would be in danger. That was incredibly brave of her. In fact, he realized, as she asked him her question, she was brave enough to even try speaking with him, and try calming him, instead of fighting him. But sadly, he knew The Wolf cared little for petty words. But, he knew it admired bravery, and hoped that maybe if she stood up to it, it would leave him alone?


Infact, it seemed so, or maybe it had just been a lapse in The Wolf's concentration, as he got control again. He stood still, and attempted to answer. "Yes." he growled, in The Wolf's voice, as it fought him, and lumbered forwards, Kurt fighting it, trying to keep it still. She asked her next question, to which he also responded. "I....I'm. K-kurt H-huron," he stuttered out, still inn The Wolf's growling tone, as The Wolf gained more and more control. It shoved him back out. "MY NAME PREDATOR. YOURS PREY. PREY DIES TO PREDATOR." The Wolf roared, jumping to Lexi's left, before whipping his jaws, around, snapping at her, attempting to catch her arm inbetween.

 

[Willow Pillow]

Did that actually work? Did one of her crazy shitty plans actually work? Her defensive stance softened just slightly as the creature began to force out its name. Kurt. "Kurt...I'm Lexi. We're going to-"


Fucking shitaki mushrooms. He cut her off roaring. His spit flying into her face. It lunged and bit into her arm. The fangs dug in and she felt the bone snap. Lexi screamed, water forming in her eyes.


And then she blipped out of sight. To the wolf one moment she was there, as he dug into her arm ready to rip it apart, the next she was on the other side, her skin repairing as she flexed her should be broken arm. But what happenned for lexi was she just let time slow down, slip into hyperspeed. The wolf was frozen clamped into her arm as she cried and screamed. Struggling she pried open its mouth as she tried to take her arm out. The pain blinding and there were minutes where all she did was swear and try to coax herself to continue. For Lexi....this was a thirty minute grueling process to which when she freed her arm she staggered back and tried not to whimper. Backing up just far enough to get out of the way.


To Kurt this was a second in time.


"I prefer Lexi. I'm sure you prefer Kurt. I already experienced death, Kurt. Do you have a family, Kurt?"


Because this worked so well the last time...

 

[Penelope Burns]

Spoiler

Nialla nodded without another word. There was nothing else to say, she could thank him later. Despite their rough beginning earlier that day, Darke really came through for her, and Nialla could't thank him enough.


She walked into the room, noticeably without even being searched. Did they trust her that much, care that little, or did Darke have that much power? Every option was a little scary.


Upon entering the visitation room, Nialla was overwhelmed with the smell of blood and piss. How she didn't smell it through her journey to the room Nialla had no idea, but there it was. The room was filled with empty chairs and tables, which seemed incredibly dangerous for a maximum security prison. It only took her a moment to realize why.


Half a dozen fully armored officers patrolled the balcony about forty-five feet above the visitation room, all armed with what had to be rifles. Fear filled Nialla. They had that much firepower, could and no doubt would kill anyone they wanted to if they slipped out of line for half a second.


"I wouldn't stare too long, Nia." a familiar voice said. "They have itchy trigger fingers. And the bullets ain't rubber."


Nialla knew the voice the moment she heard it. Vi, sitting on top of a desk in the far right corner of the room. Suddenly she was filled with emotion. Rage, fear, joy, and far more. The girl Nialla knew for almost her entire life sat in front of her wearing a plain brown prison uniform. Her hair was slightly longer, but the difference would be unnoticeable to most. Her eyes were far more calm than the last time they met, serene even.


To contrast her eyes was everything else. She was shaking, her left eye was bruised, and there was a long scar horizontally on her forehead. Seeming to notice Nialla's shock, Vi smiled. "Surprised, huh? What you did wasn't half what these fuckers can and will do. I walked in here scared and beat up, and they'll make sure I die by the end of the year."


Nialla was speechless. To see Vi so broken, so beat up, was overwhelming. This was the girl who was beloved by everyone, who managed to rally a crowd to her defense after confessing to murder. There was no way she would have allowed herself to fall this far, not in a hundred years. "What... What happened to you?" Nialla didn't know what else to say. She couldn't think of anything, she was too filled with shock at the sight of Vi.


"If you put a bunch of terrorists and serial killers in one place, you have to have absolute power." Vi said, not looking at Nialla. "If you're lucky, you get by with just one beating a day. If you're not, you get by with about a dozen. That's just from the wardens. Try being a fourteen year old girl in a prison mostly filled with sexually deprived prisoners." The implication made Nialla shudder.


"But enough about what you caused. I'm assuming you were called here. Why?" Vi immediately transitioned from open to interrogating. It reminded Nialla just what time of person her friend was.


"Why do you think?" Nialla asked, trying not to seem emotional despite her shocking reunion with Vi. Darke's words stuck, she had to remain in control.


"Of course you weren't sent, they wouldn't care enough anyway, and even if they did it hasn't been more than a few hours since it started, so the message probably wouldn't have even gotten to you. Why did I even ask?" Whether accidentally or on purpose, Vi reminded Nialla that, no matter how smart she was, her intelligence was little more than a candle to Vi's wildfire.


Vi sat on the desk, pondering for a few moments more before staring at Nialla and speaking again. "So that's why you're here..." Her cryptic response confused Nialla, but clarification followed, "It's the middle of school, and you of all people would never skip unless it was important, but you despise me so visiting me would be on the bottom of your list of priorities, unless you needed to, in which case there are only a few other options, and it's just too convenient that you would magically visit the same day that I'm getting crippling migraines, so you're getting them too."


Nialla was more shocked at the fact that Vi was also getting migraines than Vi's abilities to solve why Nialla had arrived. That was how powerful Vi's brain was, and Nialla was used to that. "I had almost forgotten how smart you are." Nialla said, almost smiling. Despite everything, Vi's charm was still there. "Yes, that's why I'm here. I thought you knew something about this."


"Sorry darling, but I've no idea. I'm trying to solve it myself, but I'm more focused on keeping myself alive." Vi was telling the truth, strangely enough.


Nialla was crushed by that comment. She broke who knew how many laws to get to Vi, to find out what was going on, but of course she knew nothing. what could she do?


Vi got up and began walking towards Nialla. Nialla immediately tensed, remembering everything that girl did, everything she could do. "Don't." Nialla said, wanting Vi to stop moving.


"Why?" Vi said, pretending to seem innocent. Nialla saw directly through her ruse, she wouldn't be betrayed again.


"Don't move." Nialla growled. She had no idea what Vi was planning, but there was no way she was letting it happen. "The last time you got close to me you nearly permanently destroyed my leg. I'm not giving you that chance again."


Vi kept walking, closer and closer. She ignored Nialla's warnings, her anger. Nialla was paralyzed, unable to do anything, flashing back to her fight.


And then the unbelievable happened.


Vi hugged her.


Nialla didn't know what to do, what was going on. Every bone in her body ordered her to run but she felt bliss. It was unbelievable, Nialla didn't know how to feel.


And suddenly, without warning, all of her nerves exploded.


She watched, barely able to stand, as Vi fell to the ground, shaking rapidly. she barely took note of it as darkness filled her vision.