John sat crying on the ground, memories from the waste land flashed in his mind. The friend he lost there.
John: I never even got to know his name.
John remembers the funeral service, the pain he felt. An outlaw who was casted away, only to never see redemption.
John gets back up, he heads back to class when he hears some people talk about Sera.
Did you hear, apparently a bunch of people saw Seraphina limping through the hallway earlier. Her arm was all broken and she apparently can't use her ability.
What, why?
Don't know, but that sounds scary.
Yeah, tell me about it, she deserves it though.
John hears the conversation around him, a feeling of hatred filled his body, a sort-ave calm one.
Meanwhile at the infirmary, Remi is nudging at Sera to tell her what happened.
Sera: Listen Remi, I don't know how else to say this, but I lost my ability.
Remi: Wh- what? How, why, when?
Sera: Look, it's a long story, but I don't wanna get worked up over it.
Remi: Sera, why aren't you worried? What if this is permanent?
Sera in her head: I don't even wanna feed that idea my time.
Remi: Sera, who was it that did this?
Sera: Just some group of Mid tiers, they drugged me and tried to kill me, but I managed to get away.
Remi: Sera-
Sera: Remi, I just had an interrogation with these same questions, please...
Remi: Oh, I'm sorry, I'm just worried, everyone around me is getting hurt, and I-
Sera: I know you are, I just don't wanna overthink it right now. This isn't easy.
Remi: It just sounds so scary.
Sera in her head: Yeah, you have no idea.
John barges in the Infirmary.
John: Sera, what happened? People are-
Sera: Yeah, I know.
John: And you're not worried?!
Sera: It's not in my control.
John: Sera, Who did this to you?
Sera: You were right after all, that green haired nobody had it out for me after all.
John's eyes glow black and white.
John: Where is she?!
Sera: John, your aura. It's-
John in his head: Shit, it's not turning gold, guess this might be harder to go back, doesn't matter I just need the camo for now. We'll worry about getting my powers back another time.
I'll figure out how to deal with Joker later.
John: Oh, don't worry, it's nothing. I just...
Sera pats on the bed.
Sera: Come, sit.
John: Uh?
Sera: Hey, keep frowning like that and you'll look just like doc.
John sits down next to Sera.
John: So, how did the interview go?
Sera smiles at John.
Sera: Well wouldn't you know already?
John jumps.
John: Sera, you-
Sera hugs John tightly.
Sera: John, thanks for stepping up for me.
John: What are you....?
Sera: I heard what Keon wanted to do with me, enroll me into a Correction class. Three months of hell-
John: Sera, I'm sorry I burdened you with having to protect me.
John gets closer to Sera's ear.
John: But I swear, I'll protect you. Even if I have to use my powers.
Sera: John, are you?
John's lips slightly touch Sera's ear. The moisture collects on her earlobe. Sera blushes.
Sera: John, thank you.
John and Sera hold each other, John leans closer to Sera's neck when Darren walks in.
John: YO WHAT THE!
Sera jumps back too with John.
Darren: Hey what are you doing here John, visiting privileges are for high tiers only you need to get back to class.
John: Hey, I'm-
Darren: Right now I'm looking at cripple John am I not?
John storms out of the infirmary.
John in his head: Alright then, enough playing games, time to confront her face to face!
Meanwhile Remi and Blyke are finishing up class.
Blyke: Hey Remi,
Remi turns around: Oh, hey Blyke! What's up?
Blyke: Um, I was just wondering if you would wanna hang out later, at Wobba Bobba?
Remi: No sorry, I can't. I have some stuff to take care of.
Blyke: Oh, what kinda stuff?
Remi: I gotta go Blyke, maybe another time.
Blyke in his head: What the-
Later that day in the cafe.
Blyke in his head: That's the third time she blew me off. As a matter of fact she seems more distant with me.
Isen: Hey, what's wrong?
Blyke: Oh uhhh....
Isen: Remi?
Blyke: Who else?
Isen: Gee, sorry I asked.
Blyke: She just seemed more distant since we fought Rein.
Isen: Wow, I thought you two were getting closer?
Blyke in his head: Oh shit, Blyke doesn't know about...
Blyke starts to turn red.
Isen: Hey look, maybe she's just sick of you.
Blyke: What?!
Isen: Yo chill bro, we can stop by her dorm room and see what's up, alright. I was kidding.
Blyke: Fine.
Isen: Cheer up dude, you kinda remind me of the Doc.
Meanwhile in the press room. Cecile is reading the Wellston Weekly when John busts in.
Cecile: Excuse me, what are you doing?
John storms at Cecile.
John: You have some nerve!
Cecile: Excuse me?
John: Cecile, don't think that you're slick, I know that one of your reporters is behind Sera's injuries.
Cecile: Seraphina is in a weak state and just happened to get hurt, besides, if anything happened to her ability the public deserves to know. It is my job as the head of the press to deliver honest news to the-
John takes Cecile's arm and slams it to the wall, trapping her.
John: Don't try to act like some righteous news reporter, you're nothing but a criminal.
Cecile: Oh yeah, and all you do is torture criminals, you're not a hero, you're just like the rest of US.
John: Someone's gotta do it.
Cecile: You know, you need people like me to keep you all fat and cozy with the government.
John: Don't give yourself too much credit. Do you really think I needed you?
Cecile activates her ability. She throws John off her.
Cecile: Now then, let's settle this.
Cecile throws her energy whips at John, John catches them and throws Cecile at the door, she breaks it and slams into the hallway wall.
Cecile in her head: Shit, he's strong for a cripple, unless.
John walks out glowing Black and white.
Cecile: Oh now, I wouldn't come closer, if anyone sees you outside of that room with an ability.
John in his head: FUCK, she's right.
Cecile in her head: Bingo, I'll just have to take care of John for real before I go out and do any more jobs.
John in his head: Well, at least there's no way she'll be going out to do more jobs for Ember. I know exactly how to beat her in her suit, I just have to find the right time.
John retreats out of the room.
Cecile: Hmph, some warning that was.
Meanwhile in the girls dorms. Remi opens her door to Blyke and Isen.
Remi: Oh, hey guys. What are you doing here?
Blyke: Here to help, what are you avoiding me for?
Remi: Blyke, I already told you, I've had my hands full lately, but everything's fine, just...
Blyke puts his hand on the door as Remi tries to close it.
Blyke: Wait, we know something's up, you've been acting strange lately. You've been acting shifty.
Remi: Blyke, it's fine really, I appreciate your concern but-
Blyke: You're trying to go after Ember now?
Remi: What?! No, look, I just need my space now. Bye.
Remi tries to shut the door, but Blyke holds it open.
Remi: Fine, keep it open.
Remi walks away.
Blyke: Prove it!
Remi: Excuse me?
Blyke: Prove that you're not still playing X-Rei!
Blyke storms Remi's room.
Remi: See, nothing.
Blyke looks over to see a curtain pulled over a piece of wall.
Blyke in his head: Hmm that's strange, there wasn't a window there, and even if there was, why are those curtains only pulled?
Blyke goes towards the curtains.
Remi: NOOO Blyke, please!
Blyke wraps her arms around Blyke, trying to pull him away from his direction of movement. Blyke pulls open the curtains.
Blyke: Knew it, why the hell did you leave us out of the loop?!
Blyke points to the large map of Ember attacks.
Remi: It's not like you guys wanted to do it anyways, "after Rein we should drop the whole superhero thing".
Isen: What do you mean, then we wouldn't have helped you to begin with?!
Blyke: Yeah, listen we wanted you to stop because this is dumb dangerous, The stuff John does is on another level-
Remi: Okay then but-
Blyke: Hey! I'm not done.
Remi backs down.
Blyke: BUT, we're here to help, Remi, we're your friends.
Remi: You guys, I don't want you to get hurt, you were right, so I won't bother you anymore.
Blyke: NO! I won't leave you alone and neither will Isen, right Isen?
Isen: Oh, right.
Remi: You guys-
Blyke: Come on now, so how does this map work? What's it tracking?
Remi smiles.
Remi: Well, here's everything I know about Ember.
To be Continued.....