Aio and the other students are looking out to where Dark Void ran off. The sun was setting and it left a reddish hue in the alleyway where the students are gathered. Aio helps Clarissa up and they walk off towards approaching emergency vehicles. Neon, Eight, Anima, Pinpoint and Animal were all there as the students were approaching, Neon was furious.
"Do you guys ever listen, or learn?" Neon yells. "All of you were almost killed last time you went off on your own. Look at you now, half of you are beat up and Tak has his several lacerations on his face, and where's Dark Void?"
"Dark Voids gone, I couldn't save him." Aio answers in a sombre voice.
"What do you mean Dark Void is gone?" Neon asks.
"He ran away, because he doesn't understand." Aio answers.
"We aren't going to focus on that now, we are going home and giving you medical attention." Neon says as he puts a hand on Aio's shoulder in comfort.
"Don't think because you guys rescued Clarissa that you aren't going to be punished. You guys all have to pay the consequences for your actions." Anima replies.
"What you did was stupid, you guys got lucky. Don't make a habit of it and that's why we are punishing you, and they won't be light like last time. Make better decisions." Eight adds. "Now get in the cars."
At the hospital, Aio is sitting down as the doctor is wrapping his arms and head. Aren is at his side.
"Tell me about Dark Void, what happened?" Aren asks.
"When we finished fighting and we rescued Clarissa, Dark Void grabbed the leader and told me to kill her. When I refused, he her killed her and ran off saying that we were all weak and couldn't do what was necessary. I have to save him." Aio says
Aren lowers his head and sighs. "It's sad that he's lost, but we can't let him run wild. We found out that he that was the mole in the school and also killed one of the intruders. He's already killed twice and we don't know if he will kill again, he has to be stopped."
"I will find him and save him. Jake saved me from myself and a life of misery, and I will live the life that he wanted for me. I will do the same for Dark Void. He is lost and needs direction." Aio replies.
"I hope you do before, he does anything rash. Also don't get yourself killed doing that" Aren says
"Were is Miss Lisa? I thought she would visit?" Aio asks
"She's good, she's actually waiting outside for me." Aren answers, distracted.
"Are you okay, do you have something on your mind?" Aio asks
"No, I'm fine." Aren replies.
"Why don't I believe you?" Aio asks
"Fine, I'm struggling with making an important decision." Aren answers.
"What is it?" Aio asks
"It's Lisa, I'm - I'm wondering if I should pursue her." Aren finally answers
"Do it, I know you both like each other. Also you deserve someone." Aio says
"It's not that simple, I failed her, in an unforgivable way. I can't be with her." Aren says in a defeated tone.
"If that were true she wouldn't want to be with you, but she does, and it seems that she has forgiven you." Aio tells Aren.
"No Aio, you don't understand. miss Laura was Lisa's sister." Aren pauses.
"What! Miss Laura??" Aio shouts.
"Yes, I took you to her. When I did I promised protector and I failed, I was in love with her and I couldn't protect her. if I can't protect Miss Laura how could I protect lisa, and how could I be with her when I know that I killed her sister. We all grew up together, we went to school together, we train together. They both trusted me and I failed that trust." Aren confesses.
"Aren there wasn't anything you could do, her death was a shock to us all, but it was not your fault." Aio says trying to comfort him.
"I was the only one who could have saved her." Aren states.
"But it's not your fault, and you couldn't do anything. You need to accept that. I know you did everything you could, but you need to forgive yourself and move on so don't end up like me, regretting the past. But you should tell her the truth." Aio tells Aren.
"You're right. Thank you." Aren says
"You're welcome." Aio replies. Aren leans down and hugs Aio.
"When did you get so wise?" Aren asks
"You know, I learn from the best Dad." Aio answers. Aren stands up and leaves with a smile on this face. Clarissa enters right after.
"I never did thank you for saving my life." She says
"I needed to right my wrong, I didn't do much else." Aio responds.
"Regardless I need to thank you." Clarissa tells Aio.
"You're welcome." Aio replies
"How are you doing?" Clarissa asks.
"I'm good, I just want to get out of here." Aio replies.
"What about Dark Void and Jake?" Clarissa asks.
"Jake," Aio pauses "He helped me and believed in me when I was at my worst. I will live the life he wanted for me, to remember him. And Dark Void he is so lost and I want to, no I need to save him. He needs hope in his life he's going down the path that I was headed." Aio answers.
"I will help you with that." Clarissa says as she sits by Aio's side as she grabs his hand. Aio respectfully takes his hand back. "I'm sorry." Clarissa apologizes.
"No, it's alright." Aio pauses then says "Anything else." Clarissa smiles and they continue to talk
Aren exits the room and goes to Lisa who is sitting in the waiting room reading a magazine.
"How is he?" Lisa asks.
Aren cuts her off before she can say anything else. "Lisa, we need to talk."
"Okay, let's go outside." Lisa says hesitantly. They both walk outside and sit on a bench.
"Lisa, I'm in love with you, and I believe you feel the same way," Lisa's face goes red, and she feels butterflies in her stomach. "but I need to tell you something." Aren says somberly. Lisa feels her heart quicken nervously.
"I'm the reason Laura is dead." Aren says, he head lowers in shame.
"What do you mean?" Lisa asks in confusion.
"I promised to protect her when I left Aio in her care, and when she needed me the most I wasn't there. She trusted me and I failed her." Aren explains as he starts to cry.
"Aren, there wasn't anything you could do, it's not your fault and I don't blame you. Laura wouldn't want this for you, and she would never blame you." Lisa tells Aren.
"Thank you." Aren says still crying, but relief passes over him. Lisa leans in hugging and comforting him. She rubs his back as sge lays her head on his shoulder. They stay that way till Aren calms down. "Thank you." Aren says again.
Aren leans in close to Lisa and presses his lips against hers softly into a kiss. Lisa responds in kind and they embrace each other. The wind blows and the clouds part slightly to let in the light of the full moon.
A few days later, Neon is on the roof of the Hero building with Eight, Armed and a man in a hooded cloak, and tunic
"I'm glad you all came, I'm sure you all realized the same thing. There is something else at work in this city." Neon states
"I agree." Eight replies, "There's too many coincidences happening at the same time. The stained serum, the attack of the school, and Dark Void being the mole. Lastly Vendetta."
"Do we know who Dark Void reported to?" Armed asks
"No. But we do have a name of a person that Vendetta might report to, Shulut, we picked it up on the audio from the broken cameras." Eight answers
"There's something greater behind all these, and we need to start investigating and getting ahead of it. we need to start being proactive about what's happening not reactive." Neon says.
"I have an idea, but you may not like it." The hooded man says.
"What do you have in mind Deviate?" Neon asks.
"A spy."
The End.
Thank you for reaching the end of our book and being a loyal reader. We are currently working on the storyline for the second book. Two weeks after this is posted the whole story will be taken down. We are planning to send this to a publisher so hopefully this story won't be gone for too long. Book two will be posted on this platform and hopefully many more sequels to come.