When the final song played and the excitement dwindled, the prom-goers emerged from the extraordinary night. Their hearts pounded with a sense of invincibility. They had experienced a remarkable prom night, forging everlasting memories and friendships, bound together by their shared love for audacious adventure.
However, the same couldn't be said about Vaelin, the audacious tone of the letter, the fact that the covenant's relationship with Omicron was sealed in blood and the foreseeable dangers it may incur weighed heavily on his mind as he made his way back to the convent.
"I am bein' cast out from my dwellin' this very eve, with no moments to gather my belongings or bid farewell to the young'uns or the nuns," Vaelin grumbled, tugging at his necktie as he already sensed his breath being stolen by what he had learned. "What twisted existence is this? I despise the notion that every bit of my present bein' is indebted to these foul marks."
The dim evening sky hung low, with gray clouds threatening to release rain upon the lonely lane that led to the nuns' convent. The air was heavy with a sad quietness that matched the teenager's footsteps as he walked through puddles and over fallen leaves. The light of twilight faded into dusk, and the state of his reality compelled him to return to the solemn walls of the nuns' convent.
As he neared the curve that would reveal the entrance, his attention was caught by a sudden gleam of light. His eyes widened, and his mouth curved into a brief smile before the weight of his circumstances took hold, causing a heavy sigh. Standing still, he felt a mixture of awe, curiosity, and longing, his heart thumping with intensity.
There, at the entrance of the convent, an elegant beast of a vehicle commanded attention with its regal presence. The sleek, black limousine SUV stood like an imposing sentry, its polished surface mirroring the gloomy sky above. Chrome accents shimmered beneath the dim streetlights, and the flashy logo etched onto its hood seemed to whisper tales of wealth and luxury.
For Vaelin, whose life had only known simplicity and frugality, this sight was a stark contrast to his world. He carefully studied the luxurious contours of the limousine, absorbing every detail as though he were observing a finely crafted work of art. Its immense size and captivating allure filled him with a sense of wonder, offering a glimpse of the life that lay beyond the convent walls.
"Shucks!! Am I losin' it, or do my own eyes behold an Omicron Riviera SUV… and what's more astonishin' is that it's a limo." Vaelin's thoughts hollered. "This here must cost a whole heap of savin's for a folk like me."
An automobile enthusiast like Vaelin was literally updated with any vehicle that hit the market. It was safe to say that he was well versed in the details of most luxurious automobile releases, and this particular one was an upgraded variant of the original, manufactured by one of the many industries owned by Omicron.
As he continued to gaze at the magnificent vehicle, a mix of yearning and bitterness washed over him. In that fleeting moment, the gap between his own reality and the extravagant display before him became painfully clear. With disbelief and sorrow, he emitted an exclamation that echoed into the desolate night.
"My desire is peaked!!!"
The sound of his own voice snapped him back to the present, reigniting the sadness that weighed upon his young shoulders. Resuming his journey towards the convent, he remained captivated by the allure of the glossy exterior of the limousine SUV that had captured his attention. But as he approached the imposing structure, he suddenly remembered that they were probably the escort mentioned in the letter.
"Oh, I nearly plum forgot those scoundrels own the Omicron Riviera automobile company." He scoffed as his thrill faded away.
As Vaelin got closer to the entrance, he could see Madeline talking to a bodyguard next to the limo, which made the situation more realistic than he thought. As he got closer, Madeline gave him a warm embrace.
She offered a prayer filled with hope and blessings for Vaelin's future, reminding him of the lessons and guidance he had received under her leadership. As Vaelin heads towards the waiting limo, Margaret unexpectedly embraces him, easing his anxiety about leaving everything he had known. However, the bodyguard beside the limo reminds Vaelin of the reality beyond the convent walls, and Madeline pulls Margaret away, signaling an end to their embrace.
With tear-streaked faces, Madeline and Margaret bid Vaelin goodbye, their voices filled with genuine affection and concern. As he leaves the convent, a mixture of dread and sadness ishes over him. As the convent fades into the distance, Vaelin can't shake the image of Madeline and Margaret standing side by side, their sorrow and love etched on their faces.
___
The interior of the vehicle was a newfound Land to Vaelin, he had never sat in anything this cozy before. The interior decoration was typically characterized by luxury and opulence. It featured plush, comfortable faux-leather seating, complemented by elegant upholstery and accent materials such as wood or metal trim.
The lighting inside was dim, creating a sophisticated ambiance. Additionally, there was a mini-bar, a high-quality sound system, a flat-screen television, and mood lighting options. The comfortable environment in the car created a lavish and exclusive atmosphere for Vaelin, so much so that he forgot about his worries and couldn't even make out that he wasn't alone in the vehicle.
As he was still in quite a daze, a voice jolted him back.
"Yo! Yo! Yo!!!" Shouted a teenager who confidently rocked a striking mohawk haircut paired with Gothic-inspired clothing.
With shaved sides and a vibrant strip of hair running down the center, his bold hairstyle perfectly matches his edgy personality. "With our crew now complete, let's crank up the party vibes and get this show on the road!"
Seeing this, Vaelin thought he had mistakenly walked into the cruiser of a rock n roll band. That was when he heard the voice of another.
"There you go again, Zenith." sighed a petite teenager with an unfazed twinkle in his eye. Despite his small frame, he had an undeniable air of confidence, especially when donning his signature clothing—a black hoody that seems to engulf him. Thick braids snake out from under the hood, hinting at the rebellious spirit within.
"The list isn't completed, it's left with one person, a female, actually."
"Oooch! I bet she'd be smoking hot," Zenith fantasized with a large grin stretched from ear to ear. "For now, let's just act nice to the new kiddo." He turned toward Vaelin...
"Too late, weirdo!" said an excruciatingly cute girl with long, unkempt hair flowing in disarray around her porcelain face. The most striking feature was her eyes, unnaturally large and captivating, like two piercing orbs emitting an enigmatic glow. They held an intensity that bordered on obsession, fixated on devouring every detail of Vaelin before her.
She was humped over him as though she was conducting a psychological experiment, her gaze swept over him, like an impartial observer cataloging every nuance, every micro-expression, as if seeking to decipher Vaelin's very soul. "He is mine, hahahaha!" She crackled.
Vaelin was initially oblivious to what she was doing but gradually became aware of her unsettling presence. He could feel her examining him, peering into realms unknown to him.
"Enough, Bayonette!" A rusty voice came from the other end of the limo, "You are scaring him."
Bayonette reluctantly comes off Vaelin.
"Pardon my twin's curiosity, she's like that sometimes, especially with a pretty boy joining the crew." said Stiletto, a blonde teenage boy with messy curls. "By the way, I'm Stiletto, but call me 'Etto', and my twin sister over there is Bayonette. You sure look lost in all of this…"
"Oh, he sure does..." Zenith replied sarcastically before introducing himself. "I'm Zenith, but we gonn' be bros, so you can call me Zen…nope, Nith...nope, Eni... naahhh, Zeeee!!"
"Ain't you gonn' introduce yourself?" Zenith asked the hooded guy, "Or should I do you the honor?"
"Knock yourself out!" The guy in the hoody replied.
"Aye aye, this is Cypher," Zenith introduced, "Guess what? He has a knack for bending the rules of technology to his will."
"Sounds like a mere script-kid to me." Yet another voice exclaimed beside Stiletto.
Vaelin gazed their way and saw a stunning lady with vibrant red short bangs, perhaps a bit older than the rest.
"Oh, that right there is Molotov, another wild card in our crew." said Zenith…
Right that moment, the limo came to a screeching halt as the door was flanged open.
A long slender leg in a black knee-high boot reached into the limo, followed by the other. She wore a cropped black jacket with a black unitard—a tight-fitting one-piece dress which covered her body from the neck downward between her slender thighs like a swimsuit—with a pair of black shorts and high gray stockings.
As she sat in next to Vaelin, they could vividly witness her beauty. Her hair had a split-bob cut to it—with the right side longer than the left—and dyed in a purple gradient. Her eyes were slightly slanted slits with dark pupils. She was indeed a rude beauty. None of them could get their eyes off. Surprisingly, her presence iced out all the conversation, but after a while, Zenith's sarcasm cranked it up again.
___
As the night settled in, the limo maneuvered its way through a desolate dark road, connecting Las Geiger Neo Culpa - the capital of Nexus Prime. Inside the vehicle, the subtle hum of conversation mingled with laughter, as the teenagers indulged in the ambiance of luxury and excitement. Little did they know, an unfortunate turn of events was about to unfold.
Unbeknownst to anyone, a small electrical glitch sparked within the depths of the limousine's engine. As the miles clicked away on the odometer, the ominous glow of warning signs flickered briefly on the dashboard. But the bodyguard, focused on the road ahead, failed to notice the subtle indications of impending disaster.
Suddenly, a deafening crack pierced the silence, startling the kids. The rearview mirror reflected a bizarre sight—flames erupted from the engine compartment, casting an eerie glow on the dark road. Panic ensued, and frantic screams filled the confined space, mixing with the smell of burning rubber and the scent of smoke. Before they could escape the limo, though, it exploded to splints.
***