Third Person's POV
Jude sat on the rooftop of the women's quarters and stared onto thin air. She looked at a wood that lay on the floor with no specific purpose.
She picked the wood up and morphed it into a small iron spear with an extra pointed edge.
She let the thought of digging it onto Vera's chest soothe her but when it didn't, she let out a muffled scream that voiced her frustration and destroyed the spear. Another creation gone. Jude ran her hand through her hair that had become dry in the last two days and licked her small chapped lips.
"I finally found you" Alan said closing the door to the rooftop. Jude let out a sigh and lay her back on the floor.
"Any hope?" She asked him and he just clicked his tongue.
"She's not responding to treatment at all." He begun "From what I heard, her pulse is weak, her heartbeat is faint and her skin is getting pale."
Jude heaved a sigh and they lay side by side in the silence, drowning themselves in their individual thoughts.
"Have you heard from Anna?" Jude inquired out of the blue and once again, Alan shook his head and clicked his tongue. Jude inched towards Alan's figure and rested her head on his chest, soothing herself with his heartbeat. She lay there for a few minutes trying her best to stay strong for Jo but she couldn't. A tear made its way down her cheeks and Alan used his thumb to wipe it.
"It's alright, let it all out" He said. It was as if his words were needles that punctured her tear ducts because almost immediately, she broke down. She let her guards slide down like a silk nightdress and exposed her vulnerability to him.
"I'm so scared Al" She said amidst sobs. "I'm scared Jo might die, I'm so scared" She let out a chain of coughs and sniffles. "I don't think I can take the pain this earth brings me, it's too much for me, Alan. It's too much" She sniffled and wiped her tears with her palm. She let out a dry laugh.
"You must think I'm so weak and dir-" Alan covered her mouth with his palm and shook his head.
"Listen to me babe, I'm not dating you because I'm expecting you to be a perfect doll for me alright. I want to be your other half. I want you to feel free with me, to talk to me, to confide in me. I want you to cry in my embrace, to lay your heads on my shoulders and most importantly, I want you to let me in." He said now using a tissue to wipe her face. "I want you to open up to me, I want to be the hand you'd hold when you're falli-"
Jude shut him up and enveloped his lips in a kiss. She let her tongue roam freely in his mouth and their tongues played an intimate game of chase. She had initiated the kiss but Alan was fighting for dominance. He bit her bottom lip and let his hands explore her body from her neck downwards. His hands came to a halt as he wrapped his hands round her waist. Reluctantly, he pulled away from the kiss and looked at Jude in the eye.
"I love you and I promise I'd always be there for you" He said
"I love you too" Jude replied and wrapped her hands round his frame.
"""
All eyes turned towards the door as it opened. Clad in all black, Jude walked into the room and searched the faces of the people sitting. They all had a grim look plastered on their facial features and it looked like they were robbed of their joy.
"Jude, you're here" Klaus, the head of the disciplinary committee said. "Have a seat" Jude gave him a tight lipped smile and sat on the chair he'd extended his hand to.
Klaus cleared his throat for a moment and when all eyes were on him, he began speaking.
"I trust you're well aware why we're all here. Juno Black, one of our students was assaulted by another student- Veronica Forbes. The accused alongside two other students- Chloe Damascus and Becca Anderson have dropped similar statements in order to reduce the gravity of their punishment. However, there were many witnesses and all hands point to Veronica. Since this is not a decision for me to make on my own, I want us to listen attentively as both parties narrate the incident. Veronica let's hear you out first"
Veronica got up from her seat and walked to the platform so she could face everyone on the long table. She was dressed in a pink pleat mini skirt and a fitted pink top of a lighter shade. Her waist long hair was neatly combed and her lips were painted light pink. She had a pink heel on her legs and her body was adorned with jewelry in all the right places. "Since Juno discovered that I once had a relationship with Ryker, she despised me with every fiber of her being. Sometimes she could just walk up to me and grab me by my hair or go to my dorm room and rip my clothing out. There was this one time she made a public announcement about me being a slut and thief but even though she crossed the line, I chose to handle it nicely and be a good girl about it 'cause two wrongs don't make a right. I called Juno to the school garden and apologized to her for whatever I might have done to make her loathe me this much but she said she won't quit until she tarnishes my image." Veronica was now in tears and looked so pitiful but all members of the disciplinary committee had an expressionless face and wouldn't be moved by such emotions.
Jude gripped Alan's hand under the table while he soothingly drew circles on her palm. Jude took in a deep breath and then let it out again while Veronica continued with her false speech.
"During martial arts, we had a hand to hand combat and it was going really well but something tragic happened." She paused her speech for a moment and let out muffled sobs. "My powers had been flickering for the past month but I never knew it could result in something like this. Juno's clothing was quite damp from sweat as a result of the first round so when my hand had a brief contact with her chest, my powers acted up immediately and electrocuted Juno. I feel so bad and I hope Juno would be okay" Veronica concluded and wiped her tears off.
"It's alright Vera. Although, your story seems believable, we have to listen to the other party. Let's go on a five minutes break and continue afterwards." Klaus said looking at the clock.
They all got up from their chairs and made their way out of the room.
"OMG Vera, that act was so on point. I could tell they all believed you" Chloe said as she fixed Vera's makeup.
"They don't call me queen for no reason" Vera replied.
"Umm girls" Becca begun as she nervously fidgeted with her fingers.
"What?" Vera inquired with a cold voice as her head snapped to Becca's direction. Becca's heart violently pounded in her chest.
"Don't you think this is wrong? Why don't you just tell them the truth?" Becca finally asked. Vera was quiet at first then she slapped Becca.
"Don't you ever talk back at me you this black piece of shit" Vera said, hostility evident in her tone and contempt in her gaze. She let out a huff and walked towards the meeting room.
Jude stood up from her chair and walked to the platform. She bowed and introduced herself before diving to the matter on ground.
"I am not going to say Vera's narration is false or anything as that would lead to the onset of an argument. Instead, I'd place valid points and proof them all to make you believe Veronica Forbes is actually guilty."
"While Veronica was narrating, she talked about Jo despising her but actually the feeling was mutual. They were always picking on each other. She also stated that Jo once made a public announcement about her being a slut and a thief but it was actually the opposite. A lot of people can testify that Jo was extremely quiet when she first came and up till now, she barely talks to people outside her friend circle. When Vera who happened to be Ryker's ex discovered that Jo and Ryker were building an inseparable friendship, she made that announcement in order to tarnish Jo's image and unfortunately, it worked. Lastly, I can't say whether or not Veronica's powers were actually flickering or not but I believe she intentionally electrocuted Jo. The first round was really short and neither of them were sweating. Before the second round, Veronica spilled water on Jo." Jude passed a flash drive to Director Xyan.
"The video there shows how Veronica poured water on Juno and the combat between them both during the second round." Jude concluded. She bowed to show courtesy and returned to her seat.
Alan squeezed her thighs beneath the table.
"You did really well"
"Thanks " Jude replied as she tossed him a tight lipped smile.
Meanwhile, Vera's already pale skin became even paler as the video was projected for all to see. Her heart pounded violently in her chest and dismay was etched on her face.
As the clip ended, Director Xyan let out a sigh and rubbed his temples in an attempt to calm himself.
"This is the first time in twenty five years an incident like this is occurring in Hendrix and indeed it breaks my heart that another student has to go through this."
Xyan paused for a brief moment then continued. "Professor. Forbes is a well -respected Prof. and as much as we would like to overlook something's as a result of his name and contribution to Hendrix, I'm afraid this is too much so we have no other choice than to handle it the old fashioned way."
A lot of jaws dropped and eyes widened as if they could budge out of their sockets. Vera bit her lip as the anxiety overwhelmed her.
"Veronica Lyra Forbes, you are going to be put in the hole until the victim Juno Alondra Black recovers. You are all dismissed