The winds of inter-district rebellion were upon them, and with each passing hour, the pressure mounted. Seventeen sat in her room, eyes scanning the walls as she mentally prepared for the challenges ahead. She could still hear the echoes of the hospital, the cries of that mother ringing in her ears. It was a stark reminder of the stakes at hand—not just for her, but for everyone involved.
※※※
Draco knocked on Seventeen's apartment door, the tension in the air palpable even before he stepped inside. She was sitting on the edge of her bed, her brow furrowed in concentration.
"Hey," he said, trying to draw her out of her thoughts. "You ready for this?"
She looked up, forcing a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "Of course. Just thinking about the problems we'll need to deal with to make this go on smoothly."
"Yeah, me too," he admitted. "We'll have to work together, you know. Trust each other."
She nodded slowly, but he could tell her mind was elsewhere. "I know," she replied, her voice strained. "But we need to be careful. There's a lot we still don't know about the others who will be trying to get on our way and their abilities. We have to keep our guard up."
Draco stepped closer, sensing the walls she kept erecting between them. "Seven, I—"
"Please," she interrupted, her tone sharp, "I don't want to talk about it right now, Draco. We need to focus on this and stay sharp, there's a lot on the line."
The shift in her demeanor stung, and he could feel his frustration bubbling. "You can't keep shutting me out. I want to help you, but I can't do that if you won't let me in, Seven."
※※※
Draco's words hit hard, but she couldn't afford to feel too much—not when everything was hanging by a thread. "You don't understand," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "I can't let myself get distracted, Draco. I can't risk putting any of you in danger because of my past. And you," she swallowed, "are a distraction."
"Please, let me in," he urged, his intensity growing. "I promise, we can face it together. You don't have to bear this alone."
She felt a swell of warmth at his sincerity, but the fear was stronger. "I'm sorry, Draco. I really am, but I can't. Not now."
He sighed, frustration evident on his face. "Fine. Just know that I'm here when you're ready. We'll need each other in this, Seven. This isn't just about you anymore, it's about us."
With that, he turned and left, leaving her to grapple with her thoughts alone. The silence of her apartment pressed in on her, and for a moment, she allowed herself to feel the weight of her responsibilities—the secrets, the pain, and the ever-present fear of losing everything she had fought to protect.
※※※
As Draco left her room, a sense of helplessness washed over him. He wanted to break through her walls, to show her that she didn't have to shoulder this burden alone. But it felt like every time he reached out, she pushed him away, and it was beginning to wear on him.
He took a deep breath, trying to clear his head. The shadows of their rebellion were looming, and their team needed to be at its best. He couldn't let his emotions get in the way of their success. Any mistake would cost them a lot, he knew his and the others' parents far too well to understand the consequences of what they were doing.
If they got caught before they could do something significant, he would be the one to be wounded the most, Serena was. He couldn't allow that to happen.
※※※
Later that evening, they gathered in the training room of the building Draco owns in Downtown Zodiac, the air thick with anticipation. Light, Amelia, Sablina, and Claus were already there, each of them stretching and preparing for the challenges ahead. The atmosphere buzzed with a mix of excitement and tension, and Serena felt a knot form in her stomach.
"Alright, everyone," she said, trying to sound confident. "Let's go over our strategy for the what will come upon us soon. We'll need to rely on each other's strengths if we want to succeed. We are in this together."
Amelia stepped forward, her expression earnest. "I think we should divide our abilities based on our capabilities as a group. We need to be versatile."
Claus nodded in agreement. "I can use my light manipulation to scout ahead and disorient any opponents we might face. But we need a solid plan for defense. The soldiers are quite strong, stronger than us alone."
"But we won't be alone, we'll be together," Hunter grinned, his pink eyes glowing with excitement. "We'll do well. We won the tournament together, didn't we? We can do this."
"I can cover us with barriers," Sablina chimed in, her determination clear. "I've been practicing, and I think I can hold back a few attackers if needed. It's not like what Draco can do, but it'll help, my barriers can also serve as a first attack to protect us."
Serena felt a swell of pride at their unity, the tournament had been fruitful after all, but beneath it lay the simmering fear of her own inadequacies. "And I'll do my best to keep us all healed and fighting fit," she said, forcing a smile.
Draco watched her closely, his concern evident. He could see how she was pushing herself, trying to be the leader they all needed, but the strain was written all over her face.
"Don't forget," he said, stepping forward. "If things get tough, we have to trust each other. We're a team."
The group nodded, their expressions shifting from determination to solidarity.
※※※
As they went over their strategy, Seventeen felt a flicker of hope. The support from her friends was palpable, and for a moment, she allowed herself to believe they could succeed. But deep down, the weight of her past lingered, a constant reminder of the dangers that lay ahead.
["This facade is soon coming to an end. Let's see if we'll survive the chaos I'll stir."]
※※※
After the meeting, Draco pulled Serena aside, his expression serious. "Listen, I know things are complicated, but I want you to know that you're not alone in this. Whatever happened before, we can handle it together."
She met his gaze, and for a moment, he thought she might open up. But just as quickly, the wall was back in place. "I appreciate that, as well as how you are constantly reassuring me of that, but I have to do this my way, Draco," she said, her voice firm.
Draco felt his heart sink. "You're stronger than you think, Seven. Just don't forget that you don't have to fight this battle by yourself."
"I know my strengths, you should worry about yourself."
As he watched her walk away, he couldn't shake the feeling that time was running out. They had to be ready for what was coming, but more importantly, they had to be ready for whatever truths awaited them on the other side. The tournament was over but this would be a trial to them, the biggest of all so far.
※※※
That night, as she lay in bed, the whispers of her past haunted her. She replayed the scene at the hospital over and over, the image of Jasmin Shadow losing her baby son etched into her mind. The memories clawed at her heart, but she pushed them down, forcing herself to focus on the trials ahead.
["They will save the baby. Just get through this,"] she thought, determination flooding her veins. ["You can't let them see you falter. You can't let them down."]
Yet deep inside, she knew the truth: the more she fought to keep her distance, the closer they would be to uncovering her secrets. The stakes had never felt higher, and as the days crept closer to their challenging rebellion, she could only hope she could maintain her façade long enough to protect them all.
["Not for too long. I'll soon finish my mission and bring them to Serpentpire. It'll all be over, the lies will be laid bare. Don't dwell on it, you did what you had to do, you need them to put the prophecy into action. It was necessary, it was necessary, it was necessary,"] she repeated to herself, struggling to believe the meaning of her own words. ["They will get over it... right?"]