Opal's POV
Opal realized she probably wasn't helpful in this situation, but she could at least try to help if something went wrong. She slowly pulled out her small taser.
Alec's POV
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Winston’s POV
To heal into one of his twisted creatures? The worst of Winston’s nightmares seemed to be coming true. He broke his silence as Samuel started to sniff at him, a soft whimper of fear escaping his plump lips. Winnie was struggling to avoid crying, but failed miserably as tears poured down his cheeks. Opal, please.
Sienna’s POV
She had been watching the situation progress from a distance, but only decided to interviene once she saw a hero’s taser crackle to life. Hero. The word was almost funny. Hero wasn’t the right word anymore, but what did it matter? “I’m going to need you to drop that, sweetheart.” She whispered gently, gliding silently behind Opal.
Opals POV
Opal stiffened as the voice behind her spoke. She felt the presence of that dreamlike mind again. She jammed her fingernail into her palm and twisted around to tried to shove the taser at her. Suddenly her arm was twisted away from her and she dropped the taser, but surprisingly she wasn't hurt. She was being held against the mystery girl, with the taser just out of reach.
Ae-Ri’s POV
“Hey, hey.” My voice softened to a whisper as I turned to Winston, reaching out a gloved hand to brush the tears from his red cheeks. “It’s okay, you’re okay.”
I forced it to go flat again when I addressed remedy, my lips pursing into a thin line. “Thanks, but no thanks. We don’t need your help.”
But then, the famed mercenary did the last thing I would have expected. He removed his mask—an awful, beaked thing—and uncovered his face. Sandy hair fell in waves across his forehead. He was surprisingly handsome, and young, too. No older than nineteen. But his expression, which was frosty and detached, ruined the look, as did his eyes, (which were a shockingly bright shade of hazel) which looked me up and down without emotion, as if studying a mildly disinteresting object.
“I’m not going to hurt you,” he sighed after a moment, rolling his eyes. “Look, you’re armed and I’m I’m not. Relax. Let me heal you.”
Sienna’s POV
A captive was the last thing Sienna wanted. She quickly released her grip on the girl. “Stay with me, don’t fall asleep just yet.” She instructed calmly, bending down to pick up the taser. “You need to go home. I’ll walk you. Come on now.” Sienna wrapped her arm around the hero’s waist, prompting her to walk.
Winston
Winston was in full panic mode, too hysterical to focus on the words being exchanged between Remedy and Ae-Ri. I’m not cut out for this… Winnie wanted nothing more than to go home and hide away in his mother’s cramped apartment. What would she say if she knew that he was about to face a fate worse than death? She wouldn’t ever even know. He would just vanish. Another minion to causing chaos in the streets with.
Anthony’s POV
“Jesus Christ,” Anthony muttered, raising his eyes to the heavens as if praying to the Lord for patience. “Would you stop his blubbering?”
Grumbling to himself, he slapped a calloused hand over the boy’s injured arm and closed his eyes, probing the wounds with his mind. A few moments passed, and electricity crackled in the air around the unlikely trio before dissipating, having been successfully removed from the halfwit’s arm. “See? You’re healed,” he snarked dryly, turning to the girl. “Your turn.”
Opals POV
Opal listened to the girl and obeyed her instructions, but reached out to Winnie mentally.Hey, one of the villains is… walking me home, or somewhere at least. She turned her eyes downcast.Winston, Ae-Ri, I'm sorry, but I'm not going to be able to help. She felt shame that she was unable to even help Winston and Ae-Ri against one person.
Sienna’s POV
The Phantom Alliance would be happy to hear about this. The World Guard sending untrained kids to fight half their battles. It was a clear sign of desperation. Something that couldn’t be ignored. But at the same time, Sienna wasn’t going to fight anyone when the battle wasn’t fair or necessary. “Are you injured?” She asked the girl softly, keeping her voice airy and light.
Winston’s POV
Winnie gasped as the pain from his arm was alleviated, leaving him perfectly intact. He stared at Remedy, his mouth opened in shock, unable to register this. Why? Why was he helping? The message he got from Opal made things even more confusing. “Are… Are y’all kidnappin’ us?” He croaked, choking back another sob.
Anthony’s POV
I nearly burst out laughing at how absolutely pathetic this blubbering creature was. Barely withholding an unnecessarily cruel smirk, I reached for the girl, only to have her slap my hand away.
I arched an eyebrow. “I’m a mercenary, not part of the Phantom Alliance. I’m not going to murder you in cold blood or turn you into a grotesque, I’ve got enough of those.” As if to prove my point, Samuel, who travelled primarily on all fours, butted his head against the pair’s legs.
The girl—Mirage—sucked in a sharp breath, but when I reached forward this time, she allowed me to slowly tease the electricity and pain from her system.
Opals POV
Opal looked at the girl and shook her head softly. "No, I'm not." she said even softer. "What's going to happen to us?" She felt her fear well up in her throat, but she shoved it down. If she was going to die, she wasn't going to die crying. "Are you going to kill us?"
Sienna’s POV
Sienna looked at the girl she was guiding along, almost caught off guard by her fretting. “Not all monsters do monstrous things.” She replied quietly, her voice as gentle as the warble of a songbird.
Winston’s POV
Winnie held fast onto Ae-Ri confused and still afraid, although slightly less so now. It appeared the creature— grotesque as Anthony had called it, wanted attention, sort of like a dog. So closing his eyes and gulping nervously, Winnie leaned down to stroke Samuel on the head, his hand shaking like a leaf tossed up to the autumn winds.
Ae-Ri’s POV
I watched as the sickening creature nudged its head against Winston’s hand, observing it with a nauseated curiosity. It seemed so….humanoid….that it just looked wrong for it to be acting this way. Like a dog. No, like a twisted sort of monster.
“Thank you,” I told Remedy cautiously, glancing anxiously in the direction Opal had gone. “For your help. But I think we have to go now.”
Opal POV
Opal was taken aback at how serious the girl seemed, and how honest she was. She looked through the girls memories, but didn't probe. All she wanted was a name, and she had found it. Or at least a version of it, Pasithea.
Sienna’s POV
“What should I call you?” Sienna spoke up again, hoping for a full name. She liked to keep in touch with those she’d met, even if it was just by checking in on their dreams from time to time.
Winston’s POV
Winnie withdrew his hand quickly, slowly starting to calm. His glow dimmed to a manageable amount as he silently nodded in agreement to Ae-Ri, very afraid of Remedy still.
Ae-Ri’s POV
Remedy only lifted his shoulders in a careless but strangely precise shrug, replacing the mask over his hardened features. Before he could say anything in response, I grabbed Winston’s hand and pulled him away, over in the direction that Opal had gone in.
Opal?? Where are you?
Opals POV
Opal was tempted to say that her name was 'Broadcast', like she told everyone else. But the truth slipped from her lips before she even realized it. "My name is Opal." She was shocked at her own answer, but despite how they met, she felt like she could trust her. I'm with Pasithea, I'm okay. She responded to Ae-Ri.
Sienna’s POV
“Opal is a beautiful name.” Sienna responded softly. “My name is Pasithea. Where should I take you? Do you have a home to go to?” She asked, making sure they were far away from Remedy and the others.
Winston’s POV
Winston let himself be dragged away from Remedy, trusting Ae-Ri to guide him along as his glow dulled. “Where’s Opal? Is she being kidnapped?” He asked, still sniffling.
Ae-Ri’s POV
Her eyes widened in shock. Opal, what the hell?? Pasithea’s with the Phantom Alliance, why the fuck does that seem okay to you??
Grabbing hold of Winston’s hand, I dragged him away from the bank, away from the nightmarish creatures and their sickening master. Where. Are. You?
Opals POV
"Yes," Opal replied, "But whats going to happen to my friends?" She heard heard Ae-Ri in her head, asking her a question. Cuz shes pretty, Opal wanted to answer, but instead replied. I don't know, I just trust her… and may have accidentally given her my name.
Ae-Ri’s POV
Opal, I’m sorry, but that may just be the most idiotic thing you’ve ever said to me. Ae-Ri gritted her teeth, scanning the street.
Now, where are you??
Sienna’s POV
“I swear on the skies above our heads, no harm will come to either one of them.” Sienna assured her, relieved Opal was coming along willingly. “Can you give me instructions so I can take you home, please?” She smiled warmly at Opal.
Winston’s POV
Winston was pretty much in shock at the moment, a little too much going on for him to process. He trailed after Ae-Ri keeping pace with her and casting light on their path ahead, trying to calm himself down.
Opals POV
"Uh, yeah sure." Opal said slowly. "It's (random address here). Just a couple of streets down." She wondered to herself, why she gave address to Pasithea. Then she heard and responded to Ae-Ri. Umm… We're going down Beaker street now, I think. She looked around and saw the street signs. Yep, definitely Beaker street, BUT now I've also given her my address…
Ae-Ri’s POV
A jolt of fear shot through Ae-Ri as she tore down the street with Winston in tow. Nope. Nope, nope, nope. You’re crashing at my place tonight and there’s nothing you can do about it.
Finally, she caught sight of the pair up ahead. Without a moment’s hesitation, she slid a throwing knife from its sheath and whipped it towards Pasithea. The curved knive turned in the air just as it snagged a piece of the criminal’s shirt and imbedded itself in the wall, thus trapping her.
Sienna’s POV
Sienna stifled a surprised yell as a knife tore at her toga. “This is unfortunate.” She hissed softly. She reached for Opal’s hand, ready to defend the small hero if necessary.
Winston’s POV
Winston’s glow grew brighter, casting Pasithea in a harsh yellow-gold. He was a bit panicked about facing Pasithea, but she was admittedly less scary compared to Remedy and his malformed creatures.
Ae-Ri's POV
"Get away from her!" Enraged, Ae-Ri hurled her second knife, spearing Pasithea's sleeve to the wall. Immediately, she set to work with her powers, twisting the criminal's mind until all she could see was a thick fog rolling out over the city. Pain burst through her temples, but she promptly ignored it, pushing the villain back from her friend and reaching for her handcuffs.
Sienna’s POV
Sienna withheld another yelp of pain as her arm hit the wall. Fog clouded her vision almost instantly afterwards, but she stayed perfectly still, refusing to show any sign that her feathers had been ruffled. “You’re making a mistake, sweetheart.” She breathed gently, shutting her eyes. “For your sake, keep your distance.”
Winston’s POV
Winston let go of Ae-Ri’s hand as she used her powers, watching Pasithea carefully. Something about the situation had a warning alarm blaring in the back of his skull. His skin lied scattered with goosebumps that outnumbered the starry freckles dotting his cheeks.
Ae-Ri's POV
She cursed beneath my breath—she'd left the cuffs behind at the bank. "I think you're the one making a mistake, Pasithea," Ae-Ri snapped in response, but a jarring pain in her temples prevented her from creating another illusion. "What the hell were you doing with Broadcast?"
Sienna’s POV
“I was taking Opal home.” Sienna replied calmly, facing the direction she heard the voice from. “You seem to be neglecting her, letting her wander the streets alone. If you know my name, you know I am a deity of the lost.” She spoke with clarity, distinct and almost dangerously quiet.
Ae-Ri's POV
"I know your name," Ae-Ri spat, pulling one of her knifes from the wall and grabbing hold of Pasithea's wrist. "And I know you work for the Phantom Alliance. Don't give me that bullshit. You're coming with me and Firefly—I really hope you have a thing for prison cells." With her free hand, she pressed the button on the side of her helmet. "Mirage to Mission Control. Firefly and I are fine. The bank manager is with the police, money has been recovered. The rogue criminal escaped, but I've got Pasithea."
Sienna’s POV
She rolled her eyes at Ae-Ri’s emboldened, and rather annoying, voice. The girl had made the mistake of grabbing ahold of Sienna’s wrist. She wasn’t in the mood to knock her fully unconscious, but she would if she had too. Slowly she started to let her powers feed into Ae-Ri, willing exhaustion to make the hero grow sloppy.
