Chapter 82: Most Wanted

Rick wasn't sure how to make out the situation. 

She said she knew what she was doing, she said he shouldn't worried...that he should trust her before his telepathy link was ignored. 

Then how was he to explain the blazing fire burning the whole school. He felt his heart stopped and his lips felt dry and cold, his minds kept denying what he's watching. There were cries of anguish parents, sirens blaring and the officials screaming orders. All of it sounded like muffled noises in the background.

He didn't need to think about it. He dashed to the school, toward the dancing flame crackling around, he didn't need to consider his well being with one of his ability being fireproof. He ignored the lack of oxygen and the toxic cloud of smoke covereing the air. Half way through he was in torn between saving any survivor he might find or just made a damn storm but risk losing time for anyone who needed. His mind was going through all the list of abilities he could remember that could help make the situation better, but the fire has spread too far for him to really do anything. 

Rick cursed repeatedly and decided to just drop being fireproof and used his Detector Ability to track anyone alive around him. 

What he found out next almost made him trip to a fire. 

To his utmost disbelief, there were many signs of life that should have been snuffed by the explosion. Feeling there was something wrong with the ability, he went toward the nearest life, which is a couple of girls in janitor's closet. 

They were teary eyed, and looks like the've just woken up from the explosion. They werr supporting one another admist the enclosed room, too afraid to get out. "It's alright, you're safe, help is here" he gave them his outstreched hand and only then when he was fully calm to eased the two girls that he finally noticed. 

The gym was intact. 

Or rather...all the school buildings were intact. 

With explosion that spread the fire almost throughout the school, the buildings doesn't look like it was going collapse. It's like the fire was sticking on to the building without burning it. To test out his theory he stuck out his hand to the fire, the girls beside him screamed from his action. 

5 seconds, nothing happened. 

10 seconds, his hand still looked normal. 

20 seconds, the fire is barely ticklish. 

"That...not possible?" He couldn't help say out loud. He tried putting it out by blowing out water and it works like reguler fire, yet he couldn't understand what kept the fire alive when it's not burning anything, it's as if it's ma...then he was reminded of one person who could do the impossible. 

Rick turned to the girls and explain that the fire doesn't burn and asked if they coud get out by themselves. He felt bad not accompanying them but there are more children who needed his help. The older of the two seemed reluctant to go alone but the other one, who reminded him of Claudia, nodded and while holding her friend's hand, floated and flew away in record speed. He let out a breath then tried reconnecting with Foax. 

Foax can you hear me. 

Rick waited, but even after a minute, no respond was heard. 

Foax...FOAX...dammit JESSICA FOAX CAN YOU HEAR ME!

I told you never to call me that name!

Good...you're alive, can you explain your situation?

...I'm not sure how to explain...

I know...it's surreal for me too with a not-burning-fire spreading everywhere. Unfortunately it's still not safe here from the lack of oxygen so you better use your ability to get people out as many as possible. 

Oh sure...make hundreds of kids bend to my will to get them out without panicking, say that AFTER you're in my shoe numbskull! How many people do you think woke up from the explosion and now running around like a clueless ducks!

...it's a pandemonium is it?

Ya think?

Anyway...if they want to panic, let them panic outside, I'm sure help will be on their way. By the way, is Claudia with you yet?

No, isn't she with you?

Foax's mine could be heard worried. Rick bit his lips and considered to find Claudia or help out Foax. He didn't know how magic works but he wasn't so naive thinking everything could be done without a price. 

Go... said the voice in his head. Check on Claudia, mine and Jeremy's ability could deal with this one way or another. 

Rick wasn't sure what to say other than thanks. He scuttled away to the opposite end, searching for any life signs around. If it weren't for the weird fire, his other tracking abilities would have help but instead he randomly searched for any signs for the black haired girl. 

Come on Claudia where are you?

He stopped short where he was when he saw something that almost stoped his heart. A body was falling down right toward the Research Building and he didn't need to think when he uses Telekinesis and let himself flew toward her with his mind screaming faster, faster!

His arm outstretched and he almost let her hit head fist to the roof but thankfully he caught her in his arms, he slid down the roof until he wedge his feet to the edge, halting their fall. It was hard holding a grown woman in his arm so he turned her back to her original age and watch her shrink. He held on her hand and felt the steady beating of her blood pumping and diagnose of any serious injuries, which she had none other than her broken arm, and sigh in relieve. 

She groan and slowly opened her eye yet she still looks disoriented. "Feeling allright?" I asked. 

"Flying red horses"

"Uhm...I'll take that as a no"

"Hey it's Rick, Hai Rick, have I ever told you you have pretty hair?" Before he could ask what he meant, she grabbed a chunk of his hair and pulled, "I mean I always wanted to be ginger, why can't I be ginger, red has always been my favorite color"

"Okay, that's nice even without the pulling" 

"I mean you were ginger back then as well but you were a lot more handsome, maybe because you were middle-age, I even had a crush on you but that was before you had me chase down a bear"

"You chase a what...you know what never mind, you don't even make sense right now"

"Rick, Riiiiiiiiiiick, Rick, Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Ri Rick"

"WHAT?!" He said more exasperated than ever. 

"I have a favor to ask you"

"What is it?"

She edge closer to his ear and whispered to him, his eyes went round and looked at her in shock. 

"You're serious?"

She giggle, "No, I'm Claudia"

Rick rolled his eyes, "You know what I'm say-" he was cut off when a pinky was thrust to his face that she might have accidentally picked his nose. 

"Pinky swear with me" she said with a childish pout that made Rick gape at her. 

"You have got to be Jo--"

"Pinky sweaaaaaar"

"All right, all right" he locked his own finger with her small slender one, she began to chuckle happily before she passed out on his arm. He sigh when she finally fell silent and can't help but look at her as she was in peace. He carefully slid her hair of her face, her warm breath tickled his arm, she was slightly pale but more importantly alive. "You work hard today, rest well Claudia" he took her within his arm and they went off where a crowd of people were demanding answers. 

#

-Claudia Robertson-

Okay, maybe firing off a big spell more than 30 feet above the ground may have been a bad plan. As soon as I finished my spell, I shrunk my wand back and clutched it tightly before unconsciousness crept to my head and I fall down without a back up if ever such cases happened. 

Hey to be fair, I was in a hurry, don't blame me! I was panicking over the bomb than the after effect. 

By the way, I'm sure you're curious to what I did. Well that was one of my original spells called [Burnlock] as you can see just like that black flame that sometimes appear won't hurt me, the spell would burn off my magic and absorb the heat so it won't burn anything or harm anyone. It also controlled the air to make sure it doesn't blow off anyone from the blast. 

Okay, back to me. What happened after I black out...I dreamed.

A horrible beautiful dream. 

I was there soaking wet at the river, washing out the blood from my clothes, skin and hair. There were scars all over my arm and I stayed afloat on the river, just gazing at the night sky and the brightly lit stars. 

"Why do the sky look pretty when people had died?" I remembered saying. 

"Because while people change, the sky remain the same" my heart jumped in surprise and i rushed standing to be confronted with my former teacher. To say I was surprised was an understatement, I almost thought it was a trick but my heart knew it was him. 

He still had his rugged bearded chin, his nasty looking eye, his untidy ginger hair and the jade ring he always wore. I was on the verge to run across to river and flung myself to him, to cry and burst out my worries like I did when I was child. 

I did neither of that, I stood my ground with unreadable expression, "what do you want?"

"Do I need a reason to see you lad? It's been what? 4 months since we last each other, I thought I should see how you're doing"

"We have no connection whatsoever with each other, why should you care?" My tone was flat of any emotion but I wondered if I was quivering. 

Chester Rolex had the gal to looked confused, "why would you think that?"

That question cut the string that was holding me back of my emotion, "Oh so were you joking when you said you would expelled me, when I had to choose between what I think is right and to be with the one man I regarded as the only family I had, did you not THREATEN TO CUT OFF TIES WITH ME?!" I was breathing hard by the end of it and Rolex only looks at me with silent straight face. I gritted my teeth and suppressed a growl, I refused to look at him. 

"Was it worth it?" He finally asked. 

A stream of flashback flowed in my mind. Hiding within village to salvage any sorcerer before getting caught, watching innocent getting burned at the stake, fighting battles after battles that came out with both parties receiving casualties, seeing my friend dying in my hand wondering when will it end?

"Yes, it's worth it" I said as a matter of fact but I couldn't look him in the eye. Silence overloom and I thought he was gone after confirming if i had regrets or not, then I felt something cold and metal around my neck and I looked down at my newfound necklace. It had a beautiful engraved cross charm with the word Aeternus at the back and a ruby embedded in it. The charm radiated power and mana flowing in it and I knew what it is when I touched it. 

I turned to find myself face to face once more with my former master. "This is..." I only managed to say before he cut me out. 

"I once said to you when a Teacher gives his student her wand, it would mark as the day they stand together as equals. Claudia Oriente, you may not have been my student anymore but just as I have taught you spells and potion, you have taught me far more important things. You taught me how to care, to love, to fight what you believe and I would like to say no matter what you'll do in the future I am proud to have you as my family and you will always be a family to me. May this charm protect you from the flames of fate of our kin; I just hope that time will never come for you"

My eyes began to blur as tears welled up at each passing word, he smiled kindly at me then came as our forehead touch together and his warm hand was reassuringly at the back of my head. "Happy 17th Birthday Claudia" he whispered before a gust of wind took him away toward the dead of night and I fell on my knees as I cried to the moon how i realized I had a family and I lost it before I know I had it. 

The moon became brighter that I had to close my eyes from it, except I didn't feel I was closing my eyes, instead I was opening them. The first image I saw was my two worried parents. The moment they noticed I woke up, my mother threw her arm around me and almost squeezed the air out of me. "I'm just so glad all my baby girls are okay" she said between tears. Hearing both my sisters were fine took most of the strain on my body, i asked what happened that day after the explosion and my parents just looked at each other, not knowing what to say. 

Oh no, please don't tell me the spell didn't...

"I think watching the news should explain enough, you've only been out for a day" he took the remote and turned on the TV. The news channel was the first to pop up and the headline below was ridiculous and gratifying that I almost laugh my head off. 

SCHOOL UNSCATHED FROM EXPLOSION, PRAETOR'S MIRACLE FLAME

So the gist is like this; when the teachers and employee had gotten out some of the SWAT agent who stayed state that a loud explosion was heard and there was a blinding light included and the school was in sea of flames. It was weird that none of the buildings looked like it had crumbled or burn so they decided to sweep in and found that ALL the kids survived from the blast and the flame didn't even do anything. They suspect someone had an ability for that though it's unprecedented, people were saying it might have been the owl-masked girl and was thanking her through interview. However, everything wasn't all happy, there were many casualties most were kids who barely reach 12 and a memorial service for them was planned for next Sunday. They authorities hauled off few of the terrorist but either they don't know anything or they died within custody, they didn't elaborate how. What they did elaborate was how the news caster was casting suspicion of mind-controllig device that risk then endangerment of espers getting out of controlled and attack out of the blue. The feds clearly stated they knew how it happened and weren't telling but they were making something that will counter such attack if ever happened again. 

You know...all this would have been cool if I wasn't involve in this at all. 

After skimming the news for almost an hour, both my parents left me to rest and lay there alone with my thoughts. 

All that was interrupted from a knock. 

A list of people went through in my head who it could be behind the door. You can bet your hair that I was grinning happily more than in weeks when I saw two of my best friend, Eric and Lora. 

"Claudia!" She said when we met eyes and rushed over to hug me, followrd by Eric and his mother. I was glad Lora's mom hadn't been here, considering I had tailed her and witness her mental breakdown I wasn't sure I could keep a straight face. 

I asked why they were here and Eric took the liberty to explained, "Jeez Claudia, the attack it's all over the news, how could we not check up our best friend knowing her school is up in flames and got attacked by terrorist. So I called up Lora and we agreed meeting you together, she was on the verge to cry when she find out you were in the hospital"

"Speak for yourself, you were the crying the whole way here praying she'd be allright"

Did I mention I love my two adorable friends?

"I miss you guys" I finally croaked out. They turn from each other to look at me and they both had that knowing smile. They weren't able to stay too long until Eric's mother had to drive Lora home or her mother will freak. I didn't get to salvage my alone time before another visitor pops in. 

He lean to the half open door and knocks, "hey" he simply said. 

The first thing I felt when I saw him; relief. "Hey yourself" I simply replied. 

Rick walked over from the door and sat on my bed, I tried to sit upright but my body still ache so I just kept my position. I waited for Rick to say anything but he was oddly silent, as if he was lost in his thought. "So...how's it going?" I tried snapping him out and get his attention. 

"Good" he said but he kept looking the empty space. 

"Okay off with it, what's wrong?" I decided to be blunt, using curveball doesn't seem to get any reaction. 

"You're going to erase my memory aren't you?" 

That...well anyone would jumped from a heart attack from that. My hand was left dangling in the air before I could held his sleeve. How did he...?

What? You can't possibly think I let a group of children keeping my secret. Yes they promised to keep it, yes they help saving the school, yes two of them had given up their secret for me. But keeping my magic tuckly secret and safe is the one thing I won't hand over to anyone. So yes, I had planned to erase our adventures from their mind and I found no remorse in that. 

Judging from Rick's action though, I doubt denying it would work. He knew something I don't and I hate not knowing especially when it's about me. "Yes Rick, I know you don't like it but you have to understand, I can't let anyone know about you-know-what"

"Then why can't you trust us with it, your secret I mean?"

He had a good point and I wasn't sure I could answer it but the truth, and the truth was..."because I don't trust any of you" I know it was the harsh blunt truth but I'm selfish like that, I don't want to give away my secret, not to them anyway. 

Rick just stayed quiet but he let out a heavy breath, "All right" he said, "I guess I had no choice" he pulled out a phone and handed it to me then he press the play button on the screen. 

There was me in my mask and I was yelling things about flying red horses. 

At that moment, I sat upright, ignoring the aching pain. I saw myself pulling Rick's hair and murmuring about being ginger, and for the love of god I did not just say I had crush on his past life! Then when the embarrassing scene switched with me fighting the kids in school then afterward meeting up with Rick and took off my mask.

...he's not thinking what I think he's doing isn't he?

"You know, one of my favorite abilities I have is that I could download any of my memories and watch them whenever I want. Quite useful especially when you want to blackmail someone" he took a piece a pear from the fruit basket beside my bed and ate it. 

"You...you...YOU..."

"Yes me, and by the way, I erased the rest of the Class S's memory about you so the only one who knows about you is me and Dale"

I became even more speechless than before, "bu...bu...but why?"

"It's in the video really, you asked me if I could erase their memory for you and even made me pinky swear" he snorted at the last word. "Anyway, I have the hard drive save elsewhere so erase my memory if you can but one look at that video then everyone will know about magic"

"You...wouldn't...dare" I growled, I was now wholeheartedly mad at him. 

He step closer until our noses are inches apart and he took his phone away as he smirk, "Try me" then he whistled away as if he made a job well done. Throwing my pillow at him did not satisfy me.

#

The phone rang with silent buzzing, Dr. Ars decrease the volume of his televison and picked up his phone. He smirked when he knew who is it from despite being block. "Hello, I see you've done a great job today"

"Save your breath Doctor, I lost half of my men there and too many witness saw our face. Don't be counting on us for a while"

"Oh I'm sure you could find new recruits, it's not like your mercenary group is small enough for such thing to get you in setback"

"No, doesn't mean I wasn't satisfy with our end result, I don't know how but that witch must have done something with the bomb"

"Witch?"

"Oh right I like to ask what was the point of all that anyway? Not like we ever question what we were ask to do, just curious"

The old man chuckled at his opponent's curiosity, he had never let it out before which he finds fascinating, "Oh other than extracting data for my new mind control device? Well as you can see the uproar you made has gone through worldwide television it would sell at a high price if I sold it at the black market don't you think?"

"Cut the crap Doc, you've never cared about the money"

"Ah, guess doing business together has made you know me well" the Doctor got up and stride to his window, "to answer your question I would say..." he pulled away the curtain and what greeted him was the sight of a woman in black dress and black boots, her black hair waved back and fort from the wind, her face covered from the elaborate mask of an owl, her green eyes was bright and in her right hand was a silver sword. "I want to know what I want as well" he disconnected his phone and unlock the balcony window. Dr. Ars did not find it a surprise to see her, he had even expected her. He began to chuckle at the name people were giving her, "to what do I owe the pleasure of seeing you Wonder Owl?"

Claudia did not hesitate aiming her sword at hos throat, "I would cut you down right here, right now if I didn't have questions for you"

"Now why would you want to cut down a harmless old man like me"

"Do you think I'm stupid? You were the head of your group that design the newest Limiter that cause that day events, the only way for anyone capable to make a mind controller that no one capable to make is if they have the money and resource to do it and for anyone to actually embedded it inside the Limiter without anyone noticing would have to be an inside job, I say you're a great candidate for that position"

Dr. Ars began to clap his hands, as if the sword aiming at his throat was nothing but a toy, 

"Marvelous deduction" he finally said. 

"Don't kid with me, anyone could have thought of that, but unlike the feds I don't need prove to know it's you"

He raised an eyebrow at that, "Is that why you're so afraid of me at school, because you saw something in me?" He noticed her muscle had gone tensed and begin to smile more openly. 

"It would seem you've noticed but I have long but watch over you child, no I don't think you're really child, perhaps you're even pretending to be someone's child but I couldn't care less about that. I do care however, how you could have a wide set of abilities with you that in all I know with science is not possible and yet here you are...a living breathing contradiction. You create such a marvelous display with 'Killer Mole' it was enough for me to watch it over and over again"

"You knew Killer Mo...did you assign him to kidnap those children?" Her grip with her sword tighten. 

"Yes and right now I can say what I want Claudia, and I want nothing more but your body"

A shudder broke through her back and she begin to swing her sword up, "well that's not happening"

Instead of panicking or begging or even running away, he stayed at his spot and tsk at her.

"You don't get it my dear but I always get what I want, and usually I do it by any means" the sound of a door being forced open and Claudia look up to find the FBI crawling in to the room, armed, and ready to shoot at her. The one man who Claudia knew as someone from her past life came forward and she couldn't help but flinch at how familiar the situation with her past.

"...I repeat you are surrounded so put your weapon down" the man said with his gun pointed at her. She looked contempt at the insane man who knew everything about her and yet there wasn't a damn thing she could do. 

She lost this round but she knew there'll be another one. 

Hod, take me home. 

By your will. 

Her black dress began to enveloped her and her surrounding in shadows. The feds began to shoot at her but she was long gone before then. 

That day, the girl in the owl masked became one of America's Most Wanted. 

Chapter 81: Praetor's Flame

It was just like he said. 

They lost. 

The three of her friends been captured, Claudia was deprived of her wand and her mouth gagged, Dale...was being tortured. 

Once they knew he was part of the authorities, they sepearted him from the rest and making sure he couldn't muster any strength to reply a call from his comrades and hope to get some information from him since mind reading doesn't seem to work on him. Everytime they broke a finger or carefully stab him where it won't be fatal, Claudia squirm from the leader's hold with a muffled cry, it didn't take a genius to say she was yelling them to stop. 

On the other hand, the other three was rendered useless from their ability. Stanley was gagged just like Claudia, Foax was blindfolded so he couldn't make out a target to manipulate, it was still better than Jeremy who's being gagged, blindfolded, and limbs tied tight enough that he couldn't even move a finger.  

Claudia cursed her captors over and over as if it could help her get anywhere close to escaping. Even though she didn't want to look weak, tears were trying to break out from her every time she hears Dale screamed in agony. 

Isn't this what she had been reminding herself? Not to act conceited just because she's the only one who could use magic. Because of her blunder, she couldn't utter a god damn spell to break through this ordeal. 

"That's enough!" The Leader suddenly spoke. Claudia looked up to him and saw his face was fixatated at one side of the gym, looking menancingly with his brows furrowed together. "Those buffoon..." he whispered to himself but not out of earshot from Claudia. 

He looked to his mean and bellowed, "Men, a change of plans, it's time to iniciate our Fail-Safe!"

The what? What does that even mean? Claudia thought. She wished at this time she could use Telephaty and talk to Dale to whether he was alright or not, though she doubted the former. 

His eyes was flickering toward unconciousness but remain open, Claudia was relieved he was still alive but pleaded in her heart for anything that could help her to get away. The terrorist seemed to be planning their escape and leave off the children so while they lost the match, Claudia thought the war is not lost as long as they can't go off with espers in tow. It wouldn't end as happily as everyone would have hope but as long as they survived, she could take whatever happened next. 

"I didn't want to use it but get ready the bomb"

Except for that. 

Claudia's eyes shot up at his words, there was a second bomb? She would have never expected that. How are they going to even escape in time?

She looked over and an idea hit her as she looked over the zombie-like students. Off course...teleporation! Just hold hands in a circle and you could teleport anyone out in a flash and those rings could copy off abilities. 

"Boss, the others patrolling school has gone and teleport already, there's just us now" 

"Good, we've collected enough data for that man anyway so he should be satisfied from what we have"

Data...what for? Isn't this terrorism? 

"That man would be please knowing I found witch" the leader chuckled, "can't believe i just said that. Witch, magic, to think they exist...but I guess he's curious to what it is which is why he choose this school"

Someone knows her...and her ability?

They attack this school...because of her?

Claudia felt the air in her lungs was suck out from the thougt, she shook her head trying to get rid of it, knowing it's not the time to lose focus but the knowledge kept haunting her at the back of her mind. 

"All right let's go" said the leader but while pushing Claudia with him. She glared at him, demanding what he's planning now and he got the message quite clear. 

"Well we aren't going to leave a valuable power to lay waste in this little school don't you think?" He smirked at her surprised look that showed in her eyes and the muscle tensing in her arms. She didn't fight back though, too many things were cramped in her heads. 

Is she going to leave helplessly just like that?

Is she going to leave everyone to die?

Is she going to be used to other's will?

Just like last time...

No!

She began to struggle anew, trying to wretched out from his grip as she drag her feet across the court. Instead, her action angered him and decided to break one of her arms. She screamed in pain and tears break through her eyes, the man did not lessen his pace toward the group of masked men and his grip tighten around hers, making sure she relished the pain. 

Her mind began to scream louder in her head, to fight, to break free, to do everything in her power from being taken away. Her head flailing around so much, she was able to look back at her friends. 

They were all squirming in place toward her, though they barely could move, she could see the desperation they tried to even try getting closer to her. Dale was still unmoving and knew he needed medical attention soon. 

Sadness and helplessness was replace by anger as it began to boild inside her. How dare they...how dare they do this! What right do they have hurting people? How dare they hurt her friends without a single look of shame or guilt on their face. 

She wished nothing more for the scum to drop dead. 

A scream was heard next to her and she found herself looking up at the Leader flailing his hand that was covered with black flame. 

Fear began to crept up, replacing her anger, but there was also curiosity in her mind. How did a flame appear?

It turns out, he wasn't the only one in flames, she look to herself and found she was covered with black flames as well. Panic began to swell up inside her, she was well aware her pyrophobia was acting up as she started hyperventilating. 

She stopped panicking and forced herself to slow her breathing when she realized something strange. 

She was in flames...but she wasn't burning. 

No heat, no pain, just black flames covering her like it's a part of her. 

She turned toward the leader who had hia goons tried helping him extinguished the flames with water ability but to no avail. 

Her head was pounding, her heart beats faster, and a smile appeared on her face. The fire started to spread in responsed, even to the other men, creating a choir of screams. Yes, burn...burn in pain and misery, suffer like I had suffer. You deserve it, they deserve it. 

Claudia...

Burn...suffer...burn...

Claudia!

Burn!

CLAUDIA!!!

She blinked, a voice in her head snap out from her tranced. The flames began to diminish and she felt she finally had a hold to reality. 

Claudia, what's happening? I've been trying to get in touch with Dale but he's not responding, can you hear me? Answer me what's going on?!

Ri...Rick?

Who else? So what happened?

"You little Bitch!"

Claudia was startled from the menancing voice, she looked up to find a gun pointing at her, the leader had a light red burns on his right hand and head, his whole face sweaty and wrinkled from frowning.  

She was still caught up from the aftershock, she only stared dumbly at him for a while. She would have reach out her gag there and then, but then she might put a hole in herself so she remain unmove. 

Damn a gun, oh God please don't let me die today. 

Claudia, what gun? What's happening?

Shut up Rick, if you want to help then get the rest of the people out of the school. There's a bomb and I don't know how long till it blows!

Another one! Dammit, stay where you are Claudia, I'll get some help as soon as possible. 

If you want help the stay the hell away from here because it's not safe. 

She tried prying off her mind off him and focused on the danger she's in. She really feels she has no hope on this one until her eye caught the glimering silver of her sword. If only she could get it to her side she would have a fighting chance against them. 

It might have been a subconcious thing, but with her hand raised she pointed her right index finger at the sword and slightly wave it toward her. 

The reaction it had wasn't what she had expected. She tried to hide her surprise and kept her face neutral. That failed and she let out a smirk instead through her gagged mouth which angered the man more, "what are you smiling about?!"

Oh how she wished he could hear her next thought. 

I'm not a bitch, I'm a witch. 

The sword flew toward her with speed that made the others duck, it's sharp edge hit one side of the Leader's head, toppling him aside and landed on her hand. 

Those who didn't flinch from the sudden event began shooting at her but Claudia had already made an ice shield between her and her shooter. 

"Forget about her, let's get out of here!"

The two shooters nooded at the order and began assembling while they shoot at fix interval, covering the back of their limp leader. Claudia was still busy trying to pull off the gag because it was a lot tighter than she first thought. 

There was a collective groan and she found all the espers were fainting one by one, as if being ordered so. She looked back at the Leader being one step away from teleporting. 

Oh she may can't catch up to him, but there was no way she let him get away feeling satisfied with his mission. So she couldn't stop smiling when she form a long Icecle floated off her hand and aim at the controller sitting at his back pocket. 

Which mean she was able to destroy the controller and stab his ass. 

His bellowed pain was enough to give her (a little) satisfaction, but cursed the moment most of the masked group got away. She turned to the bomb placed at the middle of the school bleachers then toward her friends. She cut the ropes, the gags, and the blindfolds and immidiately they look around, trying to assesed the situation. 

They got away didn't they? Foax pointed out the first thing he noticed. 

"Don't remind me, anyway does any of you know how to disarm a bomb?"

Stanley shook his head. 

Jeremy stayed silent. 

Foax raised an eyebrow then pointed out he could if he was reading someone's head. 

Claudia felt she wanted to curse the world. 

"Alright, at least out of all four of us, Foax has the experience of disarming a bomb so he's coming with me. Jeremy and Stanly, look after Dale will you?"

They nodded at eachother and went their way. They rushed toward the bleachers where the bomb was ticking away. It was like a black metal gallon, with suspicious red tubes and wires sticking in and out, in ths middle tere was an LCD showing the time blue numbers and curently saying thay have 1 minute and 30 seconds left before they became charcoal. She blinked in disbelief, and began to pull her hair. 

I don't know about you, but pulling your hair doesn't seem to help disarming the bomb!

"Don't talk smart with me now Foax, we have more pressing issue here!" She inched closer, hopefully looking for a STOP button along with Foax, her hand tried to touch the Death Tool but Foax seize her arm beforehand. Don't, there's a motion detector, a slight movement and we all be blown to bits, what's more it's bolted to the ground. 

One minute left...

"How bad is the bomb?" She asked with a nervous tone. 

Enough to blow half the school to bits. Foax said with a regrettable tone. 

"Well how do we stop it?!" 

Foax looked intendly at it, trying to somehow excavate any of his memories that could help to maybe slow it down or cut off thw motion detector. Nothing came to mind as he had never chalanged the bomb in front off him. He had always pride himself with his telephaty to not only read people's mind but to re-enact them whatever is in their head. 

Now he cursed he don't know anyone who could help him with bombs. 

I'm sorry, I don't-I can't help...I thought I could and yet...

Claudia wanted to say something but her words caught stuck in her throat. Foax was crying...his head was down with a look of defeat cross his face, to him, it was the first time he felt useless. At least since that incedent three years ago, he swore not to let anything happened to his friends, to protect the only few people he could call his family. 

To uphold the promise he couldn't kept with her...

Now he's going to die along with most of the student population and there isn't a damn thing he could do. 

I'm sorry Theresa...

His mind swept up toward the past memories of her first few days since they met, he remebered her as a girl who always smile. With her wild red hair, her freckles across her cheeks, her subtle blue-green eyes, her sharp canine teeth showing whe she grins, he began remembering simple features about her. Even when things go downhill for her, she made stupid bad jokes for herself and lift her own spirits. He began remebering how stubborn she was in games when he felt like losing and she would slap him in the back and flashed her trademark smile as she said to him...

Don't give up!

He blinked, his mind was forced to look again at reality and his head was then yanked to look at a pair of jade eyes. "Don't you dare give up just like that Foax, I didn't face a hundred of terrorists, fought off zombie-espers, and had my arm broken just to let them have their way and I'm not going to die today!"

...since I've already died once. 

Foax would have like to ask if he misheard her mind but then she went thinking of different foreign spells that he didn't understand. He looked back at the bomb, there was only 40 seconds left and he let out a dry laugh. 

If only there was a miracle...

"Don't you know Foax?" He turned to face and saw she had a smile that somehow reminded her of an old friend he just thought of seconds ago. 

"The word magic comes from the word miracle"

30 seconds...

She looked back at the bomb with deep thoughts, there were a lot of spells she had in mind but there was a risk, most of them was because it might trigger the motion detector. She thought about submerging it to the ground, but then she doesn't know if it might blow up a gas pipe and make it worst. Float it in the air? Worst, it will flail around and if that doesn't trigger it, she doesn't know what will. Freeze it, no...useless. Teleport it, no time to make the magic circle or the long damn chant. Shield it? No...too much of a gamble with a bomb that could crush half the school. 

Ugh, this is the first time she wish she still has her spell book. 

Claudia cursed herself that she mostly only knows combat spells, she suddenly remembered how her Master would say she was a battle junkie and how now was a bad time to agree the 400 years denial. 

25 seconds...

Can't you think of something? Like make it explodes bunny and doves instead of flames?

"I'm a freaking sorcerer Foax, not a trickster magician! I can't just turn anything into anything" She blinked and took his words to some thoughts. If she took his aim into consideration. 

20 seconds...

There's one spell that could work but doing it now would be a race of time. Either she finished the spell at the right moment or the bomb will. Not before or after the explosion but just the right time. Can she make it?

17 seconds...

No time to dawdle!

"Foax, make sure Rick teleport everyone as much as he could, tell him the time and don't argue, also...tell me how the countdown once it reaches five seconds"

Wait, Claudia...

She ignored him, with one word she flew from her spot and rushed out of the gym. The wind rushed past her cheeks and looked up at the sky, it's almost night time but there's still a a minute or two before the sun fully sets which was the key part of the spell. She made it at the edge of the school wall at the north side, she cut a flock of her hair, made a tight knot then place it down. She then did the same to the East, West, and South side of the school. Her long black hair was no longer and made a ruly bob cut hair. She took a second to catch her breath as she never felt she had flown as fast as she had today amd felt the strain of her mana dimishing. 

Claudia, it's five seconds now. 

Her hunch back immidiately straighten, and she flew as fast she could above the school, right at the middle. [O Mighty Wind, O Raging Fire, be one with my call and follow my cause...]

Claudia...it's three seconds now. 

[...let you know no heat, let you know no force...]

Two sec...Claudia where are you?

[...to protect as it is and make no mistake...]

CLAUDIA!

Foax, trust me...

[...let our power be shared, let our will be one...]

A loud explosion was herd all across town and people watch in horror as the school was engulfed in flames. People began wallowing in despair at the scene of what will be known as 'The Praetor's Flame'

Chapter 80: 5 Minutes to Boom

"We're going to die...we're going to die a horrible death! Mom and dad would cry at my funeral, Tom would take my room and Alice is going to take away every single of my collector card as her own"

"Kenny, shut up!" Rick hissed at him. 

The group of five had been caught around 5 minutes after they begun planning their grand rescue scheme. Now they're tied up together next to a bomb and staring straight at the nuzzles aiming at them. 

The teachers looked horrified at the prospect of seeing their students being held hostage along with them yet they couldn't say anything. Despite most of the seats being filled, they were dead silent. The air was tensed enought to put pressure on your chest, The usual smell of dust of an auditorium was replaced with sickening smell of copper, few bodies laid slumped on their seats and the people beside couldn't utter a complaint. 

Yet admist those teachers, Charles Dalton hasn't the slightest bit disturb of the situation. It was one of the many situation he foresaw in his head, and to his luck, the one who came were all part of Class S and Rick Carlton himself. 

It was one of this moment he was glad he was Class S homeroom teacher. 

Rick also finally met eyes with the person he kept searching through the crowd, there was silent exchanges and Charles dimly nodded. Rick took a deep breath and calmed his nerve. He just needed to lessen the number and put their attention to him, bullets won't kill him but it will to his friends so he needs to set their priorities toward him in the first few minutes. 

He looked again at his friends; Alvin who had control over electricity, Kenny who's practically made of rubber, Dean the computer whisperer, and Maya who could control plants. 

An idea then sprung in his head, one that will 100% take their attention and cause panic at the same time. 

There's risk in causing casulties but like Agent Hawk said, since we aren't wearing our bracelet, the terrorist doesn't realize we were espers so we should take advantange of it if we were ever caught. 

He closed his eyes and muster every last of his concentration to form a telephaty link with all the employee in thia school being stuck in the Main Hall. 

Everyone if you can hear me please remain calm. 

Despite saying that, he could tell the crowd's expression shifted. Though that indicated the link was working, he inwardly hoped the terrorist didn't notice the shift. 

Everything that's going to happen will be a plan for all of us to get out with our lives intact, I know trusting your lives to us children would be difficult but I only need to ask you to keep calm no matter what. 

He cut off the connection to spare the headache of the people's inner voice (or shouting in this case)

"You've got to be kidding me!" Someone bellowed. 

All the evil eyes in the room turned toward him, ready to shoot at the first threatening move they see. "What was that?" The nearest man to him growled. 

"No, I'm sorry it was nothing." He said in an almost squeking tone. They stared at him, unaware of the cold sweat trickling down the loud person's temple as they kept staring another second longer. They then before resuming whatever job they were assign. 

Rick let out a breath he wasn't aware he was holding. He switched his attention to the the tied up teacher around the bomb. Their face was pale and grave stricken, the only female teacher had red eyes and nose from crying while holding up her hiccups. 

Those three are the only ones he didn't tell and he felt bad but it's best that they don't know what they'll do next. 

He linked his thoughts to his friends and word oit his new plan, they had their misgiven, especially Dean who's the key start of the plan. 

No, nope, not happening, never. 

Do it or I'll use my ability to make you. 

Dean inwardly groan. He had always been a timid kid, to put him in front where he was likely to die was the last thing he had in mind. 

I've got your back Dean, trust me. 

Sadly he didn't want his trust, he wanted to eatch the next episode of Doctor Who that should be airing right about now. He was planning to deny once more but his friends then shot him expectant and pleading eyes. 

He hesitated but know that he hadn't got a choice. He made a large gulped and with his trembling legs, stood up and cried at the top of his lungs awhile running around the stage. 

He swore that day if he lived through this, he'd tell his kids how he once scream like a baby while being surrounded by mask-gun wielding-men looking at him like an idiot. 

To say the terrorist was surprised was an understatement, they kept looking at one another, gesturing that seemed to ask which of them would get tasked handling a screaming child. When two of them began to step foward, Dean slip and crash into the bomb, getting the others to hold their breath. 

There was a repeated omnoous beeping and then the time that should have showed around 40 minutes until the explosion suddenly became 5. 

Imagined the panic attack the terrorist had. 

Not to mention the three hostages being tied to it. 

They were so busy panicking, a minute then passed. 

The shouted out curses which alerted the terrorist theoughout the building, they came closer to the stage where the trap was laid. Kenny speed in streching his legs was enough to mind bogglle for anyone seeing it first hand. 

With as great swiftness as a snake. Kenny had latched on to every single terrorist's feet, immobilizing them or at least slowed them down. 

Alvin had already took off his shoes and let out an electric charge that made the closest victim to faint. "Shit, they were espers..." said one of the terrorist before he slumped down. The charge was big enough to even hit the teachers sitting in the front seats, since Rick said he'll manage the the one who got hit from friendly fire so Alvin didn't worry much, including Kenny who's no different with Luffy the Pirate. 

Three minutes...

Sadly, there were still at least half standing, burned and a little disoriented but still have enough strength to pull a trigger when needed. 

With less people and their attention was whole heartedly on them, Rick could have use this chance to use his many abilities on them, but he didn't have to. 

Charles Dalton had already got up and with swift, fierce, and precise movement, he knocked out the nearest man with a jab at his neck, then proceed to elbowed the head of the next man, and kneed the third man's gut. 

One minute...

When some turned to meet a third party, another man was down from a kick to the face. Charles notice a man was ready to shoot him when he pulled up on his arms and aim the rifle to his comrades, shooting on them, taking out almost the rest of them.  

50 seconds...

Once he was done he made a round house kick to his enemy and there was only four enemy left. Two on front and two on his back. He had already stole a gun from the pocket of one his assailant and start shooting to one of them while using the dead body of the terrorist as a shield to his back. 

30 seconds...

He didn't or bat an eyelash when the rest start shooting at him, his white lab coat was dyed red from blood splatter around him, the nostalgic smell of a mix of gun powder and blood honed his long lost instinct. 

He made two step to the right and shoot once more, he next aimed at his back and the next bullet hits. He turned to the last assailant but he had emptied his last bullet. 

25 seconds...

With quick reflexes, he duck and rolled from the outcoming bullets. He took a rifle from one of the body as he rolled and turnes to crouch and aimed. 

Sadly with lack of experience holding a rifle, the bullets couldn't come close to hitting but then the five bullets curved and change courses, hitting the terrorist's back then fell flat on the ground. 

15 seconds.

Once he was sure he wasn't getting up, he turned to Rick who had his hand out and gave a small smile of gratitude. Charles turned to his students who were gawking with eyes similar to saucer plates. Had he turned around he would see many of the employees having the same expression. 

Kenny was the first to break the awkward silent, "That...was...AWESOME, I knew you were my favorite teacher for a reason!" 

"Thank you for that Kenny" he turned to Rick, "can you connect your thoughts to the SWAT team and inform of the situation?"

"Already on it"

7 seconds...

"Good, May I want to use your ability and make sure those who could still move to be caged" Maya had glistening eyes from holding herself from crying as she watched the horror that took place before her eyes. Rick held her shoulder in reassurance and she took a deep breath before fishing out seeds that could make sturdy cage to held the terrorist in place. 

3 seconds...

 

"All right, now Dean...can you please stop the bomb before those three died from stress instead"

Dean was having guilty pleasure that one of his least favorite teacher, about to wet his pants. He compiled of course but not after he let the clock go on until it reached 1 second from exploding. 

Rick was glad everything went off without too much of a hitch. He would have been full of doubt if there hadn't been a reliable adult like Prof. Dalton, not to mention he couldn't surpress the awe struck feeling from watching his movement you would usually only see in movies. 

He then turned toward the East where the gym was, hoping the best for them. 

Claudia, Dale, please let things went off better from your end. 

Chapter 79: Eternal

"Master, how do you cast spell without words?" I asked curiously as I practice one of my fire spell to hit the target he set up. 

"There are no such thing as a spell without words Claudia, you can try though, maybe one day you'll find one" he said while he observed me with a beef jerky in his mouth. 

"But...but I remembered last time you made a tree move without so much as uttering a word!"

"Ah that...I haven't taught you have I about wands?"

"Wa-wands? What's that?"

"It's a tool great sorcerers used to cast spell by simply a series of movement. Not many used them because making it is taxing and you can't write down the spell you forgot using it."

"Well that's handy, you can use spells but by remembering movement rather than words, how does that work? How is it not Wordless Magic? How do you make them?"

Master raised an eyebrow and gulped down the remaining jerky, "You know you aren't getting away until you hit all 100 of that bullseye right?"

Unintentionally, I clicked my tongue and look back at the many hidden target in the forest. I just hope there won't be another forest fire. 

#

"Holy shi-" Rick caught himself raising his voice before he could curse.

After activating his X-Ray ability, his surrounding was color was lost and the walls began to wane as he focussed his sight on it. Glowing red people were sitting and on their chairs and some were standing at every corner and gap of the place. At the stage, there were three people holding a gun and three more people tied together around a cylinder shape contraption. 

Curiously, he focused on that sole object, making out colors on it. He wouldn't have any clue about it if he hadn't saw the time clearly ticking at the side. 

He wanted to be double sure it wasn't a fake or anything the like, so he tried burning the structure of the bomb to his head and switch his ability with Analyzer and almost cursed once more how bad the bomb would be if it goes off. 

Slowly he stepped away toward the rest of the gang, he couldn't outright tell them there's a bomb, not without causing them to panic, but this means he needs to tell the SWAT team about the bomb so meeting them becomes a priority. 

He pushed through the bushes and trees, not bothering to hide his presence at the sound of his steps crushing dry leaves. "Hey guys, change of plans, we need to find them ASA-" he stopped short, not daring to move another muscle. Four black garbed mask men brandishing their weapons toward the group and theym kids look like they're going to wet themselves. 

A gun was pointed at him and Rick had no choice but to lift his hands in surrender. 

Things...just gone worse to worst. 

#

"What the hell! I asked you to call search out how our people is getting knock out and you lost two of our espers instead!" Shouted one of the terrorist who from his tone, I assumed to be the leader of this pack.

Great, not only do we spot the leader, we managed to piss him off too. How wonderful. 

"Psst, Claudia, are you sure it's better we put the two into sleep?" Jeremy whispered. I glanced at the two girls sprawled on one of the janitor's closet. I felt bad leaving them but with my sister being one of them, waking her up seemed to do more damaged, and I'm not just talking about my relationship with her. 

"They were put in control just a few moments ago and I don't think puting them in a life and death situation would be good for their mental condition and would most likely push us back because of it." I tried reasoning him. 

Jeremy, thankfully, accepted it without question. He then turned observing the hallways through my Ice Mirrors. 

While we make sure they move their resource to our Corridor of Traps, we waited for any signs the boys, hoping they're having more luck than us. I eyed the vents that they had crawled into with Stanley constantly used his hypersound voice to guide their way through. 

By the time they reached above the leader, Dale would somehow make a hole through the shutes (he admits he could with a pocket knife), and Foax would then make sure he controlled the leader action to dismiss the terrorist and destroy the controller. They would still be kept in a trance but they no longer can controlled their actions. 

"They stopped coming Claudia, what do we do now?" Jeremy asked in concern. 

"Then we'll just have to come to them"

#

"Get off me you little twerp!"

Why don't you try not blocking my way, Fillion!

"Guys, it's cramped and it's noisy, so if you two don't shut your trap then don't blame me if we get caught or led us astray!" the usual quiet and reserve Stanley couldn't help but voice out his annoyance. Even though Claudia wasn't the hero he had thought, it didn't change tehe fact she had become his hope for him...and maybe for the whole Class S. That hope entrusted him to guide these two for the main part of the plan and if he'll be damn if he couldn't do his job because of they were noisy. 

Technically, I don't voice out my toughts so Fillion would be the only person to blame if we get caught. 

"Then please don't give him reason to yell."

The shute became quiet down and Stanley had to held back a sigh. It was tiring letting his jaw opened and voicing out high frequency sound and guide through the maze. The image became clearer when he closed his eyes as the ripple of sounds let's him traced his surroundings.  

It was harder locating any gap that would help getting a clear position from the outside and right now all he knew is the terrorist are acting out of order, meaning Claudia and Jeremy are doing their job well. 

However, he noticed two familiar silhouette just outside the gym entrance, they were supposed to be out of range for him. His heart jumped at the fact they were approaching a gym swarm of terrorist and zombie espers. Though surely they have a plan right?

Stanley unknowingly hasten his crawl. 

The two noticed this and tried to keep up while wearing a concern look on their face. They were about to ask what was wrong when they felt the rising voices outside revenbrating trough the shutes. 

"What's Claudia doing outside!" Dale hissed. 

Something crazy apparently, Stanley, can you make out what's going on outside?

Stanley was silent for a moment and his movement slowed, "Would you believe me if i told you?"

Dale and Foax looked at each other, then turned to Stanley once more, "Try us"

Stanley heaved a sigh with a defeated expression, because not even he could describe what was going on. "From what I saw-or heard, Claudia seemed to be confronting all the terrorist"

"...by all of them, how many do you mean?"

"By all of them, I meant every gun using men here are facing her and I'm not sure what she's doing, wait..."

"What now?"

"She's holding something? It suddenly appeared on her hand, it looks like a sword?"

Dale was quite sceptical at the fact, and opened and closed his mouth while thinking the words to retort, "You're telling me she just summoned a sword in her hand?"

"Yeah I guess...I'm not sure how she..."

I don't care how she magically call out a sword, what I do want to know what she's planning to fight guns with a medieval weapon!

Few of the things Foax was glad having Telephaty, is that he could screamed in anguish at someone and no one would notice him. 

Dale cringed at the pounding sound in his head and tried to calm him down, "Foax, she said herself she's a...a witch, I think she has a plan"

You think?

"How should I know how a witch fights?"

"Uh, guys I think we don't have a problem" Stanley interrupted once more. 

"Why's that?" Dale and Foax asked together. 

Stanley couldn't help but let out a smile, "Because she's kicking every one of their asses"

#

When I suggested to go in alone, Jeremy looked furious and that I shouldn't be stupid. I know I wouldn't have done this if there weren't any risk, but since we've taken out half of the guards, I should be okay. 

There's also the problem that I haven't been fighting with swords for a long time so I'm mostly going to wing it. 

Jeremy would have put me out to sleep if he heard it though. 

Which is why I'm here at the eyes of all terrorist to look at me, well...actually there watching a mirror image of me as I watched from the entrance how they all looked threatening toward opposite side of where I am, to them I look like a suspicious masked figure who had appeared out of nowhere.

My image mirrored my confident look as well as my every movement,  I pulled my necklace off and held the pendant like a prayer. I couldn't resist the muscle pulling my lips into a curve smile as I could use my partner after so long. "Let summer burn, let winter froze, I command thee show thee self, Aerenus!"

My pendant dimly glowed and as I twirl it in my hand, it grew into a sword with swinggling carving glowing from the tip of the sword to the handle where a red gem is embeded on it. 

The men fires their gum but that only gave the image a blurry look. Once they realize it was a fake, I swung the sword around then stab it to the ground in a practiced move. Ice began to crept up on the floor, freezing everyone's feet in places. 

I knew there would be an esper that could crack them, so I rushed to the nearest man and knock him on the head with the blunt edge of my sword and cut the rifle into two. I then made a round motion with the sword, sending ice shards toward a few of terrorist putting holes to them and to their rifles. 

Despite the tensed and rushed air aeound me, I was overwhelmed with glee and relieved in using my wand again. 

Yes, you heard me right, MY WAND. 

What? Did you think I would have a flimsy wooden stick to cast my spell? I never understood why people have misconception about wands, maybe if it was the period where Greek still thrives but there never was a rule of what a wand needs to look like. 

Wands are tricky things to make, once you have one you need to apply the motion for the spells and like an Ipod, you could save it in and call out to it whenever you want. The problem would be once you registerd your spells in it, you can never change it back. Moreover, you can't change and make a new wand like someone changing a new game character. Which is why it's more efficient to have a few but a strong long chanting spells and saved it with a simple motion like a swish and flick.

Plus, with a sword as a wand, I can use spells and hack people at the same time! 

Going back to the fight, the rest of the men somehow escaped my ice imprisonment using the espers. They began to shoot me but that just what I had hope. I twirlled and the bullets was encassed with ice by the time they reach my zone then sending them back. I heard them bellowing in pain but I had my eyes toward the benches. 

Three men was there and two was flaking on the one I pressume as the leader. I wanted to so bad looked at the ceilings for any signs of the three but I kept my eyes fixed on him. 

While the other two men were gawking at the performance of a woman who wore an owl mask, the Leader kept his poker face and eyed me in a stern observing way. What made me tick though was the smirk he made his way at me. 

Again, I send more ice shard, but this time I chanted a spell and made a barrage of air bullets to go together with it. It didn't surprise me they made some of the espers to become shield, one of them happends to be a Pyrokinetic and breathed out fire to melt my ice. That didn't stop my air bullets and I heard high pitch groan from them. 

The man on the left used this chance to enganged on me with a hand to hand combat. I created the Ice floor once more and he jumped with an aim kick at my face. I had almost gasped when I saw his skin change to a dark shade of gray but block it with my sword. Yet that was enough to pushed me back that I had to put my knee down to steady myself. My eyebrows furrowed at the strength but when he was about to land a clean hit at me, I dodge at the last second and saw dust flting from a small crater around that man's fist.

Enhanced strength huh... 

I'm so dead if that hits me. 

He came at me once more and I saw at the corner of my eyes the man on the right flank was aiming at me with a gun but was hesitant to shoot, he must have seen me controlled it somehow and sended it back. Looks like I can ignore him for a bit. 

The man I'm facing I decided to call Spike with his spiky blond hair, he readied his stance and advance with great ferocity that could unnerve my nerve. I dodge and block at every punch he throws, at every kick he flick whilw reading his movement as I barely could keep up his swift and precise movement. I couldn't even think of a spell as my focus were on his. 

I decided to make a risky plan.

The moment he threw his punch I intercept it with my blade and he didn't so much as flinch as blood oozes out from his knuckles while the wound itself looked like a scratch. 

So he has enhanced defense too. 

I slip through the side and lunged at him but that only gave him a clean hit at me as he twirl his body around and gave me a punch at my gut. The solid thin ice covering me was crushed to bits and my lunch was thankfully had been digested so I didn't puke.  

It helps that the ice could let me live longer. 

I clenched my teeth and bare it and stab his hand to the floor. I didn't flinch at the full blow scream Spike bellowed right in front of my face and made a clean kick at his jaw. 

That silenced and knock him out. 

The man on the right flank was about to shoot me but the Leader held out his hand and he stood down. "Interesting ability you got there, controlling ice, make illusions and summoning a weapon out of nowhere"

"You've seen nothing yet" I snarled at him. He was large men and wooze out a wave of authority that made men listen to him. I pointed my sword at him and giving the best furious glare I could muster. 

He only chuckled in response, "You're only one person, even if you take me out the plan would still move on. What could you possibly do?"

"For one, I'll make sure to take the controller you have on you"

His smile turned to a frown and his eyes squinted to a thin line. "So you're going to fight me for it?"

"That's right!"

Now he started to look dissapointed and tsk me, "No, that's not right, you're just a distraction, they though..." he aimed his finger to the ceiling and the man beside him began to shoot above in rapid succession. A scream echoed the gym and my face paled looking at my three friends falling. 

"Wind, give them wings!" I bellowed. 

They had been falling to their deaths when a pull on their back gave them making them float. That was an opening I made for him to to knee me the same place Spike punch me, pull my sword away and threw it, then hold my right arm and twisted it making me screamed. 

"It would seem you're one of the reason the doc wanted to use this school so badly" he held my arm where it was twisted and pulled toward my back, locking me in place. He pushed me closer and had our faces inches away and I saw his eyes, his cold ruthless dark blue eyes while the touch of his fingers made me shivered disgustingly. 

He gently took my mask away, giving him full view of my face and it made me want to cover my face with mud just so I don't give him the satisfaction of seeing it. 

"Hmm, you're going to be a fine beauty once you reach at this age"

My eyes widen and my lips parted, "How did you-about me-and the boys, you shouldn't have known!"

The Leader smirk and motion to his ring, "You know there's a boy in Class 1 who could listen to every conversation at 10 miles radius? They thought it was a useless ability, but who knew it help me find a witch? When I heard it, I thought you were nuts but that display certainly gave me doubts now."

The blood began to quickly drain my face, so he knew all along? About the plan? About us? About everything happening in this school?

"Oh, and your little friend of yours in the auditorium? They would have seem to be caught if one of them cursing is any indication to that. My men would have set the bomb by now, it's a waste to left them to burn but our time is running out"

I tried and tried to struggle out of his grip, but it's no use. His grip was too firm and it only hurt myself more. 

I kept struggling. 

The piece of shit of a man seemed amused by my effort, he held my chin and had me face the entrance of the gym where Stanley was being carried like a sack on a man's shoulder. To place the last blow, he whispered the word that took the final piece of my spirit. 

"Face it, you lose"

Hello readers, I hope you enjoyed this chapter.

It would seem my writing becomes a bit tad slower so the update would not be weekly like before.

I also blame Pokemon Go for that because damn the game is quite addicting.

Plus let me brag, yesterday I hatch a Porygon and caught an Aerodactyl! Two rare pokemon bitches! Magmar would have joined the club if it weren't for the internet.

Okay enough bragging, I'm sure some or most of you don't care anyway.

It's already the first day of working and school for most people, are you still on holiday? Or are you back to your daily lives? Whichever you're having I hope you had and will have a nice holiday!

Happy Eid Mubarak

To all my Islamic readers. 

Taqaballahu Minha wa Minkum, shiyamana wa shiyamakum. Minal aidin wal faidzin.

And to all my readers please forgive all my faults as I write this story in my blog.

May your  and your loved ones sins be forgiven and your deeds be accepted.

Amiiin