[[TRIGGER WARNING]]
Minx eventually stood up and quickly explained before running out of the room with the new prototype heading to the doctor's office to see if the girl was okay.
She got there just as the doctor started examining her. The girl was still out but she was battered pretty badly. Her legs were both broken and her hip was popped out of socket. It was a sight Midas could not take and he stepped aside with his back to Minx once his sister arrived.
Minx rushed to the doctor's side her eyes welling up with tears once again. "Can I help with anything?"
"That depends. You appear to know something. Care to tell me?" She spoke in such a caring, gentle voice.
Minx explained her story, what the trees showed her. Minx gave her the crib-notes version, but it was enough for the doctor to understand.
Hayley nodded along as she used her ability on the girl then gave her a sedative, "I'll be keeping her here over night. I'll try to get a statement from her in the morning."
Minx nodded and headed for the door.
"Minx, thank you. For trusting me."
She nodded again and was gone. Minx looked at her watch as they left the building
[Are you still awake. I really need a hug.]
[Where are you?]
[Heading to my room. Be there is a couple minutes.]
[I'll meet you there.]
To her left, while she was typing, "That could have been you."
"But it wasn't."
Midas stopped her and turned her, "But it could have been! He HAS to be stopped!"
"Yes, he does. Learn your book. We are getting stronger as a team. We'll handle this together."
She turned and resumed walking. Inside, Midas headed upstairs, and she turned through the fire doors into her hallway. Vorden was leaning against her door.
"Thank you Vorden for meeting me to discuss next week's training."
Vorden didn't like the look of her face. She had obviously cried a lot of tears and Sil was right there watching. She took the few steps required. "Let's go inside and talk."
She opened the door and they both entered. She could see Vorden was struggling and could figure out why. "Let him out."
That was all Sil needed to hear. Vorden was given no choice as Sil took over his body.
"What's going on?" as he pushed her against the wall, lifting her up with her legs around his waist.
She sighed and gave him the crib-notes version because she really wanted to be held and all this explaining was becoming exhausting. She wanted to sleep in his arms.
Sil was furious. The energy coming off him was both scary and comforting.
She looked him in the eyes, "Logan has this under control right now. I need you to trust. Please. I'm bringing Dufus to our side. I think it will help. Please don't kill him." She held his eyes with hers, placing her hand on his cheek tenderly. "Promise me, you'll leave Dufus alone. He's a victim in this just as much as I am."
Sil didn't want to capitulate, but this sweet girl had asked so nicely, and he wanted to see her smile more than anything. Once again, he was also calming down much quicker than would be normal.
"Okay but if he betrays you, his death will be highly painful."
Minx consented. "Please just hold me. I want to fall asleep in your arms."
He carried her to her bed, gently placed her in, then lay beside her and held her. He found it oddly comforting. He also still questioned the odd way his body responded to her. He was always hot and felt strange around in her presence. He was calm and excited at the same time. He held her firmly and she was out in just a few minutes. When Sil realized she was asleep, he got up and let Vorden take over, running to their room with seconds to spare before 10:00.
Down the hall from Vorden and Midas, a young man was reading a new ability book, and he wasn't just understanding what he was reading but he was truly enjoying the contents of the book. He had hoped he would understand when Minx bought it for him but now that he was reading it, he realized just how perfect this ability was for him, how well it fitted his personality.
He never wanted to be a leader or have power, but he wanted to help people such as himself. This was a terrible world he found himself in and he wanted the power to help those stronger than him make a difference. Positive change was needed on a large scale, and one lowly person couldn't do it alone. But as a group, who knew what the future held. He wanted the chance he had been offered.
In his mind, people deserved the right to have a good life, to not live in fear as he had done his whole life. Living through the years as a level 1 was a nightmare that the poor often suffered from and could never change because they were never afforded the opportunity. Perhaps by siding with someone as wonderful as that Minx girl, he could change his parents' lives, his brother and his two sisters as well.
Dufus was the oldest, the youngest was just 6 years old. School didn't expect her to have an ability just yet but the appearance of one's clothing would tell the others straight away that no ability would be forth coming. He had high hopes and was praying that this hope was not misplaced. He made a promise to himself to study diligently and learn this book by the end of the week as asked.
Somewhere in a darkened room, a level-7 ability user was fuming. He had been foiled again. "I'm going to get that monster. She is always spoiling my fun! And now she sent in her brother? I'll show them both!"
Minx walked into the bathroom slowly as the sound of crying drew her in. She could see spots of blood on the floor. A trail that led to the last stall. As she approached, the sobbing grew louder.
"Hello?" she called softly.
"Go away!" came the response.
"I'm sorry. I can't do that. I see blood which means I'm automatically going to help you. Are you going to let me help you or do I need to call a teacher in here?"
"I … I need a …shower…," came the reply.
Minx's head went somewhere she hated being familiar with. In the gentlest voice she could muster with anger rising within her, "did someone … attack you?"
There was a long pause on the other side of the door. "How … did you know? Are you with Donavan?"
Minx thought hard and fast. Donavan was known to have a lot of notches on his bed post. If he was refused, he'd assault the girl making her regret turning him down. Then he would spread rumors around the school about the girl being the wrong sort for any decent crowd.
"Why would I be with a pig like him?" Minx said softly. "Fortunately for me, he's not interested."
"Lucky you."
"Look. The day is almost over so I'll give you a choice. Either go to the nurse or call your mom and have her come get you. You need medical attention."
After what felt like an eternity, the door opened. Stella, the girl who saved her brother's assailant from a painful death at her own hand only the week before, stumbled out of the stall.
"Can I walk with you, help you get to where you need to go?"
Stella shook her head. "I got it. Get back to class before they notice you missing."
"You sure?"
Stella nodded. "And please. Keep this a secret."
Minx promised and returned to class.
Minx sat straight up in bed remembering the day this happened with crystal clarity. A week later, Minx learned Stella took her own life as a result of the assault on her. The guilt she felt at keeping the secret still haunted her.
Needing a shower and noticing it was morning, Minx headed straight there. And stayed there for half an hour.