The white butterfly tango

Chapter XXIX

They planned to deal with Esma and Mister Hubert as those two were the ones causing most of the problems. For some precise reason, they were in that factory building at it was probably connected to Mister Whittle's plan. The students wanted to make sure Esma was on their side. It was the only way to stop the cycle. Hannes was supposed to start a live stream so that the problem became globalized. It was important for them to gain as much support as possible. After all, somehow they would have to explain everything, and pieces of evidence would be crucial. Luckily, the global web was there for their disposal.

Mike and his team were ought to initiate the combat and make at least someone leave the factory. They were heading directly there into the clouds of dark smog that now were blocking the vision too

"You better prepare your speech." Mike was walking with his hands in his pockets. It was tiring and very depressing for him to carry the guilt he felt for leaving Ruth. Even Mister Hubert kept repeating something about how the freckled girl was destined to give up her life for friendship.

"I know precisely what to say." Dan didn't like being put in the team with Mike but knew it was the only way. The boy felt both lost and confused, knowing only that it was important for him to save Esma. He just cared too much about her.

"Dan spent some time,... reflecting." Alvie didn't hesitate to join in on their conversation. She wanted to be included in the mission as well and hated to be treated as a child.

"I love her." The sentence left the boy's mouth before he could notice. He then opened his eyes wide and stopped breathing, getting all stiff.

"Whoa- weren't you dating for like a week?" Mike couldn't help but chuckle at that. He'd noticed something similar in the way Esma spoke, so though it was hilarious.

"Would be a coward again if lie like this to myself. I knew her for all my life." Dan then added seriously, explaining himself.

"Good thing, you understand that." The masked boy nodded and they continued their walk towards the factory building. Alvie didn't jump in this time, only looked somewhat disturbed. Dan rushed to the front and Mike decided to break the silence. "And you seem disappointed..." He glanced at the girl, who was just as slick as usual. Nothing could make her look less perfect.

"My emotions don't matter..." The girl frowned for being caught like that. Unexpectedly for both of them, a little nasty curse jumped from the closest road sign right onto the girl. "Ewww!" She exclaimed loudly turning the attention of both boys and then swiped the creature off with a stick, she picked from the ground. It flew away, right onto Mike. "I'm so sorry." Alvie sighed in disbelief and Mike, being way too surprised and disgusted at the same time, used his magical barrier to destroy the curse. It exploded getting their clothes all dirty.

The boy took off his jacket that precise second without saying a word. He tossed it to the closest bin and then started pulling out something from his backpack. The girl only crunched her nose, finally noticing the terrible smell, as Dan was checking in on her.

"Are you sure, everything is okay? It didn't bite you?" Dan was really worried but was the cleanest one of them all.

"Curses don't bite, Dan." Alvie shook her head in disagreement and chuckled a bit.

"I have some additional clothes and a few masks." He didn't even stutter. Ruth wouldn't need those anyway and the smell got worse when they closed in on the factory. "Maledictions curse people with some specific and unique movements. Biting is the rarest one of them all."

"thank you..." The girl pulled out a tissue from her pocket, cleaning her hands. She then tossed the dirty material into the bin and took the things from the masked boy. As she did that, she didn't even notice how touched his palms.