Afterschoolers: Destiny

Chapter 14: He Had It Coming

"Everyone alright?" Cord asked.

"Yeah, I'm okay," Summer responded.

"Ugh, my head hurts!" Samantha complained.

"You'll be alright," Ed commented. "Looks like Zander got away. Best we split up. Cover more ground that way."

"Let's try checking out the roof. He might have a way to another building that way," Cyclone suggested.

"Good idea," Ed pointed out. "I'll go up to the roof with Summer and Samantha."

"I'll go, too. I have to make sure you're safe. Avoid any paradoxes," Alana said.

"Alright," said Cord. "That leaves me, Cyclone, and Mary to search the rest of this floor."

Ed and his team carefully climbed out the nearby window and ascended up to the roof while Cord led his two students to another room.

The room they entered was dark and the air felt warm and dusty. Moonlight leaking in from broken windows was what kept things slightly illuminated. The trio crept in quietly, keeping an eye on their surroundings. The wood floor creaked with each of their footsteps.

"I don't like where this is going," Cyclone whispered.

"Be quiet!" Mary whispered back. "He might hear you!"

"You're talking just as much as m-" As Cyclone took another step forward, the floorboards beneath him snapped and he fell. Cord dove onto his stomach and grabbed ahold of his student just before he could get out of reach.

"I can't hold him for long! Mary, help!" Cord yelled, struggling to maintain a grip.

"I can't. If I get any closer, we risk breaking more of the flo-" With Mary distracted on the situation before her, she had no time to stop a chain wrapping around and pulling her down.

"Too easy," Zander said, gripping the chain tightly. "Careful... The floor is pretty old. Wouldn't want you guys to have any accidents."

"Cyclone, just hang on!" Cord shouted through the hole in the floor.

"I knew that these weren't clones the second they didn't disappear from my flashbang. Even when they're useless, you still find a way to get them to fight in your battles."

"Mr. Cord!" Mary shouted.

"Shhhhh, it's okay. I'll make this quick." Zander forcefully pulled his prisoner up onto her feet and towards the window.

"Save her, Mr. Cord!" Cyclone pleaded.

"I can't let go of you!" The headmaster shook and struggled as he attempted to pull his student up, but his muscles gave out and lost any progress on lifting.

"You have to save her!"

Cord struggled to turn his head, but could see Zander preparing to throw Mary out the window. In one moment she was standing there struggling to break free of her chains, in another, it was just chains. Cord's mouth opened slightly at the discovery. Looking back at Cyclone, he let go and let the student fall. Cyclone's scream echoed throughout the warehouse.

"Aww, such a shame," Zander taunted. "Sadly, you get to save neither of them." With a simple shove, Mary was sent out the second story window. Cord clenched his fist but stood adamantly, saying nothing to his enemy.

"Mary!" the two men heard outside. In the blink of an eye, a blue fireball flew down past the window.

"What?!" Zander said in disbelief. Looking out the window, he saw a girl engulfed in blue flames catch her friend, who was no longer in chains. Summer let out a sigh of relief and gently pulled her friend up to the roof.