Thunder and Storm

The Equinox

HAKEEM


The door buzzed open and we were let into the training room. My eyes scanned the rows of colours for Margot. I found her amid other blues and walked briskly to her. I grabbed her hand and pulled her aside.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

"I'm fine.” She rolled her eyes. "Why does everyone keep asking me that?"

"Maybe because Sally did quite a number on you yesterday."

She mumbled incoherently. "I'm fine, I just feel drained but I'm good. Sally is the one we need to worry about, she's not here."

I scanned the rows of colours again for her red jumpsuit, she wasn't there. "She's not here," I confirmed.

"Nice one, Sherlock. Wanna state something obvious again?" She rolled her eyes and I blushed.

She sighed. "I'm worried about her. She seems unstable, she can't control her powers yet and you know what happens to people like that.” She gave me a knowing look and I gulped.

They go missing. And Sally wasn't here which meant she had probably joined the missing kids.

"I'm sure they wouldn't do anything to her, she's a Level Five. There's no one else like her in here and she seems stronger than everyone else," I said. It didn't sound comforting even to my own ears. She was stronger and unstable which made her dangerous for everyone.

"That's what worries me. She's strong but we don't know how strong. We don't know what kind of power she has. She destroyed the cafeteria yesterday without even moving. Those men turned to dust in front of her. I've never seen anything like it."

"Maybe it's telekinesis?” I offered.

"That was nothing like telekinesis."

"Formation!" A call rang out and we both sprung apart.

"Come on. Let's go before they catch us out of the line,” she said and walked away, mingling with the rest of the Blues.

I joined the row of Green and marched to the centre of the room with the rest. I glanced at Margo, she was looking down at the floor with one hand on her waist. She didn't look fine. She looked weak. There were bags under her eyes, her hazel eyes were dull, her skin pallid. I was worried about her.

"This time around, your training wouldn't be with the guards, it'll be with each other." Kowalski's voice rang through the crowd. "You'll each be paired with a different level from yours in combat. Exciting, isn’t it? Now, face the colour next to you."

Our collars were deactivated. I turned to my side to face the girl next to me. She was a Level Two. Her blonde hair was packed up in two buns on her head. I didn't know her or her ability but I knew one thing, she couldn't beat me. This training session was out of the norm, different from the others we've been doing and we all knew the consequences of failing.

The girl's face hardened as we spread out. The next thing I knew, she surrounded me. She could replicate herself. They started attacking, throwing punch after punch. I got hit in the eye and bent, covering my face with my arms. I got a few punches in my stomach and I groaned as I fell to the floor.

Concentrate Hakeem.

I closed my eyes and focused my energy on disabling her. When I opened it, she was grabbing her head and groaning in pain. Her replicas vanished one after the other. I drew my arm backwards and punched her in the face and sent her falling to the floor unconscious. My knuckle started to hurt and I shook it to relieve the pain.

I hated hurting people. I hoped after this was over I wouldn't have to use my power anymore. At least I hadn't failed the test. I felt bad for her though. I looked down at her body on the floor, a bump was starting to form on her cheek. I was happy I wouldn't be taken away but she would. She didn't deserve that.

I heard a scream and looked up to see Margot on her knees. Petra stood above her, her gaze fixed intently on Margot who opened her arms wide and screamed. My eyes widened, my stomach plummeted as I realized what was happening. Margot’s power wasn't working.

"No." I rushed to her, pushing through the row of people sparring.

She fell to the floor, defeated and Petra stepped back with a satisfied smirk on her face.  Kowalski motioned towards the guards in the room and two of them stepped forward just as I reached her.

"Margot, get up. You have to fight," I urged as I tried to pull her up.

She had tears running down her face as she looked up at me. "M-My power...It’s not working, Hakeem. I couldn't do anything,” she cried.

"It's okay," I whispered as I pulled her to me and hugged her. "Everything is going to be fine."

She sobbed on my shoulder, her tears soaking my cloth. "I don't want to go. Please, don't let them take me,” she whispered.

My eyes stung with tears. All I could do was nod as I patted her back. This shouldn't be happening to her. We had both dreamt of going back home to our parents when this was all over. She was ripped out of my arms all too soon and she screamed and struggled as they pulled her off me.

"No! Please!" She cried as they dragged her away.

Tears rushed down my face in rivulets as I watched them take her away, helpless. I couldn't do anything as they took her away.

"Hakeem!" She cried, reaching out to me and I cried harder.

I sprang up to go to her and was hit on the head with the butt of a gun.

"Stay down,” Kowalski ordered.

Suddenly, Margot wrenched her hands out of their hold and ran. She tried to open up a portal but all she created were sparks.

"Stop that this instant!" Kowalski shouted.

She didn't stop. Her face scrunched up as she concentrated. A tiny gold ball formed in her hands. A shot rang out and she froze. Two shots and her hands dropped as she fell.

"No!" I rushed to her and scooped her into my arms, her blood staining my jumpsuit. Her body was limp, lifeless as blood oozed out of the bullet holes in her stomach.

I shook as I looked up at Kowalski, he still had his gun pointed in the air at the same spot Margot was standing a few seconds ago.