My Hero Origins - Resurgence

Chapter 19 - Black and White

Jack's P.O.V ( I had to mix it up)

If I knew today would end so horrendously, that today everything would change for the worse, I would have done more.

Yesterday, Artemis, Buck, Marshal and Larson all left early for a reason that the rest of us soon learned was because of drama between Shino and Artemis.

Later in the day, we all got a text from Shino.... Everyone got the same thing which said

Hey guys, I've been a jerk, a fraud. I think I'm ready to come out with what I've been up to. I can't lie to you guys anymore. Meet me at the mall at 7:30 Pm

Now if that's not the definition of suspicious, I don't know what is. Another thing that worried us was that Shino hasn't left the house. It's the same cycle every day, go to the house, leave after 8 hours. Again and again.

But the second step didn't come and we're worried now.

So me, Blake, Artemis, Buck, Marshal, Larson, Phoebe, Rikku and Shizu all sat at the bleachers facing our launch area. After nearly 20 minutes of explaining, we finally began to discuss.

" so after four months of secrecy, he wants to come out now? Don't you guys think that's a bit odd?" Phoebe question, glancing at all of us for an answer.

" well it's his personal life and his choices, maybe the pressure finally got to him and he actually made a wise choice to come clean to the close people in his life." Offered Shizu, but since then and Rikku haven't really been spying on him like we have, they won't get the whole picture.

" nah, Shino doesn't break like that, not in this way. And have you guys noticed that he hasn't even left the house?" Negotiated Blake.

That has been on my mind too, why hasn't he left?

Two bleachers above me, Marshal stated his own opinion through sign, which Buck translated " ' I don't trust this, maybe we should force him to meet us at a safer location or not at all' I agree with Marshal on this, this is skeptical, it could be a trap."

"Yeah boys another thing, where's Patron?" Asked Rikku but that seemed like the lesser question. Patron was the oldest by about two years, he can do what he wants and he was probably doing his own thing.

In the middle of all this was Artemis, his knuckles pressed against his forehead, eyes squeezed shut.

" I think we should go." He said randomly. We all went quiet and watched the disturbed shadow manipulator.

He picked up his head and stared at all of us "we have been doing the same thing for almost half the year, and other than Shino's new actions and the texts, nothing. I don't know about you, but I am tired of the lies, the betrayals. I get it, my relation with Shino is different compared to all of yours, but he's our friend, our family. Shouldn't we be there for him?"

We were all silent at his words of wisdom. I had a bit of an admiration towards Artemis, he could be an amazing friend and a wise leader. He always had a solution to a problem, a way to look out for others. It made me think back to the mission to save the L.O.V.E group and Arty's brilliant plan.

I stood up going "Artemis is right, despite all the things Shino has done, good and bad, loving and dumb, he's a large part of our lives that we are thankful for. We should be there for him. All in favor?"

Everyone's hand went up, some skeptical, but still raising high.

" so that it then, we meet at 7:30"

•~•

We all decided to meet at the mall a few minutes early to give us all time for this to sink in. Everyone is as here, everyone was silent. The time crawled by