Nova Academy

Breaking Free

When they got the call, they were all playing a board game. Alex was winning and being a smug little cunt about it, so they were all trying to catch up desperately.

"Hey, Shaun. What's–," Steven blanched. "Connie, it's for you. Us."

She raced to him and grabbed the phone, already dreading what he would say. "Shaun?"

"We've already prepared a back exit and sent out the email. Our sources tell us they are coming." Headmaster Shaun's voice was eerily calm.

She nodded even though he couldn't see it and set down the phone. "They're here."

Their friends' eyes filled with various emotions, but the ones that stuck were fear and determination.

Steven sighed and his shield summoned. He dropped his arm and it disappeared with a cheerful shimmer. "It's time."

"Have you eaten enough?" Connie wanted to kiss him, but she knew how he got when he was like this.

"I'm fine." He had been about to say something else but faltered. "We can't fuse, but I need you by my side," He told her seriously and she stood taller, throwing her hair into a tight braid.

"I'm going to go get my sword. Just in case." She rushed out the door and he turned to their friends.

"It's gonna be okay, you guys," Steven assured. "I'm here to help."

They all stood looking solemn.

"I never thought this day would actually come," Jacob muttered to himself.

"Yeah, I had hoped it was just a hoax or scare tactic." Anna wrapped her arms protectively around herself.

"Hazels out there already!" Adam burst. "He– he went to his car for his charger remember?"

"Shit." Steven flexed his hands, begging his powers to work with him. "We have to go find him. His phone is dead and we don't–,"

Connie jogged back in with her sword slung over her back. "The rest of the students are congregating on the lawn with their signs. I thought I heard shouting down the street very faintly, but it's coming closer for sure."

They sprinted out, leaving the door wide open as they ran.

Steven let himself turn pink, it would enhance his power and make him harder to harm if it came to that.

Around 40 students were standing around, whispering to themselves, some holding signs and others tasers and bats. They all looked terrified until Steven and the rest of the student government walked past and a few cheered.

Jacob ran down the driveway, a bat in his left hand. He was fast, and he would be the best one to warn if this was it. Steven was terrified something would happen to his goofy friend, but this was the only way it seemed. They had failed in trying to configure a device to alert them without an electrical system out that far.

Steven hated this. He hated that no matter where he went he could never escape conflict about who he was supposed to be.

But he addressed his schoolmates as if this were no big deal. "Drop your weapons or tuck them in your pockets. The only proper way to start this off is peacefully. We cannot start off with violence, that's exactly what they want."

A few looked baffled, but everyone else did as he said with no hesitation.

Connie drew her sword just as he said that and he raised a brow. "It's just for–,"

"No, put it away or I'm taking it away," He demanded sharply.

She sighed and did, crossing her arms.