Darknesss united

Chapter 12: Uncovering Secrets

Grian POV

There was only one thing I could do, right? I have to follow him.

I jump half a second after he does, I'm gaining speed in a nosedive. I'm falling, the air whipping past my ear feathers. I can't catch up to him. I won't let another one of my friends die from falling. From Notch. I catch up, grabbing him in my arms. I pull up just above the ground, flapping with all my might to keep us both alive.

I land safely just outside of the building with him in my arms. Scar looks up at me. "Thanks." He says. "That could have gone horribly wrong."

"We've got bigger problems right now." I say. "We're on the run, and you have a tracker on your wrist."

I grab my extra communicator from our apartment.

<Cuteguy> Admin, can u disable Scar's cuff

<The Admin> Done

The glowing red bulb on his cuff flickers, then turns off. "I think it's safe to go to the villain headquarters now. You're one of us now." I joke. I notice his eyes flash with horror for a beat, then joy.

It takes a few minutes for us to walk to the villain headquarters. "Get behind this dumpster." I instruct and enter the code. The door opens for us, and I have to shove him in before it closes on us. Scar's eyes fill with wonder at the tall marble columns and armour stand decorations. I pull the big red button in the meeting room.

I didn't know if it would work, but suddenly everyone was in their seats and Etho was breaking out of the wall above us. I wonder if his actually didn't work or if he just wanted a flashy entrance.

"Why is Scar here?" Cleo asks, her costume off and purple eyes clearly visible in the moonlight.

Scar's normally clear voice stuttered. "You-you know me?"

"Of course!" X says. "Grian's said a lot about you!"

Scar gives me what is somewhere between a glare and a smile. I don't really know how to relieve the tension. Luckily, I don't have to.

Cleo walks over. "Hi. I'm Cleo. You know why I quit, right? He stabbed me. So don't feel bad about it. I'm just lucky to be somewhat alive."

Something about her words makes Scar settle down. Cub comes over and takes Scar's cuff in his hands. Scar looks at Cub's wings with what can only be described as longing. But there's something... different in his eyes. I coulda sworn they flashed bright blue.

"Come with me." Cub says, pausing to look at X. He nods his approval. "I've got something you might want to hear."

____________________________________________________________________________

Scar

I'm falling. Jumping out of the window was a bad idea. But I feel like it shouldn't be. The perpetual ache in my back turns into a stabbing pain, like something trying to break free. In a flash of colorful feathers, Grian scoops me up. We land safely.

That's when G notices the tracker on my wrist. He flies off and comes back with a communicator. He types something into it I can't see. The red light flickers, then powers off.

A few minutes later, we arrive in front of a dumpster. "Get behind this dumpster" Grian instructs and I obey. He types something into a hidden panel and the wall swings open.

The tall pillars and plush couches and armor stands fill me with an unknown feeling of pure joy, like this is where I belong. A flash of terror crosses my mind as Grian leads me into a room with all the villains I've grown to fear. When The Admin calls me by name, I consider running for my life. I glare at G for giving me away. Zombie comes up behind me.

"Hi. I'm Cleo." she introduces herself, shockingly, by her real name. "You know why I quit, right? He stabbed me. So don't feel bad about it. I'm just lucky to be somewhat alive."

I realise that these people might not actually be villains. If she got stabbed by Notch for seemingly no reason, maybe this is the right thing to do. To take vengeance for her. And Taurtis. And anyone else he killed.

Cub comes up behind me. I stare at his wings. They feel...right. I look at my back for some reason. It feels like there should be a pair there. The pain in my back becomes so bad I have to bite my tongue. The taste of blood fills my mouth. "Come with me." cub says. He pauses to look at The Admin, who gives him a nod of approval. "I've got something you might want to hear."

That's when it hits me. I know his name. I shouldn't know his name. I've never met him. But I'm certain his name is Cub. Absolutely certain.

What's happening to me?