Desti's Detour

Clash Of Morals

Plot: Desti meets the leader of the outcasts, Jackson, and immediately clashes with his flight over fight tactics. While a decision is made of her fate in the group, Desti comes to learn more about her newfound allies.

Seconds felt like eons as Desti lied on the ground, with Jackson looking down at her. His eyes bore into everyone present, unnerving Desti and leaving everyone else terrified.

Jackson: Since no one is speaking up, I'll ask again. Who...brought a complete stranger down here...without even bothering to tell me?!

A moment of silence passed, the thin air able to be cut with a knife...

Before everyone but Desti literally pointed the finger at Laura in a split second. Laura looked at them, her eyes wide and then turning annoyed.

Laura: Oh, okay! So finding that edible box of cookies thrown out last Christmas meant nothing!?

Desti couldn't help but bring herself to facepalm. This kid was about to be eaten alive...

Jackson looked at her with a cold glare, then turned his attention back to Desti, pulling the bat off his shoulder and pointing it at her, like her head was a tennis ball on a stand.

Jackson: You, stay right here until I figure out what to do with you...

He then looked to Laura, pointing the bat at her.

Jackson: And YOU...My room in 5 minutes.

Laura nodded quickly. Jackson huffed in exhaustion and walked past them all, moving into one of the broken train carriages.

Finally, the room could take a breath of relief as Desti got herself back on her feet, with Peter giving her a hand up.

Laura's head hung low as she turned around, walking towards the same carriage as Jackson as everyone looked on.

Peter: Oh boy, this doesn't look good.

Jordan: Should I get my cross, maybe pray for her?

Desti took a seat right next to Jordan, looking to them curiously as they looked back.

Desti: Uh...so what happens now?

Jordan: Well, Laura is gonna have to try and make a case for you staying to Jackson, then he's probably gonna wanna talk to you. If all goes well, he'll let you stay. If not...

Jordan suddenly went nervously silent, leaning in and putting a hand on Desti's shoulder.

Jordan: Just out of curiosity, how hard of a hit would it take for you to get Amnesia?

Desti's eyes both widened and shrunk with a mix of fear and shock.

...

Meanwhile, Jackson entered the train carriage, finding the area where he set up his own sort of room.

The decor was very simple, having the bare minimums like a mattress and some curtains, while a nearby table held a holding place for his bat, which he placed down there, alongside a few small figures of baseball players and a single actual ball.

He took a seat on the bed, huffing with exhaustion and putting his face in his hand, rubbing his eyes. Stressed beyond belief, today's events had only made things worse.

Jackson reached for a nearby canister and opened it, taking a sip of water, right as a knock came on the train door, quickly swallowing.

Jackson: Come in.

The door opened and a rather hesitant Laura entered, her body trembling with fear as she stepped in. Jackson glared with a mix of anger and tiredness. He knew Laura was rebellious, but this was something else entirely.