Extraordinary Mistakes II - Blood Ties

The bigger picture

Jade's phone hasn't stopped vibrating for hours now. She's by herself, in her house, lying in bed. When she first saw the video, she texted Madeleine and Jessica, told them both I'm not coming to the Institute today. That was it.

Surely, they'd want her to make a statement. Surely, they'd want her to cry in front of the camera. To put up a show.

When she first saw the video, her entire body gave in. She collapsed on the floor. Her phone kept playing the video. Emily and Abigail's cries of pain; Diego and Rachel's laughter.

She immediately wipes the tears off her face and activates her ability while getting up. Which way is the fastest, she wonders. The easiest for her side effects to show. She opens her balcony door and throws herself off the second floor.

When she hits the floor, Emily's shouts still resonate on her head. Aminu's face comes to her mind.

Should I just... deal with this... be there for him? He can't... won't... know how to react to this... when Ánh died...

She remembers how Aminu turned non-verbal for a long time. Was it five months? That was only three years ago. Not that long ago. Would the same happen again?

Tears begin to fall again. She punches herself in the stomach, each punch diminishing her emotional pain.

Aminu can take care of himself. He's a grown boy.

She headbutts the wall next to her.

Who cares about their pain? Life is pain.

She goes back to her room, grabs her phone from the floor, and calls Jessica Miller.

"Jade, I've been calling you! Where are you? You should do a reaction to Emily's-"

"I saw that you send me this... what is it?"

"Just some bullet points for your speech! Hope it helps. Last time you didn't follow my notes..."

"Well, I have a better idea... again."

Jade hangs up, leaving Jessica on the other side talking to herself. She goes to the kitchen and grabs a lighter, goes back to her room, changes to an all-black attire, and starts recording.

"Rachel Moore," she smiles widely, "this one is for you! You see, you are an element controller, here's you," she ignites the lighter, making a flame appear, "and I am invincible, like your father used to be," she smiles again, "before he forced the government to kill him."

She puts her palm on the flame and shows that it isn't burning.

"Ironic, isn't it?" she laughs, "that you are bound to repeat your father's fate? Forcing the government to kill you because you refuse to face the consequences of your actions. And the biggest irony of it all!"

Jade laughs and smacks her lips.

"Is that I," she emphasizes it, "I will be the one to bring you down. Using the same ability that your father had!"

The video immediately gathers millions of visualizations and reactions. Most people are pleased that Jade Harris, the world's most powerful deviant, is showing Rachel Moore who is in charge. Some criticize that she isn't using the bracelet outside of the Institute. Those comments are promptly removed by Jessica's team.

***

Aminu woke up like any other day. He drank an entire glass of water, did his mobility exercises, went for a run, came back, took a shower, and grabbed the hoodie that Abigail gave him before she was abducted.

He put his headphones in and faced the crowded street on the way to the Institute. He notices that people are even more glued to their phone than usual and when he enters the lobby everyone stares at him. Whispering things that he can't and doesn't want to hear.