Under the Iron Fist

Chapter 16: A Young Hero's Resolve

Elina returned to her quarters, her mind a whirlwind of worry and frustration. Despite Magnus's orders, she couldn't shake the feeling of responsibility for Lily and the other missing children. As she tried to rest, her thoughts kept drifting to possible hiding places and clues they might have missed.

Hours later, the door opened, and Milo trudged in, his shoulders slumped with exhaustion from the previous night's search and a long day at school. His eyes lit up upon seeing Elina home early.

"Elina! You're back already. Did you find anything about Lily?" Milo asked eagerly.

Elina's heart sank. She knew she had to tell him the truth. "Milo, sit down. We need to talk."

As Milo settled on the couch, Elina explained Magnus's visit to the clinic and his orders to stop searching for Lily. Milo's face fell, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"But... but we can't just stop looking!" Milo protested, his voice rising. "Lily needs us!"

"I know, Milo," Elina said softly, placing a comforting hand on his shoulder. "But Magnus was very clear he will find Lily. Magnus is very capable Milo, he has eyes everywhere. I truly believe he will bring Lily back."

Milo sat in stunned silence for a moment, then suddenly stood up. "I... I need some air. Can I go see Ethan?"

Elina hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, but don't be too long. And Milo, please don't do anything reckless."

Milo nodded quickly and rushed out the door. His mind was racing as he made his way to the boys' dormitory. He knew what he had to do.

Ethan was surprised to see Milo burst into his room, out of breath and eyes wild with a mix of emotions. "Milo? What's wrong?"

"Ethan," Milo panted, "it's about Lily. Magnus has ordered Elina and Jax to stop looking for her. They can't help us anymore!"

Ethan's face immediately hardened, his protective instincts kicking in. "What? That's not right. Lily's out there somewhere, probably scared and alone."

Milo nodded vigorously. "Exactly! We can't abandon her. We have to find her ourselves!"

Without hesitation, Ethan stood up, his resolve clear. "You're right, Milo. If the adults can't look for Lily, then it's up to us. We're her friends, and we won't let her down."

"So, you'll help?" Milo asked, relief washing over him.

"Of course," Ethan replied, his voice firm. "We protect our own. Always. Now, let's come up with a plan. We'll need to be smart about this if we want to avoid getting caught." The two boys began to strategize their secret search.

*****

Milo and Ethan were nearly out of the dormitory building, their hearts racing with a mix of excitement and nervousness about their secret mission. Just as they reached the main exit, a tall, imposing figure stepped in front of them, blocking their path.

"And where do you two think you're going?" The man's voice was cold and authoritative.

Milo gulped, recognizing the man as Vex, Magnus's second-in-command. His cybernetic eye glinted menacingly as it scanned the boys.

Ethan, ever the protector, stepped slightly in front of Milo. "We were just heading to class, sir," he said, trying to keep his voice steady.

Vex's human eye narrowed. "Is that so? Funny, I could have sworn your classroom was in the opposite direction."

The boys exchanged a nervous glance, knowing they'd been caught. Vex placed a hand on each of their shoulders, his grip firm.

"Come along, boys. I'll escort you to where you're supposed to be," Vex said, steering them away from the exit.

As they walked, Vex's voice lowered to a threatening whisper. "Let me make this very clear. You are not to leave this building without express permission. Any attempts to go searching for your missing friend will be met with severe consequences. Do I make myself clear?"

"Yes, sir," both boys mumbled, their plans crumbling around them.

"Good," Vex continued. "And just so you know, you'll be watched. Don't try anything foolish."

With that, Vex deposited them at their classroom door. As they entered, they saw Zoe already in her seat, her eyes lighting up with curiosity at their arrival.

"There you are!" Zoe exclaimed as they took their seats. "Where have you two been? And have you heard anything about Lily? Is she okay?"

Milo and Ethan exchanged a look of frustration and disappointment. "We don't know anything," Ethan said quietly.

Zoe's face fell, her usual cheerful demeanor dimming. "But... but we have to do something, right? We can't just forget about her."

Milo nodded, his mind already working on a new plan. They might be trapped in the building for now, but that didn't mean they had to give up. Somehow, they would find a way to help Lily. They just needed to be smarter about it.