The Academy's Twisted Enemies | Dark Romance

Chapter 11 - The Worst Feeling

During target practice in the gymnasium, I was trying to harness my new powers in a way that could go from being just storms into something usable in a battle situation. The hail was easy to control. It pelted from above the sky down on the targets in a concentrated storm.

"That's good," Coach Garret said. "But I want you to try and see if it comes out from your hand and shoots towards people much so like a gun or knife."

"I'll try," I said. It felt impossible, though. Every time I tried, a cloud appeared where I wanted the weather to go, but it didn't attack how I wanted it to. It was like a wee, pathetic storm.

"You've got this," he said. "You've made impressive progress so far."

It'd been a month since we'd gone to the city, and whereas I thought things would change dramatically, everything had gone back to normal. Cecily resumed training, and we continued hanging out with each other every chance we could get.

I'd actively fought against Scar in my mind. He had been all I could think about for a while, his scent flooding my nose every time I did, his lips caressing my skin. That demented psychopath left a mental mark on me, and I couldn't let it stay.

So, I distracted myself from my work. I think it'd been the most concentrated I'd ever been in my life. Anything to make sure I couldn't think about him.

A lightning bolt flew from my hand into the target, and I sighed. "It's always the lightning. Never the rain, the snow, the hail, the tornado, the sandstorm..."

"This is new. Just keep at it."

"Hey!" Director Penn's voice interjected. We spun around to face him. "I need to speak with her for a bit."

"No worries," Coach Garrett said, nodding.

Penn looked at me and motioned for me to follow him. I did, trailing next to him, asking, "Okay. What did I do now?"

"I haven't heard a single complaint about you all month," he said. "Much to my relief, I must say."

Much to his relief? Mine as well.

He continued, "But this has to do with you and Scar." The sound of his name made my stomach twist. "It appears he no longer wants to fight Cecily. He wants to fight you. And if we don't let him go at it with you, he promises to kill her."

Tension flooded my body, and I angrily said, "The choice is clear then. You have to send me."

"That is not an option."

I stopped, my eyes wide with oncoming rage. "So what is the option, Penn?"

"Don't start," he said. "I'm thinking of options. But as for right now, Cecily will continue preparations as usual."

"She can't! He said he'll kill her!" Others roaming the halls stared, dumbfounded by the interaction between me and the toughest Director we had in the school. 

"Azira!" he snapped, dragging me into his office. He slammed the door shut. "You cannot make a scene."

"That is my best friend you're sending like a lamb to the slaughter!" I was crying. Oh, man. I don't remember the last time I cried, but I wasn't ready for the dam to break in front of him. These new powers had to be the source.

It started pouring. No thunder, no lightning, just a downpour of rain outside.

He looked outside the window and then looked back at me, his voice becoming more soothing. "I'm not going to just let her die. I'm trying to figure out a new strategy—a new negotiation. But if it fails, your going is still not an option."

I felt helpless.

"You're going to get her killed." I stepped closer to him, my eyes watering and fists clenched. "If she dies, her blood is on your hands. And I'll never, ever forgive you."

He swallowed and averted his eyes. "Azira. You're too valuable—"

"I'm no more valuable than she is—"

"You are!" He threw his hands in the air exasperatedly. "I don't like to choose favorites. But when it comes down to it, your life is more valuable than hers because your parents are the very people keeping the thousands of people in this school safe. Should you go, it's over for her anyway."

He threw himself down onto his chair and pinched the bridge of his nose together. "Being the Director here means making tough decisions. It means that if one life can save a thousand, perhaps that's a path we must take."

I leaned over his desk, my eyes burning with fury. "He plans to kill every one of us, slowly, one by one. Each of us you send will end up with another trophy under his belt." I straightened. "I'm the one who needs to stop it. He said he wanted me. Then give me to him."

"No." Cecily's voice startled me, coming from the doorway. I faced her, a mournful expression on her face. "I know you want to protect me, but this is still my decision." She walked over to me, putting her hands on my shoulders and squeezing gently. "You can't save everybody. If I die, I die knowing I did my part."

I shook her off. "How can you honestly say that?"

"What's the alternative? Crying?"

"No. The alternative is letting me face him."

Her eyes watered. "Why? So he can kill you?"

"He doesn't want to kill me."

"Then what's in it for you?" Tears began to fall down her face. "Penn is right. If you go, they'll weaponize you against us. They'll probably kill every last one of us. And your sacrifice would be for nothing."

"You can't do this," I sobbed, not even realizing that my dam broke once more seeing her tears. "You're m-my s-sister." Damn it to hell! I couldn't even keep my voice steady.

"Don't do that," she cried and hugged me tightly. I gripped onto her like my life depended on it.

Because what if Scar didn't care? He was a villain. He'd keep me miserable for the rest of my life if he needed to. It wouldn't phase him. I was just another rat from the Heroes Academy to him.

"I'm going to be okay," she said. "I promise."

It didn't matter what I said anymore. She and Penn were resolved in their choices. I could do nothing about it, and it was one of the worst feelings I could've ever experienced.