The Lessers

Chapter One

~~~~~~TWO YEARS AND 7 MONTHS LATER ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Order! Order!" The judge hit the desk hard, forcing evening in the court to quiet down.

"Alessandra Montgomery, you are found guilty on the count of attempted murder of Maxwell Hayward. You will be sentenced to 15 years in the women's Upper Society prison. You will be given an injection to suppress your powers shortly."

No.

No.

A sob escaped my throat involuntarily. This couldn't be happening to me!

People were starting to get out of their seats and gather their things. This may have taken up their attention for an hour or two, but they didn't actually care what happened to me. It was all a charade.

From across the room, Max gave me a triumphant smirk.

Bastard.

The guards came at me, securing the handcuffs. "No! Please!" I shrieked, struggling to get out of their grip. No one said a word, no one in the room spared even a glance for me. They would go on with their daily lives, while I went to prison. For 15 years.

"I didn't do it!" I screamed, still fighting. The guards dragged me down the hallway nonetheless, not perturbed in the slightest bit.

"Let me go! Let me go!" A couple people in the hallway looked at me disdainfully, as if I was nothing more than a pesky mosquito ruining their peace, but that was it.

It's over.

They dragged me into a little room and strapped my arms to a chair. I let out an ear piercing scream, kicking my legs out. Hearing something crack, I kicked more. One of the guards fell to the ground screaming. Served him right.

More people rushed in, getting the injured guard out and holding me down.

My small victory was soon regretted, as one of the other guards slapped me across the face, hard. That would leave a bruise. How is it even possible to slap that hard? In my shock, the nurses were able to tie down my legs and my body with the leather straps attached to the chair.

An old man entered in a doctors uniform. "Out! Everyone out, now! She's obviously not a threat anymore!"

Within seconds, the guards had all left the room and I was left alone. That's when I went full panic mode. He was going to give me the shot. The shot that would take my powers away. I would be truly defenseless.

My struggling was futile, but that didn't stop me. I felt so powerless. So small. "Please....no. Please don't do this". I whimpered.

He studied me for a second, syringe in hand. "What is your name, girl." He said, abruptly.

I hesitated. "Alessandra Montgomery."

"That name.. It sounds familiar.."

"I was on the news a couple times..."

Completely ignoring my question, "The news? Oh yes, I remember you now, you saved that woman who got hit by the car! Yes! Exceptional healing skills, you have. To bring someone from the brink of death back to life.. Splendid." He looking at me with newly found interest. "By any chance, did your healing skills come around very late, perhaps later than usual for most?"

"Yes. How did you know that?"

"The strong ones always have trouble controlling their powers at first". He really looked like he knew what he was talking about. "Would you mind if I tested you? To see the extent of your power?"

"But how would-"
My question turned into a shriek of pain as the doctor buried a knife deep into my arm.

Tears streaked down my face at the pain. "What the hell! What the hell is wrong with you!"

"Heal it." Whispered the crazy maniac.

I didn't want to listen to him, but it was instinctive for me. My survival instincts kciked in to make the pain go away, and I hardly had to focus on the knife handle that was protruding from my skin. Using my telekenetic powers, I clenched my teeth harshly while I slowly pulled it out using only my mind. Then I relied on my healing to mend the broken flesh from the inside out.

"Amazing". He breathed, his eyes on me the whole time. "Never seen anything like it. To heal a deep wound like that, while being tied down.. Not being able to channel the power through your hands. But you still did it. Simply amazing."

I glared at him. "I am not a lab rat that you can experiment on! I'm a person!"

He laughed, amused.

"What the fuck is wrong with you?" Life was so unfair and I just couldn't take it any longer. This couldn't be my reality, it just couldn't. "Help! Somebody get me out of here! Help! Help!". My voice was so hoarse from screaming already.

His eyes darkened, and there wasn't a hint of kindness in them. "Careful there, Alessandra dear. I'm about to make you a very advantageous offer, now's not the time to anger me. No one out there will come anyway."

"Offer?", I croaked.

"Yes, an offer". He drawled menacingly. "You've been sentence to 15 years in prison correct? A shame you just turned 18, if you hadn't been tried as an adult you most certainly would have gotten a shorter sentence. None the matter, I'm sure you will like my... proposition." He paused to look at me.

When I didn't answer, he continued. "Come to my laboratories. Work for me, Alessandra. I could use someone like you, with your healing skills. I like your character as well. You seem like a fighter. We can look at it as community service to replace your prison time. We can make it shorter of course. Say, 10 years? Yes... 10 years working for me, how does that sound Alessandra? You'll be able to keep your powers".

I narrowed my eyes at him. "It can't be that easy".

"Oh, my dear, but it is". I have the power around here to get you out of prison, easily."

"I don't trust you".

"That doesn't matter Alessandra, that doesn't matter. We both know your going to take the offer. Community service like this, it's much better than prison. Much easier. You get your own room, a comfortable bed to sleep in. Long hours, yes, but I'll give you your Sundays off".

"5 years". I bargained. "I'll work for you for 5 years to replace the 15."

His face was livid. His eyes darkened once again, and I realized how utterly terrifying this man was. He may have been in his 50s, but something about him gave off an aura of power.

"Miss Montgomery, do you realize how much of a favor I am doing you already? Don't mess with me, girl."

"You must want me to work for you very badly if you'd go to all this trouble to recruit me. I'm valuable to you. 5 years".

He looked angered, but after a moment he relented.

"7 years, Alessandra. Final offer".

Not knowing what I was getting myself into and not trusting the doctor one bit, I knew I didn't have a choice. It was this, or prison for double the amount time.

"Deal."

~~~~~~~~~~

Heheheheh... if you're reading this you might be wondering what happened to Lyssa and why is she going to prison. Did she really try to murder someone? You will find out soon, I promise!

Love, Allie