The Key to X | Editing - but on hold

Artemis

A tall buff man entered the room while our team was playing cards. He barged in, grabbing up Maddox by the arms, picked him up, and dragged him out of the room. My eyes were wide in shock as I turned towards the spot where Maddox was last. Marco cleared his throat and began to speak.

"Hey, guys. I um, think you should know why that happened." Marco took a steady breath before continuing. "Last night, I was wandering the alleys outside of campus while a figure jumped in front of me. there was a dagger that hurt the figure, who was cloaked in black. I figured that he was X, but I didn't understand why he jumped in front of me. I mean, either way, I wouldn't be hurt since I'm invincible and all. I just wanted fresh air. This morning, while everyone was asleep, I reported the incident to Professor Ace and Detective Ace. They're tugging out all the suspects and questioning them. They're also looking for a scar or wound on the side of the stomach. So yeah, Maddox is a suspect." Grace frowned worriedly but made no comment.

"That's a really bad time..." Luis trailed off, giving Marco a secret look. "I overheard that two royals are coming today! Prince Fallon and Prince Ashton, the heirs to the Eastern and Western kingdoms. This is really bad if X has been caught at this moment." 

"Is it because the princes would be aware of the situation?" I questioned, curiously. The boys nodded while Grace gave me a sad look.

"The only family that X has not murdered a royal from is Prince Fallon's. X must have been close friends with him then. One of the southern prince's aunts were killed, and two of Prince Ashton's cousins and his sister was murdered." Grace spoke sadly and mournfully. "X has been ruthless to the Western prince and his family. They certainly have some hate towards each other." I nodded sadly. The door opened again, Headmaster Walker walked in, a defeated look on his face. 

"My dearest nephew Maddox has been accused of being X! How could this be!?" He plopped down on the sofa, a tired and weary look overtook his face. Within minutes, the headmaster looked years and years younger. "All I have left of my blood family is him. My wife, child, and brother, dead!" The headmaster looked crestfallen, tears slipping down his face. I turned to Luis, who seemed to be struggling to control his emotions. Suddenly, the headmaster stopped crying, giving Luis a pointed look.

"Sorry, sir." Luis gave him an impish grin, directing him out of the room. "It was either to get you stop crying or for me to cry till I flood the entire school." The man sighed, leaving the room feeling slightly better. Grace jumped up, tugging for Marco and my hand. I took Luis's hand and we disappeared and reappeared where Maddox sat. His hands were chained to the chair and he looked defeated. The air was tense, which clearly showed the emotion Maddox felt. Grace immediately rushed to his side, releasing our hands and pulled up part of Maddox's shirt. There was a scar running down the side of his stomach, the exact place where Marco had told us.

"I-I'm not X!" Maddox breathed out, forcing Grace to back up from in fear. Marco stepped up and swallowed nervously.

"I know. You don't have the same voice. Maddox, you have an American accent like the most of us, unlike X, who has a mix of different European accents. My accent is a faintly Italian and a bit southern since that was where my family came from. Grace's was Australian, while Luis's was British. I'm not quite sure about Artemis's though." I smiled faintly before speaking softly.

"I don't really know what accent I have, but it's a mix of many." I shrugged off shyly. Maddox ran his hand against the scar, reminding me much of the boy I once knew. "Maddox," I swallowed slowly, his gaze turning towards to me. "Was your mother's name Millicent Tali?" His eyes widened, as he took in my appearance again. "And your father, Michael Walker?" He nodded, a bit confused by why I was asking. "Little M?" I spoke softly, the nickname I had not spoken in years.

"Ana," Maddox sobbed, small crystal-like tears building up in his eyes. "Mother told me that you were dead, that you killed yourself. How-?" I shook my head, shaking my head from the past before clenching my fist before a spirit appeared before us.

"Maddox," the spirit spoke, turning his head towards his son. "The first time that I have seen you in many years. I never agreed to your mother's methods and what she did to little Anne, oh Ana, I apologize to her countless of years of harm to you." I looked away, nodding at him before Maddox's father disappeared. 

"It's the least I can do to thank you for caring for me." I swallowed, "I guess it's how I can pay you back... by allowing you to communicate with your father." He nodded at me, turning away to hide his tears. The door to the room opened, Detective Ace walked in, a frown on his face when he saw that Maddox wasn't alone.

"Hello, Paul." A voice shot out the corner of my mouth. Detective Ace jumped, his gaze turned on Maddox. "No, no, Paul. You've got it wrong. He's not me. Seriously, it's just a coincidence that he and I were wounded, or scarred in this case in the same spot." Luis's gaze shot to mine, I gave him a silencing look before I continued to imitate X's voice. "You daft idiot. With a doctor's degree, you surely are stupid. No offense, Paul. Well, I've got to be off. Next time, check the vent before you come in. Buh bye."  Detective Ace rushed out the room, yelling back at us.

"Maddox, you're free. I'm sorry that I was convinced that it was you. Dammit, that blasted killer." He ran off, his voice trailing behind him. A slim woman walked into the room, unlocking Maddox's chains and shoved us out of the room. Luis looked at me, shocked.

"Hehe... a few recordings and I caught his voice. I'm sorry about that... I sort of freaked everyone else out. Maddox is innocent." I sighed, glad that I reverted to my normal voice. "If Detective Ace was logical enough, he'd realize that X only appears at night." Grace chuckled at me, taking my arm and Marco's before Luis and Maddox held on as we teleported back into our room. Marco ran off to barf, a bit queasy about holding it a little earlier. Grace tugged on my hand, dragging me into her bright pink and purple room. She handed me a few dresses and pushed me into my room. I sighed, knowing that my least favorite part of feasts: dressing up.

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Hmm... so if X isn't Maddox... then who is it?

-Charlie