Adventures After School: Recovery

Chapter 9: Dismissal

             Frank stood beside the cot his sister slept in. He noticed that a small section on the side of her head was cut, but that wasn't what worried him. There was something bigger that did.

There were marks over her arms and legs. The marks were mostly symbols of clocks and garbled sentences—possibly English in reverse—that point to an event called the "Final Fight" of the Xeraphina clan. Frank has ties to Carla thanks to her father, Patrick Xeraphina—known to his clan as the Timekeeper.

Carla taught Frank a lot about Caster culture but the markings on her body were something she never taught him about. Despite having known a lot, there were just some things that she hasn't learned of.

Kilra entered the clinic and greeted Frank. He waved at her and gave her a sad smile. The water mage sighed sadly and stood beside him.

"I... I know this." The water mage said. "This is a sign that she could be holding something powerful."
"Is there any specific name for this?" The human boy asked.
"We call it The Warning." Kilra answered. "I know what you're going to say. It's not that creative of something to call glowing purple marks."
"Calling it a tattoo would be going too far." Frank added.

The pair looked over at the sleeping girl. Other than the laceration on her head, she had more on her cheek and arms. Whoever attacked her must have been crazy about knives or razor blades, but Frank went with the former.

Kilra concentrated on the marks. Although she's seen something like it, she's never taken time to read what the reversed English words meant. While both she and Frank can, there's a difference between them that allows them to understand what the words on Carla's arms and legs meant. Johnson had the patience in attempts to understand and read the words in reverse. The water mage was expecting instant answers.

Carla's eyes opened. She sat up and turned her gaze to her classmates, who were at her left. She yawned and asked them what time it was. Kilra took out her phone from her pocket and told the bespectacled girl it was lunchtime.

"It's dismissal as well." Frank added, showing his sister her bag and his to prove his point.
"I see." Carla smiled. She slid herself off the cot and put her shoes on.

Dave entered the clinic. As he closed the door behind him, he took off his jacket and draped it over Upsilon's shoulders. He had a rather forlorn look on his face, but he was relieved to see she was okay.

Carla looked over at her classmates and urged them to follow her outside the clinic. When they got out, Delta kept an arm around Upsilon as Kilra and Frank walked awkwardly behind them. While the water mage didn't mind what was in front of her, she noticed Frank clench his fists at what he was seeing.

Kilra glanced back and forth at Frank and Carla. She had no idea who the older sibling was—since they were both fourteen—though she had a feeling that Frank was older. Frank was trying to contain his anger he saw Dave giving Carla a kiss on the cheek. After that, Delta patted Upsilon as he told her he was about to go. She gave him his jacket and watched as he walked away from the high school building.

Carla turned to look at her classmates. Kilra was smiling awkwardly and Frank shoved his hands in his pockets. The bespectacled noticed what was up with her brother and politely asked the water mage to leave them be. The siblings walked out of the high school building in silence.

"Seriously, Carla, are you two even an item?" Frank finally said as they neared the parking lot.
"Uh..." Carla couldn't find the right words.

She took her phone out of her pocket and checked her notifications. She received a message from Marina.