Paragon

Chapter 15:

In a way, Cane's visit did something I would never have been able to do. It forced the other Paragons to realize that we hadn't been forgotten. It made them wary, and made me feel a lot safer knowing that they wouldn't be taken by surprise by what was coming. What exactly that was I didn't know, but I could feel the changes in the air.

The world around us was changing in subtle ways. Master Kontrol was quietly buying up what little competition they had. New officials were being elected, nearly all of them connected to Master Kontrol in some shape or form. They in turn passed laws, weaving a shield of legality around the mega corporation, and more importantly around Cane. He sat in the center of the bureaucratic web like the spider he was, prepared to strike at any moment.

Even though the other Paragons still insisted it wasn't our business, I knew it was. We fit into the pattern, I just didn't see how yet. My father would have known. I felt bad about his death, though it was hard to grieve for a man I'd only met once. Yet I did wish I had his guidance.

We still went to school. The others were deep in the school life, preparing for prom, exams, and, in a year, to go out into the world. There was hope among them that if we could just hold out until then, we could escape. I, however, had no such hopes. Though I still went through the motions, mostly to assure Gamma that I wasn't planning on doing something stupid, my mind was usually far away.

"Hey."

I jumped, relaxing when I saw Roman sitting on the bed beside me.

"Can't you use the door like a normal person?" I asked.

"That's no fun." He replied. "I brought you a gift."

"You did?"

He handed me a little box bound in ribbon. "We've been dating for six months, officially. I thought you deserved something."

I opened the box. Inside was a black pen.

"Thank you." I said. "I needed one of these."

"Watch this." He uncapped the pen and a small blade snapped out of the end. "What do you think?"

I took it from him, flipping it in the air and catching it.

I kissed him on the cheek. "I love it."

"I was going to got you flowers, but I felt like this was more appropriate."

"You know me well."

The door opened and Mahlika entered.

"Aren't you supposed to be in PE?" She asked us.

"Doctor's note for my headaches." I replied. "I can leave at any time."

Roman shrugged. "You can't really stop me from going wherever I want."

"What about you?" I asked Mahlika. "Aren't you supposed to be in choir?"

"Well, yes." She replied. "But I had an anxiety attack."

I got up immediately and went over to her. "Are you alright?"

She nodded. "We were watching the news. Cane was talking about his plans for the future, and I..." She trailed off and I put my arms around her.

"He's planning something terrible." She said quietly. "I could sort of...hear his thoughts. He's planning to do something with that Skyfall device. And he hates us, Katana. He truly hates us."

"Don't worry about him." Roman said. "He won't hurt any of us as long as I'm here. He knows better than to send anyone after us."

"I know."