The People with Useless Power

Chapter Thirty-six

[A/N: oof mega panic attack and episode sorry guys]

"Emily, what happened this morning?" Grayson placed a hand on her shoulder, but she just frowned and looked at the floor of the transport truck.

"Nothing," she shrugged. "I'm just... scared."

She felt something warm cover her entire body and Emily tilted her head to Gray, who had both of his palms opened. "Uh, thanks?"

"No problem." He smiled, his pale skin glowing.

"Can you two shut up?!" Ophelia thundered, pacing down the middle of the vehicle. "This battle could mean the end of a 50-year war. I think. ...Yes, that's right, Mara, this war existed before you did."

Mara growled and tripped her, standing up to stomp on her stomach. No one paid any attention or cared.

Two men in masks finally pulled Mara off of Ophelia. One, the tanner one, patted her on the back. She stood up and started to scream about something, Mara sitting quietly and looking out the window, and finally sat down, her face red and her eyebrows furrowed.

"You're just like your mother," Mara spat, and chills ran down Emily's spin.

"Do you know where she is, Ophelia? For this mission?" a girl with magenta hair- Luna, Emily realized- asked softly. She looked at Mara, trying to see if her body language was in any way suspicious.

Nothing.

Mara was a sociopath. A liar. A murderer. Tears burned at the back of Emily's eyes, her thoughts racing, wondering if she'd changed at all. If she'd ever even loved Emma, if she actually was suffering from-

"I actually have received no word from her," Ophelia sighed. "She usually checks with me for everything. I am a bit..." Her eyes slid over to Mara. "Worried."

Mara. A murderer. Her friend. A murderer. A murderer. A murderer.

She changed.

But she murdered a person who was trying to help. Who was trying to help her. Who was-

"Emily!" Ophelia yelled. Emily snapped out of her trance and looked up at Ophelia slowly. "Pay attention."

"I'm... I'm sorry," she whispered. Mara tried to catch her eye and give her a smile, but Emily simply glared at the ground. 

"I've contacted all of our allies. Um... they will be riding into the war on chariots while we protect them. I'm sorry, I know some of you were very excited about the chariot part..."

Luna looked upset, her eyebrows furrowed and pouting, and Mark wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"We're almost there. Ready your weapons, and put all emotions aside." She stared directly at Grayson and Vincent. "All of them."

Ophelia turned and swaggered back through the curtains, throwing her cape out behind her.

The truck stopped, and the back doors flew open. Emily clutched the seat until Vincent and Grayson lifted her up forcefully by her shoulders.

"I... why m-me?"

"Emily, I don't even know," Vincent shrugged. "We've just got to do this, okay?" They jumped out into the tall grasses and crouched low, and a gun was thrust into her open arms.

"I... I don't trust Mara. She killed Elvira."

"I'm sure there's more to the story," Grayson said softly, and Emily scowled. "Be quiet, please. If you don't mind. Sorry."

They crouched in silence and Emily peered slightly over the grass. And there they were, marching in in their white uniforms, holding their white flag, one not of peace, but of certain death.