The Outcasts *COMPLETED*

Chapter 28 - Medusa

Cooper sprinted to the apartment number that Jade had texted him. He stood outside of it, looking back down the hallway and saw Mollie and Javi slowly jogging after him. Cooper looked back at the door and opened it, walking into the room to see Jade tied up against the radiator. Her head hung low, her hair covering her face.

"Jade..." Cooper whispered. Her head shot up, looking at him through the strands of hair that stuck to her face from the sweat. She shook her head slightly, her eyes wide with fear. Cooper stopped in his tracks, raising an eyebrow. "Jade, I'm... why are you tied up?"

"Is she here?" Mollie asked, walking through the doorway and into Jade's sight. Jade's fearful glance turned into squinted eyes, staring down the female teenager that was now standing next to Cooper. "Jade!" Mollie shouted out.

"Why are you here?" Jade asked coldly.

"She's here to help you, just like I am." Cooper said, walking towards her.

"Not so fast Mr. Hayward." a familiar voice spoke from one of the other rooms in the apartment complex.

"Wait... Professor Romero?" Cooper asked, seeing the man emerge from the room he was hiding in. The teacher stared at the ground, his fists clenched while he walked towards the boy.

"Professor?" Javi's voice called out, standing in the doorway. His mouth hung open as Romero looked up and over at the boy, staring him down threateningly.

"Wait? You... kidnapped... Jade?" Mollie asked.

"She's necessary." Romero softly spoke, moving his menacing glare to Mollie. "You are all necessary."

"What are you talking about?" Mollie asked. Jade scoffed, turning her head and looking at the wall.

"He needs each of you... Where is the fifth? Mr. Storm?" Professor Romero asked. The kids remained silent and he shook his head. "Forget it. We'll get him later."

"Are you okay Professor?" Javi asked, watching as a black substance began to cover the teacher's feet. Jade felt herself tense up as he began to transform. Mollie and Cooper both took steps back as the teacher was masked in all black with glowing white eyes. A black staff appeared in his hand and he twirled it around.

"I'm perfectly fine Mr. Vasquez." Romero said, stepping towards the three. "Right now, I need the three of you to cooperate."

"He wants to use us." Jade interjected.

"Not me. The Higher Being." Romero spat back, looking back at the defenseless girl.

"The Higher... okay... sure." Mollie sarcastically agreed. "We need to get out of here." she whispered to Cooper.

"You won't be going anywhere." Romero said, throwing a ball of darkness at the door, which slammed it shut. The three looked back at it and then right back at Romero.

"Professor, you're kinda freaking me out." Javi said, stepping in front of Cooper and Mollie.

"You're powers are needed for him. So he can conquer the world. So he can free us." Romero cryptically phrased.

"This is nuts." Mollie said, shaking her head.

"Is it Mollie?" Sophie asked, stepping out from the bathroom of the apartment. Mollie looked at her rival, shocked to see her here as well. Her usual red hair seemed to be even brighter and her green eyes were more piercing than usual. The head cheerleader slowly walked towards the three, rubbing her hands together as she smirked.

"Look, let us just get our friend and we'll go." Javi said. He shrugged his shoulders, taking a step towards Jade when Sophie put a finger onto Javi's head. The teenager's feet stopped moving, as well as his arms. He struggled to move them as his feet slowly began to turn to stone.