Shadow's Dance (V3)

Chapter 11: The Fish, The Lamb, The Magnet, And All Of The Bones

Jane constantly blasted around the training, continuing to break her personal records with each round, she kept pushing. Mae hadn't taken to the idea of bringing yet another unknown to the team but at least they could run a background check on this one. Otto had met with Scott, Iwix, Quint and Herring as well. Quint has mentioned something about given them "real" names but was shot down quickly. Iwix still had his own stuck up way as Scott still showed generosity.

Herring had got mad but not for long. After a small conversation the problem was resolved. She even suggested that Otto would teach and prepare the others. While a lot of their technology , Otto even showed Mae some of the skills that they used to make their power truly theirs to control,

That numbness never truly went away from that night, it lived inside of Jane like a grim reminder. She always looked focused or distant from the world around her. Even when her name was called she'd still be in a daze of thought.

When asked her about the change she brushed it off as "I'm just tired and there's more work than I thought." Around Iwix she just scowled at him and said. "You wouldn't understand, not yet."

The only person that she opened up ,even a little to was Quint. She bordered on insanity as the trained harder each day even while concealing her broken horn. No one knew except for Otto.

"Then explain it." Quint said in a soothing voice. They were sitting down in some room. Once again she lost track of time.

Jane gazed at one of the flower pots near the door. "Think of it like a plant. You break a leaf then the plant just grows another. The only way to kill it is by the roots. Only problem is I don't have them. This is my only shot, there's no second chances. If- When I die, my soul will also." She rested her head on a hand. "It just makes me unnaturally stronger and have an abundance of energy. But I'll still die and..." Her nose crinkled up as she stopped speaking. Jane balled up a fist full of fabric from her chest.

"Don't you want the others to at least know why you're pushing so hard?"

"No." She sighed. "All it would cause is distraction."

"Alright, then let's talk about Iwix."

Jane's head shot up as a deadly glare shot out. It was a mixture of surprise and anger as she spoke. "He's not what he seems."

Quint peered from his chair to Jane. "What do you hold against him? You act hostile towards him." He held a pencil in his right as it wriggled around on a notepad.

She mumbled under her breath. "Black the beast that descends from shadows." A sharp inhale before Jane spoke up. "He's made it clear on how he will behave as well."

"Well, you never gave him a chance." He leaned forward. "Do you like playing games?"

Jane shrugged as she turned to look at him. "I like not waisting my breath. Do you think Phantom will stop when they hurt your feelings? They won't even bat an eye at piles of bodies." Her voice was stern.

Quint gave a long sigh. "Then why are you here?"

"Because..." Jane drifted for a moment. "You wanted me dead."

"We don't want to kill you Jane."

Jane jolted up in rage. "Don't lie! You came there because all of you were afraid of what could happen!"