start a fire, watch it burn

spark

You watch, enamoured and disgusted as Nathaniel breaks the man's fingers one at a time when he fails to respond. The gagged cries of pain sets your teeth on edge but you do not tear your eyes away.

"Let me ask you again," Nathaniel tilts the man's head up, fingernails digging into bruised skin, "who leaked the information about the neutralizing agents and who are circulating them." He rips the cloth out of his mouth, an eyebrow raised as he waits for an answer.

"Please, I don't know! I really don't, I'm begging you please, I have a fam-" His eyes widen, Nathaniel smiles, deceptively calm. The bounded man struggles against his chains, panic written in his expression.

"I know. And I assure you, if you tell me the truth now, you won't come home to corpses." You know better than to trust his word, but the man before him is fraying at the edges and backed to corner with no other choices so he bends and breaks. Nathaniel smiles, satisfied.

The man returns as a corpse after an 'unfortunate' car accident. You clean up the mess left behind, the silence deafening.

××

"Is your uncle a control freak?" John asks as you both find yourself in Woaba Boba the following day, sitting on the opposite side of one another by the window. Idly, your eyes trail after the passing people, wondering how many of them are who they present themselves to be. It's a silly thing, you already know the answer, no one is ever who they say they are.

"A bit." You answer, distracted. Sensing your off mood, John falls quiet, golden eyes watching you.

The day goes on without another mention of your uncle.

××

It's Wednesday when a vision of you, bruised and bloody yet still smiling, comes to Claire. Eyes aglow and a body on the cement pathway, the knife drips with freshly spilt blood. There is no context but she's certain that the body on the floor seemed familiar, as if she's seen him before. Pursing her lips together, she pushes it in the back of her mind, still needs to arrange a meeting with those who would be interested in joining her cause of putting John back in line.

××

Worry gnaws at Adrion's nerves, day by day John and Claire are drifting away from him and from each other, he knows why. He isn't blind nor is he deaf, there are whispers in the hallways speaking of a reckoning. He doesn't like what he thinks will come, a part of him already knows how it will end.

And then you came.

Another complication. He doesn't know where to begin with you, you are a mystery and mysteries often bring trouble. Adrion can smell it coming.

××

The knife in your hand drips with freshly spilt blood. You are vaguely aware of the body curled on the floor, blood pooling beneath him. The loud gasp of surprise catches you attention, frozen in place, Claire stares at you with wides eyes.

As your attention on her focuses, she tenses, the entirety of her being screaming at her to run.

"You take a step back and I will kill you." It is not a threat but a promise, Claire trembles as she tries to calm the adrenaline coursing through her, praying she can make it alive. Making a swift motion with your hand, two men steps out of the white van, picking up the barely conscious man inside. You smile at her, detached and empty. "Let's talk."

She does not have the courage to say no.

The back of the school is empty and quiet, it makes her skin crawl, you can get rid of her here and no one would notice. That realisation dawns on her, fear gripping her chest tightly as she feels the iciness of your gaze paralyse her in place.

"Talk. How much did you see?"

"Just you holding the knife and the body." Her voice trembles as she speak, her eyes on the knife now clean of blood. She sees the smear on your skirt but doesn't say another word as she meets your gaze. "That's all I saw, I swear."

Humming, you study her expression, searching for any signs of her lying. Finding none, you nod. You decide to instill another healthy amount of fear into her anyways, not wanting to take your chances.

"You tell anyone about what happened today and I promise you, no one will find your body." Your eyes are glowing, your aura encasing your body as you lift your hand up. Claire yelps as her feet leaves the group, back dragging against the concrete wall. She dangles a good ten feet up in the air and you smile, Claire drops.

A strangled scream escapes her lips, flailing her arms as if it was her lifeline. You catch her before she hits the ground, smiling but there is no warmth there.

"I've made my warning clear, right?" Mutely she nods and you drop her. Walking away, you left her to her own devices, you need to ensure this doesn't reach Nathaniel's ears.

____________

a bit of explanation about Claire's ability in this one. This is merely a guess but I'm gonna run with it and edit this chapter when there is a better grasp on her ability, anyways Claire can only see a future event when she is present when it happens, however they tend to be blurry and without context.

Anyways, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!