Maybe, probably.

Chapter 19: Quinn

"Evil."

The word echoed between us all.

What...I'm not...am I?

They were all staring at me. Evil, the woman had said.

"I'm not— what have I..." I gasped, pulling out of Vi's grip. She tried to grab my arm again, no doubt to comfort me but when she did, it sent a shock of pain racing through her body.

"AH!" She cried, holding on her burned arm, while Xander and Andre flocked to her side.

They pulled her away from me.

Like I was infectious.

"I'm so sorry!!! Vi—I swear I didn't mean to—" I tried to go towards her but Andre stepped in front of her.

He looked concerned as he pleaded, "Quinn. Just step back for a minute, please." He was at least 1 foot taller than me. No way I was getting past him without using my powers or whatever.

I looked away from his face, backing up.

I tried looking at Vi, who was leaning against Xander as her own power healed the burn. "I'm sorry," I whispered, my voice coming out breathless in all the wrong places.

Asher came to my side, already spitting out useless 'It's going to be alright' and 'All will be explained soon' crap.

But I'm done with this.

I spun on Asher, whipping my hair around. "WHAT. AM. I." I snarled in his face, his eyes going round and wide.

He swallowed, gathering his rehearsed BS. "Quinn—"

I shook my head, "NO. Tell me who is here that can possibly explain what the HECK I am. I burned Vi, I exploded and threw Conan across my yard," I was yelling now, ignoring the sad and concerned stares from everyone around me as they listened.

"That old lady said that I will take up every inch of light until there is nothing but darkness left inside me!" I gripped at my hair and rubbed my face harshly, trying to make sense of the constant, swirling confusion filling my head.

Asher looked like he'd been smacked. So did the rest of them.

I watched at them all, scanning each and every face to the best of my ability. Remembering what it was like to have friends, of some sort anyway.

I looked at my hands. Unscarred. Soft.

I don't ever want that to change...

I breathed deep. "I'll go."

I didn't look at anyone as I started to walk to the exit gate and trudge along the road until hopefully I found someone to hitchhike along with, to god knows where, but someone grabbed my elbow.

I inhaled viciously as I turned, prepared to shove Asher away but I came face to face with an older man.

He was two feet taller than me, with fully grey chopped short hair, and dull, chipped brown eyes. Mid 40's probably. He was wearing a black, formal suit with the Exadon logo stamped onto the breast pocket, paired with a white handkerchief.

He was still gripping my elbow. But I didn't move.

Something...something about him...

Asher stepped forward with his friends. They all bowed at the waist. "Sir. I've completed the mission. Brought her here, just as you requested. We ran into some trouble with Conan..."

The man lifted his hand, silencing him. His hand was still clamped on my arm, sharp eyes never leaving mine.

My breathing stopped. I looked at Asher.

"This is what this was about. A job. Is that all I am to you?" I looked at all of them. "To all of you?"

They glanced away. I laughed coldly. I glared back up at the man and ripped my arm away.

"What do you want from me." I growled, letting my demon spill out the slightest bit.

The man didn't flinch, never answered my questions, he just... watched me. Watched me breathe.

"Who are you?" I asked, waiting for some kind of explanation because I have no idea who to trust now. Asher... I don't know.

The man's eyes shifted, then he dropped my arm.

He glanced at Asher then back at me. "Agent X was assigned to bring you to me. You are needed here." I couldn't breathe as he spoke and Asher wasn't looking me in the eyes.

Agent X?

He tilted his head at me. "Agent X has a debt. One that took years to pay back. His friends also had to pay off the debt. Once they brought you back, their debt would be paid. So they could disappear," he crooned to them, to me.

Disappear...Like everyone else in my life...

I didn't know when I started to cry. It was silent, broken tears.

"Like they've always wanted to."

Asher tried to speak but I wrapped a barrier—a shield— of my power around the two of us.

The Exadon man just marveled at the shield, while Asher pounded on it, his friends doing
the same. They were trying to bargain, to plead at me to listen.

But I was done listening.

I sobbed harder, reinforcing the barrier.

I fell to the floor, the man unnervingly concerned. He squatted down in front of me.

I closed my eyes.

Breathe in, breathe out. Don't let it control you.

An unknown voice filled my head...that man is...

A finger pulled my chin up. Then wiped at my cheek.

I opened my eyes. The man was gazing at me so tenderly it made my stomach twist.

POUND, POUND, POUND.

QUINN, PLEASE LET ME EXPLAIN—

I pushed the voice out. Shut up, Asher.

I was still watching the man.

"Who are you." I asked a final time.

He smiled. "It's nice to finally see you again, daughter."

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Thanks for reading lovelies!! :)
Stay safe and wash your hands, you crusty kids!

XOXO
WriterGirl ❤️