DEVIATE X / / AN UNORDINARY FANFICTION

XXV. (End of Part I.)

A couple of hours later.

"God, that took forever! They could've at least taken off our cuffs while they were getting our statements!"

Isen groaned as he rubbed his sore wrists, inhaling the cool air. Outside, the golden remnants of sunlight denoted that the day was inevitably coming to an end. My eyes automatically targeted the far end of the parking lot, with the only evidence of the vendor's presence as the fresh tire marks stamped onto the asphalt. The big rig was now gone, but authorities still littered the entrance of the mall, cornering off the huge hole that Blyke blasted into the wall with caution tape.

"Yeah, I'm beat," Blyke agreed as he stretched, flicking his eyes. "Del, you coming?"

I stopped, intently searching through my call log and message history with Irel to find out if he attempted to contact me. He promised I could come over to his flat today after the mall, but all his calls were going straight to voicemail.

That's weird, I thought. He usually doesn't have class nor work-study around this time......unless something came up? No, I thought curtly. He would at least shoot me a message if his plans changed. Why isn't he answering his phone?

"No..." I replied unsteadily. "I have to take care of something. I'll see you guys at school."

I felt compelled to run all the way back to his place. It would be instantaneous; I would get there in a matter of 5-10 minutes. But I curbed my urge and took a fifteen-minute bus ride, exhaling with relief once I reached my stop. I typed in the passcode for the entrance of the building and dashed up the stairs with my ability, huffing as I reached his floor.

My heart thudded heavily as I walked down the eerily quiet hallway, halting at once as I reached his door. I reached for his doorknob, stopping at once as I noticed the splintered wood framing the ruined doorknob.

His door is busted...!

Without a second thought, I slammed open the door, my eyes and hands glowing a bright crimson among the dimly lit living room. I frantically scanned along the desecrated room, stopping at the three figures hovered over an unconscious body-Irel's body.

"What the-?! Was there supposed to be someone else?" A masked figure uttered in shock as he averted his eyes to a clad dressed woman, her blonde hair drawn into a tight bun at the nape of her neck. Her eyes were glowing a vivid gold as she laid them on me with a relentless and cold gaze.

"No." The woman said, turning on her heel as she began to walk away. "Take care of her."

I lunged towards her, reaching a glowing hand to grab her coat. In a blur, she whirled around with a set of fiery claws and slashed in my direction. I instinctively dashed backward as her the fiery of her claws struck against my passive barrier and inevitably burned her hand, rendering it into a crisp, charcoal black.

"Who are you?" I hissed maliciously, squaring my stance.

Her eyes were motionless, residing with a hint of vehemence as she looked back down at her injured hand. She stood like a statue, studying me carefully before she spoke.

"Get rid of her." She commanded apathetically, with a sharp edge of ruthlessness.

Before I could make a grab for her again, one of the masked figures lunged in my direction, reaching out to me as a blaze of neon purple streaked after him. I dashed to the side and immediately hastily snatched a mug from a side table, becoming swathed in crimson upon immediate contact. I smashed it against the table and threw the jagged bits into the air before redirecting the sharp pieces at the masked perpetrator.