A Beautiful Reflection From Firework Eyes

My Hopes Are Severed By The Downside

I sit on the edge of my bed, swinging my legs back and forth as I wait. The guards should be coming any minute to take me to Study. I look up as the door swings open, jumping to my feet. I stare at the doorway, expecting to see a guard, but there's no one there.

"Jack?" I call out gingerly. "What—" a hand clamps over my mouth. Jack shimmers into appearance, ducking behind the open door. I raise my eyebrows at him and he puts a finger to his lips. He holds up his hand, showing me the word scrawled there in messy permanent marker.

Microphones.

I mime a look of confusion, and he grabs my hand, pulling me down the hallway. Surprisingly, there are no guards, even though it's almost noon. I think he's going to lead me to his and Alex's room, but he opens the door of a supply closet instead, shoving us in.

We don't speak until the door is shut.

"What do you mean?" I whisper.

"I was snooping around the control room upstairs where they have the security footage. I usually delete footage of the doors opening," he explains. "Usually, they just have footage of outside and the hallways. But I found a link to the audio in room five." My blood runs cold.

"How long have they been listening?" I ask.

"I don't know," he says. "Not that long. I'm assuming it started when they first caught the two of you."

"Make sure there's none for your room," I say. "If they've heard our conversations—" I shudder at the thought. If they find out we are planning an escape, we'll be dead before sunrise.

Jack nods. "We don't know how much they know."

"I have to get back to my room before they come for me for Study," I say. "Be careful, okay?"

Jack nods. "You too," he says. He glances down the hallways, judging it to be clear before he pushes open the door. I move to step out, but I hear a shout and freeze.

"Stop right there!" The officer shouts. I pray that it's either Matty or Rian, but it's not. This officer has dark hair, a silver pin reflecting the light from the florescent lights.

"Shit!" Jack looks at me wildly. We're wondering the same thing. What now?

"Hide or run?" I whisper.

"M-52, I know you're in there," the officer says. Officer Radke. The new knowledge that he's Jack's half brother weighs heavily on me. Jack's face pales as he glances at me.

The door is flung open wider, Officer Radke standing silhouetted by the bright lights in front of us."What do you think you're doing?" Officer Radke barks.

"Uh, you know," Jack raises an eyebrow. "The usual stuff."

Officer Radke doesn't look impressed. "You know what the consequences for using your powers are, right?"

I'm not even sure what it is, but it must be bad because Jack pales. "Yes, sir," he mutters. I'm not certain if he says it ironically or not.

"Well then," Officer Radke has a smirk on his face. "We better get moving."

"Wait," I say. "It was my idea. I was the one who suggested it." Jack shakes his head at me, but I press forward. "I told him to. Leave him out of it. It was my fault."

"Ah," Officer Radke says. "But it wasn't you who used your powers, was it?" He grabs Jack by the arm, dragging him down the hallway.

"No, I—" I raise my hand, ready to summon the flames, but someone grabs my arm, forcing me to turn.
"Stop," Matty says. "You'll only make it worse."

"I can't just let him hurt Jack," I say, struggling to get away.

Matty's grip tightens on my arm as he holds me down the hallway toward my room. "Don't fight me," he warns. "There's nothing you can do." I give Jack a helpless look as the door is wrenched open and I'm thrown inside.