A Beautiful Reflection From Firework Eyes

Color In The Darker Side Of All My Brightest Hopes

For a moment, I'm on top of the world. Flames crackle around me as I fight, setting the walls ablaze. Alex is right beside me, guards crashing into walls with a flick of his hand as we push forward. We're trying not to kill anyone—just injure them enough so they're put out of action. A purple force field glows around us, probably Frank's—bullets glancing off of it. A brown-haired boy, probably Oli, fights on the other side of the hallway, water and ice levitating in the air behind him. Glee rushes through me as we move forward. We're winning. We're actually doing this.

We just have to hold out, until Jack and Gerard finish with the control room and documents. But I'm not sure if we even need to. The guards are scrambling backward now, realizing that they're in trouble. We chase after them in pursuit, knocking through their lines. It feels so good to be in power, to be in control for once. We're not scared, not cowering, not hiding. It's their turn.

Alex says something in my ear, something about going to help Gerard. I just nod, watching him go as I keep fighting, covering the position where he just was.

I lose sight of the others as we charge forward, pressing into the guards' line. The world becomes a whirl of smoke and flames as I summon the fire, letting it burn. We're in power for once. We're the strong ones.

But it doesn't last long.

I hear a shout and see the force field around me shimmer as bullets ping against them, clattering to the ground. New guards are rushing in, lines and lines of them, guns aimed at the five of us. My shield is starting to crack—I can tell the others are too. Frank must be tiring—I am too. It's exhausting, using our powers for this long. Even with all the training we do, I can tell I'm weakening.

As if reading my mind, Frank calls out. "Fall back!" We've pushed too far into their line—they're starting to rally around us again. I summon one last burst of energy, fighting out until I'm standing shoulder and shoulder with them.

"Are you okay?" Kellin calls, running up to us. He's followed by Jack.

"Where's Alex?" Jack asks.

"He said he was helping Gerard with something," I pant as I lean against Kellin for support, dark spots dancing in front of my eyes. Frank and the other boy don't look so good either, standing unsteadily as we watch the guards through Frank's force field.

"We're gonna have to fall back," Frank says. There's blood running from his nose—that can't be good. Kellin notices, immediately slipping over to Frank's side, grabbing his hand. When he lets go, Frank looks more steady, less pale. He wipes the blood away on his sleeve. "Just keep them at bay, okay?"

"Great," the other boy—Oli, says in a heavy British accent.

I nod, following him, summon fire into the hallway, seeing him do the same with water and ice. I can tell we're all drained though, our attacks weakening as the guards press forward. Frank's force field is weakening too. I feel a bullet whiz by my ear, slamming into the wall right behind me as it gets through.

A hand grabs my shoulder, and I whirl around to see Gerard standing behind me. "Alex was shot," he gasps.

Immediately, panic runs through me. "How bad?" I ask.

"I can help," Kellin offers.

Gerard shakes his head. "Jack's getting him out. We're getting out of here now."

"I thought we were going to destroy the place," I say.

"Change of plans. We were ambushed. We need to fall back. Get out to the safe house."

"We won't be able to get through," I point out. "They have the entrance blocked off. We can't get to the window, especially if Alex is injured."

"We're leaving out the backway. Just out the back of the Dark Room, remember? It's behind the padding on the back wall." I shiver at the words. Gerard notices. "Hey, it will just be for a few moments."

"Is everybody else out?" I ask.

"Almost," Gerard says. "Just us, Frank and Oli. They're both exhausted."

"Get them out first," I say. "I'll stay and hold them off. Tell me when you're all clear."

"I'm staying with you," Kellin says immediately.

"No," I say immediately. "Gerard, get him out of here."

"We're staying together," Kellin says. "I can help you if you collapse. Anyway, I'm not leaving and you can't make me." He does have a point though, but I still detest the idea that he might get hurt. But Frank and Oli need to get out soon—they're losing energy fast without Kellin to help them.

Gerard hesitates, then nods, leaving me to fight the guards.