Under the Mask - An Unordinary Fanfiction

(6) Enlightening

"Just like what you did to Sera, I'm going make you suffer." My grip on her neck tightens. Drowning out the desperate students' cries for me to stop, I begin to twist her neck. My grin widens.

"John!"

I freeze.

That's... Sera...

I turn to look behind me, only to find a worried Seraphina standing in the doorway. To my bewilderment, I notice her wounds and injuries are nowhere to be seen, as if nothing had happened in the first place. Could she have...?

Confirming my suspicions, her eyes radiate a vibrant blue as she looks at me. "Please stop John!" She pleads. "This isn't the right way to handle the situation."

"Sera..." I say with surprised eyes. The sight of her makes me lose focus as I let go of Cecile. She slides to the floor and gasps for air, her hands holding her neck in discomfort. "You got your ability back...!"

"Yes," She confirms, but a frown still remains on her face. "And I plan on using it to stop you."

To stop me...? Isn't what I'm doing right now deserved?

My expression is that of confusion as I speak. "But Sera..." I say, not willing to fight her. "Even after all that she's done, you are still able to forgive her?" I just don't understand...

Sera hesitates. Biting her lip, she says, "I may not be able to forgive her entirely..." There is an new, intense spark of determination in her eyes that I've never seen her hold before . "...but hurting her will just make you no better than the students who beat me."

At her words, I find myself only able to look on in surprise. Sera... she's changed so much. Before, she would not think twice about resorting to violence to solve situations. Whether it be protecting me or somebody else, she would never hesitate to hurt someone else. But now... there's something different.

Maybe it's because of Unordinary? Or maybe, it's because of her ability loss allowing her to understand how it is to have no power?

Then that would mean... it's because of me...

My eyes trail down to my shaky hands as I begin to wonder to myself...

Just what am I doing?

Too distracted by my jumbled thoughts, I don't notice Cecile's eyes gleam in hatred as she fires at me with green energy. The beam grazes my shoulder as I barely dodge in time. I wince in discomfort at the pain.  A thin line of blood drips from the wound.

My anger resurfaces. "Y–You..." I turn to glare at her. "How dare you."

Cecile pays no attention to my words. Although she seems afraid, her rage seems to overwhelm her sense of judgment and rationality as she foolishly fires yet another few blasts at me.

This time, however, I am prepared. Still having Arlo's ability from earlier, as I haven't deactivated my ability since then, I create a black barrier that reflects her attacks of green energy with ease. The barrage bounces off right back towards Cecile.

As the dust settles, the bloody Cecile littered with scars from the counter attack is visible. She appears to be knocked unconscious from the impact.

Not feeling satisfied, I march over to her body and lift my fist, ready to hit her. A sudden overwhelming force stops me before I could though. Sera... that's right. I momentarily forgot she was here, too blinded by my anger.

I just now realize that the other students had at some point already fled from the scene as I observe the empty room with my eyes, since I couldn't move my body. Only Sera and I remain.

—

(Seraphina's Perspective)

When John suddenly creates a familiar black barrier that looks uncannily similar to that of Arlo's, my eyes enlarge in absolute shock in realization. John' s ability... is to copy other people's abilities...?!

But that's... insane! How can... such an overpowered ability exist? Is he even human?

It would explain how he's able to use both healing abilities and offensive abilities, though. It all makes sense, yet it's all so unbelievable. I should have realized it sooner, especially after Arlo's warning and watching John fight for the first time.

I pause in thought as I recall all of the moments it's been so obvious. John is the most confident and cocky person I know ,even though he was a "cripple". You can't just become confident out of nowhere like that and be able to stand up to hide tiers without hesitation. Honesty, with all the hints I've been given, it's a wonder why I didn't figure it out until now.

It also explains how he was able to defeat Arlo and two other mid-tiers with ease. The more people, the more abilities he can use, hence the stronger he gets.

Suddenly I remember Isen's words from earlier, seeing them in an entirely different light then before... and although I am afraid to admit it, now understanding.

"That guy is a monster."

As I realize the enraged John is still not finished with Cecile yet, even after being knocked unconscious from his counterattack, I shake my head vigorously as an effort to recover from my temporary shock. Using my ability, I freeze his body on the spot.

I understand well that he could simply use my ability to unfreeze himself, but I know that John wouldn't hurt me. John would never... not in a million years.

I know that... I know that...

Then...

Why am I crying...?

Why am I trembling...?

Why...?

John doesn't unfreeze his body like I had thought he would. Instead, he just turns to stare at me with his bewildered golden eyes, probably wondering the same thing I was.

I can tell, he's hurt by my reaction. "Sera... you–"

"Don't come any closer!" I shout. The upper half of his body that wasn't frozen visibly flinches in response.

What am I saying...? How could I... it's only John... He's not even moving, for Christ sake! He's not doing a damn thing. And yet I...

It suddenly becomes impossible to look at him anymore. Averting my eyes, I am overwhelmed by woeful emotions.

I'm sorry John...

But....

Blinking back tears, my legs move on their own as I find myself running away from the scene without looking back even once.