A/N Hello everyone!
Just to give you all a quick update: chapters have been a bit slow lately. I am currently taking summer classes and a lot of the labs and homework have been taking up my time. Instead of my weekly updates, things have now been kinda wavering at 2 weeks per chapter now. I'm sorry I haven't been consistent or have at least updated you all on the situation >~<
BUT!
Once we get closer to the end of August, I should have more free time on my hands. I'm still going to update Fractured, don't get me wrong, but the one shots book and their related projects will unfortunately have to go on hold and the weekly chapters are probably going to be once every two weeks now so I have enough time.
That being said, thank you all for being so patient and understanding. I know I need to do a better job of keeping you all in the loop and letting you all know when things happen, so thank you for sticking by me through it all.
Now, let's get on with the next chapter!
Hope you all enjoy!
Love ya guys! ^-^
-KittCat
P.S: Wattpad's word count is going nuts again. If it looks like something's missing from the chapter or something feels choppy, please let me know right away. There shouldn't be but I don't trust it right now. This chapter is a little over 5K but right now it says its at at 2K.
*Warning*: This chapter contains mentions of violence, mentions of abuse, and mentions of murder. Viewer discretion is advised please!
Leilah stood there, feeling like the world ceased to exist.
John, he-...
He was gone...
He had just upped and vanished and she had absolutely no idea where he could be.
What happened?! How could he have just disappeared from right under her nose?!
Where was he?! There was no way he could've left on his own! Not in the state he's currently in!
Why was he gone?! If he didn't escape, someone here must've taken him somewhere else!
What was she going to do?!
Leilah spun on her heel at a nauseating speed, trying to leave in search of answers. She took two steps towards the door before coming face to face with a man who looked just as bewildered as her.
Crystal blue eyes and brick red locks hovered in her gaze as Keon's sight swept around the room. His hand hovered over his wrist but it fell away as something dropped to the floor with a clatter. It seemed like a watch of some sort. His eyes landed on the bloody jacket in her ironclad grip and by the way his face seemed to scrunch up with shock, he could sense her emotions right now with that passive of his.
His mouth opened and he had the damn audacity to say: "What the hell did you do Leilah?!"
Leilah dropped the jacket in her grip as she grabbed the man by his shirt collar in a mock up of their encounter a couple of months ago. She pressed him against the wall with bruising force.
The woman was seething as she snarled past gritted teeth. "You sick, slimy bastard! Where is he?! What did you do with him?!"
Keon's own eyes narrowed in rage. "Me?! What the hell did you do with him?!"
Leilah shoved him back, his head thudding against the brick behind him. "Stop playing dumb! Where the hell did you take John?! Where is he?!"
Keon thrashed as he tried to grab onto her wrist to get her to release him. Leilah instead froze his arms up against the wall, only leaving his eyes and mouth the ability to move. "I haven't done a damn thing to him! Out of the both of us, I should be the one asking you these questions with how you've been acting lately! Not to mention your damn track record!"
Before either of them could get another word in, a set of heels clicked against the concrete floor and a looming shadow blocked the glaring light from the hall, the prim and stoic form of Valerie appearing in the doorway.
She had her hand tucked in her pocket before pulling it back out and crossing her arms.
Her honey dipped irises were calm as she eyed the scene before her. With only a cursory glance to the lavender haired woman, she spoke with an even and relaxed tone. Though, it was more of a command than anything. "Leilah. Put him down."
The lavender haired woman looked between the two for a minute before she reluctantly dropped the man. Keon took a good few paces away from her, straightening out his tie as he eyed her. Leilah whirled around and directed her attention to the blonde standing there with the light haloing her figure.
Leilah barely kept her voice even as she spoke. "Where is John? What did he do with him?!" She pointed an accusing finger towards the man in the room.
Keon huffed as he stared at her in offence. "I haven't done a damn thing! I came in here for another lesson and here I find you with the room completely empty and John is nowhere to be found! You let him escape, didn't you?!"
The woman's emerald eyes widened in shock as rage began to creep through her veins. "You piece of sh-!"
"Enough."
Both looked over to Valerie who had her arms crossed over her chest, gaze neutral. She was leaning against the doorway, a bored air surrounding her as she listened to their bickering. "You two don't have to worry about the little brat anymore."
Leilah felt her heart drop to her feet and then some.
Of course...she should've known.
She had her suspensions...
She knew Valerie had been planning something with John...
She just didn't think it would be this soon...
This was all her fault...she should've done something sooner, she should've gotten help sooner, she should've broken him out-...!
No.
No, she couldn't have...
If she had helped John escape, Darren and Seraphina would suffer too.
The last thing she wanted was for her sister to suffer more because of her mistakes and for Darren to get roped into this madness. She already failed to keep her sister safe when they had been targeting her for her ability. She couldn't let the others do worse to her or to Darren who was probably facing his own trials right now.
Dammit all, she felt so helpless!
It took everything in Leilah not to jump the woman right then and there. Her voice was just barely a whisper as she spoke. "What did you do with John...?"
The woman closed her eyes and sighed before walking over to the table, heels clacking as she pulled away one of the two chairs pressed against their edges. She turned the furniture till it was facing the other two individuals in the room, setting herself down and crossing her legs in a bored manner. "Leilah, look, you're a great individual and I can tell that brain of yours will get you far. But don't think for a minute I haven't seen what's been going on."
Leilah felt her blood run cold. She thought she had been spacing out their meetings well enough to where no one had caught on. At least, not completely.
Valerie sighed, long and tired. "You have a soft spot for broken things it seems. First Arlene, now John, you just love to get yourself involved when really, it doesn't concern you. What happened to the girl was unfortunate, yes. But really, what else did you expect us to do Leilah? You expect us to let a vigilante run wild in the streets, causing chaos and brewing even more disturbance? The public shouldn't rely on them Leilah. They are a hazard to everyone's well being."
A fire built in her chest as Leilah carefully chose her next words. "...If what you said was true, then why are you doing this? Why not just ban superheros completely and prevent all of this? Why not just bring them in and judge them on trial like the authorities do with all the others who have broken the law?"
Valerie clicked her tongue and shook her head. "You're still so young Leilah. Believe me when I say, this is far easier. Say we did outlaw vigilantism. Say we did try these people as criminals. What do you suppose would happen? That things will go back to being right as rain, that people will stop trying to go out on a crusade to 'change the world' so to speak?"
When Leilah said nothing, she continued. "To put it bluntly, no, it wouldn't. You see, people like going after what they can't have. They like obtaining something out of their reach and they like trying to defy the impossible. So, when you put out a law forbidding vigilantism, what do you think people are going to do? They're going to test those limits, they're going to try 'being the hero' or whatever despite the risk."
The other woman took a step forward. "Then what about all the problems they're trying to address? Doesn't that concern you at the very least?"
Valerie eyed her. "Why should it? Low tiers under the control of elites? Nothing new there. It's the same as our current day hierarchy. The strong will always stand at the top. And those below should know their place."
Emerald eyes narrowed in anger. "So when entire towns are being ravaged by drugged up mid tiers thirsty for revenge, that's ok in your book?" Leilah crossed her arms as she stared the blonde down.
But despite their different positions, she knew that Valerie was the one staring down at her.
She continued on though. "You let drugged up individuals, which is illegal in your books by the way, to run around terrorizing a multitude of people by breaking into their homes, also illegal, and take control of an entire town. Which, wouldn't you know it, is also illegal!"
Leilah refused to let up. "And where does it all start? With whoever is giving them those drugs to begin with. And superheroes are going out, fighting off these individuals because they know that what they're doing is wrong and that they're getting people hurt. They see that the authorities are doing nothing about it so they've taken matters into their own hands. More drugged up mid tiers appear, vigilantes come to help people, EMBER kills them, you give out more drugs to willing mid tiers, and the cycle repeats all over again."
Keon's eyes went wide. "Wait, giving out drugs-?" He never got a chance to speak as Leilah continued.
Valerie stared at her, but the twitch in her jaw gave away her annoyance. Leilah kept pressing though. "Face it Valerie: the only ones you have to blame for this whole mess are you and those you've allowed to continue on with this charade. And all for the sake of science and whatever financial benefits you'll receive at the end of this. Is it really worth it? Is it really worth screwing up all these people's lives just to make a pretty penny?"
There was silence for a moment. When she did speak, the blondes voice became liquid venom. "Need I remind you what you and your superiors were willing to do all for the sake of science? Stealing, breaking and entering, murdering. All so you people could further yourselves and achieve something greater than any single individual."
Leilah narrowed her eyes. "We never-"
"Not to mention," Valerie cut her off. "that you employed the help of a child to sneak through Wellston's school enrollment list and catalog every single elite and high tier for your companies original plans. Which might I add, were founded on the principle of stealing other individuals abilities in an attempt to right the supposed wrongs of this world."
The other woman tried to get a word in. "And I never agreed with that! But you-"
Valerie huffed. "But nothing. Leilah, you talk about a repetitive cycle but what do you think would've happened if your former superiors had actually succeeded? When do you think they would've stopped? At just your sister? No, they would've continued until every last high tier they deemed problematic was entirely stripped of their abilities."
Leilah grit her teeth. "Then why did you allow them to do it? Why did you allow them to hurt my sister?"
The chair Valerie resided on creaked slightly as she shifted. "Believe me, it wasn't my intention to allow your people to hurt her. But, they don't fall under my directory. I only deal with criminals. While your sister may have read an illegal book, that falls under the overseer of the juvenile delinquents department of which Mr. Keon here had been appointed as a management director. I suggest you take your issues up with him instead."
Leilah gave the briefest look over her shoulder at the man that promised revenge. However, she turned her attention back to Valerie.
The other looked down. "Look, that was never our intention. I never agreed with what Spectre was planning. But that doesn't mean that things are just fine in the world-"
Valerie interrupted her. "Whether you intended to or not is irrelevant. You and your superiors still went to dangerous lengths to achieve your goals. As for the problems in this world, what makes them problems? The fact that they're happening to low tiers? If that's all that makes it an issue for you, then I hate to break it to you, but that's just the way things are. It's why power will always be the only thing that ever matters. Because without it, you have no voice."
Leilah bit her lip. "And what about John? Do you think he deserved this? Especially when he has more power than any one of us here in this room according to your logic?"
Valerie gave a dismissive chuckle. "Oh Leilah, you honestly think he's an actual high tier?"
Leilah said nothing before the woman went on. "Late bloomers as we all know, don't conform to our hierarchy. They are wild cards, off the rail individuals with no sense of self or responsibility. All they know is anger and rage and they use that to fuel their petty behavior because the world dealt them an unsavory opening hand. They will always be doomed to fail because they will never have a place in this hierarchy. No matter how much you try to reason with them or show them their place, they will always stray. They're defective."
She raised her eyes to meet Leilah's. "You can't reason with madmen. All you can do is play their game."
She leaned back, staring up at the dreary ceiling. "What do you think you could've possibly done, hm? The kid is wild; derailed. It was Keon's job here to fix that and so far, nothing has changed."
Keon was about to speak up when Valerie raised her hand to silence him. "Don't even start Keon. I've given you more than enough time. You keep saying you're working on it, that you and Marcella are wearing him down. While that much is true, do you think it's enough to merely make him tired, to crack him? No. It will never be enough for someone of his mindset. If you want lasting results, you have to break him."
Leilah bit down on her tongue. 'You people have already broken him you f*cking b*tch.'
The man's eyes went wide. "Wh...? What were you expecting me to do?! You called me in because I've had experience dealing with him! You said you wanted me to wear him down so we could finally fix this kid and put this all to rest!"
Valerie nodded. "And while that much is true, I'm starting to realize that maybe you just aren't as efficient as you seem."
Keon looked taken aback and had this been any other circumstance, Leilah would've smirked at seeing Keon get taken down a few pegs.
Regardless, she kept her cold glare on Valerie.
The woman stood up, the chair screeching across the floor. "I expected you to do what needs to be done, to push the kid until he broke. Because right now, he's just a lost, disobedient child who won't listen to anyone. We may not be using him in the task force, but that doesn't mean it wouldn't help to have the kid at least complicit to avoid more serious repercussions down the line. I told you to break him and you've hardly even managed that."
Keon narrowed his eyes. "I did what I was told. You wanted me to fix the damn kid because he's a threat to the hierarchy. You just said it yourself: they don't have a place in this system! That's why it's our job to correct their behavior!"
Valerie huffed a ghost of a laugh. "A job you can't seem to do."
The man clenched his fists before Valerie went on. "Truth be told Keon, John's original case may have gotten you far, but really, he's the same as any other child you've dealt with in the past. He's hateful and selfish and doesn't know his place. The only difference is his power. Other than that, you're still the same juvenile corrections officer who has to pick up the rest of the trash this world has left behind. Dealing with him doesn't make you special."
The red haired man looked away. "What exactly did you want me to do Valerie? You brought me in because you said I would be the best choice for the job. Yet, you say I should be doing more. I brought in Leilah, which you gave me permission to do, and yet that's still not enough?! What exactly were you expecting?!"
Valerie's lips pulled into a thin line. "Yes, you may have added Leilah to the mix but what good is that going to do for you if she's helping the kid you're trying to crack?" Keon eyed Leilah with a stony gaze before turning his focus back to Valerie.
The woman crossed her arms and leaned on one foot. "I wanted you to get creative, to think outside the box a little. Marcella may be a master of interrogation, but if you want to rise up past that measly title you have, I suggest you start learning of other ways to get your prisoner to talk."
Keon went a few shades too pale for Leilah's liking. She hadn't known the man for long, but she knew dread when she saw it.
The man's voice came out low as he grit his teeth. "Valerie, what are you planning...?"
Valerie shrugged. "You'll just have to wait and see Keon."
Leilah finally spoke up. "Valerie, whatever it is you're planning on doing, don't. It's not worth it."
The woman only side-eyed her. "He's a prisoner Leilah. I'm allowed to employ alternative methods if current ones aren't working."
Leilah swung an arm out. "A prisoner for what?! What crimes has he committed that warrant this kind of treatment?! What the hell is wrong with you?! He's just a kid! He's hurt, he's confused and above all, he's scared! He's terrified of dying here and you brought him in all for what?! Just so you can run some mundane tests on him for a second time?!"
Keon startled, staring at Leilah with an expression she couldn't quite read. "Tests...? What tests?"
Leilah whipped around to face him. "What tests do you think I'm talking about?! Stop acting like you know nothing about it! I'm talking about the tests they ran on him when he was here the first time around while under your care, unless your age has screwed up your memory!"
Despite her words, Keon's face remained unreadable. "Valerie, what is she talking about?" he quickly turned to look at her. But she only stared at him with a stoic expression, impassive and uncaring.
Leilah stared at the man before something clicked for her.
She wanted to cry and scream and do things that had her mother been here would've earned her several slaps to the face. But instead, a low chuckle bubbled past her lips. It was tinged with disbelief, with venom and hate. "Oh my gosh...you didn't know, did you? You were right there and you never even knew about what they were doing?!"
How could he have been so sightless?! He was right there! He was in the exact same building under the exact same roof and when the kid wasn't having his memories used against him, he was being used as a test subject!
Her voice grew hard as she felt rage bubble in her. "Just how blind are you Keon?! The kid was being tested on right under your nose and not once did you even realize it?!"
Keon only remained silent, shock and something close to disbelief writing along his features.
Truth be told, he was left in the dark on a lot of things. He hadn't been told about EMBER until they absolutely had to at the very last minute. He was shocked at first, but Valerie had painted such a promising picture, that this was all for a greater purpose, that vigilantes were the ones causing harm. She said EMBER was created to preserve the hierarchy and to maintain order, to keep those who promised nothing but harm at bay and to keep their society in check.
And he had gone along with it...
He'd gone along with it because he knew sometimes sacrifices had to be made. He had made plenty of his own over the years and knew that in the authorities, tough choices had to be made. Sometimes, there was no right and wrong, there just was.
But with this?!
What use did illegally experimenting on kids provide them?!
What was the reason for something like that?!
He saw none. And the fact that Valerie wasn't trying to valiantly back up her claim like she had done for EMBER only solidified that horrifying fact.
Part of him hung on though, looking to Valerie for answers.
Besides, there was every possibility that Leilah was lying or had misspoken.
Surely, there had to be something he was missing, right?
There just had to be a reason for something like that...
Leilah continued to stare at him with a vexed air. "If he didn't know about this, then what about afterwards? Why doesn't John remember any of it if he really had nothing to do with this?" She directed her question to Valerie.
Valerie was silent before she finally spoke up. "You honestly think Keon is the only person in our ranks to possess a mental based ability? Please, his ability is 'memory recall.' He's barely a high tier! What makes you think that an ability like his has the capacity and/or capability to erase three months worth of memories?"
And just like that, she dropped the metaphorical piano right on their heads.
With those words, it confirmed what Keon had been hoping was just more of Leilah's random words, what he hoped had just been random lies. He shook his head and took a few steps backwards, staring at Valerie all the while. "You didn't...you can't be serious Valerie. Please tell me you didn't actually allow this sh*t to happen!"
But just like before, Valerie said nothing. But for Keon, it spoke louder than anything she could've used to try and sway him in her favor. Her silence was all the confirmation to know that it was the truth.
He ran a hand through his brick shaded locks and looked away. He couldn't bare to look at Valerie right now.
Leilah looked away as well but for a much different reason.
Deep down, she knew she had been petty. She had let herself be so blinded by anger for these people that she had forgotten that some of them were also like her.
At the end of the day, Keon was just a juvenile delinquents cop. Compared to Leilah and Valerie, he didn't have the clearance to know about what was happening, both then and now. He had only been brought in because he had experience, nothing more, nothing less. He would've never been told about what happened behind closed doors when he wasn't there. It never involved him and obviously, he didn't have the judgement to decide whether or not the kids he taught were actually safe to begin with.
Like most, what didn't involve him didn't concern him.
Because just like so many others who've joined the authorities, he did it under the pretense that what they were doing was right, that they were doing these things for the greater good to establish peace and order and never once bothered to question if this was even right to begin with.
Leilah wanted to place blame somewhere. She had wanted to blame Keon for all of this because he had been directly involved, because he had brought her the threat of her loved ones and had ultimately broken John to the point of no return.
But she realized that she couldn't.
Yes, he was heavily responsible for what became of John. He was responsible for what happened to the teen and for using his deepest and most upsetting memories in order to get him to behave like a useless puppet.
She would never forgive him for hurting John like that and for being the one to bring up her loved ones as a threat whether it was his idea or not.
But she couldn't blame him for every single thing that's happened.
She couldn't blame him for letting John be used as a guinea pig, she couldn't blame him for delivering the threat when he had no lasting power and she couldn't blame him for Valerie taking John.
Because just like her, Keon had been nothing more than a pawn for Valerie to move, for her to continue on with this game she was playing.
And it was a game that she was winning.
-------~(Play Music <Optional>)~-------
Valerie looked between the two of them. "Have you both finally run out of words? No more jabs or questions?"
When silence was all that met her, she nodded. "Good. Now, it's obvious that I've overestimated your capabilities. You two have been causing me more issues than giving me actual aid. You've done some of the heavy lifting, but that doesn't matter. From now on, I'm taking it from here. You two are off the job."
Both of them cried out unanimously. "WHAT?!"
Valerie only stared on as Leilah tried to argue. "Valerie, this isn't right! You've already broken John enough. I don't know what'll happen if you continue to push him like this."
Leilah had to hold back from swinging her fist to wipe the woman's smirk off her face. "Well unfortunately, that's no longer your call to make."
Keon was the next one to speak. "Are you going to do more tests on the kid? Just like before?" His voice was unusually quiet.
The blonde only shrugged, tucking a loose strand of hair behind her ear. "Again, you'll just have to wait and see for yourself. However, our dear Leilah here may have overheard about it. After all, lab techs can be so nosy sometimes." Leilah didn't miss the side eye the woman tossed to her. "But don't fret, the kid is fine."
Keon narrowed his eyes. "'Fine?' What part about this is fine?! For f*cks sake Valerie, you're performing illegal experiments on a damn kid!"
Leilah raised an eyebrow. She didn't think the man would be so against this of all things. Then again, the shock of not knowing may also have been effecting his word choice as well.
Valerie also raised an eyebrow, though less out of shock and more out of annoyance. "Oh? And why does it concern you?"
The man took a couple steps forward. "The authorities were founded on protecting the public! They are grounded on keeping the peace and keeping others safe! How is experimenting on teenagers keeping others safe?!"
Valerie seemed to consider something for a moment, but it was washed away by indifference.
The woman sighed as she fixed her low pony tail, beginning to exit the cell. "It seems I can't convince either of you for your cooperation any longer."
Just as Keon took a step forward to leave as well, he heard Valerie mutter under her breath. "Maybe a few days in here might change that."
The next thing either Leilah or Keon knew, Valerie's hand latched onto the door with terrifying speed.
Keon's eyes went wide. "Valerie, what are you do-?!"
Leilah activated her ability, trying to freeze the area around them before Valerie could move, but she was a second too late.
Before either of the two could react, the door was shut, trapping them inside the cell and Leilah's attempted time freeze forcefully vanished, returning the area back to it's normal colors.
"NO!" Leilah ran at the door, slamming her fists up against the metal as she peered through the lone bar window just at face level.
She fiercely tugged at the bars, her eyes glowing bright but nothing happening.
She looked down at her hands, trying to will something, anything to happen but it was like her abilities were blocked off, like a dam was blocking the energy trying to rush through her veins.
Valerie peered in, her eyes practically molten with heat at this point. "Don't waste your breath. You and I both know abilities don't work in these rooms while the doors are closed unless you have a resister cuff. And if my memory serves me right, I didn't see Keon's anywhere."
Said man whipped his gaze down to his wrist and his eyes went wide when he saw the device in question was now missing from his appendage.
He turned his gaze back up as the blonde held up the resistor cuff in front of Leilah's face. "You dropped this earlier Keon."
Leilah wanted to slap the triumphant smirk right off of Valerie's face.
It had been her invention! She was the one who made those to counteract the stupid effects of the blockers so they could fight more effectively! Now here she was, being teased with it like a dog with a stick.
She clawed an arm outside of the bars in a desperate attempt to snatch it but Valerie only pulled away as Leilah's nails flew. They ended up scratching at the metal surface of the door with a screech.
"VALERIE! LET US OUT RIGHT NOW!" Her eyes stilled glowed venomously as she eyed the woman, trying to will some form of power to manifest.
Valerie only sighed and shook her head. "I'm sorry Leilah. Truly, I am. But I have to do what needs to be done. And I can't have you two getting in my way. This world is already filled with too many people who are trying to destroy what we've created, what we've bled for and fought to preserve. I'm not about to lose that to a bunch of rowdy teens who barely know how the world works! I'm not about to lose it to a bunch of delusional people who think they know better than we do! I've worked my *ss off to preserve this hierarchy and I'm not about to stop now for a group of random no names who have to hide behind masks to get anything done!"
Leilah still struggled, tugging at the bars that slatted the doors window. "Valerie, please, don't do this...! They're just kids!"
The woman's eyes narrowed. "Yes, but they're all criminals too. They may be children, but they've all been corrupted and led astray. Now it's my job to fix the damage that's been done."
Leilah shook her head. "Please Valerie...! You don't know what you're doing...! Believe me, this isn't worth it...!"
The woman only smirked. "Actually Leilah, this is all worth it."
Leilah's eyes widened as Valerie kept talking. "Imagine a world where peace is an everyday goal, where vigilantes are a thing of the past. Things would always be as they should instead of people like them trying to bridge us together through such poor means. For once, the world would be able to function as it was meant to be."
The lavender haired woman shook her head. "Valerie, this is hurting people! How many are you and your 'task force' willing to kill before you realize what you're doing isn't going to fix a damn thing?!"
Valerie only rolled her eyes. "I will do whatever it takes to achieve peace. Besides, I could say the same thing about you Leilah. What do you think trying to help John would accomplish? You think that somehow, if you miraculously fix him, things will go back to normal? That he won't just tear everything apart all over again?! No. He would just go back to being the same destructive, careless, and selfish brat and take everyone with him!"
Leilah was about to say more before Keon spoke up. "Valerie, what are you even hoping to achieve with all of this?! Do you think that locking us up is going to prevent others from figuring out what you've done?! People are going to find out! They're going to see you and all the other higher ups as the liars that you are and when they do, every last civilian will lose their faith in us! Because we've been the ones causing them so much strife! Is that really what you want?!"
Valerie held his gaze past Leilah's shoulder. "That will never happen."
"Yes it will Valerie! Open your eyes for once a take a look at what's happening! If you continue down this path, you're not only dooming yourself but the integrity of the authorities as a whole!" Even Keon's voice had grown desperate.
Valerie narrowed her eyes. "You never questioned the authorities before Keon. Even when we brought you in to deal with John and we finally told you about EMBER for the first time, you didn't question it then. So why now?"
Keon swiped a hand in front of him, eyes bright with anger. "Because I never should've agreed to this to begin with! I accepted the fact that EMBER was a part of us because this vigilante problem needs to be stopped! I accepted that sometimes things need to be done for the greater good! But what is this even for?! How is illegally experimenting on humans just to make a quick buck part of the greater good?!"
Despite his words, Valerie remained unfazed. "I said whatever it takes Keon. If that means a few people suffer so this world can finally be at peace and we can prevent anarchy, then so be it."
Keon grit his teeth. "What do you think will happen to all of us because of your methods at achieving peace?! We will fall into anarchy because no one will trust us ever again! The public is already losing their faith in us because of this whole vigilante nonsense and you just put the nail in the coffin! When this gets out, no one, not even the most loyal and dedicated official will stick by us! We're going to lose everything and it's all because of you and whoever else you have backing up this ludicrous plan!"
But despite his words, Valerie ignored them. "You have to remember Keon; who's going to believe you two over me? Who's going to believe a lab tech and a delinquents cop over a higher up?"
That seemed to effectively shut them both up.
The woman pulled her face away from the window. "We're done here."
Valerie took a few steps back and away from the cell as she dropped the resistor cuff on the floor before driving her foot into the piece of equipment. Leilah heard a sickening crack followed by a snap as the second impact shattered the thing to bits. Leilah couldn't help but flinch at her ruined tech.
Valerie looked back up and stared at her. "You two better learn your place. Or you will regret ever stepping foot here to begin with."
She looked to the two guards at the end of the hallway; Orion and Egil if she recalled correctly. "Keep an eye on them and don't let anyone in or out of that cell."
The two nodded, walking over. "Yes ma'am."
Valerie turned away from the door as Leilah proceeded to bang her fists on the metal. "VALERIE, STOP! YOU DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE DOING!"
Keon joined in as well, a louder thud joining with Leilah's. "VALERIE, YOU HAVE TO STOP! YOU'RE GOING TO BURN THE AUTHORITIES TO THE GROUND AND TAKE US ALL WITH YOU!"
But despite their pleas, despite their cries for her to release them, to come back and free them, Valerie kept walking.
Not once did she ever look back before she rounded the corner.
Leilah tried reaching an arm out again, desperate to escape only for her arm to get shoved back in.
A gruff voice yelled out "Quiet!" before the metal shutter that covered the slots was slammed over the window and latched shut.
Leilah let out a shaky breath, the only faint beam of light being her eyes before even that faded away.
Keon leaned with his arms braced against the wall and his forehead resting on the brick in shock. Leilah sunk down to her knees, head in her hands as for the first time in awhile, she let herself cry.
Because there was nothing she could do.
There was nothing anyone could do right now.
John's fate, the authorities fate, was in Valerie's claws.
And she was about to rip them both down to the ground in a blaze of chaos.
Chapter 41: end.