Byron was on a balcony in Elkenah. It the only place in the state of Zonrise where veers could use their powers openly. A law was passed allowing it, but some were very unhappy. He was outside of a hotel room practicing his powers, and McKenna was at his side. Months had passed, and it was finally winter. His kidnap attempt had been a complete success, but what was the price? They had known each other for a long time, and she didn't hate him as much as she did in the beginning. They devised a plan for him together, and that was to help reach acceptance. She believed in him, that he was always good. Byron proved her right more and more each month, with his caring and loyalty. She would help him unleash his positive potential, and maybe others would approve of him as well. Her feelings for him have never changed, he was indeed her first love. But she was ashamed to admit something so personal, especially to him. McKenna Thurston wasn't always good, she was actually considered a Problem Child. Which was one of the reasons that she and her brother, Michael never quite got along. Lulu loved them both equally, but she felt that her daughter needed the most attention. Truth be told, McKenna needed positive people in her life; and her mother prayed that she would change for the better. She did just that, as she became a Superior in the scouts. Her mother always told her that her light was so bright, that it was capable of reaching others.
"Now, breathe slowly." She leaned over his shoulder. "Just like we practiced."
"I dunno, Thirsty. What if none of this crap works?"
She chuckled. "I believe in you, Byron Cortelli. Isn't that enough?"
"No. If they don't like me then, this is all pointless."
"Okay, but they'll probably hate you."
He glared. "Thanks for that."
"I mean, you DID kidnap me. And you hurt Zane."
"Who?"
"Agent Treziak?"
"Oh! You mean the peon."
She sighed. "Could you stop callin' him that?"
"Maybe, if he stops bein' one." He joked, she couldn't help but giggle
"Now focus! Light the candle, with one flame."
He took a deep breath and pointed at a candle. "Right." His eyes glowed purple and large embers flowed from his hand. The candle had melted into a puddle of wax. "Crap!" He grunted. "I told ya this was pointless, Thirsty. Why would you even believe in somebody like me?"
"I-I just do."
"Well don't! Bad guys are bad for a REASON, you know! I may never be the good one!"
She took his hand. "J-Just try again, I'm sure you got it this time!"
"No, McKenna!" He stormed out the door in anger
"Great, now he's gonna be angry AND drunk." She grunted in frustration and pounced on the bed. "Still hotheaded as ever."
[Him and his freakin' temper!] She thought and fell asleep. Hours had passed, and it finally dark, she awoke to see that he was still out.
She sat on the bed and noticed her HC on the nightstand. Considering that he'd been preventing her from using it to contact anyone, she was amazed and concerned all at once. Had he left for good? Was this the end of their plan? It was late and the temperature was dropping. So she rushed to leave and ran out of the neighborhood to find him.
~~~~
A cashier was ringing up some supplies for a few men. Byron was in the line as well, clutching a plastic glowing necklace in his hand. He approached the man when it was finally his turn. The man looked at him and then when he looked away to reach into his wallet, subtly eyed the wanted poster in the window. He noticed the faces were an exact match, but stays perfectly calm. The cashier looked at something else behind him that Byron himself didn't perceive. The man shrugged his shoulders and rung up his order, he also gave him a pack of medicine tablets for free.
"New seasonal product that we're testing out. It's supposed to help you stay warm, everybody gets a free sample." He explained, he shrugged casually and acknowledged the free gift.
When he left, he tried the sample out of curiosity and started to cough up blood. "What the hell?" He choked. The liquid was burning hot as it touched his lips, and he staggered down the block. Byron had to get back to the safety of the hotel, but he so reoccupied that he didn't even notice that he was being followed. He looked at his wrists and caught one thing, his veins were turning black.
"A-Abro." He whispered and tried to move faster. He started to panic when he heard chuckles coming from behind him. The men seemed amused at his escape attempt. They managed to track him into a dark alley.
"You look tired, freak. Makes sense since you took that A-Pill." One of them said
"G-Get away from me. Or else." He said
Another man chuckled. "Sounds like a threat, boys." They stepped closer. "So, why don't we feel scared?"
Byron's eyes widened. These were the same men that were in line at the store. He fell to his side in exhaustion. One of them knelt down to his face. "You must not be from around here, freak." He placed a blade against his neck. "'Cause if you were, then you would've noticed the Monster Detector. The cashier did, but you remained oblivious. We got a pretty sweet deal, he detects things like you, and we do the rest." He smirked. "Oh don't worry, we WILL kill you. But, we wanna give you the choice of begging for your life first."
Byron spit blood on his shirt. "Eat me, you bastard." He growled
The men chuckled maliciously. "Guess we got our answer, boys." One of them said and sliced his stomach with a knife. The rest responded by grabbing his legs and arms. The necklace fell from his pocket. One of the men gasped, released him, and fell against the wall. He choked as he touched the knife in his heart and his eyes closed. They turned and saw a girl standing in the street behind them.
"Let him go." McKenna ordered, the men dropped him and walked toward her. The pendant had shattered from the impact of his body.
"You shouldn't have done that to our friend." He pulled out a switchblade. "Now, we'll have to kill you."
"Then do it, but let him live."
He glared. "And WHY exactly would we do that?"
"Because he did nothing wrong."
"Ah, so you're a freak lover are ya!?"
She stared into Byron's eyes. "You could say that."
"Oh, then we'll REALLY have to kill you now."
She pulled out her shooter, and aimed it at his neck. "You're welcome to try."
Byron's eyes were tired, and he was ready to let them rest from the blood loss. Until he noticed someone running at his dear love. "Mm." He moaned. "M-Mac." He rolled to his side and reached out to her. He screamed as loud as he could. "B-Behind you!" He shrieked and reached out to her. She gasped and ducked from the unexpected surprise. She immediately swept her leg and saw that it was an old man with a bat. He fell to the ground and was now bleeding from his head, the old man was dead.
The click of a hammer from a pistol caught her attention, especially when it was poking her in the back of her head.
[If he shoots me in the head...my heart will still be intact. So I can kick BOTH their faces in.] She thought and closed her eyes
Byron struggled to his feet. "N-No. McKenna. Don't do it." He leaned against the wall. "Nooo!" He screamed and fell to the ground
When she opened her eyes, she was confused. She thought she was in a cave with trying to make it's way through. There were strange sparks of electricity every now and then. "What the hell?"
[Thirsty, are you okay?] He thought
"Y-Yeah, but where am I!?" She thought back
[It's kinda hard to explain.]
"Byron!"
[You're....inside of me.]
"I'm WHAT!?"
[In my brain actually. You can hear me, right?]
"Yeah."
[You're listenin' to my thoughts then.]
"Wha--How--!?"
[Not sure. All I remember were those guys trying to kill you. I watched your body disappear and I passed out. When I woke up, they were gone. I can't really move right now, too weak and too cold.]
"Byron, did you do this?"
[I know that I just wanted you to be safe, but I'm still weak so don't have the kinda power to pull THIS off.]
"So...it was me? Why did you stay out so late anyway!?"
[Guess so. I wanted to get you a goodbye present, but its broke now.]
"A present...for me? You could've been killed! And for what!?"
[A necklace in your favorite color....green.]
Water filled her eyes. "Byron, I--"
[Forget it, its trash now.]
She sighed and wiped her tears. "Are those creeps gone? How do I get outta here?"
[I thought YOU knew that.] He thought. [Thirsty, I can't...stay awake...]
"Byron, no. Byron? BYRON!"