Hamish wiped the cloth on the edge of the shelf. I took my blue flannel off of my shoulders and tied it around my waist. I continued to spray the tables down then wiped them with a cloth. "Can't remember doing this much cleaning the last time I was in this stupid group," Lilith said, scoffing. She swept the concrete ground as she walked. "There better be some kind of Mr. Miyagi-style lesson behind all this," Randall said, wiping the chair. I wiped my forehead and put my hands on my hips. "There's not," I said, "It's just cleaning."
"Look on the bright side," Hamish walked over to the bar, "We could always sanitize them to death." I smirked and sat beside him, putting the bottle of cleaning spray on the counter. Hamish poured me a drink and handed it to me. "I vote we take their memories away and see how they like it," I said, grabbing the glass from Hamish. "But then they wouldn't know they were being punished," replied Hamish. "True," I said, sighing.
Randall walked over to me and lifted up my arm, wiping the counter underneath it. "What's wrong with gutting them like pigs and leaving them to rot in the sun?" Jack asked. We all turned around to look at him, amazed by his gruesome suggestion. "Dude," Randall said and put the towel on my shoulder. I glared at him, throwing the cloth back at him. "Even I'm appalled," Lilith said as she continued to mop the floor. "Yeah," Jack sighed, "Midnight is not patient. He wants revenge, and blood. Mostly revenge." He waved the duster around as he spoke.
Lilith walked over to me and handed me the mop. "Your turn," she said.
"Why me?"
"Because you're just sitting around."
I rolled my eyes and swept the floor. "Well," Hamish said, "Midnight's gonna have to wait."
"I keep telling him that, but he keeps pressing to be released," Jack replied. I rested my arm on the tip of the handle. "You need to keep him under control," Hamish said, "We've lost out greatest asset."
"Our youthful optimism?" Randall guessed. "Our anonymity," Hamish said. "Our what?" I said, furrowing my eyebrows. Our leader ignored my confusion and continued to drink his beverage. "Once we retaliate, the Order is gonna know we have our memories back," Hamish said.
"So let's just kill them then," I said, "Well, besides my mother because you know....she's all I have."
"I was gonna say we need an exit strategy," Hamish said, annoyed. I handed Lilith the broom while I wiped down the counters. "So until then, what?" I asked. "Wax on," Randall sprayed the air, "Wax off." He hit the chair and wiped it with the towel.
~~~~
I rung the bloody towel into the bucket and recoiled from the awful odor. I dropped the towel, getting another quick pain. I rested my hands on the table and sighed in relief once the pain decreased. The others sighed in relief as well. "I would really like to kill that person whoever is doing that," I said, wiping the blood off of the table. Randall picked up an organ and dropped it into a bucket. "Just be patient," Jack said. "I am being patient," I claimed, picking up something and waving it in front of Randall. He glared at me and took it away from me. "I was talking to Midnight," Jack retorted.
"I have an 'out-of-the-box' idea," Hamish said, "let's stay awhile."
"Oh! You've got to be kidding me!" I exclaimed, pointing a body part at Ham-dog. "It's obvious that, as far as our training to be Knight's goes, we dropped the ball," Hamish replied. "Maybe a little," Lilith said.
"Our predecessors were werewolves and practitioners," Hamish said. Randall took the bloody heart and threw it into the bucket, it made a 'plop' sound. "The more we learn, the more formidable we become," Hamish continued.
"It's not the worst idea on earth," Lilith commented, "That would be Jack's." Jack looked at her and smiled. He continued to mop the blood covered floor. I took another body part, dropping it into the once yellow bucket. "Maybe there's some kind of enchantment that could protect our memories," I said. "Exactly," Hamish agreed, leaning his head forward in agreement.
"The only thing remotely good about that idea is that we'd be war-wolves," Randall said, putting something in the bucket. Jack, Hamish and Lilith looked at him very confused. "like Warlock werewolves," I said, "You know...."
"See I was thinking were-locks," Hamish said. "They're both sexist," Lilith said, shaking her head. "Guys shut up," Jack said. The double doors swung open, my mother ran in. "That alter should be clean already," she said. "We're almost done," I said, standing beside Randall.
"I don't have time for almost done," she retorted, "A physics student was just mummified on the main concourse." She walked towards her office area. "Step away from the altar," she said, "Purgetur!" She pushed open the doors.
We looked back at the counter and saw that it was completely clean of blood. "Hey! When do we learn that spell!" Randall yelled, Jack threw the broom to the side.
~~~~
I sat on the armrest of Randall's chair, his arm rested on my leg. Jack walked over to us and sat down. "Okay," he sighed, "How about this? We don't kill everyone, just everyone in charge."
"I like that," I said, "That should create a power vacum that lasts for ten minutes."
"Y/N's right," Randall said, "Coventry was barely gone before Vera went all Order 66 on us." I chuckled at his joke. He looked up at me smirked, I blushed slightly from his smile. "Even if we wipe out everyone here, we still have the other chapters to worry about."
"Wait, other chapters?" Randall inquired, waving his arms around. Lilith nodded her head. "Yep," I said, "Four other temples in the United States alone."
"You've got Washington DC, California, Oregon, New Orleans," Jack listed. "Then international ones," I said, "Brazil, France, Germany." Randall looked between Jack and I confused as fuck. "Each temple averages 100 people, that's 800 people," Lilith said. "And not to mention the Adepti," I said, pointing towards her. She tilted her head towards me then took a sip of her beer. "Of course," Randall raised his hands up, "The Adepti."
"They're like the field agents of the Order," explained Hamish, "God knows how many of those in the world." Hamish glanced at Jack. "Check out the brain on Ham-sandwich," Randall commented, pointing to Hamish. "Absolutely not," Hamish responded as he shook his head. I smirked at the pet name, taking another sip of my drink. "All right," Jack sighed, "Maybe there's too many of them to kill."
"Nobody is killing anyone until we track down this rogue practitioner," I said. Hamish looked at me, nodding in agreement. Randall threw up his hands and sighed in disagreement.
Ham-sandwich and I looked at Randall. "And kill them," Hamish added (GIF Above). I whipped my head towards Hamish, glaring at him. "Her," I corrected, putting my index finger in the air. "She's a she?" Randall said and looked at me, "Are you sure?"
"Pretty sure," I said, "I saw her when that guy in my ethics class went all jack-o'-lantern." Morton glanced at me and nodded in agreement. "She was in the hallway, chanting some incantation," Jack added. "What'd she look like?" Hamish asked. "I didn't get a good look at her," I said, shrugging.
"Neither did I," Jack agreed. I thought back to what had happened in my Ethics class. I soon remember that she had her phone with her, almost as if she was recording the classes every move. "She was filming the magic on her cellphone," I said. Hamish started to nod his head, but then shook it in denial. "That's not very helpful," Hamish commented. "Yeah well I was in the middle of transforming, so you get what you get," Jack retorted.
I set my glass down on the table and leaned back on the seat, trying to stay on the arm rest. "We could start with the videos," Randall said. "The Order probably already scrubbed the internet clean by now," Hamish replied, rolling his eyes in an annoyed manner.
"I think he's saying it as a start," I corrected. My crush looked up at me, patting my shoulder. "You two do realize if we go hunting without permission the Order will realize we have our memories back," Lilith reminded, looking at us one by one. "We can't do nothing," I said, "I wasn't too fond about finding out about the 'Power Incantation' through a memory shock."
"Our main priority has to be to protect ourselves, I found a potion that can do that," Lilith pulled out her phone, "It protects the mind from any form of manipulation. It's complex, but if we can get out hands on an Acheron's cauldron, I think I can brew it." Randall grabbed Lilith's phone and held it in front of him so we could both see it. He slid his finger across the screen, revealing photos of Lilith and Nicole. "Awe," I said, "That's so cute." She looked up at me and smiled to herself. "I asked her out before my memory returned, of course she waits until I get it back before she says yes," Lilith sighed, "So, now I have to keep up this façade."
"Could be worse," Hamish said. "It could be Gabrielle," Jack said. "Or Daniel," I added, taking a sip of my drink. They all shivered in disgust. "We'll track down this magic tourist," Hamish said, "Lilith, brew the potion." I then felt something beside me.
"Potion?" Nicole inquired. We all looked at her, shocked at her presence. "You acolytes better not be practicing unsupervised magic," Nicole finished. Randall went to point at Jack, but I rested my hand on his palm and lower it. "Me?" Jack said, "Well, no. See...." Jack chuckled nervously. He looked at me for help. "He uh....." I gulped, "What he was saying was....."
"My tutor wants me to brew a potion and I'm just a little nervous," Jack finished my sentence. There was an awkward silence. "And now's a good time to go," I said, standing up from the chair. Hamish, Jack and I walked towards the door but I soon realized that Randall wasn't by my side like he usually is. I turned around and walked to Carpio. I took ahold of Randall's collar, pulling him up. "Okay," Randall sighed, "You can let go of me now." I laughed, following his demand. The four of us stood outside of the bar, Randall continued to look into my Y/E/C eyes. Our moment was soon interrupted by someone clearing their throat. Hamish and Jack stood there with their arms crossed. Randall and I stepped aside.
"I uh, I'll see you twerps later," I said, walking backwards.
~~~~
I sat beside Jack in professor Foley's class. I took a sip of my coffee, trying to stay awake. My memories kept interrupting my sleep. All of them consisted of what Randall and I had been before the memory wipe. I cleared my throat once I realized how hot the coffee was. "Ask what you can do for you country," Foley said, "What did Kennedy mean by this little bot mot ?" Foley walked behind the table where another group of students sat, his hands intertwined behind him. "He was talking about sacrifice," Gabrielle explained, "About putting the needs of your country before yourself. Even if it's something you don't wanna do."
Foley finally reached the front of the classroom. He set his mug on the chair that sat in front of the chalkboard. "That's one way to look at it," Foley replied. "Wasn't he encouraging people to contribute to the public good?" Jack asked.
"Where did you get that from?" question professor Foley. "Maybe Jack got it from his biography," I said. "Oh, looks like we've got another textbook definition," Foley commented, earning a little chuckle from the class. "Anyone else?" Foley asked and turned around, "Anyone? Well, don't talk all at once." Foley walked behind a sleeping student. "I think Kennedy was trying to say," he leaned down to the student, "Wake up." The boy sat up immediately and looked around the classroom. My peers snickered at the boy who looked as restless as I was.
"Not to be complacent, but ...... to challenge the status quo?" Foley said. "I don't think he was saying that," I disagreed. "Of course you don't," Foley sighed, "You and Mr. Morton have both accepted the pablum they've spoon-fed to you."
"They?" I inquired. "They, them," Foley corrected. Jack and I glanced at each other, Jack shrugged. I felt Gabrielle's eyes on me as I rested my chin on the palm of my hand. "The people in charge," Foley said. "You mean elected officials?" Jack inquired. The professor chuckled and stood in front of the door. "You don't honestly think this is a democracy?" Foley contorted, "You actually don't elect anyone. Sure, they hold their elections and you play along, but what happens after you vote?" Our teacher looked around the room to see if anyone would answer or try and argue with him.
"Hm? For all you know they toss your ballot," he continued, "Flip a coin to see who wins and you'll never know because you wake up. You turn on CNN and you just accept the results and continue your slow march towards death. Just like another one of their complacent drones."
"So you're saying we should challenge the status quo?" I asked, shifting my position to face my teacher. "I'm sure as hell not inciting anyone, and guys listen to me right now," He said and cleared his throat.
Foley shook his head and chuckled sarcastically, closing both doors. "I swear to god, if any of you go to the chancellor and say otherwise," He looked out of the window then back at us, "I will bury your academics, standing so fast you'll need a dowsing rod to find it." The students around me talked amongst themselves as they questioned whether our ethics professor was serious.
~~~~
I walked on the sidewalk, carrying my books. I shivered as the wind hit my bare skin. I brought the sleeves of my sweater to my palms. "Y/N!" someone yelled. I turned around and saw Daniel running towards me. I continued to walk, ignoring his calls. "Come on just talk to me," He said as he appeared by my side. I scoffed, ignoring his gaze.
"Is this about missing our date last week?" he said and stopped amid the sidewalk. I stopped walking as well, standing in front of him. "Daniel," I sighed, "It's the fourth date that you've 'mistakenly' missed or been late to." He threw his hands up in the area, frustrated. I rolled my eyes and continued to walk. "I'm this close to breaking up with you," I said, holding up to fingers. Daniel gasped in disgust and put his hand on his chest. "Oh forget it," I huffed in annoyance. "No! Y/N wait!" Daniel yelled, "Babe!"
"Don't call me that!" I exclaimed, not bothering to face him. I heard him groan in frustration. I stopped by my dorm, throwing my backpack on my bed. I grabbed a pair of leggings and a white and black shirt to change into. I threw my hair up in a pony tail and slipped a pair of black converse on. Before I left my dorm I made sure to grab my bow and arrow. I set it in its bag and set off to the werewolf den.
~~~~
I walked down the gravel sidewalk and walked into the entrance way of the yard. I pushed open the door to the den. "Hey," Lilith said, peering around the wall. "Your target is all set outside," she added.
"Thanks," I said, walking over to the bar. I sat down and looked around the room. "So....." my friend trailed, "Are you going to tell him?" I furrowed my eyebrows in confusion. I watched her pour the orange liquid into the wooden bowl. "What do you mean?" I questioned, playing with the end of an arrow. "Randall," she set down the spoon, "Are you going to tell him what you remember?" I shrugged and stood up from the bar stool. "I-I don't know," I sighed, "I just- I'm with Daniel and...."
"and what?"
"and if I tell Randall," I paced back and forth, "My bitch of a boyfriend will start to get suspicious." Lilith rolled her eyes at the choice of my words. "Well," she sighed, "Better make a decision soon sweetheart." I grabbed ahold of my bag. "I'm going to go practice," I informed her (Start Song), "See ya later." She waved me goodbye and I walked outside. I turned the corner and saw the paper target pinned with a knife to the side of the house. I set the bag beside it and loaded my weapon.
I breathed in and out through my nose, concentrating on my breathing and where I wanted the arrow to go. I pictured the black wooden arrow piercing the striped target. I let go of the string and heard it whistle in the wind. I opened my eyes and saw it had hit the target, but fell to the ground. "Okay," I sighed, "That's just one, it's okay!"
I put the arrow on top of the mocking point, pulling the string slowly and did the same process. I let go and watched it land on the very edge. "Okay, that's not bad." I shot about two or three more, but missed every single one. "Oh my god!" I yelled, loading the bow again but unfortunately missed. I huffed in frustration and picked up the arrows from the ground. "Hey," a voice appeared beside the wall. I looked up and saw Randall leaning against the house.
"Hey," I sighed, "What's up?"
"Lilith said that you were out here."
I nodded and took down the target. "Everything okay?" he asked, stepping towards me. I shrugged and continued to pick up the arrows. "I remember," Randall said, without any cue of what he was going to say. "I remember what we had before," he continued, "I remember our moments....." He trailed, but part of me knew what he was going to say next. "You remember the kiss, don't you?" I said and dropped my bag, "Look, Randall....I really like you, but..."
"but what?"
"I'm 'with' Daniel, if he were to ever find out that we got our memories back," I swung my backpack over my shoulder, "He'll tell my mother, and he'll have all five of us killed."
"I'm willing to take that risk," he said, reaching for my hands. Randall intertwined our hands and looked at me. "I understand that," I said, "but I'm just- I'm just trying to look out for-"
"Us?"
"If there ever will be." Randall let go of my hands and stepped back. "You forget an arrow," he said, handing me the weapon. I smiled sympathetically and slipped it into its pocket. I walked backwards and waved him goodbye. (Stop Song)