ZANE'S POV

I should have known better, should have questioned things. Like when Ariel broke into a station all by herself, how did she even get there? Of course I was too distracted to ask that at that time. I had one task, to make sure these people were reliable, to observe them, but I let myself get distracted and easily fell for the lies. I had the doubts, they surfaced many times, but for some reason I always pushed them at the back of my mind.

And now the whole plan depends on a person whose judgement is biased. She didn't even try to deny the accusations, didn't even blinked. I know that I should at least be grateful that Ariel didn't lie again to my face but betrayal claws deeper.

She could have said something, I thought the trust we had was mutual, I wouldn't just step into a station for anyone.

"I would do the same, a thousand time, anything to keep my family safe. Wouldn't you do the same for Mich?"

I leaned back in the leather seat but jolted to the front, the wound sending shocks of pain through my back. I curled my fists and instead looked out of the window of the car we were traveling in. Rows and rows and buildings passed us on both sides and massive flyovers entwined in beautiful patterns. Citizens gliding through on their hoverboard, like the ones Ariel and Skye had.

The ones that were on their shields were dancing in the air, twisting and jumping on their shields as they surpassed the few cars that littered around. My eyes refused to leave the magnetic scene, so this is what it feels like to live in the capital city...

"Yasmin just texted, we need to take off these uniforms," Rhodes announced from the back seat and shuffles followed along with groans as everybody got rid of the uniforms.

"So Ariel's brother is colourless too," Carlie's distinctive voice disturbed the silence, "knew something was up with goody two shoes. And she has three colours so she obviously faked one for her brother and got an easy way out."

"She wouldn't be in Urydale if Ariel really had an easy way out,"

"Why are you defending her? She is the one who lied to us again and again,"

"She did find out the real criminal though,"

"Yeah, like that turned out so well. Oreana got stabbed and many of us got injured in the crossfire because they sniffed us out. It hasn't happened in 7 months we were meeting in the park but suddenly everything went downhill when they showed up,"

"Shut up Carlie, Skye got shot, and you don't even know what happened with-"

"One more word and I will throw you out of the window," I spit out through gritted teeth, willing myself to hold my shit together and not get violent in a moving vehicle. The discussion immediately came to a standstill and I released a relieved breath.

I closed my eyes and the images started flashing across my eyes like a broken tape recorder.

A fist connected with my jaw and pain sprouted as I slumped to the side, but I still couldn't tear my eyes from Kai as he stalked towards Ariel, couldn't blink from the look of horror splattered on her face.

Another blow and I balanced myself on my arm, blinking rapidly to get rid of the black spots.

"Get the fuck away from her," Skye's roar snapped me to reality. "Don't you dare fucking touch her," he yelled again. Another jab to my stomach and I doubled over, air knocked out of my lungs as another kick connected to my ribs. Kai loomed over Ariel, hiding her short frame from my view and pushed her back to the corner. Yasmin clawed at Kai's leg and a swift kick was delivered to her.

The vein on my temple throbbed as I clenched my fists to hold back my colour.

Control.

Don't lose it.

Don't let them know.

Ariel wasn't saying anything, but it was like I could hear her scream in my ear.

Hold. Hold. Hold. Hold.

"This is for sneaking under our noses," one of the officers swung his leg, ready to connect with my face.

Hold. Hold.

"Let her go!"

I snapped my eyes to him and in a single swipe he was thrown across the room at the same time when a purple creature stretched in the room, out of the blue.

"I think we are here," Beckett announced and I blinked my eyes open, releasing slow breaths to control my breathing. A weight settling down on my chest that I just couldn't shake off.

Our car slowed down and trailed behind Kayden's black sleek car as we passed through the entrance, guards flanking on either side.

Kayden's car rushed past the extraneous fountains and screech to halt at the foot of a building. Beckett followed the example and everyone srang out of the vehicles.

Within the next moment we were inside the lift as the doors closed softly.

"I heard three voices on the phone so we should be prepared for at least five officers," Kayden whispered, tapping his foot repeatedly.

"Why didn't your mom do anything," Yasmin asked the obvious question. Surely they know that they are not real officers and about everything going on.

"Because she doesn't know that they are not officers, she doesn't know anything," Ariel muttered, twisting the hem of her shirt between her fingers.

"If they are armed then we will need to divert the guns,"I said aloud. "They are expecting you," I pointed at Kayden, "you should go in casually and signal us to come if they are not aiming the guns at anyone. We will storm inside and hopefully take them by surprise," I said as I watched the numbers on the lift rise with seconds.

"You all need to stay hidden in the elevator, when I say - I will file a case against you, come in then," Kayden said and I nodded, watching our reflections in the mirror in the lift.

"Where is dad?" Ariel mumbled softly and I looked away, trying to give them some privacy.

"He is in a meeting with Brun."

The lift pinged and came to a smooth stop, the doors slid open and Kayden stepped out, "Wait for my signal."

There were two doors on this floor facing each other and they were at the end of the hallway. Kayden went to the left door and pushed it open, entering with tense steps. He left the door open and I held my breath, counting the seconds as muffled sounds reached my ears.

Four, there are four of them.

I motioned with my hand and stepped out of the lift, sticking close to the wall. We can get closer to the door if we stay by the wall. Shallow breathing reached my ear and brushed against the nape of my neck. I tilted my head to see Ariel leaning on the wall just behind me, eyes filled with dread. There was a moment of silence and her breath became shallower.

I tightened my clenched fists, curling my colour tighter around my fists and arms. I left the swirling motion of my colour around my ankles and took a deep breath as I pulled it tighter.

"I will file a case against you," Kayden yelled loudly and I leapt into motion.

4 men. All facing us. They won't stand a chance.

I slammed my colour against the one closest to me and he crashed on the wall, eyes wide with surprise. He recovered fast and swipes rectangular shields at me. I braced my arm across my face and stumbled back, pain shooting through my already wounded arm.

I stretched my arms and clapped my palms together, striking him with my colour from two sides. He stumbled on his feet and threw continuous shields of faded yellow at my direction with sloppy aims. I swipe the shields aside and take a second strike at the man, slamming him to the wall and he slumped down on the floor. Unconscious.

I shifted my eyes across the room, all of the four men were on the floor. Beckett was heaving heavily, palm secured at his shoulder blade as blood oozed from between his fingers. But other than that everyone was fine, with little scratches.

I shifted and felt the crushing of the glass pieces under my shoe, the living room is a mess, furniture shifted away, decorations toppled over, wallpaper torn with blade cuts.

"Mom," Ariel gasps and stumbles to a hunched figure. She knees down and slowly pulls her up. Her face is stained with tears and pale like a sheet. Ariel wraps her arms around the women as she hiccups, the resemblance coming into light.

But something is amiss.

"Mom, where is Ash," Ariels yells, shaking her mother with wide desperate eyes.

Kayden steps to enter a room and I move to follow him, but I stop dead in my tracks.

Kayden backs away slowly, his arms raised above his head and my blood chills in my bones as the tip of the gun moves out of the room.

I grab Ariel's arm and pull both of them away to the other side of my room. Kayden stumbles back, and reveals the arm holding the gun. He steps out, one hand holding the gun and the other wound around a child.

Ariel immediately springs forward and I jolt her back, tightening my grip on her arm.

"Don't even think about it," the officers said, a twisted smirk on his face as he taps the gun on the Ash's blond head.

"Ari," Ash whimpered, desperately trying to reach Ariel, thrashing in the arms of the burly man. His cheek a throbbing red.

"Shhh," the officer whispered, keeping the gun firmly pressed at Ash's head. He knew what was his leverage.

He stepped further into the hall and we shifted back as he took calculated steps. Kayden backed away to stand beside Ariel, his hands still raised.

"Let him go," Ariel breathed out shakily.

"And why should I?" he said with a crooked grin.

ARIEL'S POV

The air got sucked out of my lungs when I saw the officer pointing the gun at Ash's head, his small body clutched in the arms of the brutally cruel man as he smirked at us, a twisted grin forming on his face.

They are criminals.

I heaved a breath as air refused to enter my lungs, my sense dimmed out until all I felt was hot, red hot anger seeping over my bones and rendering my senses weak.

"I. SAID. LET. HIM. GO," I spit out the words through clenched teeth and thrust my hand in an arc. A line of daggers materialized in the air, sharp, lethal and firmly pointed at the con officer.

I waited, blades twisting in the air as time ticked in slow steps, he didn't flatter, nor did his grip on Ash loosened.

"Try something new," he said in a sing-song voice, tilting his head to the side, the hair on my arm raised at the sadistic glint in his eyes.

"I will kill you," I spelt out each word, clenching my jaw as I bore my eyes on him. My hands shook, my colour scratching at my skin to come out, to attack.

Ash whimpered in his hold, hands clawing to remove the meaty arm constricting at his chest. He kicked his legs around, eyes spilling tears.

My colours pinched at my resistance, desperation overcoming my emotions along with a new wave of untamed anger.

A sharp tug at my hand and I stumbled back, "Ariel," Zane hissed at me, tightening his hold to a bruising grip.A warning. I didn't falter from my glare.

"Ariel, careful. He has a gun," Zane whispered in my ear, his body blocking half of the view and I turned my gaze to him, his words a far away sound that was slowly decoding to make sense.

He has a gun, aimed at my brother.

"Hello, does anyone copy?" Our eyes snapped back to the officer, his earpiece blinking a blue light.

"We have some unwelcome company here," I took a sharp breath. Cold fear slowly slithering around my neck and wounding tight.

My hands were shaking, and I saw a mass of pale purple, just behind the officer. I focused my gaze on it, whispering it to grow. It stretched, like an asymmetrical parasite, spreading, curving and twisting. Rising in height behind the man, 2ft, 3ft, 5ft. Slowly morphing behind the oblivious buffoon as he chuckled at us.

I kept my palms facing forward, guiding it to take shape with the movement of my fingers, all the while my blades hung in the air. I can tear him apart, kill him.

But the gun is still in his hand. Still against Ash's head.

"Zane," I whispered, my lips barely moving and I hope Zane understood what I meant, what I was about to do.

His grip on my arm slacked before he dropped his hand completely.

My nameless creature was spreading, almost blocking the light as it casted a monstrous shadow on the floor. The officer looked down, his eyes following the growing shadow and he slowly tilted his head, shifting his neck to glance back. Opportunity.

His arm shot up to the ceiling and I lept into action. My creature strapped around the officer and pried him off Ash to crash against the frames on the wall. He dropped down, glass frames falling on him. The creature folded around his body, one rope at a time, tightening on him. He thrashed, his screams muffled as a cord wrapped around his mouth. Around his arms, his legs, his face, his chest. Slowly cocooning him in a mass of vicious bands of purple. His thrashing dwindled. And came to a still, words dying in his mouth.

"Ariel, Ariel," hands rested on my shoulders and shook my body vigorously. I cut off my concentration and gazed up, his voice slowly ringing back as the hazy cloud lifted from my eyes.

"Ariel stop it, Ariel," Zane was shaking me, shouting at my face, sweat beaded on his forehead as his eyebrows creased together.

I blinked and tried to focus on his voice. Different voices buzzing in my ear as I tried to separate them.

"Ariel come back. Ash is safe. Please," he whispered, touching his forehead to mine as he closed his eyes, soft breaths fanning my face.

I inhaled his familiar scent, like loose soil just after a splash of rain. I loosened my fists and leaned forward in his arms, closing my eyes for a moment. Foreheads touching as my breathing slowed to a normal pace.

I stepped back and opened my eyes to take in the scene. Mom was hugging Ash to her chest, Kayden was on my right and the officer was lying down, eyes closed. Unmoving.

"Is he-, dead?" someone muttered, crouching down beside the officer.

"No, just tranquillized, he will sleep for atleast 7 hours," Ian said, rising from the crouch with the blue tranquillizer in his hand, holding up so that everyone could see it. Relieved sighs were heard all around me but I didn't bother to say anything. I stepped around Zane and stumbled to Ash, wrapping his small frame in my arms and pulling him to my chest in a familiar embrace.

I almost lost him today.

I couldn't help the tears, couldn't stop my hand from caressing his head, running my fingers through his soft hair as we sat curled up on the floor.

"Ariel, what have you done," mom said, pulling my arm in a harsh grip, "your colours," she murmured feebly. No one reacted, no one said a word and I just lowered my eyes, waiting for her to connect the dots.

"They already knew," she whispered to herself and I bowed my head.

"7 years of trying to keep it a secret and-," she breathed, her voice breaking as her grip loosened, "how many more Ariel? how many more?" she jerked my arm to make me face her. Her eyes ablaze.

I casted my gaze down, "more than I can count on my fingers," I whispered.

"They were here for you. We need to start packing. They can-, Where is Skye?" she stopped abruptly in her panicked jitter.

I paused "He-, he is in Urydale," I said quietly.

"Mom, I need to go," I took her hand in mine and gave it a small squeeze.

"What, where?" she said helpless and I slowly uncurled my arms from around Ash. I jumped to my feet at the sudden sound.

Maven stood at the door.

"Wha-, Ariel. How-, you are bleeding," Maven stuttered and cried out, dropping the rest of the things in her hand. She gazed around the destroyed room with wide eyes, on the officers lying down before fixing them on me. I waited a second, watching for her next step.

She took a step forward and then sprinted across the room to pull me into a tight hug. I winced as she slammed into me, the new cuts burning at the force.

"You are bleeding Ariel! How- how did you get hurt? Are you okay? What is happening?" Maven covered her mouth with her hand, eyes welling up with unshed tears.

"We need to go, they know we are here," Ian said and I nodded at him and looked at Maven's confused face. She is dressed for the tournament, dressed in our school colours. Something clicked and a plan formed in my head.

"Go where? You are hurt Ariel-" she said, keeping her eyes on my shoulder where a gash was bleeding out blood.

"Maven," I shook her shoulders to make her concentrate on me. "I need your help okay, I can't explain everything now but do as I say," I said slowly. She nodded quietly.

"Beckett you still have that pen drive?" I asked and he pulled out the pen drive from his pocket before tossing it at me.

"Listen, take this pen drive. I want you to display whatever is on this on every screen at the Clauferry stadium. We are going to expose some people, you need to do this right Maven," I said extending the pen drive to her with an open palm. Sending someone unassuming will have to work better than us storming into the control room. No one will doubt, not with her school hoodie and the perfect attire. Maven took the drive from my hand and grasped it tightly in her fist. Shoulders tensing under my grip.

"Beckett, go with her. Keep her safe and play this pen drive as fast as you can, we will try to hold them off you."

So this might have been a little dark~ 😅

And if you guys have any questions you want to ask the character then comment them, because the special interview chapter will have important insights on each character and I need questions for than!