𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

Jordan switches to their male form as we finally make it to the student union, hurrying in to find the place breaking out into pure chaos. Other students are either running out or standing stupidly recording. Jordan glances down first and my eyes immediately follow to find of the Supes from The Woods dead on the ground, blood spots seeping through the beige sweatshirt. Fuck.

Jordan and I glance at each other when suddenly a noise blares sending a sharp fucking pain through my brain. Jordan grunts, covering their ears. This is what the guards blared at Andre and I- ah, fuck.

I grit my teeth together, squeezing my fingers together as my eyes squint in pain. Fight it. I raise my arm, breathe in-

"Get down." My voice strains as Jordan looks at me concern bleeding through the pain. Through narrowed eyes I find the speakers, stretch my fingers out, and throw my hand towards them sending shards of sun-rays to take out the speakers and relieve the noise. I exhale, my brain feeling heavy as the pain lets up. Thank God.

"Are you okay?" Jordan's immediately up right and by my side.

"Yeah." I nod slowly, my chest heaving up and down. Jordan looks at me, shocked, and awe. "What?"

"That was amazing. How-"

"I-I don't know." I breathe out. That sound is supposed to 'disarm' and 'disable' Supes, but like when I was with Andre in the stairwell... I just couldn't. "Andre and I got caught for snooping for The Woods, and the guard used that against us, and I used my powers anyways. It hurts like hell, but," I rub my lips together, "I hate being fucking weak more." And I know I'm stronger than anything they have to use against us. And I'm tired of acting like I'm not.

𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

Ashley barks out orders to every board member in their meeting, frantic and desperate now that one of the Supes from The Woods took out their campus-wide sound system.

"All right, everyone, grab one and make a call right now." She slams the students profiles they were combing through during their discussion of who to send to The Seven down on the table. "Whoever kills these rogue Supes gets in The Seven with Golden Girl. I'm calling her right now."

Iliana's phone starting ringing once again and she quickly pulls it out thinking it's Andre... only to find Ashley Barrett's number on the caller-id. She scoffs, sending her straight to voicemail, which Ashely so graciously leaves.

"Golden Girl, you better answer your goddamn phone right this very second if you ever want-" Iliana follows along reading the voicemail on her screen before begrudgingly answering as Jordan looks at her questioningly.

"What?" She snaps into the phone.

"Mmm, I knew you were smart." Ashley says confidently.

"What the fuck do you want, Ashley?" Iliana growls into the phone. "You have five fucking seconds before I melt this phone in my barehand."

"That video footage of you has been wiped clean from the internet, and you know your place in The Seven is just waiting for you until you graduate." Ashley starts, "So let's cut the shit. You take out some, uh, escaped, um, students. Fry them. From planet Earth. Send them to the fucking sun for all I care- just take care of it." Iliana feels Jordan's eyes, knowing they're hearing everything. Knowing that they won't get a call.

"And if I don't?" Iliana raises a challenging brow, face stone with angering clawing it's way up her throat.

"I don't think you're in much of a position to say no, do you?" Ashley retorts. Iliana's eyes flicker gold, nostrils flaring. "And encourage your new little friend Marie to help you do so, she's next on my list to call. You'll make the right choice." Ashley encourages. "Because you know you have to." And with that the line goes dead.

"Fuck." Iliana lets out a noise of anger. Of course they're going to put a stop to The Woods. That's their whole fucking reason right now. But now that they- Vought, wants her to... Iliana's wants to sear her entire body until her skin bubbles. Her hand presses against her forearm until she feels Jordan's touch.

"Don't." They say softly and her eyes meet theirs. "We need to go."

They want her to do the one thing she's been dreaming of, craving, tasting ever since she found out the truth...

Kill Cate.

And Iliana was not going to let it be for their benefit.

𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

Jordan and I hurry onto the horrific scene unfolding in front of the crimefighting building. If there were flames scattered around the green, I would believe you if you told me this was hell.

"Oh, thank God." Marie breathes out a sigh of relief as Jordan rushes up to Ashley and the board members.

A helicopter's soaring to plummet out of the sky and it's suddenly slowing down. I don't even need to look beside to know who it is. Magnet. And without another thought I cup my fingers out in front of me and start creating a basket with strings of sun ray's to catch the helicopter as Andre lands it. I exhale, whipping my head to the side as Andre falls to his knees, grunting in pain.

"Andre-" His name catches on my tongue, and in my throat.

"You need to go, Iliana." He chokes out. And do what exactly?

"Iliana." Marie steps over to me. This is all too much. "We need to stop Cate."

I give her a knowing look. "If I stop her, I'm putting her ten feet in the ground, Marie."

"I'll talk to her." Andre chimes in, blinking prolongedly, he rubs his hand over his face.

I snap my neck back down to him. "And say what exactly?" I grind the back of my teeth together. "I'm done talking." My fingers clamp together as my nails press into my palms. Marie looks between us nervously. "I'm done. And she's only gonna suck you into her shit."

"Please, Goldie." Andre sniffs. "Trust me."

I shake my head weakly, biting the inside of my lip. "What if I can't?" I whisper.

"Then trust me." Marie steps around. "We can do this together."

What if I don't want do this together?

What if I just want my twin brother back?

What if I just want this all to go away?

What if I just want to wake up from this God awful dream.

Or what if I never want to wake up at all?

𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Hello, hello... and welcome backkkk...

I feel like every author's note has turned into this now lmao, but I truly had no intention of going this long for an update lmao. This has been the most challenging episode to write so far & I swear to y'all I have been working on this chapter for WEEKS but have just never had enough time to finish it/work on it to the end... but we made it & I ended up being so happy with it so I'm glad I took my time & sat on it & didn't rush!!

BUT THIS BOOK HAS NO BEEN ABANDONED!! I hope y'all are still here lmao, cause we finishing ONG we finishingggg bahaha, it's just taking a very long min, & that's okay <3

Writing Iliana saying Andre instead of Magnet literally shattered every single part of meee... ahhh, but that's okay. I also love how I wrote Iliana in this chapter bc although she has come SO far, she still has her flaws ofc!! BUT GOLDIE & MAGNET HAVE REUNITED!! We got the SOFTEST ILORDAN BITS/CRUMBSSS OMFGGGGG>>> And also a Marie & Iliana momenttt, bc ahh why was that eveything to meee?! OMGGG!! I've said it a million times, but I absolutely love their friendship & what it has grown intoooo!!

Anywayssss, so sorry for the very long waitttt... but I hope y'all enjoyed this chapterrr & will be set for the next oneee!! Iliana's powers coming throughhhh this chapterrr IS ONLY A TASTEEE of what I have to give y'all ;) hehehe, until next timeee, mwahhh!! <333