*LAST CHANCE*

As I predicted, by Wednesday the twins had gotten over their little spat and were once again friendly. Michael had apologized to me and now he was eating ramen.

MY RAMEN.

"Avery, come on, make another one," I begged helplessly.

"Can't make one if you don't say why," she answered, slowly stirring the pot.

"Why!"

Avery sighed and wiped her forehead.

"Michael, in this dorm everyone has their own ramen. That is Liz's ramen."

"Not anymore," Michael explained. "I ate it."

"Avery!" I writhed on the floor, saddened beyond repair.

"Shut up and go eat." She shoved a bowl at me and picked me up off the ground. "You all suck."

"Do we now," Bella mused.

Avery ignored her as I sat down at the table, eyeing Michael in suspicion. He squinted back, then called,"Avery, what about my r-"

"I'm going to fucking murder youuuu, Michael Uriah," Avery sing songed.

He grumbled and slumped back into his chair.

Someone knocked at the door. "Bella? Michael?" It was Chrissy's voice. "I need to talk to you guys."

The twins exchanged looks and stood up, promptly vanishing into thin air.

"You can just walk," Avery mumbled in irritation. "It's very easy. You just have to have legs that work."

Of course, Avery was one of the people on the team that had absolutely no way of transportation other than just walking like a normal human. And those things were long gone.

"Don't worry about that, Avery," I said nicely. "I'll just take you with me next time." Lucky little me could do underground transportation or just simply sit down and hitch a small ride on upraised ground: it didn't drain my stamina or power much so I was willing to take myself and passengers.

Lucky little me also didn't see Avery advancing with the spoon in her hand as she whacked me on the head with it.

"Shut up, Liz!"

"Jesus, lady, what was that for?" I cried out.

Michael opened the door to see us wrestling over the spoon, and stared awkwardly as we stopped and Avery silently put the spoon down.

"Uh. Avery, come with us. It's important." I noticed that Michael was paler than usual and his hand on the doorknob was trembling.

I stared, wide eyed, and Avery seemed to notice what I had, surprised. She hesitated and looked at me before nodding and leaving, giving me a glance as the door closed.

I frowned, sitting up straight. Then I shrugged.

With the amount of power Michael Uriah had, there was no way he'd be afraid of something. I was probably imagining things.

But as I was soon to learn, there were plenty of things Michael Uriah could be scared of.

*WHY STAY?*

I absently trodded towards the fridge, intent on grabbing something to eat before class started.

"Maybe I should eat a sandwich?" I asked aloud.

With no answers to bank my decision on, I decided on a sandwich.

*CLEARLY, NO ONE BOTHERED TO TELL YOU RIGHT FROM WRONG. DID THEY NOT THINK YOU WOULD EVER HAVE TO KNOW ANYTHING WAS WRONG AT ALL?*

"Why is this so good?" I drooled. The sandwich was halfway gone. Whoever invented bread was genius.

*IT'S TOO LATE NOW. YOU SHOULD'VE KNOWN BETTER.*

I clapped my hands together as I chewed the last bit. "Right, time to clean up. Can't leave that mess or else Avery will beat my sorry ass."

*THERE'S SO MUCH YOU DON'T KNOW ABOUT THE TWELVE MONSTERS NEXT TO YOU. WHY? BECAUSE YOU CONSIDER THEM YOUR FRIENDS. YOUR EQUALS.*

I hummed out some random little song as I spotted the caramel and chocolate ice cream bars in the freezer.

"It wouldn't hurt to get one, right?" I wondered. "Nah."

*EQUALS. NO, IT'S FAR, FAR FROM THAT. YOU ARE MERELY A PAWN IN THE GAME THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN PLAYING FOR YEARS ON END. THEY HAVEN'T SEEN YOU ON THE BOARD YET, BUT WHEN THEY DO, I HOPE YOU DON'T GET KILLED TOO QUICKLY.*

Jesus fuck, I thought, sighing as I licked the caramel off of my finger. A couple hours of learning and then going to monitor the second graders and start scheduling for next week. Great.

*YOU HAVEN'T REALIZED IT AT ALL, HAVE YOU? ELIZABETH LEANDRO, YOU'RE A COMPLETE AND UTTER FOOL. AND BELLA AND MICHAEL URIAH, ARE CERTAINLY THE MOST DEFECTIVE OF ALL. WEREN'T THEY SUPPOSED TO BE KINGS? THE ONLY TWO PIECES ON THE BOARD THAT TRULY MATTERED?*

I stood up, stretching and yawning, trying to dispel the sensation of my hearing being blocked by air pressure. It sorta almost felt like going too deep into the water, but with the pain removed.

*BUT IN THIS GAME, THERE IS MORE THAN ONE KING. IN THIS ONE, THERE IS MORE THAN ONE ROUND.*

The wall cracked, and I froze, staring at it.

"Did I accidentally use my ability?" I questioned. On the other side of the wall opposite me was only the campus field, so I had no idea if it had been me or someone practicing their own ability outside.

*HOW MANY ROUNDS CAN YOU GET THROUGH AS YOURSELF, ELIZABETH?*

The wall cracked again, and I heard a distinct thud as the force outside tried again.

*AND HOW MANY ROUNDS WILL IT TAKE FOR THE KINGS TO REALIZE THAT YOU COULD BECOME ONE OF THE KNIGHTS THEY CALL "FAMILY"?*

There was no way I could get closer to the wall and repair it. The best I could do was try and do it from another wall.

But that wasn't an option, I figured, as the force managed to make a small gap. I spotted a familiar blue eye and fire shot through me, burning a rage that choked me in my haste to kill whatever was out there.

I didn't have the time as the wall exploded, and pieces of it hit me, one huge chunk flying into my stomach and forcing the air out of me with the impact as it flattened me.

*FOR THE SAKE OF ALL IT COULD LET ME SEE, ELIZABETH, I HOPE YOU STAY ALIVE AS LONG AS POSSIBLE. THIS ROUND IS FAR MORE INTERESTING THAN THE LAST ONE. I HOPE YOU CAN REALIZE THAT.*

I gulped in air, trying to reclaim the oxygen that I'd lost, squinting at the hazy figure that was obscured by the bright sun searing into my eyes.

*IT'S BEEN FUN, ELIZABETH. UNTIL NEXT TIME.*

*IF YOU'RE ALIVE.*

(COMMENCE ROUND ONE FOR EL)

(CONTINUE ROUND THREE FOR THE SILVER ONES)

(The Intro Ends Now.)