——Jay——

As the week goes by, more students gain powers. Katlin Shine accidentally set a table on fire. Emily Kane made a vine grow out of the floor, nearly choking someone. Simon Broteez ran through his treadmill going top speed, going fast enough to run through the wall.

By now it's inevitable, Nico has to know all this has happened. He's going to come.

Tuning out Jacob's useless nonsense, my stomach twists into knots. Nico will show up any minute now. Instinctively, I clamp my hands over my ears, waiting for something to happen.

A familiar bang echoes through the cafeteria, hushing everyone. I take a deep breath, knowing it was Nico.

The initial shock disperses, everyone erupting into screams. A stampede of students run to the exit. Jacob and Lily go towards the gunshot, giving me no choice but to follow them. Nico will kill them if he doesn't get me.

A girl with dark brown, beautifully flowing hair, and mesmerizing hazel eyes lays dead, on the ground. Blood seeps out of a hole in her head for the gun. Warm, crimson liquid stains the floor, some splattered on the wall like an abstract painting.

Nico stands above her, gun in hand, his eyes a black hole. His pitch black hair now has gray strands mixed in. He grins at us.

His black uniform sparks a wave of memories.

The cage.

Experiments.

Blood.

"How...How could you!" Someone yells at him from a small group of who have formed a circle around the girl.

"Well, well, well, so we meet again," Nico says. "I just want to clean up my mess, calm down everyone. Just tell me which one of you is Alex. I don't want to hurt anyone."

My heart stops beating from the name 'Alex.'

Nobody says anything.

"Not giving yourself up? Ok, guess I'll have to make you," He says pointing the gun at someone random, Jacob.

"Just take me. You want me, leave them be." I say, not daring to meet his gaze.

"Straight to it, eh?" Nico lowers his guns. "Well, come along then, the boss is waiting."

"No! Jay, the police will be here in fifteen minutes, you don't have to go back there!" A teacher yells, running towards us from her classroom.

"Insane Teacher?" Lily says.

"What do you know? If I go, everyone else will be safe," I say.

"That's it, Alex. We trained you well," Nico says.

"Just take me, there's no reason to fight." I go to Nico, and he grabs my arm, refusing to let me change my mind.

"Jay, no," Jacob says.

"Too late little boy," he backs away towards the exit, pointing the gun at Jacob.

Lily's hand twitches and the gun flies away from Nico, snapping in half. "Sorry there, mate. Seems like you lost your weapon."

"Lily, don't tempt him, please. Let him take me, it's safer that way."

"Tempt him? What would that tempt him to do?"

Nico pushes a button on his watch, and two other men in the same black suits come in the school. They grab Jacob and Lily.

I sigh, "That's what."

"Oh...Right..."

——

Nico shoves me in my cell, the clicking of the lock telling me this isn't another nightmare.

The gray, bland walls still hold my drawings from years ago. Blood scattered around the room adds some color the dull walls and floor. The only source of light comes from a small, prison-like window. There's no bed or anything, just emptiness. In the far corner, a chain with blood dripping off it hangs.

Nothing has changed.

I wait for Nico's footsteps to retreat, then dash to the wall with my drawings, lift them up, and pull out the wall-drawer. I dig through it, checking if everything is still there.

A sparkle catches the corner of my eye, and I glance at the glass rook from the chess set Elliot gave me.

My breath catches in my throat, and I pick it up slowly.

This is what happens when you trust someone. They die.

My legs get weak, and I slide down the wall, memories flashing by.

Elliot saved me, and I'm the reason he died. He gave me food secretly, and treated me like an actual person. His job was to educate me, but he did so much more. He's the closest thing to a father I'll ever have.

And he's dead, because of me.

Put it away, you have to keep it together. Remember the last time you had a breakdown here? Wasn't fun, was it?

I put it back and slam the drawer shut.

——Jacob——

"What is this place?" I ask.

"It's a lab, and we're the subjects," Jay says, sitting against the wall.

"I love science, but I thought there was a law of something saying you needed the subject's consent. And you can't do experiments on humans that could harm them in any way," Lily says.

"They don't care. All they care about is ripping you apart until all that's left is the perfect test subject," Jay says. "And they will stop at nothing to do so."

"A little dramatic," I say.

"No, not at all. You'll understand in a week or two."

"Oh, it can't be that bad. What could be so terrible?"

"Just be glad you're not too young, and you have some strength. You'll need it."

"What do you m—"

"Shh, they're talking."

"—s to be done in private sir. These things won't react well to all this and then me saying this on top of that, sir." A voice outside says.

"Very well." The lock on the door clicks and a tall man steps in.

He's a few inches shorter than Jay, with compassionate, forest-green eyes. His hair is frizzy and light brown, a few gray strands mixed in. His confident posture isn't intimidating, but comforting like he'd fight for those he loves.

"Man, you have grown a lot," He says, and Jay runs over, wrapping his arms around him like his life depends on it. "I missed you too, Alex."

"I thought you died," Jay says, his voice weaker than normal, burying his head in the guy's chest.

"They missed me, the bullet only grazed me," He says, running his hand through Jay's hair. He looks up at the rest of us. "Are you three ok? Did they hurt you?"

"We're fine," Lily says.

The guy nods, "That's good. That's very good."

"Excuse me? That's a good thing?" I ask. "And is he—Is he crying? Wow."

"It's a lot more passive than what Alex had to go through to get here the first time. And no, he's just dangerously close to crying. I don't have much time before I have to go, Alex will get you guys on track. Before I go, what are your names?"

"Jacob."

"Lily."

"Ok. I'm Elliot. Just remember, CDs are always awesome," Elliot says, pulling away from Jay. "Ok Wells, we're good," He yells.

"Don't you ever get that close to death again," Jay says, and Elliot smiles.

"You can't get rid of me that easily."

The door guard, I'm guessing Mr. Wells, unlocks the door, and Elliot leaves.

"CDs are awesome? What on earth?" Lily asks.

"What just happened?" I ask. "Why did that guy call you Alex?"

Jay ignores me, pulling out a sketchbook from the wall-drawer.

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