Perfect School

There were times I knew Jonah was just manipulating me. That every word to come out of his mouth was a calculation to achieve some desire or reaction. And then there were times where things slipped through, where it wasn't calculated and felt so much more real. "I'm sure you will Jonah."

Jonah:

"I would want you there when I do. I don't want to be on opposite sides from you," I said softly. It would take going through Marie to get what I wanted. I wanted her place, her power. My plans ended with her removal. When that time came I certainly didn't want Kira to stand in my way.

"Jonah..." My voice held a note of warning but I looked away from him as I said it. I felt conflicted. I wasn't sure what I wanted out of this. I could guess what he meant. I knew enough of what we'd talked about. Eventually he'd but heads against Marie, and that was a fight only one could win.

Jonah:

I studied her for a moment. Her attachment to Marie was something like Stockholm Syndrome. The woman had put her through hell yet she remains loyal. She was straying. Slightly. But not as quickly as I wanted her to. "Like I said at your parents, you're going to have to decide what you want. There's going to be a time when you actually have to make a choice. You can't avoid it forever."

I didn't answer, falling into silence as I tried to think through his words. We remained there for several minutes before eventually both of us got up and said our good byes. I went off to my room to shower and change, still trapped in my inner turmoil.

Jonah:

We were back to teaching for a week before they sent us on another mission. Kira was set up as a sniper incase out mark managed to get out of the building. Kyra and I were going to go and sweep it floor by floor until we found him and his guards. Paublo and Andrew were waiting in cars on opposite sides of the building ready to get us out of there. Kira was to go with Andrew, Kyra and I would be going with Paublo. That was assuming it went flawlessly.

Kyra and I went in. After the first five minutes my ear piece went silent. It was possible that it was a malfunction, but unlikely. It was probably an indicator that someone knew we were here. I went on with the plan. In a scenario like this we were to continue with our plan for up to ten minutes then get out and leave regardless of whether we had completed the mission or not. The others knew that.

I thought I could finish with the time constraint and I was right. There were four guards. I was finished without making a sound.

Andrew:

I shifted uneasily in my seat. “Four minutes left,” I said nervously. Paublo and Kira were still on the line. If Kyra and Jonah weren’t out in four minutes it meant something went wrong. We were only supposed to wait for five minutes after that. “Kira can you spot anything through the windows?” I asked even though I knew she wouldn’t be able to. If they weren’t back in nine minutes, I was going in, regardless of the rules Jonah set up.

Kira:

I adjusted myself slightly, briefly easing a tiny twinge in my back before settling back into the exact same position. I shifted my gaze from the scope of my weapon to a monocular that I had beside it. The single lense wasn't as zoomed in but it offered me a wider view of the building and any movements within. "No, I don't have sight on either of them." I keyed into the mic briefly before switching back to my rifle for a moment.

Jonah:

I was out of the building with three minutes to spare. Paublo looked relieved to see me. Kyra wasn’t back yet. My earpiece was working again. Something had been jamming the signal. “You two head out. We will wait for Kyra,” I said to Kira and Andrew.

Paublo:

Drumming my fingers on the wheel I stared at the building. It took every bit of my self control to not demand that Jonah and I go in to make sure Kyra was okay. I knew she was capable. I knew she could handle herself. But I worried anyway.

Kira:

I tugged my ballcap lower as I walked out the front door of my building. On my back I had a thick backpack and tube while under my arm I carried a rolled up bundle. Pushing with my back out the door I went right up to the waiting van, pulling open the side door and climbing into the backseat. Leaving my gear on the backseat I slipped between the front two seats and dropped into the passenger seat.

With a sigh I leaned the chair back a bit and crossed my legs. "I oddly like this jumpsuit." Tugging at the front of the paint splattered white jumpsuit I glanced over at Andrew. "Shall we head out?"

Andrew:

“I’m not leaving until Kyra is out. She’s the only reason why I’m here,” I said then glanced at Kira. “No offence.” Kira shrugged. When Jonah asked why we hadn’t left I don’t him the same thing, that I wasn’t leaving until I knew my sister was safe. He was annoyed, but he didn’t push it. The ten minute window came and passed. Kyra would have known she was supposed to come out now. If she was alright, she would have come out.

“I’m going in,” I said to Kira and over the mic. Jonah tried to order me to stay but I didn’t care. I didn’t care if I got kicked off the team or kicked out of the school. I cared that my sister was safe.

Jonah:

Andrew refused my orders, nothing I said to him would prevent him from going. “Kira stop him,” I said. “I’ll find her.” I grabbed my equipment again. “Stay for ten more minutes, only. If I’m not back then go get Kira and Andrew and wait at the house,” I told Paublo as I got out of the SUV.

Kira:

I didn't mind staying, I wanted to be sure Kyra was safe too. It wasn't until Jonah told me to make sure Andrew stayed put that I moved into action. As he was getting out of the vehicle I got out as well, moving into his path. "Andrew..." I said softly, "I know. But you have to trust Jonah. If this was something Kyra couldn't handle, then it's not something that you could help her with."

Andrew:

I knew I wouldn’t win but I pushed past her anyway. In an instant she had me in a hold. It didn’t matter what I did, I wasn’t getting out of it. If she was trying not to hurt me, she failed because I continued to struggle to the point of pain. I begged her to let me go and still she was relentless. I didn’t trust Jonah, not with Kyra’s life.

Jonah:

I went into the building and came out eight minutes later. Normally I when I finished a job, I was clean. Now I was splattered with blood, hands, and shoes especially. I held Kyra cradled in my arms. She was wearing my gray button-down shirt which covered her to her thighs. Her legs were bare and spattered with blood as well. Her face was bruised and bloodied as well, but that was her own. Her hand gripped by black t-shirt even when she was nearly unconscious.

“I’ve got her,” I said into the mic when I got in range. “Paublo, help me.”

Kira:

The second I heard Jonah's voice I released Andrew. "Go to her. I'll get back myself." I felt a slight tremor in my body, a regret that I'd caused him pain. It had been his own fault for struggling, but that didn't mean I didn't blame myself.

Paublo:

I rushed out of the car as soon as I heard Jonah's voice. Throwing open the door for him I did what I could to help ease Kyra into the car then I was running back around to the drivers side. Hopping inside I started up the car and took off as soon as I knew Jonah was secure inside too.

Jonah:

I knew Andrew would want to come to her immediately, but we didn’t need to do that now. I told them both that we had her and were going back to base. I was in the back seat with Kyra.

“No life threatening injuries,” I said even as I did another assessment of her, checking what injuries I could see. My hands were shaking slightly.

Andrew:

I was too stressed and worried sick to note the tone of Jonah’s voice. It wasn’t calm as usual, it was angry. I glanced at Kira and we both ran back to the car. On an ordinary day, I was a good driver. Now I was speeding through the streets to get back to the house.

The only thing I did in the car was slump in the seat and stare out the window with my arms folded. Jonah was angry, a tone I hadn't heard him use before. But I didn't let myself speculate as to what happened. He had Kyra now, and she was alive with no threatening injuries. When she was back I'd see about checking her out further, perhaps with Andrew's help.

Jonah:

Kira and Andrew were already back at the house when we arrived. “Stand back. Let me get her inside then you can take over,” I said to Andrew when he rushed over. I scooped Kyra up carefully, preserving as much modesty as I could manage. Andrew opened doors for me as I carried her into the house. I laid her down on the bed then stepped back for Andrew.

Andrew:

The only thing keeping me from throwing up was the need to tend to my sister. I touched her face gently and her hair, looking for signs of a concussion. Her lip and cheek were swollen. I didn’t even want to address her body yet.

While Andrew rushed for his sister I was preparing the medical supplies. "Jonah, Paublo. Out. Now." I settled the medical kit on the bed beside Andrew before calling out, "Paublo. Boil water on the stove. Biggest pot you can." I heard a call of confiermation and heavy footfalls down the hallway while my eyes never left Kyra.

Jonah:

I showered and dressed in clean clothes but the sick feeling wasn’t going away. Even after I knew Kyra was safe and taken care of, I was still agitated. I sat in the living with only the fading light from the windows, waiting for Kira to come out.

Kira:

After I was sure Kyra was cleaned, bandaged, given meds, dressed again, and tucked into bed. I stepped out of the bedroom and went right into the bathroom. Scrubbing my hands clean in the sink I grabbed the handtowel and took it with me into the living room. "She should be sleeping now. Andrew isn't likely to leave her side for a long while." I spoke to Jonah without looking at him, going over I dropped onto the otherside of the couch, crossing my legs as I did so.

Jonah:

“Did you tell Marie we were going to be here?” I asked without looking at her. I knew she would have told her we were going on a mission. But did she tell her exactly where it was? It wasn’t fair to blame Kira for what happened even if she had told Maire everything. Yet she was still loyal to the vile woman.

"I did." Rubbing my face for a moment I leaned my head back onto the cushions. "She wasn't pleased about my going on a mission without any information being forwarded to her." It hadn't been a mission at all, but he knew that.

Jonah:

“Those were her men who attacked Kyra,” I said. My contempt for Marie was bleeding through my tone. “I recognized them.” I wondered if this was her way of punishing Kira in a backward way. Or perhaps she was trying to get rid of anyone who got close to her. It was clear to anyone at the school that Kyra cared for her.

I paused. "What?" Raising my head I stared him down, "You have to be mistaken. Either that or you are trying to manipulate me." It wasn't that I thought he really could be wrong...I really didn't want him to be right at all.

Jonah:

I looked at her then. “You think I’m lying? Why is it hard to believe? You think Marie is too good for that? To set those monsters on her own great-niece?” I sighed in aggravation and stood up. “I wasn’t mistaken. Three out of the four men were definitely from Marie. You don’t have to believe me but you’re a blind fool if you don’t.”

I looked away. "It's not hard to believe...I just want you to be wrong." Drawing a knee up to my chest I chewed on my thumbnail for a moment then surged to my feet. "I have a phonecall to make."

(( She's calling Zero. ))