Perfect School

Jonah:

I didn’t say another word. It annoyed me that she didn’t trust me. Even after all Marie had done to her and now this, she would still be loyal. It was infuriating.

“I’ll go. Make your phone call in peace,” I said the words more harshly than I normally would, even if I was annoyed. The whole situation had agitated my composure.

I left her alone in the darkening living room. It was late and we all needed dinner. I stayed gone from the house for a while. Before I went to get food to go, I drove around the streets aimlessly. My thoughts were on Marie and what needed to be done to get rid of her. It was time to start more aggressively working toward my goals.

I watched him go and stared at the door for several minutes after he was gone before turning and going for my room. Scooping up my phone I dialed Zero.

Almost immedietly her voice came on and she babbled out, "Kyra is alright right? I mean of course she is Andrew told me. I'm so sorry, I didn't hear any chatter about extra guards or that things had changed and she's hurt and worse an-"

"ZERO." I barked out, earning immediate silence from the other end. "They were Marie's. Not the targets. They were after....us....Kyra. Or so Jonah believes. Find out. Make sure this never happens again."

"K-kira? Are you okay? I mean I can do that but..."

"I know Zero...things change. People change." I knew what she meant, she knew I wasn't one to build attachments. And yet here we were. I had many attachments and they pulled me in far too many directions. I said my goodbyes then hung up the phone.

Jonah:

I returned carrying two plastic bags. I glanced at Kira on my way to the kitchen but I didn’t give her any kind of greeting. I unloaded the Chinese food on the counter. It was Kyra’s favorite.

I glanced away from the television, showing some kind of action comedy movie. I hadn't been paying attention to it at all, instead lost among my thoughts. Following him with my gaze as he walked into the kitchen I felt no desire to get up even though the food called out to me. Turning back around I focused on the screen again before calling out softly, "I told Zero to check on your information. And to also make sure we have warning before it happens again."

Jonah:

“In case Marie tries to sabotage another mission? In case she tries to hurt one of our team members?” I went to the kitchen doorway. “She can toy with us however she wants because she owns us, Kira. But this is unacceptable. This is sick.”

I tucked my chin then said softly, "You're right...but there is nothing else I can do Jonah. She owns us, and if I try fighting back things will only get worse."

Jonah:

I paused for a second. Always before she would shut down when I talked about Marie. This was progress. “There’s plenty we can do. This doesn’t have to be our life forever, you know. You don’t have to be a weapon.” My voice softened.

"Jonah what do you think would happen if I walked out the front door and ran away from her? She'd hunt me down in a heart beat. If I tried to run and fight off everyone she'd send then she'd capture and destroy everything I've come to hold dear in the belief that it would bring me back. And it would." I glanced at him over my shoulder, "If I tried to fight her right now I'd never make it past all her defenses. I'd be captured and subdued along the way. Both options put me in a cage for the rest of my life and place everything I care about in danger just to keep me docile." I shook my head. "There is nothing that I can do."

Jonah:

“Those are excuses and you know it. If you actually wanted to be free of her there are ways, it could be done. You’re just comfortable where you are. You’re scared to be on your own because you don’t know how to think for yourself.” I shook my head.

“No need to keep you docile, Kira, you already are. Even when your own cousin is attacked you wont do anything.”

I gritted my teeth for a moment then released them with a sigh. I felt my mask slip back into place, the mask I hadn't been using much since my return to the school. "I'm not thinking of myself. I don't care one way or the other what happens to me. But I do however care what happens to all of you." I stood up from the couch. "I wont do anything because I cant. I have too many eyes, too many ears all trained on one place. But you can still do something."

Jonah:

“I intend to,” I said coolly. They were excuses still but there was some truth to it. She had more to lose than I did now. She cared about other people. I couldn’t say that there was a single person I would chose over what I ultimately wanted. Even Kira I would give up for Marie’s power. I would prefer to find a way around that, however.

"There is no winning with you." I searched his expression for a moment. "I do nothing I'm wrong. I stand along I'm wrong. I choose to do something I'm wrong. I pick you to rely on and I'm still wrong. But I'm not surprised. I'm another pawn on your board Jonah."

Jonah:

"I may be playing a game, Kira, but you are not my piece to control," I said. I watched her face. “Interesting that the only person you resist is the one who could potentially offer you the most.” I leaned against the door frame with crossed arms.

"And what exactly would you be offering me Jonah? What makes you the best choice as you so see yourself?" Folding my arms I rocked on my heels for a moment. "You are hardly my best offer."

Jonah:

“I am your only offer. Who else would be willing to go up against Marie for you? Who else is offering you freedom? Who else could pull it off?” I asked. “Your parents? Retired for sixteen years?”

I huffed a laugh. "What makes you think that? I've gotten a few asks by various organizations to join them and help them take down Marie. No one has been successful. How are you going to do any better?"

Jonah:

“I’m not going to lay my plans before you, Kira. I can tell you that I plan to do it because I’m sure Marie already knows. She doesn’t know how. I’m afraid you’re far too much under her control to give you information like that. I wish I could trust you.” I doubted that she would tell Marie at this point, even if I made her angry.

"I don't think you trust anyone Jonah." I walked towards him, pausing just before the doorway of the kitchen. My eyes were focused on the kitchen beyond him but my words were all for him. "I think for all you push me to build connections, you yourself are going to end up all alone at the top....how sad."

Jonah:

“I’ll get what I work for. I don’t expect anything to be handed to me on a silver platter. If I’m alone at the top, it will be on my terms,” I said. There was something deeply invigorating about antagonizing Kira to this point. It didn’t make me any happier, but it was a distraction.

“Take Kyra some food why don’t you?” I said and left her in the kitchen.

I didn't watch him go, remaining in place until he was gone. He knew all the little points to needle at me with, poking at my nerves. I couldn't help but wonder if he got some kind of enjoyment out of riling me up. And I was almost certain he did. I dished up three plates of food, balancing them carefully across my arms and hands just so I could eat with Andrew and Kyra.

Kyra:

When Kira came in with three plates I sat up. “I can eat with everyone else. I’m not incapacitated.” I said firmly. Andrew eyed me but he didn’t say anything. I didn’t want them to treat me differently because of what happened. I wasn’t wounded.

I paused in the doorway then nodded. "You want to grab Paublo and Jonah then?" Turning around I went down the hallway with the trio of plates. Leaving them at the table I went to grab the chinese food boxes to bring them to the table for the last two members of our team.

Kyra:

“Can you?” I asked my brother. I didn’t want them to treat me differently but I also didn’t want to face them alone. Especially Jonah and Paublo. I went to the dining table alone. I sat down at the table and watched Kira set the table up.

When Jonah came in I dropped my gaze to the table. “Thank you, for helping me,” I said to him. The others could likely imagine, but he was the only one who knew exactly what happened. “I know you broke protocol to do it.”


Jonah:

I put my hands on a chair back but I didn’t sit down. She had a bruise on her cheek but otherwise, she looked just as beautiful as she usually did. “I did what had to be done. It was either me or Andrew,” I said. I didn’t want to think about it. The thought of it made me grip the chair back tighter.

Paublo:

I jumped with Andrew tapped my shoulder, but followed him out to join the others. I wasn't feeling very hungry, not after today. I felt useless. I didn't belong on this team. I wasn't good enough, wasn't talented enough. Andrew and Kyra had family connections to this world. Kira was born to it and molded to be the sharpest blade. Jonah took to it as naturally as breathing. I was just a big oaf clumsily bumbling my way through.

I swallowed when I spotted Kyra, the bruise on her cheek. I didn't know what to say, how I could help or let her know I was sorry I wasn't better.

Kira:

The mood was dour, I watched after I sat at my seat and laced my fingers together to make a platform for my chin. Paublo looked like a lost little puppy, Jonah was stiff with anger, Kyra awkward, and Andrew was....well he seemed the most unphased out of all of them but I knew he was probably the most concerned.

"What's done is done. I'm glad you are safe Kyra."

Jonah:

Over the next week I watched Kyra discreetly. She seemed to be handling it as well as anyone could. She showed few outward signs of change. One slight change was her attitude toward me. She was far less resistant to my choices even when it was clear she disagreed. Kyra was always kind but now she directed more of it toward me.

During my and Kira’s evening practice Kyra came in and hovered by the wall until we finished our set. She came over when we motioned that we were finished.

“Has Krissy talked to you lately?” She asked Kira. Her tone was neutral but it had an undercurrent of worry that she tried to hide.