WICK

The girl looked around at the bustling city for a moment, her eyes dancing up and down the significant streets, taking note of each car that passed and making sure to watch the cars that drove by her a little slower than she was comfortable with extra carefully before turning her attention to her colorful watch, the little hand reading that it was just past seven.

She'd be at school by now, right? Maybe I should go to her mentor first, it would probably be the safer option. 

She stood in place, her eyes tracing over the geometric design whose points marked the respective hour, as her mind weighed each option, her brain seemed to throb the harder she thought about it.

The unfamiliar sounds of heavy traffic shook her out of her thoughts as she heard a car's horn blare on her right, taking her focus away from her watch for just a moment. Her eyes scanned the area nervously, she had never been anywhere without her mentor, and nowhere she was in what seemed to be the land of the large alone.

A young girl exploring-slash, getting lost on the streets of New York? It's almost too cliché. She thought as she eyed her surroundings warily, this was such a big place.

The perfect place for anyone to disappear to; it would be nearly impossible for anyone to track down one person, yet almost inevitable for one to get lost. She was once again grateful for her affinity, without it she'd be one of the unfortunate ones that would get lost in this concrete jungle. 

But, where am I going though? Her arms crossed one another as she began pacing slowly, her chest clenched with anxiety as her mind swirled with horrible scenarios. What if Ryn gave me the wrong name? Slowly she felt her pulse creep up, causing her throat to tighten and her mind began to spiral. What if? What if? What if? 

Calm down. The voice of her mentor flowed from the back of her mind, a frown marred her face as she cleared her mind.

Steadying herself, she rocked slightly back and forth on the balls of her feet, allowing thoughts to blank as she counted her breaths. An unstable mind will always be lost. She allowed the simple words to flow into her brain- taking over her flurried thoughts, and bringing them to a gentle halt.

Slowly she felt the tension relax from her shoulders, finally she was calm enough to allow herself to delve into her memory once again; her eyes closed as she began searching her subconscious.

Ryn had uttered to her a name along with two addresses in which she would undoubtedly be, one of which was a school; that's where she was heading- she just needed to find the right memory.

Her eyes flew open as she looked around, focusing hard on the name of her destination; her body seemed to hum as her legs began leading her through the winding city, she passed skyscrapers that seemed to touch the sun itself; as well as screens bigger than anything she'd ever seen. Part of her wanted to dismiss the enchantment she'd placed on her legs and explore this strange place, however, the recollection of her incapacitating ability to get lost in even the smallest of towns kept her from doing such.

Around her people walked at steady paces, their traffic flow keeping the sidewalks flooded. She quickly drifted into a crowd, her legs easily kept up with the flow but she could feel the rest of her body growing exhausted of the pace- however the constant scuttling around her made her certain that any speed shift would result in her being trampled, not that I would be able to slow down. She thought cynically, mentally cursing herself for not mastering her phantasma crura before she cast it on herself.

She almost cried in relief when she was finally caught at a traffic light, as she was catching her breath, she pulled out her phone, deciding to search the school up. There were very few pictures of the building, but from what she could see, the outside was a nice beige color and most of the pictures on Google showed a diverse environment. 

Her legs began moving once more, bringing her out of her search. Swiftly she made her way down long walkways, crossing street after street, stopping only occasionally at a stoplight.

Finally her feet stopped all together, she looked up at the building that towered over her, it didn't look much different than the picture except a few loitering students, who must've decided to skip.

What if she's not here or if the name was wrong? She mused, her anxiety once again creeping over her. No, the mentors were supposed to know all of our names and locations!

The girl shook her thoughts away as her hands came up to swipe away at her curly bangs, taking one more deep breath, she forced herself up the stairs; ringing the little bell on the side she waited, the voice of a lady called through the intercom, alerting her of the door being unlocked.

She made her way through the entrance, and towards the sign-in area, scurrying over to the front desk she waited for the ancient looking secretary sitting in her rolly chair, after waiting for at least five minutes in absolute silence, the lady finally turned to meet the girls eyes, with a slight roll of her eyes the lady quickly handed the girl a late pass before shooing her away towards a hall.

The girl followed her instructions, following the hall to the left, following the curve, she walked a little ways down, allowing herself to disappear out of the lady's sight before she stopped abruptly. 

Closing her eyes, she waited. The familiar pang rose over her finger and toe, taking over her limbs as the comforting hum covered her body; the various sounds surrounding her seemed to muffle as if she were listening from underwater. 

Suddenly her eyes flew open, the gray hues coming alive like a dancing current of electricity; she watched as the scene changed.

She was in the same hall, however, around her students fluttered by; some talking to others, going through their lockers or simply standing about,- enjoying their last moments of limited freedom. 

She looked at the clock that hung above the student's lockers. It read six-thirty. 

This was the beginning of the day; barely anyone was here, just a couple of early birds wandering in hopes of finding their classes and being able to pick their seats.

With an impatient huff she moved the scene along; skipping through parts of the day as one would a DVD, pausing briefly as she caught sight of a familiar girl with her identical silver eyes- her hands frozen in whatever flamboyant gesture she'd been making at the time, surrounded by a small handful of students. 

There she is! 

Her heart began to ache as she took in her smiling face, she'd grown a bunch since that godforsaken day all those years back, yet the easy smile on her face was the same as always. 

She's here!

Shaking herself out of her daze, she continued the scene; watching as the girl threw her head back in laughter before choking on her laugh. 

Suddenly a shrill sound echoed around them, causing the girl to jump slightly; the late bell was ringing, slowly the students began their trek towards their classroom, she watched as the familiar figure walked into a room further down the hall, following closely as she continued to admire her sister until she disappeared into a classroom; the plaque outside the door had a name on it that gave the young girl a headache from just thinking of how to pronounce it.

Walking forward, she quickly rapped on the door twice and waited patiently before hearing a curt "come in" come from the other side.

Hesitantly she cracked the door, bracing herself for the emotions that would most definitely overwhelm her as she beheld one of the few people she'd been forbidden from seeing, let alone being in such close contact with for almost a decade.

The thick door groaned as she slowly crept it open, her breath hitched in her throat as the realization washed over her, this is happening. After 8 long years, almost an entire decade, what would she say? What should I say? Her mind buzzed with endless questions and possibilities.

Cat wasn't one for too many emotions, but at that her thoughts ran back to the child that had hugged her until she calmed down that dreadful day; a smile unwillingly etching its way onto the girl's features before quickly disappearing as she stood in front of thirty strange faces, one of which looked alarmingly angry. 

The angry lady took one step towards the girl, who instantly regretted her decision to check this specific room.

"Riley Legion! Just what business do you have slamming MY door, damaging MY new books, playing on your phone AND leaving my class?" The woman's hand latched onto the young girl's forearm as she began dragging her further into the now quiet room; the sounds of whispers could be heard being tossed around as the students watched, hoping to gain some entertainment from the encounter.  

"And to top that off you left your other classmates behind without a word!" With the volume the angry lady had reached, the girl wouldn't have been surprised of Cattleya had just showed up herself to check out what was happening; however seeing as the young girl had finally deduced that the lady as the teacher of this class, and therefore had full authority to raise her voice to whatever volume she deemed appropriate. 

"That is just inexcusable, I hope you have a decent explanation and maybe if it's good enough I might think twice about a week's worth of detention for you." The teacher sent the girl a pointed look that was quickly ignored as she began looking around for someone or something that would get her out of this, she tried to hide her disappointment and frustration as her eyes went from one side of the room to another. 

 She's not here? Her mind began swirling with questions that she wouldn't get an answer to. 

Where is she? How long has she been gone? Why do they keep calling me Ri- her thoughts were cut off as a hand came down onto her shoulder, gripping it tight. 

 Her gaze traveling down his sun-tanned arms to meet the hand that held her, his nails were perfect, white crescents at the tip, but what made her blood run cold was the simple ring that sat atop his left knuckle, engraved with an impaled serpent, the phrase read deus erit munda impii.

God shall cleanse the wicked.

The man pulled her out and away from the class once more, however, the look that flashed on the girl's face didn't go unnoticed by the young teacher, who was quick to try and interject herself between her student and this stranger. 

"Excuse me!" She exclaimed, grabbing once more at the girl, attempting to pull her to safety behind her small frame. "Just what exactly are you doing with my student?" Her voice was clipped and cold as she stared at the man who looked blankly at the woman, as though finally processing that he was, in fact, in a school surrounded by actual people. It was the equivalent of watching a Chihuahua stare down a Mastiff.

He kept the stare in place as he reached into one of his jacket pockets.

"Ma'am, my name is James Harlowe, I'm here to take this child out of school." His voice was smooth with the slightest lilt, as if he'd had an accent but lost it over time.

The young teacher's lips pulled together tightly, her displeasure of the situation becoming tangible. "Well Mr. Harlowe, I happen to know this young lady's guardian and you are not her." Her voice remained icy as she kept the space between the two wedged open with her body.

"No," the man replied, his voice thick with annoyance now, "but I happen to be with the department of family services," on cue, his hand came out his pocket holding what appeared to be a badge of some kind, "I need Ms. Legion to come with me to the hospital." The fear that flashed on the woman's face was enough of a distraction for him to once again claim the girl to his side.

"W-what do you mean?" The teacher asked, her skin turning a soft gray shade as her eyes continued to jump between the teen and the man. "Is Liv, I mean Ms. Legion alright?" 

The girl could almost feel the man's satisfaction as he continued. "I'm afraid there's been an accident; Ms. Legion needs to come with me quickly, but she will be safe in my care, you have my word." His voice was so sincere the girl almost found herself going along with his act.

Almost; but not quite. 

She felt her muscles tighten as she readied herself to flee; her mind carried multiple scenarios as to how she would do it. 

However she felt herself being pulled abruptly into the man's chest, before she could pull a way she felt the sharp tip of a blade pressed snugly into her back; at the angle they were positioned she was sure nobody would even think she was in danger, and she doubted he would truly care about blowing his cover, so long as he had her blood on his hands. 

He's just giving me an option on when I wanna die. Her thoughts sent cold chills down her spine, she could feel the hairs on her arms raise, as well as her eyes water. I don't wanna die, I-I can't not yet!

She felt him pull her once more towards the door, the girl looked around desperately, looking at each lingering face quickly before the door closed.

She allowed him to drag her up a flight of stairs, then another. Her eyes glided over every door they passed in the winding hall, she was silent as her thoughts spiraled, attempting to formulate a plan that would get her away from the danger without breaking covenant. 

The two stopped abruptly as a cry burst through the quiet halls, "Alessia!?" Her sister's voice brought tears to her eyes as she began kicking at the man, throwing her body to the side with a blood-curdling scream. 

"Cat!" She screeched, she felt as though her heart was attempting to escape her chest with how heavy it beat against her ribcage.

This is it!

The hall was soon filled with the sounds of classroom doors opening; worried faculty members stepping out of their rooms to try and find the source of her cries, her heart leapt as she saw a dark head of hair appear from the stairwell. 

However, her relief was short-lived as she felt her body being hauled up and into a room to her right, she felt her lungs deflate as he slammed her to the ground; she could hear a jumbled mix of cries and rapid footsteps in the background as students rushed to try and jump to her defense. 

His hand went into his jacket once more, this time producing a pistol, the teens jumped back terrified, looking hopelessly between the girl and the gun that was now pointed at her.

Her head gave a throb as chimes went off in her ears, the world around her seemed to blur for a short second before the wind was knocked back out of her as a heavy foot stomped hard on her abdomen, thoroughly trapping her in place.

She could hear people trying to plead him down, some were even begging on her behalf; but all she could do was look up, his dead eyes lit up with a hungry gleam as his lips began uttering a sacrificial chant.

She watched as they curled over a set of off-white teeth, and his eyes became brighter with excitement, meanwhile she could feel hers watering as she looked away from him, her eyes closed tightly as she began her chant, this one of her family, their names circled in her brain. She prayed for a miracle, that somehow, someway one of them would hear her and come and save her from this monster.

Papa, DJ, Sorcha, Franky, Rosey, Velly, Kit Cat.

She repeated the names over and over, trying to take her attention away from the fast approaching pain followed by an endless darkness. 

His voice broke through her thoughts as it continued to rise with his excitement, she could feel her tears slide down the side of her face, she focused on the ache of her back, the feeling of the floor against her face as tears began to puddle around her head, leading outward to make a small trail, any and everything except him.

Her ears rang as she felt her fingers and toes go numb, the feeling of tingling climbing further up her body.

In that instance her skin felt as though it were humming, the foreign yet familiar occurrence causing her to tense. 

She recognized this feeling and it was not simple pins and needles, no, this was different, it felt like a soft current was flowing up her, coating her skin like a soft blanket before she felt a breeze pick up. 

Her eyes opened abruptly, catching the man's sinister smile and eerily cheerful eyes. 

The silver gleam of the barrel caught the light; the ray bounced around dancing with the deep hues of his eyes. The girl saw his brows draw together, slowly at first. 

Her body felt as though it had been set ablaze, the soft humming turning into rapid swarms of butterflies, or bees, or maybe even wasps. She couldn't tell which, but what she knew for a fact was that the feeling had gone from a comforting current to a 

displeasing sting.

Suddenly the feeling disappeared, followed closely by the weight on top of her.

She sucked in a quick breath as she watched the man's body glide through the air, as if being tossed like a giant frisbee for only a second before the door crashed open.

One of the hinges dangled on the frame meekly, the wood had splintered in a few places and the actual frame looked as though an army of termites had decided to feast upon it in their travels. 

The girl's eyes glided from the demolished entrance to the heaving figure coming into the room.

"Are you ok, Lessa?" Cattelaya's voice rang out through the dead silent room.