Silent Storm
Chapter 16 - Whatever It Is Can Wait

Marie approaches Isabella’s Dorm.

The door slides open and she is greeted by Rebecca. “Where’s your sister?” asks Marie.

“In her room,” Rebecca responds.

Marie walks toward Isabella’s room, with Rebecca following closely behind. “I must warn you Lady M, it’s not a pretty sight in there,” cautions Rebecca.

“How bad can it be Becca?” asks Marie, as she continues walking to the bedroom door.

The door slides open, and Marie walks in to find the room in a complete mess.

She begins to gag as the putrid air fills her nostrils, forcing her to cover her mouth and nose.

Isabella is sitting on the bed with outstretched arms. The locks of Cordelia’s hair floating in front of her.

“Isabella,” says Marie, trying to get her attention.

Her muffled voice fails to fully penetrate Isabella’s focus.

She removes her hand from her mouth, “Isabella!” she exclaims, finally breaking Isabella’s concentration.

The locks of hair fall on the bed.

“Lady Stanislaus,” she says, embarrassed by the state of her room.

“It smells like death in here,” says Marie, trying desperately not to hurl.

Isabella snaps her fingers, and lights several scented candles lined up around the room. “Sorry about that,” she says.

“Any good news?” asks Marie.

“I’ve been at this for two weeks straight, Cordelia’s dark magic is too strong, she’s blocking me,” Isabella responds.

“We have to face the council today Isabella, we need something, you have to do whatever it takes, no matter the cost.”

Isabella buries her face in the palm of her hands. “I’m trying my best, you don’t understand,” she says, her voice waning.

“Contact me as soon as you get something, don’t go after Cordelia without us, it’s too dangerous,” says Marie as she leaves the dorm.

Isabella darts off her bed and swats all the items off her dresser in anger.

Rebecca scurries into the room after hearing the commotion. “Izzy, take it easy, you’ll find a way.”

“That’s the thing, I already have,” she responds.

“So why do you look so afraid?” asks Rebecca.

Isabella embraces her. “Don’t worry about it sis, its nothing.”

***

Lou is patiently sitting in the car by the fountain, with Ghost and Striker on either side of the vehicle on their bikes.

Marie walks toward the car and enters.

Vanessa is already seated inside.

“Any luck with Isabella,” asks Vanessa.

“Nothing yet. I think we might be pushing her too hard,” Marie responds.

“Sentiments are irrelevant in situations like these Marie. If anything, we should be pushing her harder. The future of the Academy is at stake,” Vanessa responds in anger.

“Lou lets go,” says Marie as she sighs in frustration.

The car moves off, and Ghost and Striker follow closely behind.

***

Later that day, the faculty members gather around the staffroom table, with Isabella standing at the head, Veins bulging from bags under her eyes.

“My goodness Izzy, you look terrible,” says Ivan.

“Isabella what’s so important that you had to rush us all here?” asks Gregor in his usual steely tone.

“I found where Cordelia is keeping the kids,” she replies, causing Ivan to dart out of his seat.

“What are we waiting for, let’s go rescue them,” he urges.

“But how? I thought the locator spell wasn’t working,” probes Barbara.

Isabella ignores Barbara’s inquiry, “They’re in the vicinity of the crescent falls. But she knows I found her, they won’t stay there much longer,” she says.

“Did you inform Ladies Stanislaus and Terrell?” asks Barbara.

“I tried but they’re not answering.”

“We can’t just go in there without a plan, we should wait until those two return, we’ll need all the help we can get,” says Gregor, who is supported by Barbara.

“Are you people mad? Who knows what she’s doing to those kids, we can’t wait,” says the fired up Jax.

“Let’s put it to a vote then Mr. Terrell,” says a confident Gregor.

Jax agrees, but is quickly disappointed as the majority votes in favour of waiting.

“To hell with all of you, I’ll go by myself if I have to,” swears Ivan.

Gregor speaks into his wrist pad. “Initiate lockdown protocol,” he says, which activates the Academy’s emergency security features.

The force field covering the Academy becomes visible, and all external doors are sealed off by reinforced steel.

“You bastard,” Ivan screams at Gregor. “Suspend lockdown protocol,” he yells into his wrist pad.

“Confirmation needed from majority of faculty members on site,” says a loud voice emanating from the wrist pad.

Ivan angrily moves toward Gregor but is held back by Jax. “Ivan, calm yourself, respect the vote,” he says.

Isabella, Jax, and a reluctant Ivan leave the room.

“What are we supposed to do now?” Ivan asks, as they walk down the hallway.

“I have an idea” says Isabella, who proceeds to guide them to her dorm.

***

Rebecca, Jason, and their respective team members stand attentively in Isabella’s Dorm.

Isabella, Jax and Ivan stand among them.

“I know it’s risky but you’re the only ones I know for sure would be willing to help,” says Isabella.

“Willing to help? I’m not in agreement with any of this,” Brain protests.

“Brain, I assure you, we’ll take full responsibility,” says Jax.

“That won’t really matter if we all die now would it?

“How are we even supposed to get out? The Academy’s on lock down,” asks Riley.

“Mr. Brain here is the key,” says Ivan.

Brain looks around the room.

Everyone is looking back at him.

“Oh no, no. I’m not allowed to use my powers unless Lady M and V say so,” he says.

“Brain, I’m not one for breaking the rules but lives are at stake,” says Jason.

Muscle gives brain a little nudge. “Dude come on,” he says.

“No, none of you can convince me otherwise,” says a determined Brain, as he proceeds to exit the room.

“Brain,” says Gale, causing him to stop in his tracks.

***

Isabella and the team assemble outside the garage.

Brain places his hand over his wrist pad.

His hand begins to glow a bright silver, sequences of one’s and zero’s run across his eyes.

“Lockdown protocols suspended,” says the AI in the wrist pad.

The team rejoices, and Gale hugs brain tightly, causing him to blush.

An annoyed Jason looks on.

Riley places a hand on Brain’s shoulder and laughs. “You’re such a sap,” he says.

They all head into the garage and approach the hover craft.

“I’m driving,” says Ivan.

“Are you even sober Ivan?” asks a concerned Jax.

“I can confirm I’m not drunk, that’s enough right?”

“No its not, Jax is driving,” says Isabella.

They all jump inside the hovercraft and speed out of the Academy.

Naveen watches on from deep within the field garden as the hovercraft exits the compound.

He looks around the garden and sees scores of dead birds littering the floor, with their necks broken.

He clutches his fist, spilling the contents of a pack of bird feed. “The cycle repeats itself once again,” he says in anger.

***

“How do you think it will go?” Marie asks Vanessa.

“As bad as you think it will,” she responds.

“A call is coming in from Ms. Munroe,” informs Lou.

Vanessa instructs him to put the call through but is interrupted as an arrow pierces through the car window, grazing her face.

The arrow explodes.

The blast forces the vehicle off the road.

Ghost and Striker rush to the car and help Lou, Marie and Vanessa out.

Two hooded assassins appear, dressed in black, their eyes matching their outfit.

Nearby civilians begin to scream, crashing into each other as they try to escape the mayhem.

Marie and Vanessa tend to an unconscious Lou.

The First Assassin charges Marie with frightening speed and attempts to deliver a fatal strike with his sword.

Striker removes the glove from his right hand an intervenes.

He blocks the attack with the palm of his hand.

His right hand is revealed to be as black as coal.

Blood drips on the floor from his hand to everyone’s surprise, including his own.

He punches the First Assassin with his left hand and sends him rolling on the asphalt.

The Second Assassin fires an arrow at Vanessa, but Ghost slices it in half with her sword.

She then rushes the Assassin who begins to fire several arrows but they all phase right through her.

Ghost unleashes a barrage of attacks, but he skillfully blocks them all with his bow.

He then delivers a devastating blow to her chest with his palm that sends her crashing into the vehicle at the side of the road.

Striker observes a dark glow emanating from the Assassin’s hand.

Ghost is panting for breath.

She holds her chest and coughs, spitting out a chunk of blood.

A concerned Striker hurries over and helps her to her feet.

A black substance begins to ooze from the eyes of the two assassins.

Striker looks worriedly at the wound in his palm. “What are these guys?” he asks.

Marie’s wrist pad alerts her of an incoming call.

She looks at it in annoyance.

“Whatever it is can wait,” she says as she ignores it.

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