Jade Harris steps outside of the main hospital in the capital with Madeleine Clark and Jessica Miller. Madeleine’s bodyguards surround them. Reporters rush for a quote.

“Miss Clark, how are the deviants doing?!” One asks and pushes the microphone in her face.

“Jade! Jade! Will they make it alive?!” another shouts.

“Miss Clark, any confirmations of a third ability in the Institute?!” The voices overlap each other, barely making it perceptible.

Jade Harris stops. Madeleine and Jessica stop to and watch her. Waiting for a reaction. Jade takes another beat, closes her eyes, and once she opens it, her voice sounds clear and sharp.

“There’s no such thing as a third ability!” Her voice grows even louder. Every reporter puts their microphone and phone as near as she as possible. "The Eurasian Council has said it!" Her voice rises even more before she pauses. “The representatives from the African institutes have said it!” Another pause. “Our neighbors from Canada, Central and South America have all said it! We,” she touches her chest with her finger, “We have said it!”

“But-” a reporter tries to interrupt her and Jade raises her hand.

“I’m not finished!” Silence installs. “The Angel of Death is an anomaly! A genetic aberration! Now, we’ve come here to show our respect to the loved ones of our students who were cowardly,” she shakes her head and tears form in her eyes, “mercilessly, beaten last night!”

Jade puts her hands covering her mouth. She takes a beat. Raises her index finger again, stopping anyone from interrupting her.

"They're good people," her voice cracks briefly, but she regains composure and asserts, "I can assure you that! They aren’t even 18, have an entire life ahead of them. These are not the people to hurt!” She shouts now. “You want justice?! Make the Angel of Death face justice! Get her to answer for her crimes!” Jade scoffs, “imagine… having three abilities and showing that you are incapable of using them for good!” Jade shakes her head and a loud laugh echoes.

Jessica Miller tries to step in, but Jade takes a step forward.

“We, the deviants who work toward a brighter future, have the responsibility to stop her if we can. We must show no mercy! Humans need to know we are on their side. Megan Grant, I’m coming for you! Rachel Moore, you’ll wish you were never born!”

Madeleine stands next to Jade and looks at her.

“The Institute has shown nothing but transparency and honesty!” Madeleine smiles at the cameras. This week, we'll present Congress with a list of our students' and staff's abilities. Everyone inside uses the bracelet and most choose to use it outside the Institute too. The students that are now inside fighting for their life had it activated. They didn’t stand a chance because they chose peace and were met with violence.”

“No further comment!” Jessica Miller says. They finally leave.

Stolen content warning: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

The President of the United States extends thoughts and prayers to the students' family, while showing compassion for those who resort to violence out of fear. She reminds the nation that her party has proposed the bracelet to be of general use, but the Congress blocks it.

***

For over a week there have been protests, mostly outside the Institute. Padma fears for Aminu’s safety and invites him to live with her in her spare bedroom. He’s reluctant at first, but after careful consideration, and after his mother begs him to be safe, he accepts and moves there. He’s having a coffee. It’s still early. The sun hasn’t risen yet, when Padma steps into the kitchen.

“Off to an early start!” she smiles and grabs some fruits to cut.

“Having some trouble sleeping?”

“Because of the protests? You are safe here, Aminu.”

“Nah, I keep having these nightmares… There are these men, the ones we caught, and some children, they are locked up…”

Padma almost cuts her finger off and takes a deep breath.

“Oh, you know, dreams. They don’t mean anything!” She smiles. “You are probably just too stressed with the protests and your brain is overstimulated.”

“They just seem so real…”

“Aminu,” she turns to face him with her bowl of fruit and yogurt, “there were no children there. Diego Alvarez and Alexander Williams were locked up, but in very comfortable rooms. I can tell you that. Trust me, they had more conditions that you have in the dormitory.”

***

Across town, Rebecca and Mark greet in the hacker with pink hair. They close all doors and sit on the dining room. The boy immediately attacks the pancakes and pours a generous amount of syrup on them. Rebecca starts taping her finger on the table.

“So?” she finally asks.

“We’ve followed the money. Et tu, Brute?” the boy says, completely butchering the pronunciation.

“Speak plainly, please,” Mark pours himself water.

“Your friend. Mary Thomson Roberts. Her company runs your finances. Well…”

Rebecca and Mark look at each other.

“Well…?” Rebecca faces him.

“She’s doing great work with it. Just not in the Institute. The money that your foundation sends there… doesn’t reach its final destination. Where is it? Whoosh,” he fills his cup with natural orange juice. “It’s being shifted through too many countries. Eventually we lost the trail. They are good.”

“Now what?” Mark asks.

"Well," he adds syrup to the pancakes, "we have a suggestion, but it depends on one thing. Do you want these people to hurt badly?”

Mark and Rebecca exchange glances and smile.

“Hurt? Oh, dear. No. We want to obliterate them all. Whoever they are,” Rebecca’s smile disappears.

The boy smiles back, finishes his breakfast and leaves. Promising to show results soon. Mark and Rebecca sit on Abigail’s bed. They hold hands and stay in silence for a bit.

“It's easier to say everything was a lie. When it comes to Mary and Thomas. That they only cared about the money and everything… every smile, every hug, every single interaction was an attempt to manipulate us further. The truth… is fair more complex, though.” Rebecca squeezes her husband’s hand tighter.

“Yes.” Mark tries to show a smile.

“Some of it was real. Which part is the question. A question that is now inconsequential.”

“Rebecca… we have to call Ánh’s parents.”

“And say what?”

“Say something.”

“It’s possible that the girl we met, the sweet Ánh, is gone now. It’s possible that she was the one who tricked Abigail and Emily.”

“It’s also possible that she is making sure they are both safe from the hands of Rachel Moore and the Angel of Death.”

“Sure. Brainwashing changes any person, Mark. You are right… we have to call them. We must tell them we forgive Ánh.”