It’s the last day of September. Time flew by even if nothing concrete come out of it. The group spend their days searching for the secret organization. Crossing buildings off their maps, waiting for Marianne Olsen to show herself, for the Institute, its head, Madeleine Clark, or the Roberts, to make a mistake. But it’s the last day of September already, and nothing of the sort happened.

Rachel lost against the robot again and Abigail laughs. It’s seven in the morning, time to end the training, eat, start the day fresh.

Ánh joins them for breakfast. She turns on the news and everyone turns their head to the screen.

“Breaking news. The terrorist movement has sent us a video showing Emily Roberts and Abigail Parker. The following video contains some graphic images. Viewer discretion is advised.” the news presenter swallows her saliva and holds the tears.

The video begins. It shows a small room. Emily and Abigail are tied and have their bracelets on the wrists. Rachel laughs hysterically while burning parts of their bodies. Their toes, fingers, back. She claps, freezes their wounds, and resumes the burning. Megan’s right hand turns blue. She’s expressionless. Tears fall down while Emily and Abigail beg for mercy. Their screams are louder than Rachel’s laughter. Slowly, their wounds are gone. Diego and Rachel laugh again. She faces the camera, says tick tock and this time Emily and Abigail are drowning.

Rachel turns off the television and looks at Abigail. She reacts immediately and heads to the basement. Ánh and Rachel follow her. Abigail searches for their names on the social media platforms and covers her mouth. Every reaction is worse than the one before.

Ánh logs in the forum and their supporters are cheering the pain they are causing in them.

Both sides are incredibly vocal in their hatred.

“Rach,” Ánh begins.

Rachel is speechless, her heartbeat increases. Ánh’s voice echoes imperceptibly.

“I’m sorry I didn’t predict this, Rach…” her foot taps harder and harder on the floor. Each stomp echoing harder on Rachel’s head.

“When we… when we…” Ánh’s breathing increases.

“Ánh…” Abigail goes nearer, “you couldn’t have predicted any of this!”

“I… I… should’ve… Rach…”

“What?” Rachel finally focuses on Ánh, the ringing in her ears lowers, “the truth is, Ánh, we have no idea who we are up against. What they are capable of, the resources they have. It’s impossible to predict everything, even with your power, without the correct information.”

“We could shoot a video too, show the world that you aren’t torturing us!” Abigail says.

“Abigail…” Rachel looks everywhere but her and Ánh, “the illusion of power is power.”

“What does that mean?”

“Matthew Moore said it to me when I asked him,” she looks at them and bits her lip, “why he told everyone that I was the Angel of Death. He told me ‘no one would’ve believed us’. That no one would take our word. No one. We show now that you weren’t tortured. No one will believe it.”

“Rachel, you can’t take responsibility for this,” Abigail looks at her.

“Everyone in the forum is cheering this, Rach.” Ánh takes deeper and deeper breaths.

“I’ll deny it there, asking people not to believe everything. We aren’t monsters. We don’t torture. We’ll wait for it to die down. It will,” Rachel leaves the room.

***

Across town, Megan is supposedly looking out for buildings, but instead, finds herself following the young woman with the red shoes. Megan notices that she cut her black hair a bit shorter, not something that anyone else would notice, too small of a difference, but Megan sees it. The young woman left campus, went to the cemetery, and is now outside a psychiatrist's office. She buzzes and gets in.

When Megan comes back home, the Parkers are on television, is lunch time and they are being interviewed. Ánh, Abigail, Rachel, Diego, and Alex are all sitting in the living room watching it.

“Please, no more questions. We,” Mark Parker begins, the reporters are surrounding him and Rebecca, “have something to say.”

Rebecca hides her eyes with dark sunglasses, Mark doesn’t, and one can tell he has been crying.

“I think everyone woke up today in shock. Anyone who has any empathy for a fellow person has to be disgusted.” he grabs a tissue from his jacket and blows his nose.

Rebecca remains by his side with her arms crossed.

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

“We weren’t shocked that the terrorist group led by Rachel Moore is violent. They have shown it countless times already. A ‘peaceful movement’ she said countless others,” he laughs, “we must have different definitions of peaceful. What we were shocked by is that Rachel Moore has proven to be exactly like her parents, like her father. When Matthew Moore used the Angel of Death to kill an entire community of deviants, he showed that he cared only about power, he never cared about his kind, and now,” he takes a break and holds back the tears.

Rebecca puts her hand on his right shoulder.

“And now,” his voice grows stronger, “she tortured. She inflicted unimaginable pain in two deviants. Why, Rachel Moore?!” He shouts now. “Why?! What have they done to you? What have we done to you?!” he looks up and takes a deeper breath this time. “You are the devil.”

Rebecca faces him and nods.

“But your hate will not prevail! You want to divide us, Rachel Moore, you won’t. I ask every single human to reject this diabolical attempt. The truth is, deviants are not to blame, and everyone should be aware of this. Being a deviant isn’t the issue and we won’t mistreat anyone because of it. No! What is being said online breaks my heart. It destroys me that we can’t distinguish terrorists from our fellow folks that just want to live a good life and are good, kind people.”

He faces every camera that points at them.

“Focus your hate on the ones who deserve it. On Rachel Moore, the Angel of Death, Diego Álvarez. Focus your attention there. We are coming for you, for your entire army. Let them go now and this will be the end. Hurt them again,” his voice grows louder and louder with each word, “and I swear this: we will do everything in our power to make you pay.”

All eyes are on Abigail. She senses them, waiting to see how she’ll react. She gets up, curls her fists and goes in the direction of the door.

“Abigail!” Ánh gets up.

“We really did it this time, my dears… interestingly, without actually doing anything.” Alex laughs.

Rachel keeps focusing on the screen, her ears ring, her heartbeat increases.

When Abigail reaches the door, Emily shows up. She has taken a shower, is dressed, and smiles.

“Everyone, I’m heading back,” she exclaims and they all look at her, “this was fun and all, but I’ve been reading Jade’s posts and I think I should just get back.”

“Who cares?!” Abigail shouts.

“What the hell is wrong with you?” Emily scoffs. “Jade wants me to go back. Like I told you, this isn’t going anywhere… no offense to you,” she faces the group still sitting, “I know this is your life goal and whatever.”

“Qué dices?!” Diego shouts.

Ánh sits down again, Alex chuckles, Rachel turns her attention to Emily and Megan remains without any change of expression.

“Emily…” Abigail laughs, “you go back and Jade stops being number one. I’m sure,” she emphasizes the word dramatically, “she’d be thrilled to have you back. Back to being number two that no one cares about!”

Ánh’s mouth drops to the floor and Alex laughs.

“The best thing that happened to her was you being gone. I’ve seen the posts, very sentimental… almost like…” Abigail goes nearer her, “Jessica Miller wrote them. Like she used to write yours.”

Emily pushes her and shakes her head.

“You are just jealous!”

“Jealous of what? What, exactly?! Of that pseudo-relationship that isn’t going anywhere. Is that what I’m so,” Abigail laughs again, “jealous of?”

“That she actually loves me and that I love her and that I will never look at you like that.” Emily takes a step forward and meets her eyes.

“What?” Abigail’s eyebrows raise.

Megan gets up and leaves the room. Avoiding them.

“Yes, you are completely dependent on me. You call it friendship, but you are in love with me and it’s ridiculous.”

Ánh curls her fists and taps her foot. Rachel notices it and puts her hand on her, trying to calm her down. Diego rolls his eyes and leaves the room.

I wish I had popcorns. Alex notices that Ánh is boiling inside.

“Emily, I know that ever since you were a child, especially since a title of such importance was given to you, that you are used to everyone around you, pretend. Listen, I’ll repeat it, pretend to love you.”

Emily scoffs.

“That was never love. I do love you, as a friend, and sometimes it’s very hard to be your friend. But I am not in love with you, never have, and I know this is a strange concept for you to grasp, because you think that everyone is.”

“Sure, Abigail, sure. Whatever you say, but we both know that your life only has any value because you are standing next to me.”

Ánh is about to open her mouth when Rachel gets up.

“You are free to leave. If that’s what you want. Me and Alex will erase your memories. We don’t have time to deal with this nonsense, Emily. We have real issues to take care of. Haven’t you seen the video?”

“What video?” Emily looks at Abigail.

Ánh connects her phone to the tv screen and plays the video. Emily bites her tongue to hold back the tears.

“Because of this video, there are already protests scheduled for later today. Protests against deviants!” Rachel puts her hands on her hips and exhales, “now, who do you think did this? The people that we are after, most likely. We have to stop them!” she paces back and forth.

Emily looks at Abigail.

“I’m saying this again and for the last time. If you want to leave, you are free to. We’ll erase your memories and you go back to your pitiful life, not knowing anything because you won’t remember it. But.” Rachel stops and faces Emily. Smiling.

“But?” Emily asks.

“Funny thing about memory erasing, and Alex, help me out here. The emotional connection is never gone, is it?”

Alex teleports across the room. Standing next to Rachel and facing Emily too.

“You are right, sis! Emily, dear, I’ll erase the memories, but imagine, you’ll look at your brother and something will feel strange, because you had the memories of him being part of this organization. You won’t know why you feel the way you do, oh,” he laughs and teleports again next to her and whispers, “but your body will react to it, nevertheless.”

“That’s a lie!” Emily shouts. “You are trying to force me to stay.”

“When have I lied to you, Emily Roberts?” Rachel asks.

***

Rebecca and Mark drive home in silence, Zach and Veronica video call them. Mark answers and shows them their mother.

“It was a good speech, dad,” Zach says and Veronica nods.

“Team Parker!” Veronica shouts.

Rebecca tries to hold the tears in and focuses on driving.

“Team Parker!” Mark answers enthusiastically, “any plans for today?”

“I’m at the mercy of Vero. She wants to show me some cool spots around. Isn’t that right, Vero?”

Veronica nods and looks away from the camera.

“Mom! Team Parker!” Veronica shouts.

“Team Parker!” Rebecca says as loud as she can and looks at the camera, smiling.

They hung up and tears start falling on her face.

“I’m done waiting, Mark. No more waiting for the government to do something.”

“What do you want to do?”

“Something… anything… now.”