Narrator-

"We need to get out of here, something's not right." Muttered Jackson, as the wheels began to turn in his head, like the gears of a windmill powered by the flowing waves of ideas travelling through the canals of his brain.

"No shit Sherlock." Retorted Khiran, at the same time Khairo stated "Gee thanks Captain Obvious."

Jackson breathed in, hoping to keep himself from replying. The twins were not the nicest pair.

"First things first, we have to turn off the cameras, the central command center cannot know of the things that are taking place here, then we need to get out of these chairs." Stated Jackson, the plan already taking mold in the cavities of his skull.

"No, first of all there is no "we". You are not one of us. How do we know that this wasn't all planned? How do we know to trust you?" questioned Khiran, urging the rest of the group to turn accusing eyes on Jackson, who in return remained calm.

Jackson nodded his head in comprehension.

He understood their fears, suspicion, and their need to be careful with him. Not too long ago he was the enemy, but now was not the time to point fingers, so with a calm tone, and a stern glare he simply stated "You don't, but frankly, you guys have no choice but to trust me. I am all you guys have. I know the system; I know how this place works. I can get you guys out, and if you want, once you're free do with me as you please."

Khairo scoffed, Khiran rolled his eyes, but the rest of the quadrant remained silent at Jackson's remark.

Seeing this, he continued, "Now Matthew, since you're already standing, maybe you can take care of the cameras."

"And how do I that?" shrugged Matthew in an insolent tone.

He was finding it hard to trust Jackson.

Jackson already pinned himself as a traitor, he was willing to overthrow his own team. Matthew knew those like Jackson, they only looked out for number one and for the best benefits and opportunities. Jackson most likely could care less about the consequences, as long as he was benefiting and coming out on top. Jackson was not a team player, but Matthew could handle him. If Jackson wanted to screw him over, he'd take Jackson down with him.

"At the command center, there's a button that shuts down the entire quadrant, including disabling the chairs, and shutting off the cameras." Explained Jackson, picturing the button in his mind.

At his words, Matthew nodded then rushed over to the center of the quadrant, and among all the gadgets and buttons that decorated the desk, he found the only red button on the table. The button was labeled "quadrant timeout".

The button was under a clear square case.

It was red, glowing, pulsing.

It was saying Push me.

Matthew blinked, his fingers twitching, greedy to push what he believed would be a very satisfying button.

"It wouldn't happen to be the tempting red button would it?" questioned Matthew, his fingers literally itching to press it.

"That's the one." Confirmed Jackson, and with a simple nod, Matthew pressed the button.

The button clicked with an unsatisfactory sound, and Matthew stood bewildered.

Jackson's eyes looked overhead, waiting for something to happen, but everything remained the same.

"What the- "Muttered Matthew as his finger clicked the button over and over, causing it to click and clack as though it was toy.

"Welp, that's what we get for trusting you... nothing." Stated Khiran, his anger rising.

Suddenly there was a loud whooshing sound like the sanitizing gas tank.

A fog flushed from the vents overhead, he lights dimming to a dark red, and all together, the chairs clicked, and the Test Subjects were free of their restraints. Their helmets powered down, and everything went quiet.

Jackson was the first to move. He rubbed his bruised wrists as he stood and began to look around. The one mistake he made was making a fist, without warning he attracted the electricity from a power socket close to him, and he jumped back startling Khiran.

Khiran who in turn tried to keep Jackson from bumping into him, held his hand out, and shot a ball of ice from his palm. Jackson ducked last second, causing the ball to aim straight for Adina. On instinct, Adina held her hand out, and another surge of energy lashed from her palm, and pushed the ice ball in Khairo's direction, who in turn burned through the ball with fire from his own hands.

Matthew's jaw fell, as he stood witness to the manifestation of powers displayed before his eyes. He could feel his nerves and astonishment build in his chest, and before he knew it, every motion slowed around him, and all the others could see was a ball of figure bouncing all over the walls.

Lauren, eyes wide, moved from her chair and headed for a corner.

"Lauren, you're missing again." Stated Adina, as she spoke to an empty chair.

"I'm over here." Said Lauren, causing Matthew to finally stop, and for everyone to jump in surprise and face the direction of Lauren's voice.

"Still can't see me?" teased Lauren as she moved to another corner, making everyone turn their heads quickly.

She was loving the fact that she could manipulate and play with them like this.

"Not the time to be playing games princess." Warned Khairo.

"What are you going to do about it? Find me?" chuckled Lauren as she stood behind Khairo, whispering next to his ear.

With no control, Khairo swung his hand behind him, and a ball of fire whooshed out of his palm, bruising Lauren, and making her instantly visible.

She groaned and turned accusing eyes at Khairo, who smirked with no remorse.

Lauren winced, as her fingers touched over her tender bruise, but then she felt a warmth spread to her fingers, and soothe the burn, until the bruise was completely gone.

She was healed.

"This is just..." scoffed Adina as she shook her head and finally stood.

She rubbed her wrists, her back and knees cracking after sitting for so long.

Her wrists were red, but as she rubbed them, the pain began to feel better. Adina cracked her knuckles, and her neck. It felt great to be standing without being dragged to a specific location. Her back was turned to Jackson, so she turned to him, and she said, "now what?"

"Now what... what?" stated Jackson quizzically, raising an eyebrow.

"What do we do now?" asked Adina, crossing her arms.

"How do I know? Ask him." Pointed Jackson as Adina turned to find Jackson standing a few feet to her right.

"OhmyGosh!" she yelled as she turned back and forth between the two Jacksons.

"What are you looking at?" questioned Khairo, as he noticed everyone's stares.

"Khairo, why do you look like Jackson?" questioned his twin.

"WHAT?!" exclaimed Khairo, looking at his hands and lower body, but before his new image could sink in, Khairo was back to normal.

"This is ridiculous. Do you know what's happening to us?" questioned Lauren.

"I Don't." Answered Jackson.

"Que-ce qui a passé ? Tout le monde ? n'importe qui ? Peux-tu m'entendre?" said Matthew, and everyone looked at him strangely.

His eyes were glossy, his limbs rigid, his back straight.

"What did he say?" asked Khairo.

"What language is that?" asked Adina.

"Gosh didn't you guys go to school? He's speaking French." Stated Lauren as she rolled her eyes and scoffed.

"Okay genius, what's he saying?" replied Khairo in a sarcastic tone.

"What happened? Everybody? Anybody? Can you hear me?" Translated Lauren verbatim.

"Okay, since when did you speak French?" questioned Khiran, and at his words, Matthew breathed out as he hunched over, placing his hands on his knees to catch his breath, as though he just strained through a marathon.

"It wasn't me. It was her!" accused Matthew as he pointed to a wide-eyed Valerie.

"I'm sorry. Je ne- I don't know what happened." Spoke Valerie in a soft voice, her French accent coating every syllable.

"What did you do him?" Said Jackson as he approached Valerie, but as he got closer, Valerie screamed "NO!" and on cue, Jackson froze in his steps with a harsh grunt. He seemed to struggle to break from his invisible prison, but he couldn't do so, and he had a feeling that Valerie was the one behind his sudden paralysis.

Valerie felt the need to keep Jackson away from her. She felt his body, she felt his brain, and she controlled his mind. She could feel him as he struggled against her, while her eyes remained locked on his.

Matthew and the others stared on as the young child froze a full-grown adult.

"Valerie, let him go." She heard Adina speak to her, just as she began to feel a pressure on her brain.

"Valerie, you're bleeding, let him go, he's not going to hurt you." Stated Adina, as she placed a hand on Valerie's shoulder, and her control over Jackson instantly dissipated.

Jackson gasped, his body lunging forward, as he was finally freed from the unseen shell. He gulped in a deep breath, feeling as though his chest was constricted under Valerie's hold.

He looked over at Valerie, as Adina wiped the streak of blood that dripped from her right nare. He felt slightly lightheaded, so he straightened himself, and took a deep breath, whole the sed of a headache took root in his brain.

Then Jackson looked back at Valerie and questioned "What did you just do to me?"

Valerie pushed herself closer to Adina, the fear clear and evident in her eyes.

"What did you do?" questioned Jackson, pushing Valerie for an answer.

"Jackson enough! She's scared, leave her alone." Warned Adina, who ushered Valerie behind her. She wasn't sure why she suddenly felt overprotective of Valerie, but she was not going to let her get bullied by the others.

"Oh please," scoffed Lauren, rolling her eyes at Adina's actions. Something about Adina pissed her off, and she was going to make it known.

"Problem?" questioned Adina, turning to Lauren. She had a feeling that Lauren was not a friend. The girl was always sending rude looks her way. Adina was sure she had never met that girl before, yet she seems to hold a dispute against her.

"Actually yeah, I do have a problem." Retorted Lauren, facing Adina.

Lauren was begging for the opportunity to shut this girl down, and she had just found it.

"Oh shit!" muttered Matthew in the background, suddenly interested in the girls' conversation. It had been a while since he witnessed a cat fight.

"Oh yeah? Well too bad cause I don't have time for your spoiled princess bullshit." Bit Adina.

She hated girls who acted like they were better than others.

"Damn!" remarked Khiran, taking pleasure in playing an instigator.

"That's tough." Stated Khairo, a smile creeping on to his face.

The argument to him was as petty as it was funny.

"Who do you think you're talking to?" snapped Lauren, she did not expect Adina to actually have the balls to reply back.

"Well you, because I don't see anyone else around here with as big of a head as yours!" pointed Adina, her anger rising.

She felt a surge of energy built from her toes to her head, she was ready to hurl that girl across the room.

"That's it!" approached Lauren, as she began marching towards Adina.

"Try me bitch!" replied Adina, as she prepared herself.

She planted her feet, letting her anger and energy build up. Lauren was going to regret attacking her.

She felt the energy push against her chest, and Adina was ready to release it, but before the girls could get a go at each other, Khairo grabbed Lauren, and Matthew ushered Adina to the other side.

"This isn't over you crazy bitch!" snarled Lauren.

"Whenever you're ready." Encouraged Adina with a cold smile and opened arms, as Matthew pulled her from the heated conversation.

Jackson stood speechless. He looked over at Khiran who in turn shrugged.

Valerie, frustrated, ran to Adina and hugged her.

"It's okay, I'm okay." Finished Adina, as she pet Valerie's hair.

"Hey, come on, don't worry about her. She's a bully, don't let her get under your skin." Stated Matthew softly.

"I'm okay, don't worry. Thanks." Smiled Adina.

"Yeah you cool." Replied Matthew as he playfully punched Adina's shoulder, causing her to chuckle.

Adina took a deep breath; she couldn't believe she actually spoke up. Usually, at the sign of an argument, she turns and runs the other way.

A sudden tear escaped her eye as images of that shy high school girl getting bullied flashed in her mind. She never wanted to be that person again.

"Hey, hey, come on, don't get all girly on me." Noted Matthew with a smile.

Adina laughed and wiped her tears as she said, "I wouldn't dream of it."

On the other side of the room, Lauren grunted, as Khairo kept his eyes on her.

"What are you staring at?" she snapped.

"Nope, you don't use that tone with me. I'm not one of your servants that you can step on. You respect me, I respect you." Stated Khairo, crossing his arms.

"Pfft, whatever." Scoffed Lauren.

"What did she ever do to you?" questioned Khairo after a moment of silence.

"I'm not sure my business is any of your concern." Retorted Lauren.

"Well, sorry there princess. I thought you could use a friend, but I guess enemies are the only ones you feel comfortable around. Have fun making an enemy out of everyone in this quadrant, but just a word of warning, we're your only means of escape, so I'd suggest you turn it down a notch." Said Khairo, over Lauren's attitude.

"Get out of my face." Snapped Lauren, as she busied herself with her fingernails.

Khairo shook his head and made his way to Khiran and Jackson.

Matthew soon joined them.

"What the hell was that?" asked Jackson.

"Oh yeah, Lauren doesn't like Adina, but Adina doesn't know why though. I don't even think Lauren knows." Commented Khairo.

"I bet you if those girls got in a fight, Adina would win though." Stated Khiran with a smile, as his eyes brushed over to where Adina sat with Valerie.

"Nah, I think Lauren actually has fire. She would win." Argued Khairo.

"You're only saying that because you like her. Adina would win, point blank, period." Exclaimed Khiran.

"Wanna bet?" states Khairo, his hand extended, as he ignored the comment his brother made about him liking Lauren.

"You're on." Accepted Khiran.

_________________________________________

Hey guys! 

Here is chapter 6! 

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Lots of ❤❤❤

-Tania.