oMens

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The four of us left and headed to where the Underground is left. In the motel, as Lorna went to see Marcos, Andy, Monty, and I went to the Struckers.
I could see that Andy was nervous to return, I put my hand on his shoulder. He looked at me wide-eyed, with worry hidden. He gripped my hand and held on tight.

As we make it to the front door, he knocks. It was Reed who had answered the door. The man was stunned to see his son in their front door.

I stood in my place as Andy made his way inside. His mom immediately hugged him right after Reed, not believing that he was there.
By the time it came to Lauren, Andy was quite scared to see if she would take him back.

He had hurt her, betrayed them.
Andy did understand if she couldn't, but it would hurt like hell for him.
Lauren had stood up from her chair and slowly made her way to her brother. She opened her arms and hugged him on the spot.

The Struckers were reunited.

Seeing them, I thought of my brother.
Seeing them, I didn't even want to think of how Jack would feel when he sees my room empty. I didn't want to imagine the panic he will endure in thinking I'd abandoned him, my own brother. I knew by leaving the Inner Circle, it will hurt him, but I would be hurting myself for staying with them any longer.

Looking at the family, I envied them. I envied how Kate fought for her kids, I envied how Reed was still in their lives, and I envied how Lauren and Andy were still together in things, despite being miles apart.
As much as the family has been divided, they always come back to each other; I will never get that.

❅   ❅   ❅

"We have to move against Reeva now," states Polaris, "In the next 24 hours, she plans on taking out Sentinel Services and then the whole dang government. Thousands of innocent people will be dead."

We were all in a full meeting.
The Underground has reunited... of course, with missing few core people.
It had turned out Clarice had passed away from Sentinel Services.

"So we're just gonna attack?" Caitlin questioned, "Last I heard, she was in a fortress."

"Well, we didn't have the power to attack a fortress before," Marcos states." Now we do, plus more." He turned to the Strucker siblings than to Monty and me.

"Kid, what can you do?" He asked Monty.

The boy beside me was stunned by the question but quickly goes. "I-I can move through molecules. Reeva mostly trained me for hiding in between walls——"

"Perfect. If they can take down the Inner Circle headquarters——"

"Wait. You want Andy and Lauren to destroy a high-rise?" Reed asked.

"God knows I am all
for bringing down the Inner Circle, but there has to be another way that doesn't involve Andy and Lauren destroying an entire building," Caitlin pressed.

"There is no other way," John confessed, "If we do this, we don't lose anyone else here."

"It's true. But we can't afford to wait," Lorna agreed.

"It's all right," Lauren spoke up, "With just me and Andy..."

"Are you sure?" questioned Reed.

"In a way, I feel like we've been preparing for this for a long time," Lauren admitted.

"We can stop Reeva," Andy confirms, "We have this power, we might as well use it for something good."

After the meeting ended, everyone either went to bed or was too nervous to sleep. I slept on a couch with the Struckers as Monty lay on the ground.

Throughout the entire time here, Monty stayed quiet. Not in a way of shyness but a way of uncomfortableness.

"Hey," I whisper to him, "Are you okay?"

He looked to me. "You want honesty or comfortability?"

"You know what I want," I tell him, moving myself to sit up.

I pat the spot beside me and I moved his way up by me. He sighs, "I don't... I don't feel like I belong here. I know these people helped you, I know that but, I just feel like dead weight. I was brought because of you, even then I can't go much because I'm still recovering, I can't even make conversation with anyone here."

"Hey, you are not dead weight," I assure him, "And I know what you mean... I don't feel like I belong either."

"But these people——"
"There Andy's family. I know they've been searching mostly for him but even now, I feel like an outcast, I guess."

"They remind you of your family? Jack?"

I bit my lip. "Is it wrong to say I miss him?"

"Jack is your brother, Lux. I would think you're crazy if you didn't miss him."

I chuckle a little. Even though my brother and I were separated before, this was different. It wasn't because one of us was taken, I left by choice. The guilt was getting to me, as much as Jack can be an asshole to me and others... he was my brother, and I miss him.

Monty could see the pooling water in my eyes and his hand cupped my face. "Hey, it's gonna be okay. Jack is gonna be fine, he'll be with you when he sees that you aren't safe in the Inner Circle."

"It's gonna be ugly, Monty. I-I feel it, it's gonna be ugly, and Jack——"

"Come on," He comforts me, "We need sleep."

He guided me back to the couch and put the blanket over me. I could see him go back down to the floor and saw his hand. I slowly held onto it, which he didn't flinch to; he had trusted me.

"Hey," I call, "Thank you, Monty."

He smiles, "No worries, Lux."

Little did the two of us saw, Andy and Lauren watched from afar. The sister looked to Andy in sympathy, seeing that he was heartbroken by the scene in front of him.

"I'm sorry, Andy," Lauren sighs.

He scoffs, "No, I deserve it. She deserves better, hell better than me."

"Now, don't say that."

"Why? Monty is good, he wouldn't hurt a fly. He and Lux are perfect together like I told you."

Lauren watched in confusion in seeing her brother walk over to their bed and sat, having a sort of pity for himself.
This wasn't the Andy she knew, this wasn't the Andy that was head-over-heels for his best friend, the Andy that would do anything for her.

"So you're gonna give up?"
"It's called moving on."

"No, it's having self-pity," Lauren remarks, "You haven't moved on from her."

"Well, it's not a quick and easy process."

"Andy, you still love you, don't you?"

The boy held his hands together, nervous to even say the answer he has been denying. "Yes, of course I do."

"Then get her back!"

❅   ❅   ❅

In late morning, we all stared at the window, seeing that Sentinel Services were already hovering the doors of the motel everyone was in. I knew immediately this had to do with Reeva, she must've known something was up.

"God, there's so many of them," Monty comments.

"They're setting up a perimeter," Reed informs, "Looks like they're planning to wait us out."

"I don't want to take any chances," Caitlin says, "I've got some guns in the storage room downstairs."

"You do? You didn't tell me that."

"I'm telling you now." The mother looks to her kids. "Stay put, we'll be right back."

"I can help," peeped Monty, "I-I just mean, I can look into any room, in case those guys are already in.. or something."

It was obvious that Monty was wanting to help them, Reed shrugged his shoulders and Cait gestured for him to follow. With a big smile, Monty squeezed my hand and ran to them.
As they close the door behind them, the three of us quickly looked out the window.

Immediately I could see Jace Turner, just inching to wanting us behind bars. "This bitch. He can never die can he?"

Ignoring my comment, Andy says, "If it comes down to it, we might have to use Fenris, take them all out."

"I don't want to think about that right now," mutters Lauren, "You really want to kill all those people?"

"I don't like hurting people," He states, "I know you think I do. All that stuff that happened at the Inner Circle, everything we did, even the worst stuff...  I did it because I wanted to help people."

As much as his actions were in the wrong, his intentions were good. I knew that he just wanted a world where he wouldn't be judged, I knew he craved for a world that would welcome him in open arms; he had just gone about it the wrong way... even having his judgment be jaded.

Suddenly, I heard a creak behind us.
My hands glows, as I didn't take any chances, while we all looked that way.

"What?" Andy looks to me.

I gulp, "The door. It was closed." The door in front of us was wide open.

Suddenly, the Frost triplets and Fade appeared. "Surprise," The man smiles to us.

Immediately as we all used our power, the triplets connected to us. Andy and Lauren's powers weakened, while mine were nowhere. I winced as my mind was blocking myself to use my powers. I felt like I was strapped down.

While Sophie and Esme were with the Struckers, I was stuck with Phoebe.
"On your knees," The two order the siblings, "Don't fight."

Of course, they did, but as much as they tried, their bodies were submitted to the Frost. Both of their powers were bounced off as they tried to attack them. They were down on their knee and in pain from fighting.

"Andrew. Lauren. Is that any way to treat your guest?" The three ask them.

"Let them go," I say, "Please let them go——"

A stabbing sensation went to my head.
I yell from the pain and put my palms to my temples. Immediately I could see Andy's eyes on me, completely in fear.

"Lux." Phoebe grabs my attention. "You miss your brother, don't you?"

I stop for a moment, feeling my mind get sliced and poked around. The feelings of my brother then came to me, like a safety blanket. I missed his laugh, the annoyance in his tone in any situation, the way that we protected each other; even when we didn't need it we were always there.

My heart has ached, my lip trembled.

"Yes," I tell her, almost as if I was being hypnotized.

"Leave her alone!" Andy shouts, "She has nothing to do with us, leave her alone!"

"Quiet," The two snip, having Andy zip his lips.

I didn't even notice, I was too consumed with my heartbreak over my brother. I felt guilt, anger, and sadness for him. I felt as if I was that little girl who watched their brother be taken away. A tear slipped that I didn't notice, I didn't notice myself start to cry.

Phoebe put her hand on my cheek and asked, "Why don't you go see him?"

All I wanted was to be reunited with him. See him. See him. Go. Go. Go to him. See him. See him. Go. Go. Go.

"B-But I——"

See him. See him. See. See. Jack. Jack. Go. Go. Go to Jack. Go to Jack. Go to Jack. See. See. See. Go to him. Go to him. Go to him. Go. Go. See him. See him. See. See. Jack. Jack. Go. Go. Go to Jack. Go to Jack. Go to Jack. See. See. See. Go to him. Go to him. Go to him. Go. Go.

"Follow him," ordered Phoebe.

"Jack," I whisper with a smile. I then see him, hoodie behind his head gesturing me to follow him.

So I do.
Unknown to me, no one was there.

Andy started seeing this and panicked, with all his might he broke his mouth out of Frost's control.

"Don't you hurt her! Hurt her and I'll kill you guys, I mean it," He swore, "I swear, leave her out of this. Let her go."

"Aw, poor Andy." Phoebe comes in. With the power of all three of them, the Struckers were under their control
now. The three look down to him.

"This isn't about you."

❅   ❅   ❅

My eyes snap open. I stood in an open field, I didn't recognize where I was. I wasn't in the motel, I wasn't with the Struckers. I was all alone. The only thing I remember was the Frost sisters and Jack.

"Andy!" I call, "Andy! Jack!"

I look around and was in awe to see my brother a bit aways from me. "Yes!" I run over to him. I open my arms out to him and hugged him automatically. I held him with all I had, my heart felt complete — my family.

"You're here. You're really here," I mutter to myself.

I felt his hand slowly rub my back, but it wasn't in a loving way. It was a way of remorse.

"You left me," He whispers to me, "You left me alone."

"I'm sorry. I'm sorry! I couldn't do it. I couldn't be there anymore. I'm sorry, but I'm here now! I'm here no——"

His hand grabbed a chunk full of my hair. I scream as I start to freeze his hand, kicking and thrashing to let go. He lifted me up slowly to make me see his face. I was shocked to see that his eyes were red and puffy, the look of anger was in him. In those eyes, I saw the flashes of electric blue — the Frost sisters.

"You left me. My only family, you left me just like mom."

Jack then threw me to the ground, dirt hitting my face, as he let go of me. I couldn't believe the words he was letting me, manipulated words.

"We had everything! I found you after 2 years of torture and abandonment, I protected you from people, I brought you into the Circle because they were going to give us the world. What more do you want?!"

I get up from the ground. "T-The Circle? They just want to wipe out humans. What better are we, if we follow what our enemy does?"

As I looked to Jack, I could see the doubt in him, that I could be reaching some sense to him. But as if a switch, his eyes turned a powering blue, then he held anger.

"They turned you against me."

"Jack, I can't follow them," I admit, "Now fight those damn witches out of your head! They are fucking with your mind!"

My brother slowly stocks to me.
The blue of his eyes glows brighter, making himself stiffen as if his body is trying to fend for itself.

"Come on, you can fight them. I'm not your enemy, Jack."

As I took only one step toward him, his eyes turned electric, with his fist glowing. I stopped my breath as I see that he wasn't strong enough to get them out of his head.

"Fine..." He started to walk to me. "Then I'll just kill you myself."

My eyes grew wide as his words hit my ears. Before I knew it, a blast hit me. I yell as I found myself away from him, a stinging pain in my chest where he hit me. Looking up, I saw Jack in the air, holding a lightning bolt.

Immediately, I scrambled myself out of the way and I was flown out as a giant blast was behind me. As I hit the ground, Jack yelled in anger. I stood in shocked as the lighting bolt was embedded into the ground.

I took the chance and iced the ground to glide myself around Jack. In doing so, I threw my ice to him and iced his body to the ground. I only had time for his legs but it wasn't enough as he broke out of with ease.

Jack jumped up and tackled me to the ground, punching me as we fell. I grew angry and had changed myself to its ice form as I started to actually punch him and fight back.

In our landing, his hands held lighting as mine was with ice. I could feel my face being bruised up even a cut on my eyebrow. Looking to Jack, his lip was busted and bruises were painted on him as well. As much as I did love him, I wasn't going to be beaten to death by him, not if I could get through to him.

"You are stronger than them," I tell him, "Don't make them do something you will regret."

"This is the way," He states, "and whoever is in the way of the Inner Circle must be destroyed, even if it's you."

I tear up as I quickly shoot my hands up to make an ice wall at him, I hurry and make walls and a roof over him to be trapped. I reach my hands out to make it as thick as possible, but I could feel it weaken, as Jack throws everything he has into escaping.

He then bursts out, knocking the walls over, and flies toward me. I quickly start shooting icicles at him, making him stray away from me for a bit. As he was too busy dodging the icicles, I then hit his foot, stabbing his achilles heel.

He screams in pain, faltering his flying, and was about to crash to the ground hard. I stuck out my hand and my ice made a sort of slide for him. His body hit the ice and slide down to the ground, with ease.

I run over to my brother, kneeling down to him. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry." I wave my hand over him and covered his hands in ice and strapped him down to the now ice ground behind us.

"I hate you," He shouts, "I hate you! You traitor, you liar! I hate you, I fucking hate you!"

Already the tears fell in hearing him, even though it wasn't his thoughts, it was his voice.

I look to the wounded heel and see that it was in and out the heel, blood pooling and dripping onto the ice and ground. I clench my hands together and just had to think about how to get the voices out of his head.

"Jack, you got to listen to me, you have to fight them off."

I looked back and see that the bounds were breaking making me have to constantly repair them over and over again. As I did that, I had to break him out.

"Hey, remember when you first discover your powers? You saved me in that junkyard and you thought you were Thor from those comics. You were so happy when you found out about your powers. Because you always wanted to be a superhero."

He resisted me talking but his body was tiring out. It had seemed to be working.

"Remember when we found each other, it's had been so long since then. I never thought I would find you but, jesus, you pulled through. You found me. You didn't stop looking for me because that is who you are!"

Jack screamed bloody murder.
I looked up to the sky and screamed. I didn't have any chance, as a lightning bolt struck me down. It hit me square in the head and threw me out of Jack's way.

I winced to myself as I landed chest first, I felt the wind get knocked out of me. I wheeze myself into getting my air up again. My shaken hand tapped the top of my head to see that it was dented, I sat in fear. If I changed back normally, I would be done for. I would be minutes away from death's door.

I looked up to see that Jack was already up, levitating in his powers and has pulled out the icicle, leaving his foot to bleed out.

I stood shocked, the Frost sisters knew what they were doing... they were killing Jack.

"I am stronger than you, Lux. You can't stop me," He yells, "After I kill you, I'll kill everyone you love. One by one. Starting with that freak show, Andy."

I shake my head but Jack threw a bolt at me knocking me down. I gasped as my hand landed on the ground, quickly going toward Jack.

"I'll make sure I can see the light in his eyes fade. And I'll sure he'll know that I killed him, that I got the last laugh."

I grew shocked as my ice was building up and had touched Jack. From that touch, the frost build within the punctured holes in his foot, to prevent any more bleeding. I smiled softly to myself.

That quickly changed as Jack, pulled me up to him. Grabbing my neck, and choking me out. "Let's finish this."

Jack flew us up high in the sky, higher than ever before. I used my ice to help me if Jack was going to throw me. My body then felt a sudden soothe, as the air grew colder. Quickly, I took the advantage and threw myself out of his grasp. My ice caught me, and I grew stronger with the atmosphere around