Mica led Octavia away from the crowd and into her shared room, slamming the door behind them as soon as they were inside. She turned swiftly, her breath unsteady as she faced her sister
"Octavia," she murmured, then pulled her into a tight embrace the kind that held years of longing and unspoken words.
Octavia sighed into her sister's arms. She'd missed this missed being close to the only person who ever truly saw her.
They held each other for a long while before finally pulling apart.
"How've you been? How's Dad?" Mica asked quickly.
"He's fine," Octavia replied with a curt nod.
Mica gave a tight-lipped smile and reached for the bag Octavia had brought. As she opened it, Octavia took a moment to scan the room. It was small but cozy, clearly lived in.
Mica's eyes widened as she uncovered a bundle of cash. "Where did you get this?"
"I stole it," Octavia shrugged, casually.
Mica scoffed in disbelief. "Seriously? Why?"
"I needed it to get here. I didn't have anything," she replied, words tumbling out like a guilty confession.
Mica shook her head, tossed the money back into the bag, and set it on the bed. "You hungry?"
Octavia hesitated, then nodded.
With a chuckle, Mica gestured for her to sit on the bed and disappeared briefly, returning with a pack of chocolate pops.
"Thank you," Octavia mumbled before digging in.
Mica watched her in silence, observing everything the way her hands trembled slightly, how she avoided eye contact. Something was off.
Mica had changed since they last saw each other. Her hair was cropped in a jagged punk style, her ears pierced multiple times. This place had hardened her.
The X-Family had a reputation, and Octavia knew it well. A worldwide network of individuals with supernatural abilities, rejected and feared by society. What began as a sanctuary had splintered into numerous factions, each clan with its own rules and power plays.
Mica belonged to one of the deadliest,The Khalid Clan led by the infamous Master Khalid. Assassinations, drug smuggling, trafficking, theft the list of crimes was endless. The government feared them, and for good reason. They had powers, numbers, and zero mercy.
Octavia knew she was stepping into a world far darker than her troubled home. But still, she wanted in.
Mica broke the silence. "What are you doing here, Octavia?"
Octavia froze.
"I want to stay here," she whispered. "I want to be part of the X-Family."
"Why?" Mica's voice softened, but her eyes remained sharp.
Octavia looked down, nibbling at her snack, dodging the question.
"You know what? No. You're going back as soon as you're done eating," Mica snapped, standing abruptly.
"I'm staying, Mica!" Octavia sprang to her feet, her voice cracking.
Mica halted, eyes locking with hers.
"Please... Don't push me away," Octavia pleaded.
"You can't stay here, Octavia. This place is dangerous—deadly. Before I left, I warned you."
Octavia's head dropped like a scolded child. "But everyone here is like me..."
"It doesn't matter!" Mica barked. "Just because you have powers doesn't mean this is where you belong. You don't know what you're asking for. You don't know what we do."
She paused, her voice dipping to a whisper. "We steal. We fight. We kill. We... sell ourselves. Dignity doesn't exist here. Only survival. You think you can handle that?"
Mica's words carved ice through Octavia's spine. She wanted to run, yet she couldn't move. Fear held her in place.
"Octavia," Mica said again, gently this time, holding her hand. "Tell me the truth. Why are you really here?"
Octavia clenched her fists at her sides and stayed silent.
"Where's Dad?" Mica tried again.
"Fine," Octavia replied, almost robotic.
"And Agatha?"
"She's fine too."
"Then why the hell did you leave?" Mica flared. "What are you hiding?"
Octavia's trembling increased, her silence deepening.
"You can't survive here, Octavia," Mica warned. "You don't know what this place takes from you."
But Octavia stood her ground. In a whisper, her voice barely audible: "I want to stay."
The hope in Mica's eyes faded.
She stepped away. "Then tell me the truth. Why?"
Before Octavia could respond, the door swung open without a sound. Both sisters turned in unison.
Standing in the doorway was one of Master Khalid's personal guards.
Mica's heart dropped.
"Mica," the man growled, his cold gaze settling on Octavia. "So it's true. There's a stranger here."
Silence filled the room like a scream.
"The Master is back. He requests her presence."
Then he turned and left