Heeding another one of her comrades' words, Sonera skipped the food and headed straight for the bathroom. She had almost forgotten about the nightmare Yrix had placed her in until the moment she encountered Ivy, who was still staring at the mirror with her dead eyes. Sonera wanted to say something. She wanted to be like Lila and Lunae, who were able to push aside their feelings and try to cheer someone up. But her presence was already enough to spoil her chances.
"You." Ivy breathed deeply, her gaze still fixated on herself. "Lila sent you?"
"No," Sonera replied in a monotone voice. "I was told to clean up."
Ivy turned to face her with a tired expression. "Can I ask you something?"
That was her chance. Sonera could try and socialize. Maybe go back to making Three proud. He was, at that time, the third person in her life to try and push such emotions out of her. It was also a great way to spite Yrix.
"Yes?" Sonera replied, her cadence more genuine than before.
"Were you always so robotic? Or were you born like that?" Ivy muttered.
Sonera didn't know how to respond. But her silence spoke volumes. Ever since she had enough intellect to ruminate on the past, all she could remember was acting like the ice-queen of Mars. What brief moments of warmth she had usually centered around Three, and were almost always followed by fits of rage.
"I don't just mean how...stilted you are." Ivy continued. "I mean your hatred. Your call to violence. Was that programmed into you?"
"Mars was not kind to us." Sonera shrugged, thinking about what Three would say. "Perhaps I'll never know."
"Oh. I'm well aware of your reputation. Your species, I mean."
Somehow, Sonera didn't find that comment offensive. She actually agreed in her own sick way. Human colonies were all rather distinct, having lost their cultural connection to Earth centuries ago. And when it came to life on Mars, there wasn't much else beyond the fight for territory and resources.
"My species." Sonera tilted her head. "I can't say I fit in."
"Really?" Ivy raised an eyebrow.
"Yes. We've always been...what you think we are. As far as I know. But I was...colder. Three always made sure to tell me that."
"You even have numbers for names." Ivy snickered. "Typical. But alright, I accept your reasoning. You are more martian than most martians. Yrix will be thrilled."
Sonera stepped closer to Ivy. She was still unsure of how to feel. But all it took was one peep into Ivy's gaze to find out what she felt.
"Can I ask you a question?" Sonera inquired, her orange eyes glimmering for a brief moment. "Why do you hate Lila?"
Ivy's response was almost as blunt as it was snappy. "Ask me a different question."
"No. You already tried to read me. We're Psions, remember. And whenever I look at you, all I see is your hatred for her."
"Good. That means you don't know a damn thing about me." Ivy sneered. "And I won't tell you one bit about how I feel towards her."
Sonera wasn't as perceptive as Lunae. Nor as intuitive as Lila. But even her stunted mind could see Ivy's problem.
"Is that it then? She's your axis?"
"What?" Ivy opened her mouth in disgust.
"I have my own. Haven't been subtle about it. My desire to kill Yrix. It encapsulates my desires. My legacy. My Psionic power." Sonera continued, her face getting closer to Ivy's as if she were accusing her of something. "But you. You have Lila."
"Perposterous!" Ivy faked an exaggerated gasp. "She wouldn't ever be that important to me."
"I won't claim to know you. Or to care." Sonera frowned. "But that girl has gotten herself wrapped up in your twisted story."
"Excuse me!" Ivy snapped. "Who exactly is lecturing me right now?!"
Ivy released her grip from the sink. She turned to fully face Sonera, and with a flick of her wrist, pressed a finger against her heart. It wasn't a subtle insult.
"Oh, right. The braindead child assassin with as much wit as she has a woman's figure. I have my issues, I won't lie. This has NEVER been about me being perfect. But you cannot even begin to judge me. You lack the intellect, the maturity, and frankly, the awareness to be my therapist." Ivy ranted, pressing her finger deeper into Sonera's chest. "You're right, we're Psions. But you know what I saw in you? A dead, cold machine. No heart. No passion. Just the unwavering desire to destroy. And I won't take this attitude from a machine that lets itself get strung along by everyone it meets."
Ivy pulled her finger back before storming off. In that instance, one would expect Sonera to throw a punch. But all she could do was look down and place a hand onto the spot Ivy had poked.
*She didn't disagree.*
__________________________________
Once nighttime had set in the Aerie, Yrix appeared out of her office for an announcement. Her mere presence summoned the girls to their bunks, waiting eagerly for what she had to say. No one could expect what came next.
"Sleeping arrangements. I have made them. Think of it as your new assigned positions. Deviate from them, and I will correct your behavior."
Yrix's voice echoed loudly into the girl's minds, causing Lila to flinch.
"Excuse me?" Ivy raised her hand, making a public request. "What exactly are these based on?"
Yrix waved her off. "What I want. Now then, there aren't many of you left, so let's get to it."
Yrix pointed to the upper-right corner of the room, closer to her office. "These two bunks will be where Mina, Dina, Alia, and Rena will stay. I like the complete oversaturation of vowels in your names."
No one seemed to argue with her placement. All but Ivy, who could predict what would happen next. Only her fear of Yrix's wrath stopped her from interrupting.
"Now, in the back left corner. These two bunks will go to Ivy, Lila, Sonera, and Lunae."
A different kind of silence enveloped the room. It was dread. The kind of dread Yrix savored.
"WHAT!" Ivy screamed.
Sonera and Lunae didn't even have time to smile at each other before the heiress's voice climbed into their eardrums. Yrix, on the other hand, seemed greatly amused. As for Lila, she had already begun to feel helpless.
Ivy walked over to Yrix, pointing up at her with an accusatory finger. "This has to be a mistake!"
"It's not," Yrix stated plainly.
"Why her!"
"Because your inability to cooperate makes you stronger Psions."
Ivy looked Yrix dead in her eye. It was the first time she had ever really stood up for herself since she had arrived at the Aerie. And Yrix was glad to see it.
"If violence is the only currency you recognize, then let me purchase with it. I challenge Lila."
"Huh?" Lila gulped.
Lunae placed her hand onto her open mouth, while Sonera stared intently with an ominous glow washing over her eyes.
Ivy continued her spiel, her voice taking on a more serious tone. "If I beat her. I don't have to be anywhere near her. Do you accept these terms?"
Yrix nodded. "As you said. Violence is currency in my Aerie. So long as Lila accepts this duel."
Lila felt every eye in the room lock onto her. She didn't even realize she was shivering with fright before Sonera grabbed onto her shoulder. She wanted to puke.
"Why?" Lila whimpered. "I thought we could be friends."
"Beat me and you can ask me that," Ivy grunted. "Now then, will you accept the challenge?"
Lila was frozen in place, unable to say another word. Yrix was right to call her a coward. She felt no desire in her heart to face Ivy, not even if she said a thousand things about her mother. But little did the girl know, she had someone willing to spare her from such embarrassment.
"I'll take her place," Sonera interjected before Yrix could speak up. "Fight me."
"And what, let her be a coward?" Ivy fumed, unfazed by Sonera's entry into the fray. "This is between us."
"No," Sonera argued, keeping her cool. "This is between you and your own nightmares. Lila is merely a bystander. Caught in your crossfire."
Lila finally gained the courage to speak, grasping onto Sonera's sleeve as she opened her mouth. "Sonera, you don't have to."
"No. I will." Sonera pushed her away gently. "So long as she accepts."
At the risk of becoming the very thing she accused Lila of, Ivy had no choice but to acquiesce.
"If Sonera loses, I won't have to be anywhere near her, correct?" Ivy looked over at Yrix with determination.
"Correct." Yrix's fingers twitched with anticipation. "It's settled then. Follow me, we have a place for these sorts of disputes."
Yrix flicked her wrist at the wall, tearing it apart into neat symmetrical segments. She was indeed that eager to get the fight started. Unwilling to test her at such a time, each student followed closely behind, with Lila trailing at the back.
The poor girl was still shivering with fright. She didn't want to see Ivy get hurt. She didn't want to see Sonera push herself to defend a coward. And she most certainly didn't expect Lunae to come rushing to her side.
"Hey," Lunae smiled with warmth in her eyes, wrapping her arms around Lila. "It's okay. Calm yourself."
Lila's heart rate was out of control. If it wasn't for Lunae, who probably noticed her condition, she might have even fainted. Such were the times that she didn't even have a joke or a quip to use.
"It's not okay." Lila looked at Lunae with shame written all over her face. "This is what Yrix wants. And she got it. Because of me."
"You can't blame yourself, Lila," Lunae reassured the frightened girl. "Some things just happen."
Lila sniffled, her gaze narrowing as she looked inwards in disgust. "You don't get it. She told me I was a coward this morning. She knew what was about to happen. Yrix has been one step ahead. And now...someone is going to get hurt, maybe even die, because I couldn't stand up for myself."
"You are that someone, Lila." Lunae retorted with another smile. "And Sonera won't let you get hurt because of a bully."
"She's not a bully. I refuse to beleive that."
Regardless of what Lila thought, Ivy was the one following Yrix closely, the clatter of her heels against the outside pavement signifying her growing disdain. She wasn't afraid of Sonera, nor was she even that concerned with Lila anymore. All Ivy could focus on was the riven within her heart. So long as she could imagine fighting herself, beating someone as strong as Sonera should be light work.