Paul paused and looked at both boys.
"I hate to say it but it looks like Lana's account is being used to pay the attacker. I have already informed my parents. The Techno Family and the Abel family are now in a silent war. I have my suspicions, but I have been told to stand down for now."
Paul sighed and hung his head, "I hacked into a system earlier in the week. I got a good amount of information but I was discovered. I tried to get out of there and did eventually make it out without them being able to trace it back to this location, but it was very close. My parents said it was too dangerous for me to be involved. Mother will be here tomorrow to give Lana a new money card which will double as identification showing she is a member of the Techno family. Dobin will get one as well. The military money will continue being deposited on the school card to avoid tipping anyone off."
"How are we going to protect Lana?" Blaine said, almost angrily.
"All I can do it keep recording what's happening. My parents are now getting the footage. Both families donate to the military. The issue is, since it's family against family, the military will choose to do nothing and do business with the victor. We just need to make sure we are the victors."
Blaine nodded. "The one place she is alone is Agriculture Club. I guess I'm changing clubs until this is resolved."
Chekof responded, "how is your work into protecting those being hazed?"
"It feels like a losing battle. With the healing ability and being paid with favors by the school for doing it, no matter how much I beat them up, they still do it. I have taken to escorting people around in small groups."
"Give me the schedule. I'll take over that so you can take care of Lana. If you need me to help, let me know."
All three looked defeated. There wasn't much else they could do right now. As Chekof and Blaine were leaving to head back to their room, Blaine turned back to look at Paul, "thank you. For everything. Your family took in a stranger and has literally gone to war to protect her. I can't thank you enough."
[Quest Updated: Progress toward friendship: Blaine Abel 75%]
[Quest Updated: Progress toward friendship: Chekof Starskiy 30%]
Paul nodded and returned to his work. He was told not to get involved but his friend was in danger. He was searching for any other way he could help.
Back in their room, Chekof climbed into his bed with a book. It was a new one, having finished the other one. This one had a mostly naked female on the cover, draped over the arms of a werewolf, legs over his shoulders in a pose that should not be in the hands of minors. He held the book making sure the only thing that could be seen was the look of pure bliss on the face of the woman.
Down the hall from Blaine and Dobin's rooms, a young man was reading a new ability book. He wasn't just understanding what he was reading but he was truly enjoying the contents of the book. He had hoped he would understand when Lana bought it for him. Now that he was reading it, he realized just how perfect this ability was for him, how well it fit his personality.
He enjoyed being what he called a backdrop character. He didn't want to be powerful but he wanted to help people find the path that suited them. This was full of horrendous people. Either they hurt you or they stood by while others did. He wanted the strength and wisdom to help those stronger than him make a difference.
To him, everyone deserves to be happy and have their basic needs met. Noone should have to live in fear each day as he did. His life as a level 0 was a living Hell. Not one single person stepped forward to help or help him find the tools to protect himself. Until Lana. Could she be the catalyst for the change this world so desperately needed?
Duff was the oldest, the youngest was only 2 years old. She was already in preschool but even her intelligence wasn't enough to give her a leg up. She wasn't expected to have an ability, but people could tell by your clothes if an ability was ever going to happen. Looking up from his book, he made himself a solemn vow. From this day forward, he was going to help Lana.
Paul paused and looked at both boys. "I hate to say it but it looks like Lana's account is being used to pay the attacker. I have already informed my parents. The Techno Family and the Abel family are now in a silent war. I have my suspicions, but I have been told to stand down for now."
Paul sighed and hung his head, "I hacked into a system earlier in the week. I got a good amount of information but I was discovered. I tried to get out of there and did eventually make it out without them being able to trace it back to this location, but it was very close. My parents said it was too dangerous for me to be involved. Mother will be here tomorrow to give Lana a new money card which will double as identification showing she is a member of the Techno family. Dobin will get one as well. The military money will continue being deposited on the school card to avoid tipping anyone off."
"How are we going to protect Lana?" Blaine said, almost angrily.
"All I can do it keep recording what's happening. My parents are now getting the footage. Both families donate to the military. The issue is, since it's family against family, the military will choose to do nothing and do business with the victor. We just need to make sure we are the victors."
Blaine nodded. "The one place she is alone is Agriculture Club. I guess I'm changing clubs until this is resolved."
Chekof responded, "how is your work into protecting those being hazed?"
"It feels like a losing battle. With the healing ability and being paid with favors by the school for doing it, no matter how much I beat them up, they still do it. I have taken to escorting people around in small groups."
"Give me the schedule. I'll take over that so you can take care of Lana. If you need me to help, let me know."
All three looked defeated. There wasn't much else they could do right now. As Chekof and Blaine were leaving to head back to their room, Blaine turned back to look at Paul, "thank you. For everything. Your family took in a stranger and has literally gone to war to protect her. I can't thank you enough."
[Quest Updated: Progress toward friendship: Blaine Abel 75%]
[Quest Updated: Progress toward friendship: Chekof Starskiy 30%]
Paul nodded and returned to his work. He was told not to get involved but his friend was in danger. He was searching for any other way he could help.
Back in their room, Chekof climbed into his bed with a book. It was a new one, having finished the other one. This one had a mostly naked female on the cover, draped over the arms of a werewolf, legs over his shoulders in a pose that should not be in the hands of minors. He held the book making sure the only thing that could be seen was the look of pure bliss on the face of the woman.
Down the hall from Blaine and Dobin's rooms, a young man was reading a new ability book. He wasn't just understanding what he was reading but he was truly enjoying the contents of the book. He had hoped he would understand when Lana bought it for him. Now that he was reading it, he realized just how perfect this ability was for him, how well it fit his personality.
He enjoyed being what he called a backdrop character. He didn't want to be powerful, but he wanted to help people find the path that suited them. This was full of horrendous people. Either they hurt you or they stood by while others did. He wanted the strength and wisdom to help those stronger than him make a difference.
To him, everyone deserves to be happy and have their basic needs met. Noone should have to live in fear each day as he did. His life as a level 0 was a living Hell. Not one single person stepped forward to help or help him find the tools to protect himself. Until Lana. Could she be the catalyst for the change this world so desperately needed?
Duff was the oldest, the youngest was only 2 years old. She was already in preschool but even her intelligence wasn't enough to give her a leg up. She wasn't expected to have an ability, but people could tell by your clothes if an ability was ever going to happen. Looking up from his book, he made himself a solemn vow. From this day forward, he was going to help Lana.
Somewhere in a blacked-out room, a level-7 ability user fumed at the interfering blond twins. In a corner of his room sat a table with meticulously placed candles of various colors. This single source of light cast shadows on the other objects occupying this space. Pictures. In each one, a girl. In tri-colored pigtails. Her age in these pictures started around the age of 9. Each one had drawings. Words. Desires. In these pictures, she was clothed, the drawings depicted otherwise.
He took a fresh picture. This one was recent. The girl had a single blond ponytail. She had been naked, albeit briefly, but it was long enough. It was his favorite picture of her. He took out a red marker and started drawing cackling like a man obsessed. When he was done, he admired his work and a certain part of his body responded. As he finished taking care of himself, he placed the picture in the candle flame.
He dropped it into a fire-proof tray. "Soon my pet. I promise we will be together soon. You can't evade me forever. I will break your body, your mind, and your spirit. Your begging will be my power. Your screams will be my ecstasy. My pleasure will be your death."
His mouth salivated as he stared at the burning picture. His body trembled increasingly in anticipation as the flames licked at the skin of the naked girl. By the time the flames got to her face, he had already taken care of himself again. Once the image was fully burned, he snuffed out the candles and had what he would deem as pleasant dreams.
At 9:30, Blaine was forced to stop pacing the room by a notification on his watch. Lana had woken from a dream, screaming, visions of what happened earlier plaguing her. Anger consumed him.
"Chekof, I need a really big favor. Could you wear my watch on your other arm?"
Chekof raised an eyebrow and Blaine explained. He then extended his arm for Blaine to put the watch on him as he resumed reading. Blaine made sure to have the ability book with him and vanished. While invisible, he looked for a specific ability and phased through the door of his room and ran in a bubble of silence to Lana's room. He decided if he needed more than the three abilities, he'd switch to Kyle but it wasn't needed.
Just after entering her room, Blaine cancelled his invisibility and stowed his book back in his cargo pocket. The lights were still on but he didn't know if Kattie was decent.
"Lana?"
He heard feet running to him then a cute girl jumped into his arms with a wet, red face from crying. "I'm here," he said as he rubbed her back tenderly, "I'm here."
He carried her back to her bed. He didn't even bother to put any shoes on before coming down so he just climbed into bed with her. He couldn't stand her crying, so he kissed her and ran his fingers up and down her back. Since she was sleeping, her snow globe was activated by him earlier so her scream didn't alert Kattie, who was studying at her desk with her back to Lana's bed.
At some point, Kattie got up to go to the bathroom and noticed something strange going on in Lana's bed but she had to pee and didn't want to take time to figure it out. She returned and it was still going on so she decided to sit at her desk, turned in her chair to try to figure this out.
Blaine somehow was there and his head was in a strange spot with Lana holding it there. Soon her legs were shaking and then they stopped. Blaine crawled up her and Kattie could no longer see his face due to the things on her nightstand.
Maybe a minute later, Blaine pushed up from the bed and got up. He noticed Kattie staring their direction and winked at her with a huge smile. He went to the bathroom to get a towel and a washcloth.
Kattie was still staring in Lana's direction, still wondering what happened and why she was feeling the way she was feeling.
"What did you do to her?" she asked softly.
"I made her feel really good. After what happened earlier, I needed to help her forget, if just for a little while," he whispered.
Very shyly, "can you do that to me?"