Muscles. Skin. Colour. Thoughts.

Everything was fire.

You didn't act.

Athira shoved herself through the wall, straight into the bathroom. There was no trace of the apathy that had haunted her these past days, seared away by this newfound fury, this rage. The urge to reach out with her Colour and obliterate everything she touched. It filled the spaces that her missing memories no longer could, the hollows within her being she'd been struggling to cope without.

You let her do this.

She dropped the Black in shards and strode out into the hall.

The apartment was completely and utterly trashed.

The photos they'd so carefully hung were on the ground, their frames shattered, the pictures inside ripped to pieces. The furniture was destroyed, upturned and broken. Pieces of Rainbows lay scattered around the lounge room, the rug beneath it shredded and covered in stuffing from the cushions. The Saver had been drained and smashed.

Black stretched from Athira, collecting fragments of their broken home in a whirlwind of fury, sweeping it up around her and leaving it hanging, suspended in the air.

Felicity had done this. Felicity had--

Felicity did it, but she told you she was going to. She gave you a chance to stop it. You had the power. This is your fault.

Athira clutched her head, digging her fingers into her scalp like she could claw the voice straight out of her head. Like the monster wasn't crawling around inside her thoughts, that she could ignore him, but she couldn't. She knew she couldn't. He was inside her, he was her. He was--

"Hello?" came a voice from the kitchen, a person dressed in the same suit as the one outside. Keeper, the back of her mind said. Keepers, the people who were supposed to stop this from happening. "How did you get in?"

"Did you do this?" hissed Athira. Her skin was burning. She wanted to rake her nails down her forearms from the pressure building under her skin. "Did you help her?"

The Keeper held out his hands. "No, sweetie, we didn't. We're trying to figure out who did. Who is 'her'? Do you know who did this?"

"You won't be taking my revenge," said Athira. "She's mine."

Athira made to step forward, past the Keeper to continue her circuit of the house, to ensure Felicity was no longer here before she began her hunt when the Blue scattered across the floor drew her eyes.

No--not scattered. Wiped. Carefully, into letters--words.

'Come and get her.'

Beside the iridescent glow of the Blue, the bloodspatter was almost invisible.

Athira stared.

She'd seen that pattern of blood before. When she'd smashed a head against the rocky, snow-covered ground of the monastery before grabbing him by the ankle and dragging him in, screaming and fighting and thrashing.

Miela had been home.

Miela wasn't here.

A strange sound ripped its way through Athira's throat. Fists tightened. Colour clenched. The tendrils smashed through the floor, jolting through her arms. The floorboards didn't fall. The Black dissolved them.

The Keeper backed up. Athira's eyes flicked to him.

Soon, everyone will fear you. Let us take revenge together.

No! growled Athira, snapping the monster back. That revenge is mine, do you understand? It is mine!

His partner had advanced.

This one wore a Purple suit, and Athira had no time to be soothed. She saw the Purple at the Keeper's hands, saw it reach out. It couldn't touch her. Not inside the Black. They were talking to her. She didn't care. She swept around, headed back to her room for Felicity's card with the address.

There would be punishment for this. Her boiling blood demanded retribution.

The front door opened. Two familiar voices followed by hurried steps chased her down the hall, shouting her name. One stopped. One hesistated, then chased. It chased her right up to the bedroom door as Athira pulled Felicity's card out from between the pages of one of her many books, now confetti on the ground.

"Athira!" said the voice who'd chased. "Athira, stop! Listen--"

Athira heard nothing but her heartbeat and the voice that wove between the thuds. Her runes had burnt through her sleeves, leaving the singed fabric clinging to her skin, but it was of little concern. She knew where she was going. She had a job to do.

She turned towards the wall.

"Athira!"

Black covered her arms.

"Athira I swear to the Colours I will lazer your ass if you don't stop right now!"

Athira stepped forward.

A buzzing whine filled the space between a heartbeat. The wall before her lit Yellow.

Something hard and alive pierced the Black, striking Athira in the back.

The Black around her arms dropped to the floor in its crystal prison, beyond her use. Athira's palms found the wall as she staggered forward, regaining her balance.

She dares interrupt your revenge! screamed the voice. Destroy it!

Through clenched teeth, Athira found her name and met her eyes. "Zoe?"

Zoe's arms were raised, Yellow at her fists with the next shot already prepared. The ashes of Athira's reason drifted closer to her thoughts, but it still wasn't enough. The monster was wriggling between them, forcing them apart, forcing her back into that blind rage that knew no friends.

"Athira, I swear, I will do it again if you don't--"

Athira swallowed. "Do it again."

Zoe's eyes widened. "Wait, really? I thought--"

"Just do it!"

No! She is--

Zoe's face hardened. The Yellow flared and fired off, striking Athira's shoulder.

Once more, Athira staggered. More Black crystallised, and Athira fell to the ground with it. Locked arms were the only things holding her up as her breathing quickened. Shaking, she knew she'd fall, but before they gave way, Zoe was beside her, hugging Athira's shoulders back against her chest.

"Sorry, Thira," said Zoe. "Just that, it worked last time, so I figured--"

"I'm glad you did," said Athira, the words scratching the inside of her throat. It felt like she hadn't had water in days, which-- "Flames, Zoe!" She tried to pull herself away, only to have Zoe cling tighter. "I'll burn you, let go!"

"It's not coming through your cloak," said Zoe, wiggling her fingers. "Didn't know that thing was fire-proof."

"It's not."

"Oh."

The fury was still there, but a numb sensation had dulled the flames. For now. Even though Zoe had thrown water on the fire and given her back her ability to think, she hadn't smothered the embers that lingered, heating Athira's skin from within. Those would remain, ready to flare at the slightest whim.

In truth, Athira didn't want to smother them. Anything was better than that hollow, empty feeling she'd been left with for the last two days. At least now, she'd felt something. She was capable of that, at least.

"Okay," said Zoe. "So, care to explain what the hues happened outside? What's with the outburst? I knew you cared about the house, but--"

The ruins of their home had etched themselves into Athira's retinas, the memory of the bloodied floor squeezing her lungs. "Felicity. She found us."

"Thira, that's a little bit of a long sho--"

Athira curled her fists, crushing the crystal that formed inside her palm. "She spoke to me at the bookstore. She told me that I surrendered or she was going to do things her way."

"What?" said Zoe. "Why in the seven Colours would you not tell us about that! That's important, Athira! If we'd have known, we'd have--I don't know! Told Sima--something!"

Athira knew the answer to that. She just wasn't sure she was ready to tell Zoe.

Zoe released her, slipping around to crouch before her. Green eyes held her still, searching her own like she could see straight into her mindscape. "Thira, if it's serious, you need to tell us. You need to tell me. I meant what I said--I will not abandon you."

As Athira struggled to find the words, the Purple Keeper appeared in the doorway.

"Girls?" she said, glancing at Athira. "Is everything okay?"

Athira bit back the sarcastic reply as Zoe nodded. "We're okay, at least. Just a little... shocked."

The Keeper took a deep breath. "That's understandable. Would I be able to ask you to come into the hall outside? There's something we need to discuss, and I don't think this apartment is the place to do it. A neighbour has been kind enough to lend us their home."

The Keeper took the long route, avoiding the bloodstained floor.

Zoe held Athira's hand the entire way through their shattered house, and Athira wasn't sure which one of them needed it more.

They entered the apartment across from them to find the other Keeper already sitting with Raph, one hand on his back as he stared off into nothingness. Zoe sat beside him, her eyes flicking between the Keepers and her brother, like in her haste to get to Athira, the depth of the situation hadn't sunk in.

As the anchor wrapped around Zoe's ankle and dragged her down into the cold waters of fear, her fingers dug into Athira's knuckles so hard it began to rival the pain of her runes.

"There's no easy way to say this, so I'm just going to be straight," said the Keeper, sitting on a chair pulled opposite the couch. Athira could have been sitting on stone and she doubted it would have made a difference. "While you were out, a group broke into your apartment and destroyed most, if not all objects within them." The Keeper licked his lips. "We have also had a report that someone was home at the time of the break in, and we have reason to suspect that they may have been taken."

Taken was a light way to put it. Athira had seen the blood on the ground. There'd been a fight, an ambush--something, and it'd been violent. Miela had fought Felicity, and she had lost.

"Were you aware of anyone home at the time?" asked the Keeper gently.

"Our mum," mumbled Raph, barely audible.

Zoe's worry exploded into panic. "What? Raph--no, she doesn't get home for another half an hour! It's a wednesday!"

Raph's expression was dead. "It's holidays. She told us last night she was going to get home early and make that pasta you asked for last week. Was supposed to be a treat for tonight."

Zoe blinked, eyes glazing over. "I... She couldn't--"

She didn't finish the sentence. Zoe crumbled into Athira's shoulder, sobs shaking her shoulders, her fingers clinging to Athira's arm like a lifeline.

Athira pulled her close.

The ember flared.

"I know this is hard," said the Keeper gently, directing the words at Athira. "But earlier, you mentioned a 'her'. Do you know who might have targeted you like this? Anything you might have--the sooner we can get a lead, the sooner we can bring your mum back."

"I... I don't know," mumbled Athira. She needed time to think, to process. If she changed her mind, she could tell them later--when she was sure she wasn't going to make everything worse. "I wasn't thinking straight. I don't know what I said."

"If you remember anything, don't hesitate to tell someone, okay?" said the Keeper. "Lil, you okay to stay here with them for now?" His partner nodded, still rubbing Raph's back. "You have my word, kids. We'll do everything we can to get your mum back."

*+*+*+*

Hours of questions and phonecalls later, they ended up at Sima's house.

Zoe's tears dried on the ride over, though she still refused to release Athira's hand. Athira was... glad for it. The constant reminder that Zoe needed her was enough to keep her grounded, to shut the monster out of her thoughts.

She could feel her mindscape writhing within her Colour. This episode wouldn't be without consequences--not for her memories, not for Felicity. No matter what, someone was going to pay, and Athira was going to get Miela back. Alive. She only had to look at Raph's face to know that there was no other option.

It scared her how logically she was able to look at it.

The Keepers walked them right up to Sima's door. If they were surprised to be dropping off three kids of a break-and-enter kidnapping at an Elite's house, they didn't show it. They'd stayed beside them, ensuring they were fed, watered and comfortable--well, as comfortable as you could be when your sole parental figure had just been forcibly abducted--right up until Sima opened the door and ushered them in.

She'd set up mattresses across her loungeroom, complete with blankets and pillows and two unicorn plushies on what Athira assumed was Zoe's bed. Sima sat them down, and a few minutes later, brought them each a hot chocolate and a packet of biscuits.

"The Keepers told me about what happened," she said quietly, sitting at the edge of Raph's bed. He still hadn't lost that blank look, the one that Athira had seen in the mirror after that game of Rainbows. "I can't tell you how sorry I am. I... I don't know. I feel like I should have been there to protect you, and I wasn't."

"It's my fault," said Athira quietly. "Felicity told me she wasn't playing by the old rules."

"Felicity found you?" said Sima. "Athira, why didn't you tell me? I could have--"

"I have a bigger problem than Felicity." The weight in Athira's chest settled. "Or I did, anyway. Before tonight."

Zoe didn't look up from her drink. Her voice was hoarse. "It's about those outbursts, right? Whatever's causing them?"

Athira resigned herself to the truth. Raph and Zoe deserved to know why their mother was gone, and at this point, Athira didn't particularly care who else knew. Maybe someone would take it upon themselves and put her out of her misery.

"At Elite HQ, I found my mindscape," said Athira. "I'd dreamt of it before, but this time it was conscious. Only, it wasn't the only thing I found. There's some kind of monster in my mindscape, and I think it's getting stronger."

"Monster?" said Sima. "What do you mean monster?"

Athira shrugged. "It's always been there. It's pushed through my skin once, before the monks runed it away. I've felt its presence, its influence, but the other night--when Felicity found me, it spoke. It was replying to my thoughts, grabbing at my mind, trying to pull me down--or itself up, I don't know. When I get angry, I think it gets into my mindscape. It reaches up from whatever pit it dwells in below and claws its way up."

She waited for a reply as Sima's face was creased with worry. Raph still wasn't on.

Only Zoe seemed capable of speaking. "Is that what those outbursts are? The monster?"

"I don't know," said Athira. "In part, yes. But... it's still me."

"Have you ever seen it?"

"No," said Athira. "I don't know what it looks like. I just know it's there."

"Athira," said Sima slowly. "Is it possible that, well, this monster is some kind of... aspect to your mindscape that formed with the trauma you experienced at a young age? Kind of like a repressed memory?"

"My memories aren't like the monster. They're completely different."

"And you know this because...?"

"I've talked to them. Killed a couple, too."

Sima blinked. "You killed your--I'm an intimate mental Purple and I can barely comprehend this conversation. Why would you kill your memories?"

"Because the monster corrupted them, and when a corrupted memory activates, it's not pretty. It can overpower the other memories and hurt them. I didn't have a choice."

"So what happens when you kill a memory?" asked Zoe. "Do you just forget it exists?"

"I just stop feeling anything attached to it. The physical memory is still there."

"And that's what happened with Rainbows?"

"Yep."

"...Do they come back?"

Athira exhaled. "No."

"Athira," said Sima. "I think you need help, the kind that my Colour can't give you. I think this has gone beyond my reach, and I think it might be best for you if we told some other Elites. I know that Mira can--"

"No!" Zoe leaned forward, glaring at Sima. "No! There is no way that you're letting any of them near her!"

Sima raised an eyebrow. "And here I was thinking you'd support me on the topic of Athira needing help."

"She's been an experiment enough," said Zoe, a surprising amount of venom in her voice. "Mira wasn't helping Athira. She was helping her own interests--her own interests and that other scumbag hanging around with her, the Blue Elite she was always talking to."

Sima's curiousity turned to confusion. "Who said anything about an experiment? Zoe, I--"

"I didn't tell you so you could argue about it," said Athira, cutting them both off. "I told you so you all knew what you were getting into if you stayed with me. I don't know what it's doing to me, and right now, I don't care. The only thing I care about is getting Miela back, and I don't particularly care what I have to do."

Raph's eyes focused. "I'm in."

"There's nothing to be in on," said Sima. "Guys, this is not a matter that you're going to handle. This is a Keeper matter--an Elite matter, even, and we're going to handle this effectively and efficiently while making sure no one else gets hurt."

"People have already been hurt," muttered Raph, and with that, Athira knew he'd seen Miela's blood on the floor, the message beside it. "So what are we going to do?"

"Nothing," said Sima, standing up. "For now, you three are going to sleep, and you're going to stay with me, and I'm going to make sure Felicity doesn't get the chance to do more damage." They didn't get a chance to argue as she turned off the lights. "No sneaking out, either. I'll be watching, and I swear I will have an entire Elite rescue squadron on your behinds before you can say 'Black' if you try."

All three of them stared back at her.

Sima softened. "I'm only trying to protect you--all of you. But you need to let us do our jobs, and I know what you're all like. One day you'll be the heroes, out there helping people--but for now, let us help you." She sighed. "Try to get some sleep. If you need anything, I'll be in the study."

With that, she shut the door.

There was silence for a minute before Zoe spoke up.

"I'm in, too."

"Good," said Athira, her cheek on the pillow. "Because I think you're going to have to make sure I don't bring this city down when we go after Felicity."

*+*+*+*

A/N - Don't forget to poke the star button, unicorns love stars and you know what they say about unicorns and cookies ^_^

... because dammit I really need a cookie right now ._. THIS WAS NOT IN THE OUTLINE.