𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

I inhale sharply, praying that this thrown-together-plan doesn't fall to shit as we find ourselves in the Crimefighting building.

"Okay, so the GPS tag's connected to my phone." Andre tells Emma, who is now changed and the size of a large ant, as she runs beside his phone on the concreate floor of the Crimefighting building. "Remember, just recon. No tiny action hero shit." He instructs. "We think this is where they're keeping him. But if you see anything shady, just bail."

"What's his room number again?" Emma checks. Oh dear lord...

Andre leans in. "Northwest Wing 4." He answers. "We'll see you in an hour."

"So don't fuck up." I point at her.

"Got it! Get it, got it, good." She chants as her eyes go crossed-eyed for a moment.

The more I sober up, the more I agree with Magnet and think this may have been a bad idea.

"Are you all right?" He asks her.

"Yeah, I'm just still stoned!" She chirps, heading for the small hole in the wall.

"Sweet Jesus." Andre glances at me warily before looking back at her. She giggles. "Okay, just be careful, okay?"

I squint to watch her throw the tracker in the hole before tossing her thumb up. "You got it!" She starts army crawling in.

Well, no turning back now...

Once her yellow house shoes disappear out of sight Andre's phone thrills, and he puts the phone between us to see the small red dot that's Emma start to move. He quickly stands helping me to my feet and he doesn't let go as we hurry up the stairs.

𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

Andre and I, unfortunately, make it back to the Gala, and oh goodie, just in time for Shitty's speech. I stand off to the side as he rejoins his dad.

"Our beloved Brink's death was not just a tragedy." Shitty begins. I snort. Please. Brink's death was sweet justice, deserved long before now. I only wish I was the one do it. She says a few more words I tune out before suddenly I'm snapped right back to it. "For Golden Boy to commit such an evil, unspeakable act, it just..." My nostrils flare as my hands burn at my sides. I am so beyond sick and fucking tired of everyone making Luke out to be some evil villain.

BRINK DESERVED TO DIE! I scream in my head. He was a sick bastard.

Shitty takes a pause. "But in darkness, stars can truly shine. Like Marie Moreau." Shitty motions towards Marie who's off to the side of the stage and the spotlight shines down on her. My eyes slit when I look over as she smiles awkwardly. I hate to admit, she looks stunning in red. "And the light can truly shine through. Like our precious Golden Girl." The light is suddenly blaring in my face as I force my mouth not to fall open. She didn't mention Andre. I cannot believe I was mentioned after missing the inter- Iliana, who are you kidding? They would milk all the money in the world to mention me, absent from interviews or not. "The Guardians of Godolkin."  The crowd breaks into applause. "That's right. So let's give Marie the future and Iliana the final year they deserve." My jaw tightens. I don't deserve shit. And neither does Marie.

"Hear, hear!" A man in the crowd hollers.

My eyes make their way over to Andre and I see his dad angrily staring down at him for not being mentioned.

That's who actually deserves it.

"A donation to the #ThinkBrink Foundation will provide long overdue upgrades to the combat gym and the recording studio." Shetty continues. Ah, so it's not 'really' for us. "So please open your hearts. Give generously. Right, Marie? Golden Girl?" She lets out an awkward chuckle as some of the crowd laughs. I think I'm gonna be sick. "Any donation would be appreciated, but, of course, a large donation would be more appreciated."

Fuck this, I need a drink.

A slideshow begins with pictures of Brink with students. I roll my eyes when Jordan and Brink appear on the screen, such a kiss ass.

I move over to the bar, slipping behind while the only bartender out here is with someone, and grab a white bottle. Hmm, coconut.

I glance around for Cate, she should be here by now. I pull my phone out to text her.

'Where r u?'

Wifey:

Over @ at tables

'Omw!' I text back.

𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

𝟹ʀᴅ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ᴘᴏᴠ

"I think it's better if I stay here." Sam turns Emma down for getting him out of The Woods. "But thanks for coming by." He stands, walking to the opposite side of the room.

Emma looks off desperately, needing an idea quick. "Your brother and sister sent me!" She shouts. Sam stops in his tracks. "Luke and Illie?" He turns back to Emma. "They did?"

Emma smiles, seeing it worked. "Yes."

"They want to get you out, so..." She says softly.

"I mean, I guess I could give you the codes to all the security doors." Sam offers, staring off as he talks. "They don't think I pay attention. But I do."

Emma pauses, taking in what he said. "You know the fucking codes?" She asks him.

𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

ɪʟɪᴀɴᴀ's ᴘᴏᴠ

"Hey." Cate greets softly when she looks up and see's me.

I take a large swig of the bottle. "Hey."

"You okay?" Cate gives me her worried look.

Jordan scoffs. "I don't know how anyone can breathe around here with their heads shoved so far up your ass." They smirk at me.

"A-ha." I let out a breathy chuckle, pretending to wipe fake tears that could actually break at any moment. "If only you used that charm on the sponsors, maybe they'd actually give you the time of day." I smirk as theirs drops. I step closer to them. "So how about you fuck right off, mkay?" I whisper in front of their face before taking another sip. I huff, moving over to pull out a chair, causing it to scrap loudly against the floor, and plop down narrowing my eyes at them. I notice Cate glance back and fourth between us as Marie rounds the corner.

I roll my eyes, oh great.

Jordan perks back up. "Oh look, Iliana! It's your bff."

"Bite me." I snark at them, two seconds away from lighting their bigender ass up like the sun.

Marie sighs. "I'm not in the mood, okay? You can attack me in the morning." She says defeatedly.

Awww, did her dress-up, show pony, princess shine wear off? Already?

"Maybe you two can lodge your tongues up each other's asses since everyone else has this evening." Jordan smarts off.

Marie keeps walking. "Leave me alone. You don't know anything." She calls over her shoulder. Mhmm.

"Brownnoser. Mommy and Daddy's perfect little hero." Jordan says. "God, you two are so alike." They look over at me.

I am two seconds away from smashing this bottle over their head-

Marie spins around. "Yeah, well, that's definitely not me, because my parents are dead." She exasperates.

God, I'm glad someone else is putting them in their place!

I sigh in relief. "Tell them." I mutter.

"Because I killed them." She continues. My eyes widen and I almost choke on my drink. "So, I guess Iliana and I do have something in common after all. You happy?" I would be more angry at that comment passed on Luke if I wasn't so satisfied at Jordan being told off. Hmm, guess tonight is just full of surprises.

"Yeah, Jordan, you happy?" I toss their way, enjoying the fuzzy bliss beginning to take over my brain rather than memories. I raise my brow as they stare into my eyes, as if to say 'do I look happy?'

I shouldn't even be this close to them, little long looking at them in their suit for this long- damn it, Iliana!

"Bullshit." Jordan tells Marie as they peel their eyes away from me.

"I didn't know I had powers until my first period." Marie explains, calmer than before as she chokes up a bit. "I couldn't control the blood, and it sliced through my mom's body." Her voice picks up again. "Dad came in. Same deal." Damn. Well she needs a drink.

"Fuck." Cate looks away from her.

"Yeah. I'm the last person who thinks they're a hero. I fucking hate myself half the time." Marie croaks out, tearing up. "I don't know how you do it." She throws a hand up at me causing me to sink in my chair. Because I hate myself all the time. "And I just spent the entire night being dragged around like a show pony, so I'm not in the mood for your shit." She snaps, going to leave.

"I'll cheers to that." I hold the bottle in my hand.

"Hey." Cate stops her, frowning. She brings the chair that's behind her up to her side and pats the seat.

She glances over at Jordan and I. Jordan stares down at the table, slowly picking up their glass.

"What, nothing to say now?" I lean up, muttering in their direction before exhaling loudly and look up to Marie. "Join us." I wave a hand out. "We're all fucked up around here."

She hesitantly looks off as she carefully makes her way to sit, seeming very shocked I welcomed her to the table.

"We were camping. I was nine." Cate starts as soon as Marie's ass meets the chair. "My parents were setting up the tent." She pauses and my demeaner softens, knowing the story she's telling. "My little brother kept kicking at my shins, so I grabbed him by the arm and I told him to go away and never come back. So he did." Marie's brows raise in shock. "He just walked right into the woods. That was the first time my powers showed up. I didn't know."

"Jesus." Marie lets out, looking at Cate.

"There was a... search party. Dogs. You know? It went on for weeks." She inhales. "But... nothing." Another pause. I swallow, my heart hurting for my best friend. "My mom never touched me again. Neither did my dad."

Marie stammers to find words. "I had no idea." She gets out, her face drowning in hurt and sympathy. "I'm so sorry."

I frown thinking about the first time my powers showed. My experience was... happy.

For once.

It was a cloudy day that turned into rain and little Sam kept crying the sun was gone and he thought it was never coming back. I remember feeling my whole body grow hot, like I had a fever, and I lit up the ceiling with sunrays. Then we cuddled up on the floor together and watched the sunbeams bounce around on the walls and ceiling all afternoon.

"It is not your fault." Cate's voice brings me out of the fond memory. I smile sadly... I miss my baby brother. "Your parents shot you up with a dangerous drug when you were a baby to make a buck off you." Cate spits out.

See, that . That's what makes it hard for me sometimes to think of my parents as the warm, sweet, supportive parents everyone always says that they are. They are, don't get me wrong, so kind, and they were great growing up. Gave us a childhood that any kid would dream of having actually, the sky wasn't even the limit. But of course they did. Of course they were supportive, they made a profit off of us. They wanted us to be big. Huge. The next graduates to be drafted to The Seven...

"No, my parents weren't like that." Marie dismisses, quick to defend.

But Cate is also quick with her comeback. "Yes they were. They did this. You didn't. Don't spend a fucking minute crying over them." Cate puts harshly.

But sometimes harsh truth is needed.

"I killed my grandpa with my powers." Jordan speaks up after a beat.

I jerk my head back in surprise as Cate slowly turns her head around to look them. That is not true...

"No you didn't." Cate looks at them oddly.

"Yeah, I know. I was just feeling left out." Jordan says.

Marie chuckles as Cate rolls her eyes at their antics. I shake my head trying hard not to laugh while catching Jordan glancing back at me before smiling to themselves.

𖤓 𖤓 𖤓

𝟶ʙᴜᴛᴛᴇʀʙɪsᴄᴜɪᴛ𝟽 sᴘᴇᴀᴋs!

Heyyyy <3

What'd we think about this chapterrr??? Wanted to write a cute little flashback and Illie and Sam and I absolutely love how it turned out <3

I also thought I'd give Iliana a nice experience of figuring out her powers... since she really doesn't get much of a break any other time lmao. And ugh look at her supporting Marie getting Jordan, we love to see it! Parallel to episode one anyone? Hahaha.

And can't ignore the HEAVY Ilordan moments in this chapter, omgggg !!!! Ahhhh!!! The rivals are rivaling, tehe.

Anyways, see y'all in the next chapter, which is the final part for episode 3, *sad face*, BUT there is a very nice surprise/treat for y'all so... SEE YOU THERE!! <3