26.

Yank.

I turned furiously, ready to smash right through the grip on my arm holding me back. But Ashley was laughing. And in that snippy ha-ha-ha!, fragments of rationality took root in my mind again. Not much – but enough.

What the hell are you doing with lit eyes and flare-punches?!

I stuttered enough for her to force my arm back down. Dropped my lids and fumbled in the snakeskin clutch for my Ray-Bans with my left hand. In some corner of my brain, the mantra "the boys are going to kill me" was doing the conga.

Oh frick oh frick get it together NOW

"Ashley, scram." It wasn't much short of a full snarl.

I swung to Jason. His eyebrows were raised in surprise, face pulled back a little, at my near-punch. But his left arm was still around my back. "Jason, get off of me. And don't come near me till you've kept your end of the bargain. I swear I will punch your nose so hard it –" I bit off my final words. Finished the sentence in my head: splinters and pierces your brain.

Definitely too bloodthirsty. Jason was a long-time friend who had angered me this evening. What was wrong with me? Fear threaded through me, but I ignored it.

I turned away from him, covering my face for a moment so that Ashley and Courtney's band of buffoons – still encircling us, but a few feet away now – couldn't take even more pics. It felt like there was a thin fever through my mind, pushing the wolf through. I needed to heal back up before I tackled Ashley and made a (no doubt) spectacular exit.

I tried to wash my mind, imagining gold cleansing me. Not much seemed to happen. Clenching my fists, I concentrated harder on removing the mental obstacles. Soon realised I was accidentally probably transmitting my mind to the boys, and rinsed the gold out with an internal sigh. Wolfish mind it was. Better hope it was the internal attacker trying to provoke me, rather than a permanent new fixture.

Right. One last obstacle.

I turned forwards, shoving past Jason's outstretched arm. I had nothing left to say to him. Marched up to Ashley, who deliberately ignored me until I shoved my chin right up close to her ear. Her stinking perfume was almost overwhelming my olfactory receptors, sweat and alcohol coating all other scents too effectively for me to get much of a read on her emotions so quickly.

"I would appreciate it if you didn't spread any more lies about me." A demand, not request. "Or spread any of my private life across the student body. Jason and I are nobody's concern but our own."

She had her eyes narrowed, judging snakelike, but I held the stare. Ignored the two lacrosse players behind currently having a stand-off over who got to claim the Ashley. A wraith in a pretty skin; naturally she was worshipped, would win any school-wide scrap.

"Jason and you? Are you laying claim to him?" She purred at last.

"Not at all," I mock-assured her, "just reminding you that our relationship doesn't involve you, or anyone else." Even before I finished the last word, Ashley lost the game; her eyes darted to Jason, and my mind made the leap.

She wants Jason for herself. That's why she's been so buddy-buddy recently but turned the rumours against me and…

"Oh wow." The words were out my mouth before she could step in to respond to my words. "You actually want Jason for yourself?" The witch's face screwed up, but I was already walking away, shoulder-bashing her, harsh parting words spilling out of my mouth before I could stop them. "Good luck. He's my dirty laundry now."

"Oh, but Tory," her silken words followed me, "you really think this is still about who used to kiss who? Well… no wonder they call you the freak."

I stopped. A knife to the back. Twisted. That is it. Focused on her smirking face and my clawed fingers. Let's hunt.

My mind was humming, shimmering, in the moment as I shifted my weight back, ready to spring. The sensation of raw metal slicing through my skin felt so vivid I wasn't entirely sure I'd imagined it. I was so mad that even the boys appearing in my head unexpectedly couldn't throw me off.

Tory! Don't do it! Shelton's bawl as good as echoed through my extrasensitive ears.

Don't you dare, Victoria. When we reveal our superpowers to take them down, it'll be as an Avengers squad, Hi told me. His panicked tone belied the joking words. He could feel my explosive anger sizzling through my body as clearly-cut as I did.

No words from Ben. Maybe he wasn't connected.

What's up with your mind? Shelton asked. Distraction team. It's all… red.

C'mon, Tor. Brains over brawn. Hi accessed the next sense, my vision. Those lacrosse dudes could still take you.

My vision shifted to Jason's massive teammates. Considered it.

Ben would be super PO'd at you, Shelton added.

That did it. The ice trickled in enough to get me pulling myself up slightly, jutting my chin in the air rather than my nails. How many times had I been spitting mad at Ben for pulling this masculine rage shit on us? I couldn't lose control of myself here without having to return to him and grovel after all the tellings-off.

One last focus. Keep it together. "At least I've got freak friends. You've just got backstabbing enemies. Oh!" I put a finger to my chin in fake remembrance. My long pause before response had weakened any comebacks; I needed to pull out the stops and run. "And I do believe that only one of the two of us has dated the captain of the lacrosse team. But, you know. Keep working on those insults, skank. With enough practice, they might actually start hurting."

I swivelled and pushed my way through the new crowd to the stairwell. Was forced to practically push people off the unfortunately crammed stairs. Ashley had been shouting more shit my way, and was definitely dressing me down to our classmates now, but I didn't care. I needed to get out out out.

I whipped out my phone and texted Ella about my emergency exit as I simultaneously mind-messaged the boys.

Hiram, Shelton! Does Tom's ferry run this late?

Not usually, Shelton told me uneasily, but you could always text him, right?

No can do, Hi sent, the garage light is on. Hugo's tight for the night.

I sent a series of swear words mentally.

My mother would soap your tongue for that, Hi mused.

I couldn't go back to Ella's; she wasn't replying and anyway, she had been interested in finding 'eight-pack swim-team Mike' tonight. I couldn't force her to leave because I'd scrapped with two… acquaintances, and needed to extract myself before someone caught up and tore my skin off. Or my mind fevered again and I was the one doing the tearing. There was a lot of potential for skin-tearing right now.

Swinging over the railing and down the ladder as fast as I could manage, there was exactly one option left open to me. And I liked it about as much as I liked running in mud: not at all in truth, but something to just get on with.

Hi and Shelton were muttering to each other in the back of my mind with unease, something about my bloodthirstiness. I focused on wrestling open the stupid clutch and extracting my phone.

As I hurried along the dock back towards the shining strip of overpriced marina restaurants, I went to my keypad and speed-dialled number 8. She picked up on the second ring.

"Tory, darlin'? What's the matter?"

I took a deep breath. "I'm sorry, Whitney. It's just that I was with Jason and Ella but…" I sniffled for emphasis. Breathed rapidly in an attempt to oxygenate my brain, scrambled for ideas on how the hell to explain this in a way Whitney would understand. "I… I was talking with Jason and he basically attacked me and then Ashley Bodford started telling people horrible rumours about me and – and she called me a freak."

There was a gasp of shock on the other end of the line. I wrestled with my thrumming anger, the red still coating my vision weirdly. My hypersensistive ears picked up moving-around sounds as Whitney immediately gathered her things in outrage.

"Honey, that is completely terrible. Let me just finish up with the ladies, and I'll be on my way." There was a moment of muffled melodic farewells from the other end. I slowed my steps, still glancing all around me, still hunching and clutching the phone to my ear. Came to a stop outside the well-lit and non-threatening Pies 'N' Stuff.

There was the banging of a door and Whitney's voice reappeared on the end of the line. "I cannot believe a girl of such breeding would say such nasty things to you! There must be somethin' going on with that family at the moment because let me tell you I saw Mr. Bodford just two days ago outside Our Lady's and said hello nice-as-you-please but he looked right at me, right down that tiny nose of his, and point-blank ignored me before changing to the other side of the road, would you believe the rudeness of it!" Whitney let out an angry huff.

"That's terrible, Whitney. How rude of him." I screwed up my face. Stay calm, Brennan. "Er, where do you want me to meet you?"

"Are you near Emperor Sushi? I'm supposed to be bringing takeout for your father and I anyway, so –"

"Yeah, two blocks."

"That's wonderful! If you could place our order for numbers 87, 4 and two 61s that would be wonderful. I should be there soon after. I'm just at the car now!"

"Thank you so much, Whitney." I swallowed my awkward pride. "It means a lot."

"Not a bit of it. See you in ten, honeybug!"

"Bye."

I let out a long breath and swivelled in the direction of downtown. All that niceness had been less exhausting than expected. Maybe Kit was actually onto something with Whitney.

did I really just think that?

I jumped at Hi's answer. Oh Allelujah! The day has come! Wonders will never cease.

Oh man, are you still here?

Yep. His doughnut munching somehow transmitted too. Would appreciate it if you'd cut the connection right about now, weirdo.

Thanks for the support, I replied drily. Somehow, his using that 'freak' synonym comforted me. Sorry, Shelton, Hi. Laters.

I gathered the golden balloon strings and snipped them but kept the flare up. Bearing a lifetime of warnings against walking alone at night in mind, I figured the extra edge could prove useful.

Plus, the sensation of being slightly in control was the only thing keeping me from going a Hulk-rage-smash spree.

Fricking shell, what was wrong with me? Ashley had been a heinous bitch, and it really wasn't anything new, so why the Bruce Banner urges? Jason?

I shook my shoulders, trying to physically pull it away from me. Took several deep breaths. Imagined talking to Mom. All helped incrementally, but they were the only accessible answers right now. My subconscious was telling me exactly what I wanted to do to escape the anger and calm down, but since I had access to neither Ben, Sewee, or the open water right now, that was a no-go.

I was so focused on my thoughts that I almost walked right past Emperor Sushi. Was still stood in the queue when Whitney arrived ten minutes later, in a flutter of scarves and perfume. She immediately swept me up into a crushing hug (I awkwardly patted her back some). When she pulled back, holding me at arm's length, she said determinedly, "whatever you need, Tory, just tell me and I will help in any way I can."

I smiled weakly, genuinely touched by her kindness. My father's bimbo girlfriend was really trying to connect with me and help in a way I would appreciate.

"Thank you, Whitney. I'm not sure there is much to be done… I broke up with Jason for his horrible – ugh – but Ashley might have officially joined the Dunkle anti-Tory club." I shook my head, tried to smile again. We shuffled forward in the line, and my phone started vibrating madly as Whitney peered at me worriedly.

Oh dang. The exhaustion running through me couldn't take any more questions; there had been enough struggles for one evening already. I pulled out my phone and swiped open in an attempt to block out the weird new feelings towards her. 4 new messages.

Interesting.

You have: 4 new voicemails.

Dang. I definitely couldn't listen to them in here. No amount of voicemails is ever good news. So I aimed for a smile at Whit, asked if I could take my calls outside. She nodded, watching me leave, pretending not to when I turned my head.

It was certainly a turn up for the books that I was in better with Whitney than Kit. I shook my head as I stepped into the street, checking both ways before I snuck out to the bin alley and dialled up for the messages.

Within seconds, I was on my knees. Panting. Screaming inside my head.

Ben's voice burned up my last ounce of patience and will, replacing the final traces of my humanity with the primal need to rip. Only snatches of Ben's sentences reached my consciousness, each more cutting and hurtful than the last.

"…can't get over that pompous twat after all?...

…should've listened to my gut from the first…

…only snobs good enough…

…hope you finally get what you deserve, Brennan. Maybe being a – a ho will turn around and bite you on the ass now…"

"…remind me why I trusted you after the constant lies that keep coming out?"

The end of the fourth message left me shaking and sick. What the hell did Ben think he was doing?

I couldn't help it; I pulled back my fist and punched the brick wall as hard as I could. It crumbled slightly, but the ricocheting pain up my wrist, elbow, body was more satisfying.

I couldn't let the beast take over any more. My anger couldn't be directed at inanimate objects, not any more, not when they were basically the only things I had left.

I speed-dialled Ben, but it went straight to messages. I left him a single sentence message ("You son of a bitch") and dialled his dad instead. A risky move, perhaps, but while I'd been desperate for him to help calm me before, this was a whole new level of needing him to explain what the hell he thought was going on.

Tom picked up fifth ring. Good thing too; I'd been doing my calm-down breathing for the first four. "Hey there Tory. You okay?"

"You wouldn't happen to know where Ben is, would you?" My words were bitten out. It was all I could do not to scream myself hoarse.

I leant my forehead against the crumbled brick and closed my eyes through the crackly words. "He's at his – he's over on Mount Pleasant. Anything wrong?" Tom was pretty cool, but there was a hint of not-cool-ness in his voice that told me just where his suspicions lay. Oh god, he was never going to trust me again if he got to Ben before me. Our conversation this morning… well, safe to say I'd hurt Ben somehow.

"I, uh… tell him to call me if you see him before I get there. Please."

"Will do." Tom paused, and I left a gap for him to say whatever was on the tip of his tongue. But Mr Blue didn't take it, just ending with a curt, "see you around."

All I wanted to do was smash my phone, or maybe the wall some more. If only I could speak to Ben right now, I'd rip him a new –

Wait.

I delved into the bundle of knotty mental fibres. Grasped them. Ripped the mental pathways right open, hollering BEN BLUE! into his mind.

Maybe he wasn't making himself available before, but when the alpha decides to speak, there's no hiding.

With a single strike filled with all my desperate hurt, I tore straight into his mind, mentally screaming. What the actual fuck. I can't believe you. After everything, you think you know what's going on?

Hey there Tory, nice to see you Tory, no you can't come into my mind tonight, oh wait too late never mind. Ben's sarcasm was boiling with searing anger. What's up? Detached yourself long enough from your fiancé long enough to deign to talk to me?

Jason's a twat and I've told him to go screw himself, I shot back, eyes stinging. He wouldn't stop assaulting me. Oh and Ashley just ripped me a new one, so why don't you join the fucking party?

He wasn't even unsettled by my uncharacteristic cuss. Really? Or are you just covering your tracks the whole time? Who knows, right? Jason's your arm candy, Chance is the flame you're trying to keep alight in the corner, and I am so sick of –

I've just been almost thrown overboard by two massive liars and you're trying to accuse me of seducing Chance? My hands were buried in my hair, actually shaking, the roots straining and complaining. I couldn't slam my eyelids shut hard enough. Fuck you. I needed a good friend right now, after being attacked on a stupid yacht, and you're acting just as bad as Madison, Ashley, Jason. Even Whitney's been nicer.

Then leave me out, Ben tore out, cut me out. I don't want to be a friend.

The angry tears had arrived; I choked. I wanted to be rational so badly, but there was just too much hurt, and the red I was seeing before was amping up emotions even more now. Good. I don't need dicks who pretend to care then run at the slightest trouble.

Did I ever.

Thanks for finally getting out! And check your Instagram on the way out if you care so much about your rep.

SCREW YOU! And your Dad!

"Tory?"

What excellent timing Whitney had. With a superhuman force of will, I wrenched through all my viral powers, shuddering as I finally powered down. Didn't want the pack getting a track on my erupting anger. Slipped off my shades, rubbing my face as the flare finally powered down.

"I'm here," I half-sobbed. Whitney opened her non-food-carrying arm and I ran into it. I walked under her half-hug for the rest of the block.

Whatever had happened to the world, I didn't know. But Ben Blue had a whole new fight coming his way.


A/N: so I finally finished my horrendous mocks! Now just 8 weeks til my actual A2 exams… so I celebrated by writing. When I don't post updates, it's not because I don't want to 3

In better news, I read 'Terminal' directly after the last update (in less than 24hrs ha) and OMG IT WAS AMAZING. 2nd favourite in the series, and only just! 'Code' remains my fave. But I'm so glad that the plot, thread-tying-together, and conclusion was all so epic. Plus I totally guessed around 40-45% of the plot correctly; if you think any of the future 'Catalyst' threads are copied, they're not. Can't believe the ending though!?

This is a shorter update than I wanted but I was about to start the next scene and realised that two giant fights is enough drama for one chapter.

Also, I've been updating my 'Catalyst' playlist! It's on 8tracks, called "feeding on fever", by markofathena. It's tagged under virals and tory brennan (and you don't need an account or anything). Just FYI :)

NEXT TIME: Chance's unexpected reappearance, too much raw fish, and murder (am I being sarcastic? Truthful? Melodramatic? You'll have to check to find out!)