Chapter 3

The Wary Cobra

Jerry gives a small grunt as his phone begins to ring beneath his pillow, pulling him out of slumber. He uses one hand to rub at his eyes, the other to reach beneath his pillow and silence his phone before it had the chance to reach the ears of his bunkmates.

Another day. He was supposed to have a session with the new mentor, wasn't he?... He tried to stomp away the bit of excitement he still had, rolling out of bed and moving to get his uniform.

But, despite it all, there was still a small smile on his face as he got dressed and left the room.

Abilene gives another yawn- still feeling the repercussions of being woken up by her twin sister. She was tired, but she couldn't go back to sleep… She figured walking around would ease her mind enough.

Though, her musings are very quickly interrupted- someone crashes into her, and she falls to the floor with a thud. She winces as her prosthetic arm unhinges from its socket, laying flat on the floor in the pale moonlight.

There was a student that had also taken a fall, who she assumed to be the one that bumped into her. He rubbed at his head, before standing upright.

"I'm terribly sorry, Master Abilene." Jerry mumbles, with an apologetic bow. "I swear I didn't see you there. Do you need any assistance?"

Abi gives his formality a chuckle. "Just Abi. And I'm not really a master." She reaches for the dislodged prosthetic, and promptly readjusts it back into its proper socket. Jerry extends a hand for her, and she takes it, pulling herself back up.

"Still, it feels wrong to refer to you as anything other than a superior." Jerry says, furrowing his brow. His eyes linger on the prosthetic arm, and he feels curiosity welling within him.

"We're all friends and partners here, aren't we?" Abi asks, placing a prosthetic hand on Jerry's shoulder. "Loosen up a little, I don't mind!"

Jerry can't bring himself to agree with Abi's statement, but gives in to her request. "If you insist." He sighs. "Pardon me for asking, but-"

And suddenly, a loud sound rings through the school. An explosion, followed by the falling rubble. And then, silence.

Abi scowls as she turns from the direction of the sound towards Jerry. "Jerry, I need you to go and gather the other students. Bring them into the forbidden room."

"Let me come with you." Jerry retaliates, but freezes as he sees the stern look on Abi's face.

"Look, I know how you feel. But, the safety of the students is our top priority. And I'd feel much more at ease if you were keeping them safe." She explains. "Now go."

His fists clench at his side. "But-"

"No buts, Jerry!" Abi quickly cuts him off. "Just do it!"

And before he could reply, she had already ran off to the source of the sound, leaving Jerry in the dust.

The forbidden room was forbidden for a reason. And he couldn't bring his heart to trust another person, superior or not.

With a shake of his head, he follows after Abi, to the pillar of rising smoke.