Chapter Two:
"Because that is how tyranny is started; with people being apathetic and taking the easy route and suddenly finding themselves in deep trouble." – JK Rowling
Star Wilson closed the door behind her, heaving an exasperated sigh. Glancing around her, she wearily stepped towards the curtains, quickly glancing outside, before pulling them closed.
"Val? Are you home?"
She was met with resounding silence. With a role of her eyes, she dropped her coat onto the nearby chair. Valerie was becoming predictable. If Star was a betting woman - something she'd sworn off long ago - she would place money on the fact that Valerie, more likely than not, was still lurking at headquarters.
Star continued to make her way through the small apartment, a frown marring her features. Since May, it seemed that Valerie had gradually been spiraling downhill. She had been the first to adjust when they had first entered the Association; quickly cuttinh her ties with the real world - something that even Danny Fenton had only recently accomplished. It wasn't healthy, but Star had written it off as Valerie's own method of adjusting; it wasn't easy, but for some individuals, it might simply be less painful.
Now Star wasn't so sure.
The two roommates had known each other since childhood. They had never been particularly close; at least not prior to their induction into the Association. The two had been assigned the same apartment and had slowly built their friendship back up. (A much simpler task without the complication known as Paulina.) One thing had always been very clear, though: Valerie was incredibly competitive. In their early days in the Association, she had quickly ascended into the ranks of Protector: a position she cherished. Star had watched her flat-mate compete viciously to retain her role in the Wheel, whilst Star herself chose to remain in her humble position as Guard.
A leadership position had never been in the cards for Star, something she had known and appreciated since the days of playgrounds and Barbie dolls. She was a follower, simple as that; whether it be following Paulina Sanchez around all day or comparatively taking orders from the once upon a time loser, Danny Fenton. Besides, the role of Guard was a respected position, after all; one Star was content to remain in.
Her eyes darted to the clock resting on the wall. She knew Danny Fenton had just returned to his position, replacing Val for the following two weeks. Star knew better than to disturb him during his shift, but she knew that Val probably wouldn't answer her phone...
Grumbling under her breath, Star grabbed her coat, heading towards the door. Valerie should know better than to wander off on the way home, especially here.
With Casper High School only mere miles away, it was too risky for the junior members of the Association to risk being seen by the locals. Star was fairly certain that their former associates in Amity Park would react rather poorly to a visit from the walking dead. Even in a town accustomed to ghost activity, hoards of dead students were sure to put the citizens on edge.
When they had first returned to Amity Park, cutting across Star's former street, she had been tempted to run. She had stopped, considered fleeing, her eyes falling on the small brick house she knew and loved dearly. She had gazed at the home, willing her feet to move...
...But she couldn't bring herself to take the step forward; the step that would shatter the slow rehabilitation her family had established. She couldn't do that to them - condemn them to this fate.
Despite the frigid cold outside, Star began her walk down the street she had previously traveled, her scarf tucked tightly around her neck, blocking her face from not only the chill, but also any familiar pedestrians.
Moments later, as she rounded the corner, she was filled with relief.
"Fenton!"
The aforementioned man glanced up, smiling. "Hey, Star. Is there something I can help you with?" He was so cordial, so polite; the teachings of the Association engrained into his behavior.
"Have you seen Val? I know that she was supposed to get off duty today, but she's not home yet."
Fenton pursed his lips, his forehead creasing. "No, she left headquarters a little over an hour ago. She should have been home by now. Maybe she stopped for breakfast?" he suggested, running a hand through his dark hair.
"Val rarely eats anymore, let only stop for breakfast," Star grumbled, concern lilting her tone. "Besides, she knows better than to run around Amity in the daylight. What if she's seen?"
The man standing across from her sighed. "I don't know what to tell you, Star. I'll let you know if I see her, but I really have to get back to work. Theo has a meeting in a half an hour and I promised I'd be there for it."
She opened her mouth to speak, reconsidered her words, and began again, "Wait? You're monitoring Theo? Isn't that what the Guards are for?"
"All the others are either on other assignments or off duty. Lukas is out touring, looking for the new recruits. Most of the security is with him," he answered. "Besides, I needed to get out of Headquarters."
She chuckled. "You only just got back in," she reminded him. "Already that eager to get out?"
He smiled weakly, "You have no idea."
The small smile still gracing his lips, he shoved his hands into his pockets. "I really should be going, Star. Good luck with finding Val," he said softly.
She murmured a quiet thanks, raising her hand in silent farewell. She watched, dejected, as he turned and made his way in the opposite direction, his shoulders slouched. She frowned, moving to follow him - to continue her search, before pausing. If Valerie wanted to get lost, to tarnish her reputation in the Association, then who was she to stop her? Perhaps it would actually do her some good to get knocked down a few pegs, to be properly refuted. Maybe it would get her to relax; to narrow down her obsession, and to realize that even she was not perfect.
She sighed. In all likelihood, such tarnish on her reputation would have the opposite effect. Star let out a yawn, bringing her hand to cover her mouth. It was far too early to be worrying about Valerie's escapades, and she had been awake all night. Her eyes fell on Fenton's retreating form, a sudden bout of inspiration hitting her.
"Fenton!"
He paused, turning around, looking at her expectantly.
"You said that all of the Guards were protecting Lukas. Where is he? He rarely leaves Headquarters?"
He looked at her, his face somber. "It's been ten years, Star. It's time."
She looked at him, raising a brow in confusion. "Time?" she asked. "Time for what?"
"The new batch of recruits," he said sadly. "He'll be touring the state for a few weeks. Then, in a fore night, the decision will be announced and the preparations made."
Her eyes widened, her hand covering her mouth in surprise.
"They're going to do it all again?" she asked in horror. "More kids will have to go through what we went through?"
He nodded somberly, "And it's not just that. With new recruits, there's more competition. Positions will suddenly become far less stable. New recruits, easy to rise into the ranks, will be vicious - you remember Val's behavior, right? If I had to guess, I'd imagine that's what she's doing now. Attempting to remind Lukas that she deserves to keep her position."
"That means you, too, could be demoted," she reminded him. It was not a pleasant thought. Danny was far too serious at times, difficult to communicate with. He was sensible, though. He knew how to properly get the job done without letting politics get the better of him. Another mindless drone was certainly not what the Association needed on the Wheel.
"Potentially," he agreed. "No one's positions are safe. Which means the Wheel will be even more flexible. No one will dare speak out; no one will question Lukas's authority when it means they could be demoted. Nothing will get accomplished."
She nodded, her eyes wide. She had seen it all before. When their group, the Junior members, entered the Association, their superiors had been scrambling to retain their positions. After the first two years, only a handful of Seniors had remained on the Wheel, quickly replaced with the younger members. Star was good friends with a former Professor, Olivia Cross.
Olivia had been an esteemed member of the Association, a Professor - one of the most competitive positions on the Wheel, second only to the Advisers (a position Theo Bardell had managed to successfully retain for more than three generations, to everyone's astonishment). She had been in charge of training the new recruits, establishing the curriculum. She was the brains of the operation, conniving schemes and plans, working quickly under pressure. Olivia was a respected member of the Wheel; some even dared to assume that she would be Theo's ultimate successor.
Until Connor Ambrose entered the Association. He had been an early recruit. Catherine Marcell, a Spectator, had observed him; deciding that he was Association material. He had become a spy, determining which selections of students from Casper High School were suitable for the Association. Weeks later, when the decision was final, he had planted the reactant that had caused their "deaths". For his admirable bravery and dedication, he had replaced Olivia shortly after arriving.
Olivia hadn't taken it well, especially once she was demoted to the profession of Instructor.
Star had met Olivia a few weeks after the latter woman's demotion. She had been dining in the cafeteria hall, sipping from a large mug of coffee at the only table available and Star had settled herself down across from Olivia. The two didn't speak much; after all, Star represented the generation who had stolen Olivia's position. As time passed, though, and Star continued to sit at the table, the two began to converse. Soon, both held a mutual respect for the other, a friendship forming.
"Couldn't we wait a little while longer before bringing in new recruits? We only just adjusted," she suggested, folding her arms across her chest.
He nodded sympathetically. "If only," he murmured. "But Lukas likes his traditions."
It was silent for a moment, before Danny spoke again: "Listen, I better go; I'm going to be late. I'll see you around, okay?"
She muttered a quick goodbye, beginning her return to the apartment. If Valerie truly was working late in an attempt to secure her position on the Wheel, Star couldn't really fault her. She couldn't blame her, but she certainly could worry about her. After all, she'd seen her friend's drive and determination first hand before; she knew how obsessed Valerie could get when it came to Lukas and the Wheel, to Amity Park
Rubbing her hands together, Star stepped onto the front porch of her small apartment building. She had resigned herself to stop looking for the missing girl: Valerie was an adult now, and, as an adult, could take care of herself. (Most of the time, anyway.)
She pulled her keys out of her pocket, unlocking the front door. "Valerie? Are you home?"
Star let out a sigh of relief at the sound of movement in the small kitchen across the hall, preceding the sight of Val's head appearing from behind the door frame, a smile already on her face.
"I was wondering where you'd gotten to, Star. I was just starting breakfast. Do you want some?"
Star smiled gratefully, hanging her coat on the back of her chair. As she entered the kitchen, smiling in gratitude at her friend's thoughtfulness, she momentarily forgot the worries that had been plaguing her. After all, Valerie had always been stable: She wasn't a flight risk, wasn't dangerous. She had held her own when her dad lost his job, had made the best of a rotten situation. Valerie was strong.
If only, though, Star could see the grimaces of pain on her flat-mate's face as she moved about the kitchen, spatula in hand. Why look at reality when fiction is oh so simple?
Author's Note: And that's it for Chapter Two. The next chapter should focus more on what's been going on in Amity Park over the last two years and maybe you'll get to finally see a few more familiar faces. Hint Hint. I would like to note, though, that there will be a few OCs in this fic, as you can probably already tell. They're vital to the story because they are the framework of the Association. However they're more minor characters than anything else, so if you're not a big fan of OCs, they shouldn't be too much of a problem.
I tremendously apologize for any typos in this chapter. I did a quick review of it, but we're in the midst of some massive storms and I'm really just rushing to get this posted before the worst of the storm hits. Feel free to let me know if you spot some and I'll fix them once we're out of our lovely little tornado warning.
For those of you, like me, that are in the midst of possible tornadoes and severe weather, be careful!It's pretty nasty out there.
And for those of you that aren't? A review's always nice! :) Meanwhile, I'll be chilling my basement.
-Inky