Chapter 7: Use Force When Necessary

It was going to kill him. Not seeing her, not talking to her. Warren couldn't keep going on like this. It had felt like an eternity since the day she walked away from him. She started to hang out with a bad crowd, claiming in little notes left in his locker that they had ways to help her out. She was dressing all in black; her eyes seemed hollow and her smile never went past her teeth. She only glanced at him occasionally and usually in a sizing-up manner. He was losing her.

"I can't do it much more," he bellowed to Will and Layla as they walked to the gym. "We need to help her. She's not doing such a hot job of doing it herself." He nodded ahead of them to the woman of his dreams, laughing at some cruel prank Dash was performing.

"We can't beat her, Warren." Will was exasperated. He wished he could help, really. She was too dangerous to be running around with that pack of hyenas. "She absorbs powers, dude." Will ran a hand through his hair. "She's too complicated to catch."

"Maybe, maybe not." Layla smiled mischievously. "Hey, Freak!" She bellowed it at Verity's back.

Verity turned slowly, her eyes narrowing. "You talking to me, Miss Chia Pet?"

Layla didn't bat an eye. "Yeah, you got something to say about it? You're a loser. And you prove it by the company you keep."

Verity held Dash back from attacking her old friends. "Why don't you put your money where your mouth is?"

Layla's eyes glazed over as her power took over. Vines shot through the windows of the school. "Why don't you make me, Hall monitor."

Verity took a few steps toward the girl. "You don't want to make me hurt you, Layla." She turned her head to Will. "Control your girlfriend, Stronghold, before she gets hurt."

Will was already looking like he was going to pass out; Verity saying that made him blanche even faster. "What are you doing?! She'll kill you!"

"Hey!" Warren didn't think Verity would go that far. "Watch your mouth."

"I got this, guys." Layla caused the vines to rush forward and wrap themselves around Verity.

Verity's smile grew darker. "Bad move." Her eyes started to tinge red.

Layla threw all her concentration into making the vines squeeze Verity tightly. The girl started to wriggle, her anger subsiding into confusion and frustration. The vines got tighter. Verity wasn't able to wiggle out. She was getting scared as the vines wrapped around her neck. Her air supply started to dwindle. She glanced up at Layla, her eyes begging for sympathy. Warren couldn't watch.

"Layla, knock it off! You'll kill her." Warren took a step toward her.

"I'm not going to kill her Warren. I just want to make her pass out. She'll wake up disorientated and we can take her wherever you want to help her." Layla didn't take her eyes off the vines, but they did narrow sadly. "I hate to do it this way, but it seems like the only way to help her." She glanced quickly at Warren. "And to keep you two together."

Warren's heart swelled at Layla's comment. She was an amazing friend. Warren returned his attention to Verity, who was looking lost and confused. Her breathing was slowly and she was slowly slipping to her knees. Warren ran up and tried to fight the urge to wrap his arms around her while she was still conscience. She was gasping and staring helplessly at him.

"Warren," she gasped. "Help. Please." Then her eyes closed.

Layla waited a few more minutes before letting Verity go. Warren scooped her up as quickly as he could and headed down the hallway. Speed dashed ahead of him and cut him off.

"Where do you think you're going?" he crossed his arms across his chest.

"I'm taking my girlfriend and getting her the help she needs. I know what you guys are planning, and you can't have her." Warren really had no idea what their plans were, but he knew they weren't going to be good.

Speed's eyes widened and he took a step backward. "Well, alright, um…have a good one." Then he ran off.

Warren ran down the hallway, Verity in his arms, Layla and Will at his side. They ran out to the bus and somehow managed to talk Ron into driving them home early.

Getting off the bus a block from Will's street, they glanced around. "Where should we take her?" Warren asked, afraid that any second she'd come to, and steal his power to hurt his friends.

Layla smiled. "I think I know a place." Then she started to run up the street, Warren and Will following close behind her.