For anyone who adored my Acey in the last chapter, be sure to look for Once a Hero when I get that up and running. It might be a while, but know that Ace is the main guy.

The Next Step

Kai

This was by far the strangest night I'd ever had. I'd almost lost my life, saved by the last man I thought would ever find compassion; fell asleep in pitch black darkness, the most solemn feeling I'd ever experienced; woke up several times with a warm arm around me—there was no chance it was anyone else… I woke up with him gone. For once, I felt a cold breeze wing through the air of Cyclonia and I knew I was alone.

Though I felt unsafe with him around before, I knew I had made progress with him. His cold, reserved nature had been broken down, or at least fractured in a few places. The only thing that had me worried was, if someone he only knew for a few hours was able to break down his shield, what kind of threat was he to the Storm Hawks, honestly? Maybe I struck a raw nerve with him? Of course, other than the question about love… Maybe I reminded him of his old love? Looked like her? Acted like her?

I rolled over onto my back, staring at the dim, overcast skies. A foreign object caught my eye and I quickly sat up.

How… long had he been sitting there?

I rubbed my eyes, trying to bring myself into consciousness. For what it's worth, I wanted to sit with him—and I didn't want to fall again. I crawled over on my hands and knees, swinging my legs over the edge. Tripping was a definite possibility and I wanted eliminate every possible danger.

"I have to take you back." Something in his voice told me he was only saying it to try and make himself believe it, not to inform me.

"Can I wake up first?"

"No."

I quickly assumed this cut our week of training short. "So, you're giving up," I stated.

"I'm not giving up, I'm ending a potentially dangerous situation."

"Dangerous in what way? You're afraid that you'll make a friend? That you'll—"

"Get too close to a Talon who has no business sticking her nose where it doesn't belong."

I laughed for a moment at the contradictory information. "I did absolutely nothing wrong. I asked questions that you didn't have to answer. You chose to answer them."

"Which is why I'm taking you back. Now." He stood up, grabbing my arm. Profusely dragging me back down the hill toward the bridges, I didn't bother to struggle. I couldn't win this argument—he was an obvious master of excuses. If one didn't work, he'd use another. The second he ran out of excuses, he'd reword them.

I sighed. It was better to give up than pose an argument I knew I had no advantage in. However, his demeanor began to make me think it was my fault. Maybe it was my fault…

I closed my eyes. I was too sensitive. I clung onto things that weren't rightfully mine and the second they were ripped from under me, I cried. I was immature and I knew this had to change.

ooo

A silent ride forced more sadness into my heart. How would this sudden end fold out?

The wheels struck the ground, brakes were pulled, and the second we were stopped I bolted.

"Get back here!" he demanded.

I raised my hand, not bothering to turn around as I flipped him off. I wasn't sure if the resulting silence was a good thing. Sure enough, he'd turned on the anger and followed after me.

He gripped my shoulder and forced me to stop in my tracks.

"Tell me… you throw a fit, force me back here, and now you're having second thoughts?" I crossed my arms, turning around.

His eyes kept off of my own. I knew the exact reason—he knew that weakness well and avoided giving in.

Without a response, I turned and left once more. This time, he was smart enough not to follow. I lowered my gaze and sighed. I decided I would blend in with one of the groups for the next few days. I wouldn't get hurt and The Dark Ace can keep his pride—no one would have to know he was scared.

Why I was doing him justice… I suppose it was the best I could do since he saved my life. Without a better opportunity to repay him, it was all I could do.

ooo

Every morning I knew I would be waking up for another useless day of training. I didn't need this—didn't I have the information I needed already? Couldn't Finn, Elle, and I figure out an escape and go? Maybe each day I hoped Ace would come back. Maybe… maybe I felt he owed it to me?

No. He didn't owe me anything—he saved my life. Did this make us even?

Elle flung herself off the bed, performing another one of her acrobatic displays as she landed on the ground. The bunks on either side of us had learned that this was her morning routine and had grown accustomed to it. We were either awake before she'd climbed down, or unfazed by it in the least. This morning, I waited for her to jump down—we had to talk.

"Elle… it's time to go."

Her gaze lowered and she sat down on my bed. Having not moved, she knew something was wrong. Still hidden under the covers, rolled on the side facing away from Elle… I'd say she was right. "Are we done here?"

I sat up, rolling the covers down. "Yeah… I guess we are."

"You sound sad. I thought you'd be happy to get to see Aerrow again."

"Don't get me wrong. I just feel like I owe it to—"

"Acey?" she laughed. "Look. He's not coming back. That guy has never given up on a trainee before."

That didn't entirely help, but thanks anyway, Elle.

"He must've had a damn good reason. Trust me, it's better if he doesn't come back, even if it means I can't see his cute little face again."

"Nothing cute about it," I half-lied. "Fine. I'll just get over it."

She hummed, standing on her knees. She propped her head up on my bed with her hand, smiling. "So," she smiled. "How are we going to do this?"

Once everything was planned out over breakfast, I had a break. Elle mentioned that the radio was off-limits today so I knew Finn and I were on our own. With only thirty minutes to spare by eating quickly, Finn and I rushed back to our bunkers to pack everything we needed. Whatever I brought for miscellaneous supplies I would have to leave. I packed a small rucksack and mapped out the armory in my head. I watched them hide away my precious Switchblade. I knew where they kept my weapons. Getting them was the issue.

I pulled the Chroma crystal from my pocket and watched it glow. Surprisingly, the crystal seemed to have dimmed since we arrived. I wondered if that meant the Chroma crystal was losing power. On a last thought, I wondered if Elle would need any of her possessions. I knew I would feel bad after, but I reached over and pulled open that coveted drawer of hers in search of the cold crystal. In return, I'd found something much more interesting.

A picture of Elle and her family stapled to a note. Being polite, I decided not to read the note—however, with the picture attached, I knew it must mean something to the girl. I stuffed it into my bag and continued searching. Finding a crystal necklace, I grabbed that as well before taking the Frost crystal. I shoved the drawer closed and stood up slowly, saying goodbye to the wretched bunker. I wondered who they would find to clean the place now, after Elle came with us. With the sounding of a loud mechanical bell, I knew my opportunity to grab my friends and leave was over. Now… now we had to fight for our escape.

I threw the backpack under the bed, hidden from view, and followed my usual commute out to the training arena. This was the last day for special training—with all the chatter, I assumed students with inside information had got everyone talking.

Boy was I wrong.

Out on the bridge that hovered over the training arena stood Elle… in a not-so-proud position. Her hands bound behind her back, her eyes blindfolded, and what seemed like rope hanging from her neck in a not-so-flattering fashion.

My jaw dropped. Were we going to play prisoner… or was I in trouble?

Finn leached onto me the second he found me. "This… this doesn't look like a typical training exercise."

"Finn… Finn, give it a chance. These are real Talons. Maybe they just want to play a game." I was unsure of my own words and the boy knew that.

Elle began shaking as heels clicked against the metal bridge. I could hear her whimpering as Ravess crawled ever closer. "Kai…" she called out. "Kai! Kai, run!"

This was no training exercise.

As the girl screamed and cried out for me louder and louder, Ravess was quick to push her off the bridge. She reached around her neck, scratching at the rope tied tightly to it as she fell down. Reaching the end of its slack, the rope drew taught, catching the young talon in its grasp.

Shrill screams and cries shot out from the dead girl's audience. Sheer terror, pure madness… This was just the beginning.

Finn instantly took charge, knowing my limbs wouldn't hold out much longer. He caught me as I began to fall to my knees, shaking in utter astonishment. They... they killed Elle… This was no training exercise.

"Let this be a lesson to the rest of you. Meddle with Cyclonia and you will die. She is a traitor! She isn't one of us… Kai." Ravess looked up from the swinging girl. She knew exactly who the blond had been referring to and her gaze shot directly to me, hanging in Finn's arms. "I suggest you run."