Revamped!

[You all wanted another chapter so I shall provide one.

Is it weird that I already planned a possible spin-off for this story for when it's done?] [2020: Oh my stars, I planned that spin-off in 2017-2018? Why does that sound so long ago? I thought I came up with it last year].

Forming Clay Soldiers: Part Two

Commonwealth, The Earthen Union

Levana slides past Winter in the doorframe and steps outside to face the soldier, almost as if she's acting like a protective barrier for her. Winter could almost feel the coldness coming off of Levana as she stares at the uniformed man. Winter hesitates on whether she should back away, but she stays since the soldier said that he needed to speak to her about Jacin. If anyone could take on the soldier, it's Levana.

"What do you want with her?" Levana asks the soldier. "She's a minor and I'm her stepmother."

"My apologies, Ms. Blackburn," the soldier says with a small bow. "I was sent from Andromeda Academy under the orders of Commander Clay to ask questions on behalf of Cadet Clay."

Levana lifts a brow. She didn't see that conversation coming. "About Jacin? What could you possibly ask about him?"

"I'll inform you both during the questioning. May we do this inside?"

Levana is hesitant and suspicious at first but eventually opens the door wider to let the soldier in. She leads him up the stairwell into her office, extending her arm to the chair for him to take a seat. Levana plays the role of hospitable host and offers him a drink as she places Winter in the chair across from him, on the other side of the desk.

"No thank you, ma'am," the soldier politely responds.

Levana quietly exits the room, leaving Winter and the soldier alone. The door clicks shut, making Winter jump a little. A part of her wishes that Levana stayed in here because she's a minor or that she's listening with an ear against the door with a willingness to kick down the door in case something goes wrong in here. Winter looks forwards at the soldier and watches him pull out a notepad and click his pen.

"How are you this morning, Miss. Blackburn?" He asks her.

"Scared," Winter replies. Her gut didn't tell her this was coming from Jacin.

"Would it make you feel better if I call you Winter?" She nods. "Alright then, Winter, I'll make this as quick as possible so you don't freak out. Jacin is your boyfriend, correct?"

"Yes," Winter replies.

"And how long have you been dating?"

"Three years." She shifts her position in her seat. "What's this about?"

The soldier sighs. "Jacin wasn't present at any of his day's classes so his mother went to check on him but he wasn't in his dorm or answering his phone. About 32 hours ago, security footage in the dormitory of Andromeda Academy found that Jacin ran off the school premises. His parents nor his friends there know where he went or why he left. He disappeared. We came to ask you if you knew any information."

Winter doesn't hear what the soldier says beyond that last sentence because all his next words just blur together, biting into her. Her heart beats out of her chest, her whole world spins and she feels like she'll vomit all over Levana's desk and the soldier's crisp uniform. How could she control this sudden heartache when it screams so loud that it's deafening?

"Miss. Winter?"

Winter snaps back into reality. She feels a tear roll down her cheek. The soldier nudges a tissue box on Levana's desk and she takes one, dabbing her cheek.

"Sorry…" She mutters.

"When did you last have contact with Jacin?" He continues.

"A little over a week ago. We write letters."

The soldier is taken aback for a moment. "Letters?"

"Yes. Aside from Andromeda Academy's strict curfew and the time difference, Jacin doesn't like to verbalize his feelings orally. We write them down because that's what you do when you can't verbally talk to someone you love."

"I see. That's very touching. Thank you for your cooperation, Winter, may you ask your stepmother to come in?"

Winter nods as she gets up from her seat and opens the door, hearing the soldier's pen write on his notepad as she speedwalks down the hallway to find Levana.

-o-

As Levana is being questioned by the soldier, Winter presses her ear against the door to listen, nervously gnawing on her hair. The soldier's statement about Jacin's disappearance echoes in her mind. She starts to see traces of blood on the wall, shaping out to be the words he said. Winter breathes heavily, squinting her eyes shut as she starts to shake.

Winter can't imagine Levana knowing more than her but who knows?

Her eyes open again as she hears the chairs from the other side of the door screech against the floor. Winter bounces up and dives into the next room so that they know that she wasn't eavesdropping. Winter hears Levana escort the soldier back out.

"Thank you for your cooperation, Ms. Blackburn," the soldier says. "I'm sure Commander Clay will keep you updated from this point forward unless I'm instructed otherwise."

"I'll be sure to inform you if any of us hear anything about Jacin," Levana says.

After a couple more exchanges of polite courtesy, Winter hears the front door close and lock. She grips her doorknob and opens the door only to see Levana already there with furrowed brows and crossed arms directed at her.

"Did you know about this?" Levana whispers harshly to her.

Winter shakes her head rapidly. "No, not at all."

"You better not." Levana sighs. "Now, don't get me wrong, I'm worried about Jacin as well and if you're lying to me, I'll get over it. If you lied to that soldier, if you lied to Garrison and Clarissa about their flesh and blood, there will be severe consequences that wouldn't only be from me. This is serious, Winter. You may not have been questioned under oath by that soldier but lying to him during an investigation could be seen as perjury."

Winter nods. "I understand." She takes a breath. "But, Stepmother, what do we do?"

"I don't know, Winter, I truly don't."

-o-

Artemisia, Luna

Iko and Kinney leave Commander Clay's office, both shaken and disturbed by the fact that Jacin ran away from school without telling anyone he would do so or where he was heading. At least they know what the other cadets are buzzing about. They sit on a bench in the Academy's courtyard, needing time to process all of this without being stared at by Jacin's worried parents and stern federal officials.

"Let's cut the rest of class," Iko says to Kinney.

"We can't," Kinney replies.

"Kinney, this is a national emergency!" Iko exclaims.

Before Kinney could argue back, both of their phones start ringing at the same time. They pull out their phones to see who could be calling. Iko's getting a call from Cinder and Kinney from Winter. They turn their backs from one another, keeping a watch for teachers, and take the calls.

Homegirl Cinder: Aces, Iko, what is going on?!

"Your guess is as good as mine," Iko replies, whispering into her phone to avoid getting caught. "Jacin told me nothing. He just poofed into thin air. This is all breaking news to me as it is to you."

Homegirl Cinder: A soldier dude came to my workplace and interrogated me! He gave me signed proof that Levana let him!

"What?! You're so lucky! I got Jacin's parents, some scary people in suits, and a Kinney who looked like he wanted to cry for his mommy. We didn't even get our parent's consent since, apparently, the school owns us until we're enlisted. I asked for proof and our parents signed the registration forms. The FBI interrogation clause was in the fine print."

Kinney turns around to glare at Iko. "Shut up. I would've called my lawyer - oh no, that wasn't directed at you Winter."

Winter HB: Kinney, I'm scared. Nothing this bad is ever supposed to happen anymore.

"I know, Winter," Kinney replies, "I'm still trying to fit this information into my skull. Iko and I will keep you updated. Jacin couldn't have gone far."

Winter HB: It's been more than 32 hours, Kinney! He could be anywhere!

Winter starts sobbing on the other end. Kinney hesitates and Iko rolls her eyes as she makes her and Kinney switch phones so she can calm Winter and Kinney can chat with Cinder.

Both of their calls end. Iko and Kinney look at each other, wondering what they'll do next in terms of finding Jacin. Just like they don't know about Jacin's plans, they don't know their own either.

For now, they're skipping the rest of class.

-o-

Somewhere in Luna

Jacin is in Luna, in a city that he barely knows himself. He isn't scared of the unknown, he's more worried about being found after the progress he's made so far. With his backpack slung over his shoulder and his grey hood over his head, he continues trekking.

"Who is that cadet over there?"

"Cadet Clay, the Dean's son. Spitting image of his father, isn't he?"

"A fine soldier to be."

When he passes a mailbox, he stops. He slings his backpack off his shoulder to his chest and opens the front pocket. He pulls out a letter and drops it in the box before continuing his journey.