Second Chance

Chapter 1: Desperation

Wellston Private High School:

Boys Dorms, 11:09 PM

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Johns Room:

"Isen, how do you like your eggs?" John asked from the kitchenette as he noticed his injured classmate was beginning to stir.

"Scrambled... just like how I feel right now." Isen remarked.

"Coming right up, good one by the way." John replied after assessing the current state that Isen was in.

After about 10 minutes preparing some classic breakfast for dinner, John brought over two plates to the table that Isen was sat at when he had brought him in. Realizing how Isen had barely moved, John decided to once again strike up conversation and try and discover the reason he came to him over many other, more friendly, people.

"Isen, what happened to you?" John questioned.

"Ah man, does it look that bad?" Isen replied, acknowledging his less than ideal situation.

"Well if you were trying to look like you had just been through a fire, it worked." Stated John.

At this point John was beginning to realize that Isen had clearly come to John for help, he, and whoever else he was with tonight, had definitely run into someone that they could not deal with. What was still perplexing John was a few things however. Who did this, and why, and to such an extent. Then something struck John like a train, Isen looked like he just got into a fight with John himself, he was on the verge of being hospital worthy, and John even was beginning to understand that he himself never beat Isen to this extent. 

Suddenly, Isen jolted in his chair and had the look on his face as if he saw a ghost in the room. He started to panic, this did something John, it made him understand the true gravity of what was progressing in front of him, and for Isen to be worried like he was, disregarding the person he was in a room with, alone, it had to be because Blyke and Remi were in danger.

'Why else would Isen come to me if it weren't for his friends and it wasn't serious.' Thought John.

"Isen, I'm beginning to piece together the situation at hand here, but for me to truly understand you need to tell me exactly what is happening right now, and what made it so sever that you came to me over Arlo and Sera." John demanded.

"Arlo and Seraphina are not exactly dependable people these days John, after you left on your suspension, both of them turned into themselves and became less approachable than when we were trying to stop you." Declared Isen.

"And why might that be, I know I wasn't exactly the easiest to deal with, but I would have suspected that at least you, the Royals, would have had some greater sense of unity after the trials I put you through."

"Its complicated, and to be honest, I don't know the whole story myself, but it all started around the time when Seraphina went to get her ability back. After that it was a slow decline in contact. I knew you would be here and that leads me to my request." Isen got straight to the point after barely providing a strong enough answer to satisfy Johns curiosity.

"Listen Isen, I'm sure whatever you have gotten yourself into is bad, judging by your appearance and panic attack alone, but I don't know if its the best idea to involve me, needless to say our history." John stated apprehensively.

"As it stands, I already have a lot to worry about coming back here to Wellston, and dragging myself into another string of fight my not be the rig-" Began John before Isen cut him off.

"JOHN, LISTEN FOR ONCE!" Shouted Isen. "Coming to you was a stretch, I know, I'm willing to bet someone like you has already realized that I wouldn't do this if it was for myself, its for Remi and Blyke, their lives are in danger!"

"Isen... remember who you are talking to and asking for help" John threateningly stared Isen down from across the small table.

Isen felt his stomach drop, but then felt something greater than the fear he felt from the domineering presence in front of him. Courage, and desperation for his friends safety.

"I need your help John, but more than that, Blyke and Remi need your help. I know we've had our differences, I know we all have bad blood with you, but I am willing to forego that, make it water under the bridge if you'll simply help them!" Isen begged.

"You're right." John concluded.

Isen's mouth dropped, his last stand of, his last chance of saving his friends had actually listened to his words!

"On one condition..."

And there it was again, that same stomach drop feeling had hit Isen like a truck for the second time within five minutes.

"What can I do for you..." Isen said sheepishly.

"Well I can't go into this blind, I need your ability, and I'm going to need some way to sustain myself for the night in a prolonged fight." John requested.

"Didn't we just eat like a few minutes ago?" Isen questioned.

"Idiot, I need a healing ability, no wonder I beat you so badly so many times!" John said slightly annoyed with Isen's obliviousness.

"Okay then, I guess we should make our way over to Elaine's dorm then, right?"

"Wait here, I need to prepare some things before we leave, its gonna be a long night and I don't intend on being caught by whatever you and your friends have gotten yourselves into." John stated.

With that John went into his bedroom area of the dorm and dug around in the draws of his dressers to find some dark clothing. He ended up coming out with a dark grey muscle shirt and a black jacket with no hood. However, he had to settle for his school pants as they were the longest and darkest pair of pants he hand with him. John looked around his room one more time before remembering one more thing he needed, the mask.

He looked over to his closet and pulled aside his hung school shirts to find the original two eyed balaclava style mask that he used to climb the ranks with not more than just a few weeks ago. He eyed the mask with disgust, nothing but memories of the king he was before and during Wellston came from this disguise. Yet here he was again, about to don the mask of a man who fought to hurt, once again. But this time it was different, he would use this hurt on those who were out to harm others, others who he no longer believed deserved to be hurt.

"Try and use your ability to help people, not hurt them. Use your ability for good, try and use it to dissuade a fight, rather than to settle one."

The words of his father echoed in Johns mind again, reminding him to show restraint when using his ability. However, tonight John couldn't apply what his father was trying to teach him, he had to use his ability to hurt tonight, yet this time it was for the right reason, and was not for himself.

"Isen are you ready to go?" Questioned John.

"Yeah you might need to help me tho-" Isen froze before finishing the sentence as his eye caught what John was holding in his hand, the fear inducing mask of the Joker himself.

"Are you planning on wearing that mask tonight?" Isen asked, voice trembling.

"Yes, don't worry, tonight I may be the Joker once again, but I'm not out for you, I'm out for the ones who hurt you." John assured Isen.

"Okay, I'll take your word for it, I guess." Isen stated, accepting Johns words of reason for the masks use.

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Next time  on Second Chance...

"Elaine, open up, I'm here"

"You didn't warn her that I would be with you?!"

"She wouldn't have accepted my coming over if I did!"

"Once a rat, always a rat..."