Second Chance

Chapter 11: Same Pain, Different Day

Rowden:

Outside the Hotel, 10:15 AM

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*Ding*

Seraphina heard her phone notify her that she received a text and reached for it in her pocket. Taking it out she felt her heart drop at what the message read.

*Lead the barrier user to an alley way and distract him for disabling* read the text.

'No... Why would they make me do this!?' Seraphina thought, appalled. 'They want me to distract Arlo so they can disable him? It must be because they want to do what they did with me, get him under their thumb and use him' Seraphina reasoned.

*Ding*

Another text came through, somehow worse than the last.

*If you want to keep your ability, and prove yourself to this organization, you must complete this task seamlessly. This is your one and only chance* ended the text.

'And now they are blackmailing me. Guess this really means something to them and their "grand plan"' thought Seraphina. 'But do I really want to do this' she continued to think.

'If I do, I am basically sentencing Arlo to a metaphoric life in prison as long as this organization exists. But if I don't, I will lose my ability and Leilah might feel the repercussions for recommending me' thought she. 'What should I-' her thoughts were interrupted.

"Seraphina! Are you ready to go? You've been standing there spaced out for awhile now" Roland called to her.

"Ah, my bad. Just have a lot to think about" Seraphina covered up. "Let's head out to the city" she continued.

"Alright!" replied the excited group. 

All but Arlo who had a serious expression on his face, one of vigilance and suspicion. Arlo had no idea what to expect, all he knew is that at any time something bad could happen to anyone in this group. He was thankful that none of the other Royals, or Elaine, got stuck in this group as it had the biggest target on its back. Seraphina was a walking double agent, and he recently found out about another possible leak within Wellston, working for the same organization.

'It could be anyone' he thought. 'But they either have said nothing to her, or are friends with her' Arlo thought while eyeing Roland.

'He looks to be a good candidate for that, but would they still be so friendly if Seraphina knew?' Arlo continued to think.

Not reaching a decent conclusion, Arlo walking to the front of the group where Seraphina was. He needed to act as bait, and to do that he needed to seem as thought his guard was down. Little did anyone know that a bigger threat than him was watching over his shoulder, one that was much less likely to show mercy if rubbed the wrong way.

The group kept walking until the reached the main city of Rowden and began following its sidewalks that could lead them anywhere they wanted. Shops, parks, buildings and all were in Rowden and many of the students had never been here before, so to say they were oblivious to any danger was an understatement. Then again, the only danger they ever really recognized was John, and to their knowledge he wasn't here...

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John made his way out of the hotel and began his own walk to the city so he could trail Arlo's group. Walking out of the hotel, he found his way to the streets and hide behind buildings as he recognized the group. He decided to get the high ground as the group was less likely to look up at buildings they had already passed, so he entered one and went up the fire escape to the roof. Luckily, being so urban, Rowden's buildings were packed tightly together with only narrow alleyways in-between, so he could hop from building to building easily.