𝐒𝐄𝐋𝐅𝐈𝐒𝐇 | 𝐀. 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑 [𝟐]

➛⠀𝟰𝟬 | 𝗦𝗜𝗦𝗧𝗘𝗥𝗦 𝗥𝗘𝗨𝗡𝗜𝗧𝗘𝗗

The strength of the Staff of One was too much for Nico to handle, and she started to fight even more to maintain the spell. AWOL was staring at her. "You know, I had girls like you back at my high school. I know why you dress that way," AWOL told Nico, ignoring her crying out of pain. "'Cause you trying to hide, right?"

Molly looked at AWOL as the man continued to speak. "Look, you don't need to be doing this. I can see how much it hurts you. Just let the shield down, and you gonna be all right."

Nico was still screaming in agony as a tear started to fall down her cheek. But AWOL persisted in attempting to have control over Nico. "Ain't nothing gonna happen to you. You could just walk away."

"Alex and Karolina are coming up with something." Molly reassured Nico. "Just focus on it, Nico! You've got this!"

"I am focusing!" Nico yelled.

"You can't hold it anymore." AWOL chuckled. "You're not strong enough."

Nico shook her head as she started hearing the doors being forced to open by AWOL's men. "I'm too weak from the spell." Nico stated as she looked at Molly. "I can't hold onto it!"

"You're not weak," Molly replied back. "You're one of the strongest person I know. You're the reason why we've made it this far, Nico." She continued her comforting words as she approached the goth witch. "I believe in you. You've got this."

"You don't understand." Nico exclaimed. "There's something wrong with me. I killed Jonah, and I didn't even think about it. Because the Staff told me that it was right." Nico stared at the Staff of One, her mascara slowly being ruined by her endless tears. "I could feel it clawing at me, trying to rip through my skin."

Another noise was heard from outside, and Nico began to scream loudly. Molly hurriedly went to the room where Alex and Karolina were. "You guys, Nico's losing it!"

"Time's up." Alex stated to Karolina before walking past her. Alex, Karolina, and Molly heard more screams coming from Nico while AWOL began talking once more. "Your little friends? You can't protect them. You can't protect any of 'em."

Nico sent a glare towards AWOL as AWOL continued to mock her. "Come on, little witch! You was all big and—"

When Karolina had had enough, she shot AWOL with an intense beam of light, sending him back to the ground and breaking the chair he was sitting on. The three rushed down, and Alex immediately grabbed AWOL's walkie-talkie, pushing it in front of the crooked cop. "Tell 'em to stop! Now!" Alex demanded as he pressed the button on the device.

AWOL hesitated but he leaned closer to the walkie-talkie. "Hold the ram." He told his men while glaring at Alex.

Leaning back and pushing his glasses back, Alex turned to face Nico. Nico was exhausted to the point that she struggled to hold on to the railing of the staircase. "Even without them trying to break in, I can't hold it anymore." Nico announced.

"You won't have to." Alex replied. "We're gonna let 'em in."

"What?" Molly and Karolina asked in disbelief.

"This is our turf." Alex stated. "They're coming in blind, so expect them to be trigger-happy. Don't attack first. Wait until they're in position, and then Nico will use a spell to take their guns out of play. And that's when we'll fire from the safe zone. While we have them pinned, Molly can sneak out and rescue Livvie."

°•○●○•°

As you fell to your knees and scraped your knees a little from the ground, you gazed into oblivion. A dead Arcanna Jones is on the ground in front of you, and you have absolutely no recollection of what happened merely moments ago. A tear rolled out of your eye as you dropped your gaze to meet Arcanna's lifeless and dull eyes. "What the hell happened?" You whispered.