unRecoverable |unOrdinary fanfiction| Book 3

Chapter 10.1: Chaos

He'd done it. He'd made the royals fall. All at once, without any ability. So why did it feel so alien? Perhaps it was that it was the fact that he'd never had people be free around him in his life. As he was walking to his dorm, John pondered on it more.

John Anthony Doe's PoV
3/30/2226, 14:12:20.46
Blyke & John's Dormitory, Boys Dormitories, Wellson Private High, US

As I was sitting on my bed, facing my beige-painted walls, perpendicular to my window, for the first time, I had thought about what I had done. Every part of me was laughing at the result upon them, but I wasn't so sure that Seraph would be happy with it. Ze wasn't, by a goddamn longshot, but ze saw potential in the situation. I had made myself into a shape-shifting, multiplying, vengeful symbol whose identity would never be discovered. Cynic smiled, a rarity for them. Huntress smiled viciously, rubbing her hands together. Romantic was done with the situation once I 'reminded' him of what happened. Noticer was neutral, as xe usually was. As long as nobody contested xer rule over my mind, xe didn't care.

I don't exactly know when I had started, but I had been laughing for a while. Blyke had been standing in the doorway, maybe to move his shit, but his eyes were wide. Yeah, Blyke, I wouldn't blame you. Nobody with pure intentions ever laughs like that. But this laugh had nothing to do with intentions, and everything to do with actions. I thought he had gotten over his grudge against me, but it looks like it had turned into terror instead. I sobered up immediately, though. I moved out of his way, mostly out of courtesy. He was still cautious around me, though. Why was he this afraid of me? I went to so much effort to make sure that my files stayed hidden!

"He's such a tyrant." I had turned the corner, and found the person saying it. I punched them in the face after dragging them out of their group. The rest of them cowered in fear, but not running away.

I dismissed the flashback, not wanting to react the way I would have normally, and ending up looking crazy . . . why the fuck am I worried about that? I'm crazy enough as is! Internal dialogue aside, I wasn't sure. Oh well. That was annoying.

Blyke Haizu's PoV
3/26/2226, 09:41:23.98
Wellston High School's Library, Wellston, Ohio, USA

"Who do you think this Erebus is?" Remi had posed the question, and I had pondered it. Isen was suspiciously quiet for an investigator. Nothing that would hold up in court, but it was damning nonetheless.

I asked something that I would look back upon as uncharacteristically smart. "What ability does Erebus have when he doesn't have one copied?"

Isen looked on edge. Damning you even more, Isen. Remi didn't notice this, or ignored it, however. But either way, she didn't react to it. "I don't think he'd have one on him."

This confirmed my fears. "John doesn't have an ability to my knowledge." Isen was now sweating. I turned to him. "Isen, you sick fuck! You had me be friends with John to be on his good side, didn't you?! He was a god-tier and you didn't tell me!" I had raised my voice too much, and Remi got between us. I was still angry, but she tried to seperate us.

Isen never moved, however. I had calmed down significantly, though. Remi had questions, though. "I knew John had an ability, but why did you hide it from us?" She knew too?!? I was the only one who didn't know?

"I couldn't! Neither John nor Arlo would let me! Arlo wanted his throne, John wanted his secrecy! I swear I had no control over this situation!" Isen was panicking while I was raging. Remi looked disappointed.

"Isen, you have a penchant for getting your nose into places they shouldn't be, which is probably what makes you such a good reporter. But this time, you didn't tell us when it hurts you! We care about you, Isen!" She had neglected to put that he had put me in harm's way for him to hide it. "You also put Blyke in danger to keep this secret safe! I should have been the one that taught us that secrets help nobody! I was a vigilante for the gods' sake!" . . . nevermind. She's an angel. "And you! You need to tell me when you think you're going into a dangerous situation! I can't lose either of you!" She was in tears at the end. I felt guilty for hiding my vigilantism from them. Still, I knew what she meant.

"I'll try my best to trust you." I dipped my head apologetically. I was their best friend. I could act better than that.

Isen sighed in defeat. "I'll go get my files, meet me in my dorm."

We adjourned our session, trust anew, and thoughts expressed.

13:41:43.99
Isen's Dorm, Boys Dormitories, Wellston Private High School, Wellston, Ohio, US

Isen had shown us his files. John was expelled? And what are these about Readjustment Classes?! He's a 7.0? What the fuck have I been dealing with?

Remi had similar looks of horror on her face, upon discovering the Readjustment Class section.

"Arlo had me look into him once he had interacted John. He was 'suspicious', his words, not mine. Apparently John wasn't afraid of him like he should have been. He was 'annoying' to Arlo, since he couldn't shake him, no matter how hard he tried. When I finally dug up enough information on him, I presented it to Arlo. Of course, after I told him that John had an ability, Arlo—the fucker— took my hard work and ripped it in half." Isen grimaced. An expression that looked so out of place on his face that it was like I was looking at a different person. He looked us in the eyes. "He was expelled for excessive violence against his peers. Before this, I thought every school was as laissez faire as this one when it comes to violence. Apparently not New Bostin. It looks like he's repeating the same mistakes here, just anonymously."

One issue with that claim was that he left notes on his victims. "So why does he leave us notes?" Was it to taunt us? Point out our issues without giving them a way to get to him? Forcing us to acknowledge him?

Isen acquiesced, "I suppose he has learned some things from it." Whatever Readjustment was, it wasn't pretty. That much I could tell. As brutal as he was, he was also pretty damn specific. He inflicted wounds that we've inflicted upon others. John . . . Doe. Where have I heard that last name before? I wasn't sure, but it seemed important.

Remi seemed to have the same thought. "W. H. Doe was the author of Rei's book. Before they went to burn it. The name of it, I believe, was unOrdinary." Fuck, if that wasn't frightening. William, or Wisteria. Either one could have been the name of John's parent. The book was banned shortly after it said that the Readjustment Classes were finished.

Was the book written for John? 

Remi nodded at me, her concern bleeding through her pursed lips. Is this why Isen like investigation? Because it makes him feel smart? I shook my head, looking over at Isen, who was a little bit unnerved by the silence. "What else was part of your story?" I refused to believe that Isen brute-force searched the internet just for one school with John in it. Despite his hacking skills and investigative techniques, I didn't think he would be that good with a single name.

Isen looked at us pensively. "I stole him away for an interview. I had told him it was an article about how Low Tiers were treated, gathering awareness for it. I . . . may have been a tad aggressive about it. My questions were a bit off-beat from what he expected. They included questions about his previous school, which he indirectly provided through a botched question. He attacked me after seeing through my ruse, though. I let him know I was taking none of his bullshit, however, and crushed his hand. As the final nail in the coffin, I had said that he was 'less than dirt' to me." I looked at him in disappointment, and Remi did too.

"I think I speak for Blyke when I ask you 'What the fuck?!'" I had never seen Remi's face turn angry so fast.

Isen nodded in acceptance. "Yeah, I know. It was an asshole thing for me to go along with. but when I say that Arlo is intimidating, I do mean that he's fucking intimidating."

It did nothing to sooth my disappointment in him. "You know, I'm not even mad at John for what he did to you anymore." Isen looked at me in shock, clutching his heart. "You call me a drama queen, Isen."

Remi couldn't maintain an angry face anymore, and burst in laughter. Remi is one of those people who you can smile because they laughed because it sounds nice to listen to. Even Isen couldn't help a little smirk.

Isen quickly sobered up, however. He mentioned a letter that was left on Remi's body. His coding had left him with a clear date in the letter's lines. 3/30/2226. It was a sneaky little code, but one that spoke to all of the Royals. Oh, fuck. Three days from now, John would challenge all of the Royals.