"Faster!"
The X was jumping down the path, closing the distance between it and the green dots despite them moving faster. Minx's heart felt like it was going to beat out of her chest as she watched the distance close between her nemesis and her only family member.
An evil laugh echoed through the still air as they reached the gate to enter the campus. Minx heard it through Midas's watch and chills went down her spine. She watched the dots enter through the gate and sighed in relief.
The X bounced across the map toward the red dots.
"Midas, I'm in 215B, I'll see you in a bit," she sounded tired and confused as she disconnected the call.
"Oh shit!" She suddenly realized something, "he was fishing for a weakness and he caught something…"
She looked up at the ceiling, muttering under her breath. She closed her eyes and focused on her breathing.
After several breaths enhanced her calm, she was able to think rationally again,
She stared at the overlay, meticulously studying what she was seeing, "How do I close this?" she said with a calmness that seemed a stark contrast to her emotions only moments before.
Vorden grabbed her hands and started singing to her. It was a calming nursery rhyme. He found her sudden calmness unnerving. He sat her back down, "getting upset isn't helpful."
Quinn suggested, "do you see an x on the border of the overlay? Like you'd see to close out a window on your tablet or you watch?"
She shook her head, visibly fighting to maintain her calmness. "What am I missing?"
"What exactly are you seeing?"
"Trees."
She went to the window and compared the trees in her view to those outside. Being on the second floor made it easier to compare the two views.
"Okay, these trees the on the map are those over there," she pointed to an area off to the right.
"That bench next to the tree is not on the map," she pointed once again, this time just to the left of her a few yards in front of the gate.
"Way over there is where the willow I grew is. The map had green dots on it at the willow. There was a red X and red dots around the tree, surrounding the green dots."
Her voice took on a wispy tone, "are the red dots bullies or hose who wish to harm me specifically? What are these white or grey dots?"
"The red X has to be Tucker since that was his laughter, and the X was the only symbol I the area other than the green dots."
"Do you not have experience with video games? They have combat screens that show who or what is in a radius of the player."
"I have no experience with games. That's my brother's area of expertise."
Vorden nodded. "So, it sounds like the overlay showed your friends and Midas near your tree. What else?"
"Wait, there is only one species of tree plus my willow." Suddenly she understood. "Thank you trees your help in safeguarding my friends. I appreciate your help." The overlay vanished. She released a long exhale.
"All better?" Vorden asked.
"Yes." She exhaled slowly, "Thank you for helping me."
Vorden chuckled, "Was I any help?"
She nodded with a shy smile, "I was fighting panic. Your song… where did you learn that? Could you teach it to my brother?"
"Can you explain your ability? You said plants but what does that mean?" Quinn asked curiously.
"Well, in addition to my vine armor and whip, the trees speak to me. I think my ability has improved to the point where I can get a visual description of what they are saying. I have been able to get visual directions; replays of things they have seen but I have never had a map like this before. This is something new…"
"I know some of your secrets so I will share some things as well." She sighed and took a deep breath, deciding what she's willing to allow these two people to know about her.
She began. "My plant ability is exceptionally complicated. While people normally learn their ability once they have language skills at the very least, I was born being able to do things with plants. I'd grow vines, babble in languages that were incoherent to human ears. I told you both the three categories I describe."
She started wringing her hands in her lap.
"The combat portion is something I refuse to share. I only use the roots, vine whip and vine armor. There is a lot I still don't understand. Like, why did my arm turn ghostly that day? I did two new things that day but can only duplicate the rose vines. I still have a lot to learn. It requires a lot of reading. My relationship with the trees is the reason I'm alive. They saved us countless times when we were still in that place. Where we grew up."
"Who is Tucker?" Quinn asked.
"An abuser. A Second year. His actions make me relive the orphanage days. I freeze up around strong people so it's harder to function when he's attacking me." She said barely above a whisper.
"It's funny that I can move to defend my brother but not so much when it's me."
"I don't know if you recall that horrid display at breakfast on the first day of school where I attacked Dan for being obnoxious? Every year growing up I would have to perform a show of strength to keep Midas safe. In this case, Dan has an older brother who relishes in delivering pain."
"Tucker." Quinn said firmly.
Minx nodded, "He wants revenge for that one incident and is drawing it out for his own sick pleasure. The problem is the abuse we suffered growing up has made me strong but weak at the same time because I freeze at the worst times possible.
Minx shrunk into herself as the memories flooded her head. Her face drained of color, any trace of her happy bubbly personality vanished. "I was forced to teach myself gymnastics and acrobatics using poutube videos. The fighting video didn't seem … useful to me. But these skills helped me escape the monsters."
Vorden took a deep breath. Sil, called the Little one, had come forward when he realized Quinn was in the room and had watched the whole thing with a myriad of emotions. He listened to her words and he wasn't happy. Raten want to "flatten Tucker's face" calling Minx "cute" especially when she was enraged. Vorden found the commentary from the peanut gallery distracting. What was clear was something needed to happen. The question was what.
"So… What do think the next action should be? Do you know where he lives? Which room?"
Minx laughed, "you think I don't know you're attacking second years? Mono wants your ass, by the way. Right now, I have the trees gathering information, but that teleport ability is too good. He's all over the place in public areas. He also has his friends following us, tracking our movements. One has an invisibility ability. It's cute, actually." Minx smiled and giggled a little. "He thinks I can't see him! We will avoid the park as much as we can. I have already told everyone not to go anywhere alone."
Vorden stared at her, "you paint a grim picture."
"Look," Minx sighed but her small smile remained, "thanks to working today, I now have enough buy Revlis and Aqua their next level ability books. My focus remains on working my stall and buying ability books for my team. I haven't bought any new blankets in weeks!"
"And your brother? Didn't he take the earth ability? Is he one of the bullies now? Vorden told me he said to keep an eye on Peter…" Quinn asked.
"I'll take care of Midas…" She smirked, "I stole the book he just completed in retaliation for beating him up. I need to find the next one." Her eyes took on a mischievous twinkle.
Quinn went to the door as soon as he heard a knock.
"If that's Midas, I'll be in his room in a few minutes," Minx called toward the door. She heard retreating footsteps indicating it was Midas and he heard her.
Quinn returned to his seat and asked, "how does one manage to steal a book?"
Minx laughed nervously with a smile that made Raten's heart melt, "A woman should never divulge all her secrets Mi Lord." She giggled. "I assure you my… victims have earned what I do to them. Also, I'm not asking you to get involved but I thought you deserved to understand my reactions to the events a few moments ago."
"Have you told anyone? Dr. Hayley?" Vorden was curious.
"No." She replied more firmly than the question warranted. "Adults cannot be trusted. Dr. Hayley asked a bald, blind man to do a combat class assessment on me."
Minx shuddered just thinking of the energy she read off him. He was very strong.
"Midas talked to him and worked a deal. I learn combat from students in Quinn's class. He still wants to assess my skills, though. I'm terrified of him coming back any time."
"I think you should work on that fear. Leo will work with you and help you."
Minx gulped and nodded, "I think I'll go talk to my brother now. Thank you for your time and help. I'm sure it's close to curfew anyway," a quick glance at her watch to confirmed it.
A moment later, she knocked on the next door down. Midas grabbed her and pulled her into a big hug. "What happened?" he whispered.
She whispered back, "The trees granted me a visual overlay, a map of the park with dots for people. Speaking to trees upgraded."
Midas nodded as they walked into the room. Everyone else was waiting for an explanation.
Minx looked at her friends then briefly explained. "I wanted to thank Vorden for his donation that contributed to getting your books today, so I stopped by next door. I found out something was off in the park, so I contacted Midas. I believe it was Tucker again."
She took a deep breath, "I think it was a test to find a weakness. I'm sure he learned something. He may also target you guys to toy with you and get to me. Raven, don't leave without Knight unless you have no choice. I want you all travelling with at least one other person."
"We are stronger together. Let's avoid the park unless it's needed, such as going through it to get to the store. Focus on growth. If you are under attack in the park, get to the willow so it can protect you."
"So, we just tuck our tails and run? What about his other victims?"
A darkness spread across her face, "Do you think I'm just going to tuck my tail and let him have all the fun? I promise, this is not forever."
Just then, the curfew warning went off on all their watches.