[indent][i][color=darkgray]A late summer wind whipped through Aurora's copper hair as she beheld the situation that lay before her. The young girl didn’t understand exactly how the trial worked; she was still attempting to comprehend how she had even gotten here in the first place. When she was brought to this boarding school for “special kids like her” she wasn’t expecting to be thrown essentially into a gauntlet on only her third day.[/color][/i]

[color=darkgray][i]The 13-year-old shifted from foot to foot nervously while waiting for the group to go inside the structure. She was both small for her age and incredibly thin, making her look younger than she actually was. She was unassuming, you’d likely miss her if you didn’t look carefully. But Aurora was there, scared and skittish, and would try her best to tackle this challenge like she did the rest she encountered in her life.[/i][/color]

[i][color=darkgray]Her baby blue eyes darted from face to face around her, sizing up the other kids her year who were running the trial. Some seemed excited at the premise and chatter flowed easily for them. But there were also many others like her who remained quiet, cautious. [/color][/i]

[color=#fe650d][i]“It’s okay to be clucked,”[/i][/color][i][color=darkgray] The voice of a young boy said from behind her, his long wavy hair spilled down to his shoulders while brilliant orange eyes smiled at her, an iris colour she had never seen before. A puka shell necklace peeked out from his athletic shirt's collar, a sweatband wrapped around his right wrist, and a guitar pick tucked into the band.[/color][/i]

[color=#fe650d][i]“My Dad says that the Trial is supposed to be fun, it’s not like the Thunderdome or anything. Everything you see in there is just for fun.”[/i][/color][i][color=darkgray] The boy repeated the word fun, sounding more like he was trying to convince himself than he was Aurora. [/color][/i]

[color=#fe650d][i]“You got this, Lady Dude,”[/i][/color][i][color=darkgray] He added, extending a fist for a bump, [/color][/i][color=#fe650d][i]“Just breathe, stand up on your board and ride the wave.”[/i][/color][i][color=darkgray] The boy winked while flashing a toothy grin. [/color][/i]

[color=#fe650d][i]“It’ll be all choka, brah.”[/i][/color]

[i][color=darkgray]He was the same boy from the other day, the one who had smiled and waved at her near the Administration building. [/color][/i]

[color=darkgray][i]At this moment, however, the redhead looked at him like he had three heads. He was saying things, it was obvious he was talking, but she did not understand him in the slightest. Who even talked like that? Clucked…Lady Dude…Choka… What did those words even mean? So, she just smiled politely at him and nodded, too timid to try and even plot a reply. She didn’t bother to return his fist bump either.[/i][/color]

[i][color=darkgray]The students ahead of them started moving towards the hedge, thankfully cutting the conversation short, taking out their student cards to scan. Aurora followed suit, clutching her ID with a trembling hand as the machine beeped upon her movement. She slipped the card back into her pocket as she entered the maze, the neural link on her temple warming slightly. [/color][/i]

[color=darkgray][i]Some kind of idea of fun these people had.[/i][/color]

[COLOR=8ECDB7][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR]

[color=darkgray][i]Towering spires and soaring pillars of stone surrounded Aurora as she raced through the kingdom, heart pounding in her ears. She navigated the unfamiliar landscape as best she could, dodging visible obstacles by teleporting around them and bobbing and weaving past the other students in her path. The girl had overheard one of them explain how the seniors designed the trial every year and so the theme was up to their discretion. Guess someone had been on a fantasy kick recently. [/i][/color]

[i][color=darkgray]The redhead moved with agile grace, but inside, all she felt was panic. She was doing well, but it was because she had to, not because she wanted to. Last thing she needed was to be kicked out before she could even begin and subject herself to the vicious cycle of change she had been victim to for the last few years. Her strategy was simple: fend for herself and get out as fast as she could. She’d do it alone. [/color][/i]

[color=darkgray][i]The clocktower chimed, the bells tolling loudly, and Aurora braced herself for what followed. It was a pattern she had picked up on quickly once they had gotten inside the trial - her keen eye and ear for detail recognized it after only the second instance. Every time the clocktower went, so did one of the pillars around them, crumbling to the ground. The girl’s eyes searched, trying to determine if it would be one near her, which is what allowed her to see him. [/i][/color]

[i][color=darkgray]The boy from before with eyes like wildfire.[/color][/i]

[color=darkgray][i]He had stopped momentarily and he wasn’t paying attention to his surroundings. The pillar directly to his left had started to shake… he didn’t see it. The girl felt fear, pure fear, as she screamed out to him, hoping he’d hear her in time. [/i][/color]

[i][color=#8ecdb7]“Hey! Watch out!”[/color][/i]

[color=darkgray][i]It happened so fast that Aurora didn’t even realize what she was doing until it had already been done. She appeared at his side and grabbed his hand before he could even blink, teleporting the both of them a safe distance away. The pillar fell, crumbling to the ground, but they were nowhere in harm's way. [/i][/color]

[i][color=#fe650d]“Whoa,” [/color][/i][color=darkgray][i]The boy blushed looking down at his hand while regaining his bearings.[/i][/color]

[i][color=#fe650d]“That was rad, you’re rad, Lady Dude.”[/color][/i]

[color=darkgray][i]The redhead glanced to where her fingers intertwined with his, and once she recognized the contact, quickly let go. The speed in which she dropped his hand was noticeable, as if she had even surprised herself. Because she had.[/i][/color]

[i][color=darkgray]It had been the first time she had teleported someone else. [/color][/i]

[color=darkgray][i]Aurora didn’t even know she could do that; it had never been something she had thought to try. Sure, she’d teleported objects before, but never a person. And why him? She didn’t even know him. The girl took a step away from the boy, creating more distance between them. [/i][/color]

[i][color=#8ecdb7]“A pillar falls every time the bells ring.” [/color][/i][color=darkgray][i]The redhead paused, before blurting, [/i][/color][i][color=#8ecdb7]"Watch where you’re going next time.” [/color][/i]

[color=darkgray][i]The boy nodded solemnly.[/i][/color]

[i][color=#fe650d]“Appreciate the tip, brah. You know you don’t have to go it alone right?” [/color][/i]

[color=darkgray][i]She didn’t even reply before teleporting away. [/i][/color]

[i][color=darkgray]Aurora sped through the remainder of the trial, utilizing her abilities to bypass the rest of the obstacles and challenges throughout the kingdom. As she came to the castle’s moat, she teleported across the wide expanse with ease. She looked back from the other side, watching as a couple of students evaluated the unstable bridge that was their only ticket out. She didn’t spare them a second glance before turning back around and making a break for the exit. [/color][/i]

[color=#fe650d][i]You don’t have to go it alone. [/i][/color]

[i][color=darkgray]The boy's words replayed in her mind as the simulation ended. But what he did not understand is that she did have to go it alone. She always had, and likely always would. There was no one she could trust in this world other than herself, she was certain. She’d been let down too many times, forced to fend for herself without the assistance of others. She had accepted that a long time ago. And yet, she had still helped him, shocking herself by doing so. Maybe it was because he had been kind to her. Or maybe it was because she didn’t want to see anyone get hurt. [/color][/i]

[color=darkgray][i]Aurora pushed open the door, returning to the Plateau. The small girl’s baby blue eyes took in the faces around her who simply stared as she emerged, in awe.[/i][/color]

[i][color=darkgray]She had been the first to complete the trial.[/color][/i][/indent]
[color=darkgray][CENTER][COLOR=8ECDB7][sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][img]https://i.imgur.com/trGSdE7.gif[/img][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=8ECDB7][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Southern Plateau[/I] - [I]Dundas Island, Pacific Ocean[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=8ECDB7][b]Hope in Hell #2.010:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Trial by Fire[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=8ECDB7][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][indent][sub][color=8ECDB7][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I] [color=fe650d]Lorcán[/color] [@Lord Wraith] [color=8a9a5b]Harper[/color] [@Qia][/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=8ECDB7][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [COLOR=darkgray][I]Chasing Cars[/I][/color][/right][/SUP][/indent][/color]
[indent][color=#ffffff]“Savour it, work together and I know you’ll do great.”[/color]

[color=darkgray]Aurora snapped out of her daydream as Tad wrapped up his pep talk. She widened her eyes and raised her eyebrows, blinking rapidly to bring herself back to the present day. Exhaustion tugged at her limbs but she still followed her teammates and walked towards the maze, swiping her card to gain entry to the Trial. She’d managed to get a few hours of rest after her late night chat with Banjo, her mind put a bit more at ease, but she still felt sluggish this morning. However, if this was anything like her first time running, it should be a breeze. After all, she could teleport through if she was particularly having trouble. [/color]

[color=darkgray]Lorcán stood behind her, she could feel the heat radiating off of him, but he seemed to be standing closer to her than usual… or maybe she was simply more aware of his presence this morning. Neither of them had brought up last night’s conversation. In fact, they had barely spoken during breakfast. She did catch him looking at her though when he thought she wasn’t paying attention. He had the same fire in his eyes that she noticed the evening prior, there was intention behind his gaze. [/color]

[color=darkgray]They walked into the Trial, Harper following behind them, and as the simulation was booting up Aurora looked back into the boy’s sunset colored eyes and smiled. But that grin quickly disappeared as she beheld his confused and troubled expression. [/color]

[color=darkgray]Something was [/color][i][color=darkgray]very [/color][/i][color=darkgray]wrong.[/color]

[color=darkgray]The redhead whipped around to see what he was staring at and her face paled almost instantly as she took in their surroundings. It was clear that this was [/color][color=darkgray][i]not [/i][/color][color=darkgray]the Trial that had been planned. [/color][color=darkgray]The callous hallways of the Foundation, cold and sterile, went as far as the eye could see. Fog collected at her ankles and static buzzed in her ears accompanied by the dissonance of whispers and hissing. From her vantage point she could peer into two of the classrooms and winced as she saw the gurneys with their restraints, the colorful vials and syringes with the dried blood. Goosebumps peppered her arms underneath her AR suit.[/color]

[color=darkgray]This wasn’t a school. It was an asylum. [/color]

[color=darkgray]Lorcán’s voice was strong and assertive as he took charge, rolling up his sleeves and rallying their teammates. He was a natural leader and commanded attention with his unwavering confidence, a quality that was not lost on Aurora. She felt his touch and looked down to see his hand enveloping hers. He squeezed gently, and she immediately squeezed back, every stray thought evaporating from her mind. The tone of his statement indicated that she didn’t have a say in the matter, but even if she did, the redhead had no desire to leave his side.[/color]

[color=darkgray]She glanced back up at him, a hint of fear noticeable in her eyes, and nodded. [/color]

[color=darkgray]Together. This time they’d stick together.[/color]

[color=darkgray]As Amma spoke and stepped closer, the redhead clutched the boy’s hand tighter, a shiver running down her spine as the raven haired girl smirked. She knew something they didn’t, after all, the transfer had the advantage since she was familiar with these hallways. Bile rose up in the back of the redhead’s throat, whether it was the danger they were now certainly in or the EBI field messing with her body, she wasn’t sure. Either way, she was instantly nauseous. [/color]

[color=darkgray]And then Amma was gone, running down one of the eerie corridors. Aurora took a few steps in the direction the girl headed in but stopped as she felt the pull of the person she was grasping. She looked back at Lorcán, [/color][color=#8ecdb7]“We have to follow her. I have no clue how this happened, but Amma is the only one who knows this place and is our best chance of getting out of-”[/color]

[color=darkgray]Calli crumpled to the ground, her breathing quick and shallow as she spiraled, icy exterior melting right before the redhead’s eyes. She recognized the signs of the panic attack, just as she had with Lorcán yesterday, and her heart broke for the blonde. But her focus wavered as she noticed movement out of the corner of her periphery. [/color]

[color=darkgray]They weren’t alone.[/color]

[color=darkgray]Who emerged, however,[/color][color=darkgray] was not anticipated in the slightest. [/color][color=darkgray]At first Aurora thought she was seeing double, but realization hit that the figures were only Calliope and Katja in appearance, not in mind. They may have looked like them but they spoke of weakness and suffering, an air of disgust laced with chaotic unrestrained energy. If these ‘anti’ versions of two of their teammates existed, who else was lurking inside the Trial? An even better question was how many people were they possibly up against here.[/color]

[color=darkgray]The last thing she saw was Anti-Calliope’s smirk, which rivaled that of Amma’s. Darkness consumed the group and the redhead vaguely felt the sensation of being pulled elsewhere, a version of teleporting, but not of her own accord.[/color]

[color=darkgray]Light returned, and as her eyes adjusted she saw that they were now in a [/color][color=darkgray]worse[/color][color=darkgray][i] [/i][/color][color=darkgray]situation than before. Separated from the rest of Blackjack, her, Lorcán, and Harper found themselves in a classroom. They were underwater, how deep she didn’t know, but by the looks of it, they were far from the surface. She attempted to examine her surroundings, noting the locked blast door, but jumped as the unmistakable crack of glass reverberated off the walls. Color disappeared from the redhead’s cheeks as she saw the window, a clear line running down the middle. The crack[/color][color=darkgray] continued to radiate outwards, spidering slowly, but surely. Her mind immediately went to the worst case scenario; the glass could shatter completely and let all of the water in. And with no way out… [/color]

[color=darkgray]She wasn’t a strong swimmer, she’d be pulled under before she could even cry for help. [/color]

[color=darkgray]They’d drown.[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“That glass isn’t going to hold forever… we have to find a way out of here.” [/color][color=darkgray]She declared, although it seemed obvious, her eyes immediately finding the door and the small window that showed the hallway. [/color][color=#8ecdb7]“There has to be a set of controls on the other side, a way to deactivate the fail-safe.” [/color][color=darkgray]She turned to Harper and to Lorcán, who’s hand she was still somehow holding, [/color][color=#8ecdb7]“I’ll teleport and unlock the door.” [/color]

[color=#8a9a5b]"Okay, that sounds like a good idea. Just...be careful.”[/color]

[color=darkgray]Lorcán gave Aurora a look, his eyes darting between the glass windows and the single door.[/color]

[color=#fe650d]"It'd be a grom move to just try without at least testing for an EBI field."[/color][color=darkgray] He reluctantly admitted, taking a few steps forward before raising his hand. Taking a deep breath, he placed it on the blast door and exhaled a small sigh of relief. [/color][color=#fe650d]"I still am not stoked about this."[/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“We don’t have a ton of options here, Lorcán. I’ve got to try.” [/color][color=darkgray]Aurora asserted, squeezing his hand before letting go and not giving him another opportunity to detest. She vanished into thin air. [/color]

[color=darkgray]The redhead materialized outside of the room after a few long moments, completely unharmed. She was relieved. How that door bypassed the EBI field, she wasn’t sure, but she was simply thankful that she hadn’t been rearranged along the way. Teleporting had been a massive risk, she could have been seriously injured if her abilities had been nullified, but it had paid off. Only a few steps away she found the controls embedded into the wall. [/color]

[color=#8ecdb7]“I found the panel!” [/color][color=darkgray]She exclaimed, hoping Lorcán and Harper could hear her through the thick walls. Her blue eyes quickly scanned all of the buttons and levers, attempting to find the mechanism that would disarm the safety and open the door. The labels were non-descriptive, some marked by symbols and others with acronyms. [/color][color=#8ecdb7]“Give me a minute, I-”[/color]

[color=darkgray]A cold and calculating laugh echoed through the hallway. [/color]

[color=darkgray]Aurora didn’t have time to react before he struck. [/color][/indent]