[COLOR=GRAY][INDENT][INDENT]As Calliope stood, she was stopped in her tracks by cold steel against the back of her head.

[color=#ffffff]“I’m sorry, luv, that’s far enough.”[/color] The familiar voice of the Butler stated from behind the blonde woman. [color=#ffffff]“I’m afraid I can’t let you go through with it, that boy is my meal ticket and he knows it. If you take him away, if you give him meaning, I’ll be back to where I started before all this, and I’ll be damned if that cursed line is allowed to procreate again.”[/color]

His hand quivered slightly, the barrel of the weapon causing friction against the back of the student’s head. 

[color=#ffffff]“I did everything I could to protect him but this juvenile crush has gone on long enough. Hopefully he gets to you before you bleed out. I wouldn’t want to rob him of the chance to say goodbye again.”[/color]

Momentary relief washed over Calliope as the weapon was removed. The weapon cocking was suddenly deafening and before she could react the sound of the shot rang out. Calliope fell to the ground, where once was two feet, now was only one, her left leg from the thigh down gone. Searing white pain overtook the shock and blood was rapidly exiting from the open wound. 

[color=#ffffff]“I’d get a tourniquet on that if I were you, luv.”[/color] The Butler responded while nodding towards the bloodied stump where her leg had once been, and then he too, so like much of the Trial, vanished, leaving Calliope alone in the dark to bleed out.[/INDENT][/INDENT][CENTER][COLOR=dimgray]
[sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][img]https://i.imgur.com/ZRAMr0Y.png[/img][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=silver][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]H.E.L.P.'s Black Site[/I] - [I]Zayas Island, Pacific Ocean[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=silver][b]Hope In Hell #2.039:[/b][/COLOR] [I]Monkey Wrench[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=dimgray][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][INDENT][sub][color=silver][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]None[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=silver][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [I]I Walk the Line[/I][/right][/SUP]
[INDENT]In the short months that the Black Site had been decommissioned, the age and humidity of the island had rapidly caught up with it, leaving the interior damp and reeking of mold and mildew. Still, Jim noted, it was void of the usual dust no doubt thanks in part to the traffic the site was still seeing thanks to Hyperion’s Children.

[color=#ffffff]“Hold up,” [/color]Jim ordered, raising a hand before motioning to Torres to flank the entrance. [color=#ffffff]“We have company.”[/color] He raised his weapon, while Torres produced her own.

[color=#ffffff]“Jim,”[/color] Miranda’s voice called from the other side of the door, [color=#ffffff]“It’s just Tad and I.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“How do I know ya’ll ain’t Cameron?”[/color] Jim called back. 

[color=#ffffff]“Your favourite bourbon is Howler Head, but you always pour it into a decanter and dispose of the bottle so people don’t know you enjoy a banana flavoured bourbon.”[/color] Miranda replied. Torres raised an eyebrow while Jim let out a low chuckle.

[color=#ffffff]“Happy to have y’all along.”[/color] He stated, stepping out of the shadows as Miranda and Tad joined him and Torres. 

[color=#ffffff]“I take it Miss Friend is here as well then?”[/color] Jim asked as Miranda nodded.

[color=#ffffff]“Or at least she was when we had Cameron, congratulations on avoiding death again.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“If Hyperion weren’t about to kill me, I ain’t about to let his bargain bin knockoff do it.” [/color]Jim retorted as the group headed further into the belly of the beast. 

[color=#ffffff]“This is all very sentimental, but I am hoping the pair of you have a plan.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Them?”[/color] Tad’s tone was incredulous. [color=#ffffff]“They’re cowboys, I assumed you being here meant there was a plan, with all due respect Ms. Torres.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Big damn heroes.”[/color] Torres scolded as Jim beamed.

[color=#ffffff]“Ain’t we just.”[/color]

Following the corridor deeper into the prison, the group emerged into a common area only to be greeted by several robed figures. Standing on the guard catwalk above was the Harbinger and beside him Naira Cameron holding Jessica with a blade pushed firm against the woman’s throat.

[color=#ffffff]“Welcome, Chancellor and Interlopers.”[/color] The Harbinger gloated, their glee-laden baritone echoed through the large room. [color=#ffffff]“I understand you have been looking for us.”[/color] They paced back and forth above the room, clearly amused he finally had the chancellor before him.

[color=#ffffff]“You’re too late to save the students. Even if their minds haven’t crumpled from the strain, by now they’ve been wounded, maimed and potentially even killed. The team that dared stand defiant against our savior, broken by his successor. Look upon my works ye and despair.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Y’all look pretty stupid in those bathrobes. What is this, the spa from hell?”[/color] Jim smiled, his eyes focusing on Jessica’s neck. [color=#ffffff]“This little game is at an end, take your mask off, put down any weapons and we’ll all walk out of here, hand in hand.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“I believe,we have the numbers.”[/color] The Harbinger raised their hands as several more darkly clad figures emerged.

[color=#ffffff]“Do you realize who I am?”[/color] Torres stepped forward, interjecting herself.[color=#ffffff] “I am the Face of the Foundation. With a press of this button,”[/color] She started, showing her phone screen. [color=#ffffff]“I will have the Foundation Force bring this entire building to rubble. You might be able to intimidate these teenagers into following you with your abilities,”[/color]

The Harbinger faltered slightly at the accusation.

[color=#ffffff]“I’m sure Miss Rivers can verify my hypothesis, but even standing here now I can feel you trying to manipulate fear and awe from me. I have been in the presence of men and women far greater than you, I know a cheap imitation.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Well Miranda?”[/color] Jim asked, as the dark haired woman nodded.

[color=#ffffff]“Their thoughts are well guarded, but I can feel their mind struggling to maintain their ability. Ms. Torres is correct.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“No!”[/color] The Harbinger protested, [color=#ffffff]“No! I am somebody you should fear.”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Michael…”[/color] Miranda interjected, [color=#ffffff]“Michael Tableau?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Mike the Janitor?”[/color] Tad blurted, stifling a laugh. [color=#ffffff]“Hyperion’s Children are taking orders from Mike the Janitor?”[/color]

[color=#ffffff]“Kill her.”[/color] The Harbinger ordered as Naira nodded only to find the knife wouldn’t move as a purple haze emerged between the blade and Jessica’s neck. Suddenly Jessica brought her heel down hard on Naira’s foot, before throwing the back of her head hard into the shapeshifter’s nose. Blood splattered across Naira’s face, the girl unable to regain her composure before Jessica managed to hoist Naira over her shoulder and off the catwalk.

[color=#ffffff]“Thaddeus Finch, if you so much as spooned her, the wedding is off.” [/color]Jessica cried before vaulting over the catwalk to join her friends.

[color=#ffffff]“Kill them all!”[/color] The Harbinger screamed. [color=#ffffff]“Don’t let them escape with their lives, their insolence must be punished!”[/color] 

But the cloaked students faltered, hesitating as Torres continued to hover her thumb over the button on her phone screen. 

[color=#ffffff]“That totally is Mike the Janitor,”[/color] Tad rolled his eyes before walking forward and hugging Jessica as she rejoined her rescuers. 

[color=#ffffff]“I always thought he shot spaghetti-os out of his nose.”[/color] 

[color=#ffffff]“Don’t just stand there!”[/color] The Harbinger screamed,[color=#ffffff] “Get them! [b]Now![/b]” [/color]

A wave of energy washed over the room as something changed within the cloaked students. The Harbinger was pushing himself towards Hyperpsychosis to ensure he went down fighting. Looking from Miranda to Torres and back to Tad and Jessica, Jim muttered before spinning the barrel of his revolver as he put a new bullet in the chamber.

[color=#ffffff]“And just when I thought it was over.”[/color][/INDENT][/INDENT][/COLOR]