“Do you have any fucking idea how much trouble you guys are putting yourself through?” The Counsellor of Minohwa’s Prime Institute reprimanded them.

  It was early that day, they were called into the school regarding what took place at Luluwa’s party. Of course, Luluwa wasn’t called in because she has family in the Confederation.

  Meanwhile, Able, Emilia and Tristan were called in. Peaches tagged along because he had nothing better to do.

  “What the fuck am I going to tell them if four kids keep resisting the brainwashing?” The Counsellor rubbed his eyebrows in stress, hoping that the Confederation would take the excuse he gave them.

  The Confederation wants perfect, obedient citizens. Anything that causes strong emotion will turn a living thing into a monster so, they brainwash them to keep them as perfect obedient citizens.

  “You always come up with something,” Able smirked arrogantly, slouching in the chair as he took the words. It’s not the first time they were called in for something like this, he had grown used to it.

  Peaches was told to just stay quiet and witness it. Not to let the Counsellor’s frustration sink too deep.

  “That’s not a good mindset, Able.” The Counsellor groaned at him. Suddenly, the atmosphere in the room grew thicker. “You guys have no one in the Confederation to protect you anymore.”

  “The Cult of Jason took Xitalli.”

  A surge of destructive presences bubbled in the room. The words felt unbelievable, who would have the audacity to do such a thing. Swelling stronger, they didn’t know what to say.

  “Kids! Calm down! Minohwa’s situation is bad already don’t let them notice that there are monsters in this school,” The Counsellor called them back to reality and they calmed down quickly.

  “First Selene…” Tristan spoke in a strange calm manner, as he counted out the victims of the sudden attacks. He was always good at masking his emotions, are rather he was unable to properly identify or respond to them.

  But they could recognize his rage by the black veins surging in his arms.

  “It’s just another aspect of war… Something has to be sacrificed or loss,” The Counsellor responded to Tristan the best he could. “I do apologize for it but, it’s hard to change things like it.”

  “We wouldn’t have to deal with any aspect of war if the Confederation wasn’t here.” Emilia scoffed and spat out. She thought about those who she loves, that were victims of the Confederation. She thought about those who she wants to love, who are being manipulated by them.

  “So what? Do you plan to oppose them?” The Counsellor smirked at her.

  “Don’t you know? Counsellor?” Able arrogantly smirked at him. “A war is brewing.”

  “Ugh am well aware,” The Counsellor was already quite stressed by the reappearance of Jason Mauter. “Kids, please listen.”

  The Counsellor wasn’t a part of the Roundtable. He was a vampire and most vampires belong to the Conglomerate. Which is a group that controls most business in Minohwa, and of course Minohwa’s Prime Institute.

  “My loyalty is to the Conglomerate, and I apologize for that,” The Counsellor admitted. “I had great respect for the King of the Damned that’s why I helped to look out for you.”

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  “But now, worse times are coming. The leaders of this war will be forced to make a decision or die.”

  “This may be the last moment that we meet but, seeing that you kids are very important to this war…”

  “I wish you make the right decision,” The Counsellor smirked meekly. “And not die a fool’s death.”

  “Goodbye.”

  They stepped outside the office in silence. The words of the Counsellor sunk deep. The bonds that were created by hardship could easily be separated by war. And now, it was beginning.

  There was no looking back, is this for the better?

  Suddenly, all of their phone chimed in unison. Already knowing who was messaging them since they all got it. They took out their phones to see a vertical red eye with a black background.

  The red eye winked and the screen slid over to a flyer. It was sent out by Jason Mauter. Telling of a great festival being held, to introduce their new ‘religion’ called The Cult of Jason. With the key addition that it was authorized by the Confederation.

  Able clicked his tongue. The people of Minohwa do not know what religion is because questioning it can lead to strong emotions. Which lead to the birth of monsters.

  The only religious group they are aware of is Children’s Hope Orphange, CHO. Yet, the group is very reclusive and only accepts young women from an early age. The citizens respect their boundaries and never approach it.

  The idea of an open religion? People are curious and bound to come.

  “You son of a bitch…” Able muttered.

  The screen then showed a red text with a black background.

  “You know the rules…”

  “And so do I…”

  “Take his life….”

  “What are you guys looking at?” A cutesy voice awoke them from thought. It was Luluwa, immediately they put away their phones. Although they were good friends, they couldn’t risk it.

  She was Jason’s daughter after all.

  “It’s just the Counsellor telling us to stay out of trouble,” Able tried to turn away the topic quickly.

  “Lies! The Counsellor hates all of us he wouldn’t keep your numbers,” Luluwa placed her hands on their waist and spoke sternly at them. “In fact, he calls our parents on a blocked number!”

  “Don’t tell me,” Luluwa put her hand on her chest dramatically, “You guys made a group-chat without me.”

  “As if we could leave out your special sense of humor, babygirl,” Emilia also help to sway her attention away. “What you need to tell me is why you weren’t at your own party.”

  “I…” Luluwa looked at her feet and tried to come up with an excuse. “Had to leave with a friend to use her ID and get more alcohol-!”

  She accidentally bumped into Tristan; she looked up to see him glaring bullets into her.

  “Hello to you too, Mr. Life-of-the-Party,” She looked up at him, she interacted with him a lot. In fact they are good friends but recently, he seemed wary of her. It made her guilty and uncomfortable. “It’s nice to see you too.”

  “We haven’t seen you lately… Mauter,” Tristan poked at something.

  Luluwa felt her heart jump. She quickly decided to change the focus, turning to the figure who had been quiet for such a long time.

  “And why are you so quiet?” Luluwa turned to Peaches and looked at him carefully. Peaches was just as much of a monster as Able.

  “Oh, I was just observing since I am pretty new here.” Peaches stretched and yawned. “Am surprised you remember me.”

  “Of course, who wouldn’t remember the Asian guy who has a really girly name,” Luluwa teased him playfully. That was her personality, a troublemaker since her first day of school.

  “Nuh uh, Peaches is a name fit for a king,” He confidently responded back to her.

  “Did your mom tell you that?” Luluwa giggled and stared into his eyes.

  “How did you know?” Peaches returned the deep stare.

  “We have business,” Tristan clicked his tongue and pushed past them. Signaling that his patience was used up.

  “What business? Are you guys really not gonna tell me what’s happening!” Luluwa threw her hands in the air as they begun to walk away. “I thought we were day ones!”

  “Calm down, don’t blow it out of proportions,” Able patted her on the head and walked away backwards with them. “The Counsellor said we should take the day off cause of the incident.”

  “Go to class, you’ll see us later,” Emilia blew her a kiss as she walked away, “If you need someone to cuddle with tonight, just gimme a call.”

  “Midget,” Peaches walked by and spoke.

  “Dickhead,” Luluwa muttered, frustrated that she couldn’t get into the circle quickly.

  She gripped her fist and stared at them as they exited the school. Her determination fighting with the fear of losing them too. Her fingers began to bleed from her strength,

  “Don’t worry… Mom…. Eze….”

  “I will save you.”