It began similarly to all of Justin's "brilliant" plans.
A rumor.
Under cafeteria tables and in back hallways, there was a rumor that the school's northern wing, which had been closed since the Awakening, wasn't merely being repaired.
It led underground, so the rumor went.
Where did the students who were taken go?
Where the Awakened were held by the government.
When Justin heard it, his eyes were burning like he had won the jackpot. And Von followed him in defiance of reason.
They used Justin's sparks and a stolen keycard to get past the first two security doors.
The third was more difficult. Steel with reinforcement. Cameras. There are two guards on duty.
It will be alright, Justin insisted. News flash: it wasn't.
Von realized this was different as soon as the alarm went off.
They ran but were too slow.
They were encircled in a matter of minutes, visors glowing red, tranq guns aimed. The guards weren't taking any chances, so Von tried to raise his hands.
His neck ached sharply.
His vision became hazy.
Justin's curses as the electricity flickered from his hands were the last sound he heard.
Suddenly, there was darkness, and then light emerged.
Von's wrists were bound when he awoke.
It occurred to him that the cuffs were composed of a black, inky crystal of some kind. It felt like it was draining his power.
It was a metallic, dark room. Chilly.
A bruise was growing across Justin's jaw as he sat slouched against a wall across from him.
Half-conscious, Von muttered, "Told you, you idiot."
Justin didn't answer.
Because his breath was taken away by what he saw out the window, if you can call the reinforced glass slit a window.
What he saw were containment pods, rows of them
They are each holding someone.
Teenagers, adults, etc...
Eyes closed, suspended as if frozen in time, floating in a fluid.
The monitors beeped. The following labels flashed: "SUBJECT 1149—ABILITY: COMBUSTION"... "SUBJECT 1150—ABILITY: TELEPATHY."
And screams are coming down the hallway.
Actual ones.
Human beings.
This was not a prison.
It was a laboratory.
Von's stomach turned as he stumbled back. "They're experimenting on them..."
Justin's expression darkened. "Yes. And we're probably next."
The sound of footsteps reverberated through the corridor.
Von instinctively tried to push with his power, but nothing happened, and he backed away from the door, his cuffs sparking.
Justin stood, swaying slightly. "We need a way out."
"Even if we do escape... what then?"
For once, Justin gave him a serious look.
"Then we show the world what's taking place in here."