Franky featuring Alcina and Katalina en route to The Gym
Franky led Alcina off the bus, mulling over what Stella had told him. She seemed to think going back to where the chaos started was the best decision. Franky was mixed on his thoughts for that though. There was a certain validity to it, the administration would likely be there, and they could likely provide some insight. The main problem with that would be Al though, she was terribly shaken up. It wouldn’t be easy convincing her to return there.
And then there was that nagging thought, the message Amy had left for him personally. Something about a book of names that the Headmistress had, and apparently the dead girl wanted him to retrieve it. He still wasn’t sure if wanted to or not, it didn’t really serve him to help someone who’d died. Not yet at least. Maybe others had been told personal things as well. After all, he never even met the dead girl, and she’d given him that information. He inwardly grinned, this was his way in.
Turning to Al, “I think it’s best if we go to the gym as well. The administration will help us figure out what to do next.”
Alcina sort of shrank at the thought, whispering, “I can’t control my powers there. You saw what happened. I don’t want to be locked up again Franky…”
Franky smiled his practiced fake smile, “I think you’ll do just fine Al, and I think whatever made our powers… stronger, stopped toward the end. You should have the same control as you did before. And I’ll be with you the whole time, just in case.”
Al nodded, smiling lightly at her brother. Franky saw a few others scrambling out of a car, assuming they’d had the same difficulty leaving as they had. At least that seemed to confirm that whatever kept them there was attached to the grounds and not the bus specifically. He wondered if anyone had tried on foot yet. He waited until someone was looking his way, before he stepped forward and pulled Al into a familial embrace, “Don’t worry, I’m always here for you,” just loud enough that anyone close by would be able to hear him.
“Excuse me,” a voice came from behind them, “Um… could I possibly talk to you both?” Franky turned to see who spoke, not instantly recognizing the voice. A rather pretty looking redhead had walked over to the two of them. She was surprisingly dry considering the shower they had all gotten in the gym. He greeted the redhead with a charming smile, extricating himself from Al’s arms, but intentionally keeping close to her, seemingly protective of his little sister.
He glanced around, seeing if anyone else was in earshot, his voice a bit hushed, but still above a whisper, “Yeah, what’s on your mind? Oh and I’m Franky by the way, and this is Al.”
”Oh, my apologies. I’m Katalina, nice to meet you, even if this isn’t under the best of circumstances. As for what is on my mind, may I ask you both what secret Amy passed on to you? We’re trying to figure out what everyone knows and see how it will help us with our current dilemma.” Her blue eyes looked over both Franky and Al and then back to Franky.
If he weren’t in present company, he would’ve smiled wide. It seemed opportunity had fallen into his lap. But before he could speak, Al piped in quietly, “There’s old records in the basement, she wanted to know how far back they go…”
He looked over at his sister with mild surprise, he hadn’t even thought about her having been given a secret. Had everyone been given one? Looking back to the redhead, “She…” here he tried to sound a bit more empathetic and compassionate, “Amy, told me that the Headmistress has a book of names, and that I should try to retrieve it. I think we can definitely help you if you’d like. What else do you know, Katalina?”
Katalina looked pensive for a moment. She put her hand under her chin and looked at Franky. ”You weren’t here last year, were you?”
“No, me and my sister are new here. This is our first term, quite the welcoming party I’d say,” smiling brightly at the cute redhead.“Ah, sorry. Don’t mean to make light of what happened, still trying to wrap my head around it all. It really is a shame about all of this, about Amy. We never got a chance to meet her.”
Katalina looked sad at the mention of Amy. Tears started to well up in her eyes. ”Shame really… she was amazing… so smart… But that’s not the point right now. Last year I lost another dear friend, Natalie Coleman. She was found in the lake, dead. Amy told me there was a connection there. She was found there for a reason.”
A death each year eh? If he were in appropriate company, he might make a joke about sacrificing people to the school. But in the presence of a pretty girl crying, there was literally only one acceptable thing to do, and one that served his own… interests. He stepped toward her, calmly, arms spread invitingly, not pushing his presence onto her as he took another step forward, “I’m so sorry Katalina, I can’t imagine the pain you’re going through.” He waited to see if she’d accept his sympathetic embrace, hoping she would, but prepared if she didn’t.
She seemed to accept it, wrapping her arms around him and started crying. He squeezed her a bit tighter, pulling her into his firm chest. Whispering into her ear, “I promise we’ll do everything we can to find out what happened to them.” He gave her one last squeeze before pulling away, keeping his personal space close to her own, smiling lightly as he looked into her tear filled eyes. “But I think we need time to do some research and planning. And the first step is the gym, and hearing what the powers that be have to say.”
Franky looked over at Al, who just seemed to be spacing out, looking around the school grounds. “Al, you think you’re up to going to the gym with us?” He said ‘us’ to make it so he was taking charge, being the leader, being the dependable one, to include Katalina, who he suspected was feeling alone and vulnerable. Perfect. His sister nodded, stepping forward to hug the girl in a much more genuine embrace, forgetting about the air of chill that came off her body, coupled with how damp her clothes were.
Katalina shivered a bit and stepped back. ”Here, let me help with that.” She flicked her wrist a bit and both Franky and Al were suddenly very dry, and the water splashed in a puddle on the ground. ”Sorry about that. The shower in the gym was kinda my fault. I feel a bit better now, thank you both.” Katalina offered them both a small smile.
Franky was a bit surprised to see such an obvious display of her powers. He wondered if it was telekinesis or something to do with water itself. Clearly it wasn’t heat as the water was still here, just moved. But either way, he was thankful to be dry. Nothing says discomfort like soaked socks and boxer briefs. Taking Al’s nod and Katalina’s silence as consent to move forward, he took Al’s hand, began heading toward the gym, making sure to keep close to Katalina, to make her feel as though he cared about her and was providing comfort and protection. He considered asking more about Amy, but found he didn’t care enough, and didn’t want to bring on more tears and other girly things. So instead, he avoided the topic like a tar pit and decided to focus on the girl herself. “I appreciate the dryness, though not all of it was yours. Some of it came from Al and myself. Do you control water then? That’s quite a useful skill, very different from my own.”
”Yes, I can control and manipulate water. That is my gift, so to say. What about yours?” She seemed to address the question to both siblings. She did also seem to stick close to Franky, as if he comforted her by being there.
“I’m an artist, and my drawings and paintings can sort of, come to life, off the paper.” He looked over at Alcina, seeing that she was yet again, completely zoned out, “And my sister here can create and control ice. That’s why I insisted she joined me when the Headmistress interviewed me.” He knew it wouldn’t take them long to get to the gym, but he wanted just a bit longer to endear himself to the girl, make him seem more personable. He just needed an excuse. And he knew exactly how to achieve it.
As they entered the main building, taking a corridor that would lead them to the gym, “Al’s still learning to control her gift. Whatever happened in the gym… It scared her, us.” He felt Al stiffen at his mentioning what had happened, and knew she was invoking the memory of being trapped in her ice prison. Exactly as planned. He stopped, turning to her, “Al, Al, it’s okay, I’m still here, you’re safe. You’re not in the ice anymore.” He stayed close to her, feeling her shake, doubting he could’ve given a better performance. He looked over his shoulder at Katalina, “I’m sorry, she’s still a bit shaken up by it.” He was holding both of Al’s hands in his own, looking back into her fearful eyes, “I’m here for you Al, like always.”
”I can’t blame her. A lot went on in the gym, and losing control of your powers like that? It is terrifying for anyone. I realize I almost got a lot of kids possibly killed because of the shower I gave them. Luckily the guy with the lightning powers got off the bleachers before there was too much damage. But you two are lucky. You have one another…” She trailed off at the end as they walked towards the gym.
Once he’d gotten Al calmed down a bit, he turned back to the gym, first casting a look at Katalina, “That’s all any of us,” he said, again, putting extra emphasis on the ‘us,’”Have. We only have each other, and I wouldn’t have it any other way.” He pushed forward to the gym doors, pushing on them, to see what hells remained on the other side.
The gym was slowly filling up with other students, as the realization had come about they could not leave Northwood. Katalina looked over at Franky and offered a small smile. ”I’m gonna go sit with my roommate, but I’m sure I’ll see you later.” She walked over to the partially destroyed bleachers, joining up with a blue tinted skinned girl.
Franky nodded with a smile, “I look forward to it, Katalina.” He then led Alcina by the hand to the bleachers, choosing a seat at the very top in the back, to watch for everyone else, observing everyone, pleased with how this had gone. This was going to go quite well for him.
