Harsh times

From the Author:

Sorry I had put many up on timers but my second batch I screwed up. I have been reworking to improve the story and it slowed down my fixing the mistake after I knew of it. Sorry and mistakes are but once if we learn from them.

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The day after he left all of them are invited back and while a few are more reluctant the group moves together. Onya is now speaking for them and as Ally is leading them along she updates his group on who has gone out with him. All of them are feeling better hearing a full team of twenty left with him all equipped with top tier gear. Once to the door she opens it and as a few voices cheer out several nearly flee.

The virtual sacrifices as Stan and the other two call themselves trudge over and she smiles in great excitement. "After yesterday I noticed a lapse in signal quality and now I should be able to fix the mistake." she quickly gets them in place as she giggles continuously and when they ask she smiles "Today is fighting practice. I am very interested of the effects on the mind when pain is properly registered."

Onya and five others are now with Empy. None understands most of what he says, including his name, but they all agree he is scary as all hell. He tends to have various sharp things on his body or in his hands as he does all manners of things. But worst if it is he tends to randomly drink the various beakers around him. When he isn't drinking them or cutting this or stabbing that he has them drinking them or cutting them or stabbing them.

Nancy nearly dies of fright when the pair from the day before with Dante calls her name out as their subject wasn't here now. None push her forward but that doesn't matter as the two pulled her off as she looked over her shoulder with tears in her eyes. Those that watched all say a silent prayer for her safety before one for themselves.

Lunch comes around as most are shaking and as they eat few speak out. Several of those who have been there longer come over and chat. They explain a few things and try to help these new sacrificial lambs. Once they finish eating all of them agree and none feel that they will stick around after lunch ever again. Informing Ally she smiles and nods saying that is fine.

Everyone walks in as the rest of the group who lives there all cheer out. Xin has organized a little party to cheer them up and support their friends. When they come in most see the food, the smiles, and as several see the various colored drinks they break free rushing to their rooms shutting and locking the doors. The party turns out to be rather somber as Xin looks to the rest and none really understand.

Carter looks up as Kendra comes in and smiles as she sits in his office. "I did a lot of work on this Carter." he nods as she leans back pulling a bottle from her arm compartment as he produces some glasses "This kid, he was from a standard family. Dad was not a real part of the picture after the age of ten. Turns out he was killed by some Casters but like usual that was not public. Mother was a line cook at a local eatery. They specialized in using low quality goods to make decent food."

Carter sits forward and laughs some thinking. "Perhaps that is why he can make that wolf meat so good. He is used to working with the bottom goods so learned how to make the best of whatever he has."

She shrugs as she sips the drink and nods. "He used to help out after school and on the weekends so I guess your assessment is right as I share it too." he nods to her as she sighs "He devoted everything to school studies and while not a genius many called him such because of his hard work."

Carter stops as he sets his glass down. "While here he has never been that good of a student and claims." she waves a hand stopping him as he nods and lifts his glass "Sorry, please continue."

"A new student transferred in and after two tests straight of this kid being in the low fifties in the ranking of the school suddenly Dante was removed from all clubs and teams he was on. His academic merits at the school vanished as well." Carter thinks and nods his head "After that he was accused of cheating and dismissed from the school. He was sent to this school in particular, they forced him to move. His family couldn't move so he was forced to be here alone in the dorms but reports state their relationship went to hell when his grades dropped."

Carter takes a big drink and puts it down as he looks to her. "I have looked into things and Dante never once has requested permission for city trips to see his family." he shakes his head "Never has a correspondence come here for him from anywhere."

She nods and finishes her glass off. "Dante has been attacked in various ways for the last two years but hasn't given." she looks to him "However I am sure the backer of that new student was one of the top ten, or maybe top five families." Carter nods slowly understanding "He best be some damned God of Beasts otherwise he will be destroyed."

Carter looks to her and sighs. "He is already destroyed so why do you think they keep going after him?"

She looks over and sighs. "I found he never signed any paperwork so as it stands. He isn't silenced so they are trying to silence him in other ways." as Carter shakes his head she smiles "They thought they could push a bookworm around and resulted in creating a monster."

Carter sits back and thinks as he laughs some and looks to her. "I feel he may have always been a monster, but he kept it under control." he waves a hand "Now he embraces it so who knows which is the safer of the two."

Kendra leaves the bottle with him as she stands up. "My advice mentor is this." as he looks up she nods "Help him become the monster or avoid him for your own safety. He has a target on him and I can't find out who is after him." she shakes her head and looks over "All I can say for certain is when it comes to a head, you best make sure you pick sides wisely Sir."

Carter sits back and thinks before he looks to her and nods his head. "Honestly I was terrified of that young man when I first started interacting with him. Now I find myself wondering if he is okay much like I do with another young star I came across before." she smiles and shakes her head laughing "However at least you are not some savage beast."

Kendra laughs as she is walking out and looks over her shoulder. "Sir, you would be surprised."

He watches her leave and thinks of her statement and shakes his head. "If I caused that little girl to become a beast what sort of monster does that make me?"

Linda is sitting in the office. With Malcom dead and Luke as snake food she is alone. Looking to the other seats and thinking how it was last year she shakes her head before looking around once more. "I need to promote a few so we can recruit some new members."

Xin is sitting in class and sighs as her mind is distracted. Johnny stops and looks at her half drawn attempt nodding. "If you need someone to talk to you can always talk to me." Xin looks up and smiles as he nods "If you are not feeling it today, would you rather model a little to see what it is like?"

Xin agrees and as it is partway through the class she models in her school uniform. Doing various poses and things cheers her up plus many find her smile captivating. Johnny is nodding his head as when you engage her, this little flower blooms beautifully. Once done she comes to him with a broad smile. "Thank you Johnny. That helped clear my head and cheer me up." he smiles and nods as she waves "Dante will be back before next week and if it goes how he wants who knows what he will have to model with."

Ally is now feeling like she should be getting hazard pay as she is presently being the one to step between Edna and her mother. She keeps herself in a neutral place and tone but starting to feel the pressures. "I am sorry but as she has already told you and we showed you Dante is not in the city." as she glares Ally motions "He has gone out to test some equipment and gather some information."

She glares at her and motions as she opens up a holo of those that went with him as both look over in dread. "You sent your young, healthy, and not tied down fiancé out with eight females and only two are married." she sighs "One is dating but even so that means six are possible contenders for his attention and you think this is wise?"

Edna glances at the window and ponders just jumping to escape this situation as she is running out of ropes. "They are our top ranked squad for this sort of assignment. I wanted him safe so I sent him with the best." she sighs and looks to her watch before realizing he can't save her this time "Mother I must admit there are times when such concern is useful. However every time he moves or speaks to someone you act as if he is cheating."

She looks over and shakes her head. "Young girl you still don't understand." she waves a hand "Doesn't matter if he is or not. The media will show it as such."

Edna cuts in now and glares. "The media is doing no such thing just you!" Ally looks over shocked "You act like he is some damned animal in heat and only care about getting me in bed with him. You speak like he is going to be stolen constantly but he isn't like that." she glares at her "If you can't respect him then, STOP BOTHERING ME!"

Ally just blinks much like her mother in shock before Ally gets a soft smile as finally Edna speaks up. She nods her head and looks over with a smile. "Is there other business today?"