Chapter 3: What is a Phoenix?

[Important Message: I don't know jack about Phoenixes. All I know is they're bird that die every thousand or so years and rise from the ashes covered in flames. Expect me to mix some ideas of mine in the book. So don't complain if some things I say are inaccurate. Enjoy]

Coming on this hellish journey, Joey wasn't prepared for what was right in front of him. During the test, Gerry and Lucas both displayed their superhuman prowess on order to go up the ranks, and now, with the unintended bad blood between them, they become his roommates?!

'Why?!!' Was all the teenager screamed I'm his head as his gaze turned tired. He had gone through enough already, and now this??

Without warning, Gerry, activating his lightning ability, ran towards Joey.

"Don't you know you're supposed to show us respect?!!" He screamed, raised his hand to wack Joey on the face.

'Sigh... guess this is how things are gonna be from now on.' Joey thought as he released a defeated sigh. He had been bullied all his life, what was another bully gonna change? Besides, it's not like he had anything to really live for.

'Wait, why hasn't he slapped me?' Joey thought. Raising his head slightly, not wanting to meet Gerry's gaze, he noticed his right hand was being held back.

"Just because he's weaker than you doesn't mean you should bully him." Lucas, who was also in the room, said as he let go of Gerry's hand.

"I wasn't bullying him. I just wanted to show him the gap between the two of us, that way, he won't ever think of causing me - I mean US trouble. I'm just looking out for you, man. We higher ups gotta watch each other's backs!" Gerry tried to 'explain' himself.

"Hmmm... Right, teach him the difference." Lucas said, in a downward inflecting voice, causing Gerry to gulp down hard. Although confident in his own strength, Gerry was no fool to try and get on Lucas' bad side. Living on the streets, Gerry came to know almost everyone in the academy, and Lucas was no exception.

With a full one minute of silence, Gerry, who was sweating profusely at this point, didn't speak but just nod his head up and down repeatedly, agreeing to Lucas' subconscious order not to bully his roommate.

However, before going back to the door to bring in his luggage, his gaze shifted to Joey. His facial expression read the words, 'You got lucky this time but don't expect me to let you off the hook. This is just day one and I'm gonna make your life here a fucking nightmare just mark my words!'

Joey, understanding Gerry's facial expression, just shrugged. He wasn't a fool. He knew that, although Lucas isn't targeting him, he still has his back, so Joey could spend his time around the college with little to no worry at all.

However, as he began to walk towards his bed, something similar to what happened during his trials, happened again.

[Host has received an unwritten threat]

That was all. No additional information, a gauge, nothing.

"What the hell is this?! Did I unlock some hidden Improved ability? Or is this some curse that stupid Gerry might have put on me?" That would have been very unlikely, as lightening users have zero affinity for magic.

Improved, as the world came to know them, are not only famous for their superhuman prowess and ability to develop special powers. In special cases, there are circumstances where an Improved was reported for being able to use something they labelled as magic. These Improved were kept hidden by the government, waiting for the right opportunity to use them against the werewolves. In other words, they were their trump card in the war.

Thinking it might just be his mind playing tricks on him, Joey decided to just shrug his shoulders and walk towards his bed to have a long, deserved rest.

Luckily, Gerry, who vowed to make Joey's life on campus hell, didn't claim his bed, as it was a common things bullies did during his time in high school. Although he wasn't a boarding student, he heard rumors about bullies doing such things from his classmates during group discussions, which Joey never took part of but always eves dropped on to be up to date on the latest happenings.

Plunging onto his bed, Joey forgot completely about what just happened as his body responded to the unbelievable comfort the bed was providing. He felt like he was literally on cloud nine!

However, despite all the sweetness and comfort he was enjoying now, Joey was well aware of the storm that's coming right after the calm. If he wants to survive, and hopefully thrive in this new environment, he needs people he can trust to have his back, and after being blown off by Lucas, the teenager could only think of one person to consider his ally for now.

'Classes start tomorrow. I'll make.sure I try my best to get as close to Maya as possible. I need to become important I'm her life. That way, she'll always lend me a helping hand when I need it.' Although psychotic, the teenager was no fool to pass off such an opportunity to turn Maya into an ally. Besides, he was doing her a favour. With her energetic and pure nature, it would just be a matter of time untill her heart gets corrupted by all the shameless girls I'm the academy, or before she gets banged up by some random boy and gets expelled from the academy. However, from what happened during his trials, how she defended him, he thought there was a 0.01 -0.00001% of the latter ever happening.

It was already getting late, so without further Ado, now that he had his goal for the next three years roughly planned out, all that was left was for the teenager to enjoy the heavenly comfort his bed provided as he slowly drifted to sleep.

__ __

'Enjoy that bed for now. Once I'm done with you, it'll be the only thing to give you pleasure in this world!!!' Gerry screamed in his head.

Gerry picked the bed on the left of Joey's, who was asleep facing Lucas instead. Staring at the back of the teenager's head, Gerry wished, no, he begged that he could send a lightening bults through the motherfucker's head, but with Lucas protecting him, much less being in the room, the street raised teenager could only be patient and wait for the perfect opportunity to exact his revenge.

__ __

'Sigh... I hope mother doesn't plan on ruining my life here as well...' Lucas thought as he also slowly drifted to sleep.

7:30am

An alarm system embedded in the ceiling rang out, waking the three teenage boys out of their blissful slumber.

[Will be completed when I have the time]