Student 2
FEBRUARY
Sarah sits next to Gio's bed. Every night has ended like this. Kyle has also visited Gio but not nearly as much as Sarah. Sarah was upset at him. She has been seeing less and less of Kyle. He has stayed inside his lab most of the time and she had no idea why.
Sarah: Please wake up soon.
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TWO WEEKS INTO FEBRUARY
Sarah: I HAVE ABS!
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MARCH
Lionel: Your new workout is a 7-mile run, 1000 pushups with me on your back, and 1,500 sit-ups.
Sarah: WHAT?!
Lionel: Start now! And come back to me in June.
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APRIL
Sarah sits in a chair inside of Kyle's lab. She has now worked up the courage to ask him just what he was working on.
Sarah: What have you been doing here for so long?
Kyle: I have been working.
Sarah: On what?
Kyle: On something.
Sarah: Can I get a less vague answer?
Kyle: I am sorry but no.
Sarah: Why?
Kyle: Sarah, is there anything else you would like to do?
Sarah: No why?
Kyle: Because I am trying to focus and ... forget it.
Sarah gets out of her chair and walks to the door.
Sarah: Goodbye Kyle.
Sarah opens and slams the door so hard the building shakes.
Kyle: She is getting strong.
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MAY
Sarah: This isn't working.
Sarah looks down at her bandaged wrapped hands. Her hands would never fully heal after what happened to them.
Sarah: I need to find a way to fight without them. I can't always let Rachel do the fighting for me.
Sarah looks past her hands down at her shoes.
Sarah: Oh, maybe that can work.
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THE NEXT DAY
Cinco and Lionel stood in the grassy plain. Lionel looked at the sun.
Cinco: I don't think she is going to show up today.
Lionel: No, she is here.
Sarah walks up the hill with a bag made of leather.
Cinco: Don't you get tired of losing?
Sarah: I do.
Cinco: ...
Cinco grabs his wooden sword out of the ground and points it at Sarah. Sarah bends down and opens her bag. She reaches her hands in and pulls out two metal black boots.
Cinco: What are those supposed to be?
Sarah: The weapons I will use to beat you.
Cinco: We will see.
Sarah puts on the 2 metal boots. She puts both of her hands on the ground and bends her right leg forward and stretches her left leg all the way back.
Cinco: What? Are you about to race or som-
Cinco sees blue light come from the bottom of Sarah's boots. Sarah closes the distance between her and Cinco faster then she is usually able too. Cinco was waiting for Sarah to summon Rachel. He never thought she would ever fight without it. Cinco swung his sword at Sarah. Once again, he sees blue light come from her boots as she jumps above Cinco's head. Cinco turns around before Sarah can land on the ground. He sees blue light come from her boots once again and gets ready for her to move again.
Cinco: [Kyle ... without a doubt that is where she got these from. That is no problem though I am still able to move faster than her. She just caught me off guard.]
Cinco sees blue light again. However, unlike before he only sees blue light coming one from on boot.
Cinco: [Wait ... is she about too-]
Cinco sees Sarah's boot start to get closer and closer to his face.
Cinco: [She is using the power from that boot to increase the strength of her kick.]
Cinco clashes with Sarah's kick with his wooden sword. The blue light started to get brighter as his sword started to crack.
Cinco: [What a waste.]
Cinco frowns as Sarah breaks his wooden sword. Her kick continues to move closer to Cinco's face. Cinco jumps back before Sarah's kick is able to make contact.
Sarah: You don't have a weapon anymore.
Cinco: Believe it or not that is more of a problem for you than me.
Sarah: Why are you frowning?
Cinco: Oh, nothing, it is just ... I am disappointed.
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Sarah wakes up with bruises and cuts all over her body.
Sarah: Ow.
Lionel looks down on Sarah. Even though Sarah wasn't able to see Lionel's face because of his mask she couldn't help but feel his glare. However, she had no idea why he would be glaring at her like that.
Lionel: That was the closest you have ever gotten, but ...
Sarah: I know. If only I used my ability. If only I tried harder.
Lionel: ... People naturally try harder when there is a challenge. People like us can't do that because going over our limits in the heat of the moment could mean our bodies get destroyed. If there is an opponent that you can't face, then the best course of action is to run. If you try too hard then your body would get destroyed so be careful.
Sarah: Hm ... yes Master
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JUNE
Lionel: 10 Miles, 1000 pushups with 2 boulders on your back, and 2,500 sit ups.
Sarah: Why am I not surprised?
Lionel: Come back to me in August!
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JULY
Sarah is in her room sitting on her bed. She lies on her pillow after replacing her bandages. She was drained after sparring with Cinco today and her workout.
Lionel: "Abilities manifest from us being able to control Ora and the more Ora you have and the more you are able to control the more versatile you can be with your ability."
Lionel's voice echoed in Sarah's mind. It was as if the voice was taunting her. A reminder that she had done almost nothing with her ability.
Sarah: I haven't been very versatile. All I have been doing is summoning Rachel to punch, kick, and cut. And I won't use ... them. So, what else can I do? Maybe I can make Rachel do something else. Come on Sarah, think. Be creative. I have been training so much. I know I have enough Ora. I even had enough when I started training. So come on it is about time I use it. So, think. I am able to enhance my strength and speed, I am Kyle's tech, I just need to use my ability.
Sarah lays in her bed and closes her eyes.
Sarah: Think about Rachel. Think about what else it can possibly do. Just think. Think about Rachel.
Sarah was in darkness when a light started emitting behind her. She turns around and sees a yellow light. She grabs on to it and opens her eyes.
Sarah: What was that supposed to be-
Sarah looked down at her lap and saw a gray and pink cloak.
Sarah: What is this?
She picks the cloak up and starts looking it up and down.
Sarah: Maybe it is a gift from Master.
Sarah puts the cloak on and goes to the bathroom to look in the mirror.
Sarah: Doesn't look half bad.
???: [I look a lot better than "half bad".]
Sarah spins around to face the door and gets in a fighting position. When she sees no one, she starts looking around the room.
???: [No need to be so defensive I was made to help you.]
Sarah's eyes widen, and she takes her brand-new cloak off. She starts turning the cloak, looking at it as closely as she can.
Sarah: You are the one talking right?
???: [I am.]
Sarah: Wow ... what are you?
???: [I am what you made me to be.]
Sarah: I made you to be a cloak? That doesn't make sense.
???: [No, you aren't getting it.]
Sarah: I am only going off of what you tell me.
???: [I am like that giant doll made out of golden yarn.]
Sarah: Rachel?
???: [... No, the other giant doll that is made out of golden yarn.]
Sarah: There is another one?
???: [... I am talking about Rachel.]
Sarah: Oh ...
???: [... Forget it.]
Sarah: Okay but how are you anything like Rachel.
???: [I was made for your benefit.]
Sarah: Really? So, I made you? How did I do that?
???: [Um ... I didn't exist and then I did all because of you. Thank you for making me.]
Sarah: ... Anytime I guess. What is your name?
???: [Don't have one. You haven't named me yet.]
Sarah: Oh right. Let's see ... how about Cloak.
Cloak: [How creative.]
Sarah: Shut up. So ... can you do something? Rachel is cool because it is my friend, and it can do a lot of things. So, what can you do?
Cloak: [Maybe it is best if I show you. Let's go outside.]
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Sarah stood outside in front of her home.
Sarah: Now what?
Cloak: [Put me on.]
Sarah puts on the cloak and braces herself for something for happen.
Cloak: [Are you ready?]
Sarah: Yes.
Cloak: [Okay then.]
Sarah watches in amazement as the ground below starts to get farther and farther away. She had a new feeling in her stomach that she had no idea how to describe.
Sarah: YOU CAN FLY!? I CAN FLY!? I AM FLYING!
Cloak: [Are you okay?]
Sarah: THIS IS SO COOL!
Sarah looks down and sees the sight of the village from above. The lights coming from the inside of each of the wooden houses, the people that were still walking on the paths of the village despite how late it was, the beam white beam of light coming from the cloaking device. It all combined to create a beautiful sight that Sarah would not soon forget.
Sarah: Wait a second.
Sarah turns her head to look at the white beam of light shooting into the sky. The beam shot into the sky. The beam was creating a field that was concealing the entire village's presence and the beam stopped at the very top of the field. And Sarah was reaching the top of the beam. Soon she would leave the field.
Sarah: STOP!
She stops in the air and just begins to float. She breathes heavily and she looks down at her bandage wrapped hands and sees that they are shaking.
Sarah: Let's go back down.
Cloak: [Okay.]
Sarah and Cloak begin to slowly float back to the ground. When they land Sarah sits down on the ground and tries to calm herself down.
Sarah: That was close. We shouldn't leave the field we need to stay inside.
Cloak: [Will do.]
Sarah: How come you can talk but not Rachel? I mean I can understand Rachel through its body language, but it doesn't talk. How come you do?
Cloak: [Rachel doesn't have a mouth.]
Sarah: You don't either.
Cloak: [I am talking in your mind. I don't need a mouth.]
Sarah: So, can others hear you? Like if I showed you to Master would he hear you?
Cloak: [No. Only you can hear me.]
Sarah: So, I made it so Rachel couldn't talk? Why would I do that?
Cloak: [I don't know.]
Sarah: ...
Sarah gets up and dusts her pants off.
Sarah: So, I can do a lot more than I thought. Do you have any idea how I made you? Maybe I can make more.
Cloak: [Sorry I can't help you.]
Sarah: Okay then I guess I will just have to figure this out.
Cloak: [... Want to fly again?]
Sarah: ... Yes, I do.
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THE NEXT DAY
Lionel: It talks?
Lionel stood in his home with his armored arms crossed. Sarah stood in front of him with her hair messed up.
Sarah: Yes, it talks. Is that bad or something?
Lionel: No, it is that an ability that creates ... life. I haven't seen something like it in a very long time.
Sarah: Where have you seen it before?
Lionel: Someone named Liam was able to make living creatures too. But they didn't really ... follow his orders.
Sarah: Liam? I have met him.
Lionel: Really? When?
Sarah: I met him when I was in Break Point.
Lionel: Wait he wasn't your assigned professor, was he?
Sarah: No, that was Raymond.
Lionel: Raymond? I have no idea who that is.
Sarah: But at least I am being more versatile with my ability. Are you proud of me?
Lionel: Yes, I am, nice work Sarah. This is what I expect of you.
Lionel reaches over to the top of Sarah's head and pats it.
Sarah: Thank you.
Lionel: Do you plan on sparring with Cinco today?
Sarah: Yes.
Lionel: Do you plan on using those boots Kyle made for you?
Sarah: Yes, why wouldn't I?
Lionel: ... No reason. I have big hopes for you Sarah. Please don't prove me wrong.
Sarah: I won't Master.
Lionel: ...
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AUGUST
Lionel: 20 miles, 1,500 push-ups with three boulders, 3,000 sit-ups.
Sarah: Yes Master.
Lionel: Hm ...
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SEPTEMBER
It was sunny out while Sarah and Cloak were flying through the sky. They were as high as they could go without exiting the field. Sarah had her hands behind her head with her back facing the ground. This had become a daily ritual for them. Instead of getting extra sleep in the morning before her sparring with Cinco she decided to spend that extra time doing this. There was something about the setting that was just so calming to Sarah.
Cloak: [Happy birthday Sarah.]
Sarah: Oh ... I guess you would know my birthday.
Cloak: [You made me to know.]
Sarah: Shut u- I mean please don't talk about that stuff it makes my head hurt.
Cloak: [You have become much more polite.]
Sarah: Yeah, Master said something like how I was "too rude to people"
Cloak: [So what do you plan on doing for your birthday?]
Sarah: Nothing really. I never told Master what day my birthday was and the only other person that would know in this village is Kyle. And I doubt that he would leave his lab for 2 minutes to tell anybody. He has been working on that dumb project of his ever since we got here. I haven't talked to him sinceMay, I haven't even seen him. And Master brings food to him every day. He really never leaves. He might as well not even live here. He should just finish that dumb project of his and leave. What was the point of getting us all out of Break Point if you were just going to ignore my- our existence. I hate him so much.
Cloak: [Well you have us, Sarah.]
Sarah: I know ... that is what you always say.
Cloak: [Because it is true. Should we go back to the ground?]
Sarah: Nah I will just skip my sparring with Cinco today. I mean it is my birthday after all.
Cloak: [Of course Sarah.]
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Sarah walks through the front door of her home and exhales. The sun was now setting as she breathed heavily.
Sarah: Thank you for staying with me.
Cloak: [Of course.]
Sarah: You can go now.
Cloak started to slowly turn into pink smoke from the bottom up. When Cloak completely turned into pink smoke the smoke was blown away by wind.
Sarah turns to her left and turns on the light switch and the lights come on. When they turn on Lionel and Cinco come from behind the counter that was in the middle of the kitchen. Cinco was wearing a red and yellow party hat and had no expression of happiness on his face.
Lionel: Happy birthday Sarah!
Sarah was startled by the sudden surprise. But she also felt a sort of happiness. Despite what she said earlier she was happy that someone knew her birthday.
Sarah: Kyle told you, my birthday?
Lionel: Yes. I asked him in April when I was bringing him food.
Sarah looks at her home and sees no type of decoration or food.
Sarah: If you knew it was my birthday, where is everything?
Lionel: Follow me.
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Sarah's eyes were being covered by Lionel's cold black hands. Along the way she had felt many different sensations under her feet, so she was able to guess where they were going.
Lionel: Okay we are here.
Lionel removed his hands and showed what he was guiding her to. She was outside under the night sky. Sarah saw the ground was covered with wooden floorboards. 12 wooden beams coming out of the ground. There was one long strand of white Christmas lights that was wrapped around each of the 12 wooden beams. She also saw a lot of picnic tables. If she had to guess a number, it would be 20. She was standing right in front of a long table with many different foods and drinks. The table also had wooden cups, bowls, plates, and utensils. She looked to her left and saw a taco creation stand.
Everyone: HAPPY BIRTHDAY SARAH!
Sarah looks back in front of her and sees all of the people that were in front of her.
Sarah: [I don't know most of the people here.]
Sarah turns around to look at Lionel with a confused look.
Lionel: Everyone from the village came to celebrate your birthday. They are waiting for you to say something.
Sarah: Oh.
Sarah turns around with a smile on her face.
Sarah: Thank you all for coming.
No one moves after Sarah says that. They all just keep looking at her.
Sarah: [What else should I say. They all just keep ... looking at me. Um.]
Sarah: Please enjoy the party.
People stop looking at Sarah and begin to talk to each other. Children run through the crowd to reach the long table with all the food and drinks. Sarah turns around and looks at Lionel.
Sarah: What now?
Lionel: You really have to ask me? It is your party. Have fun.
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Since Sarah knew barely anyone in the crowd, she looked around for people she did know. That is what she told herself. In truth she was looking for Kyle. And despite looking for him for what seemed like hours she just couldn't find him.
Sarah: [It is no use. He just didn't come.]
Sarah leaves the crowd, walks over to one of the lunch tables and sits down. She brings her hands up to her face and starts to message her eyes.
Sarah: This is terrible.
???: Are you okay?
Sarah looks up and sees a handsome man. He had dark skin and narrow gray eyes. He also had short curly black hair was wearing brown boots, blue jeans, a green sweater with a gray long jacket over it. The jacket was so long that it reached his knees. He smelled like cigarette smoke.
Sarah: Yes, I am fine.
???: I just caught you at a bad time then.
Sarah: Yeah, I just have a bit of a headache, I am fine though. I also have never seen you around here. What is your name?
Gray: My name is Gray. And you have never seen me because I just got back to the village.
Sarah: What do you mean?
Gray: I am allowed to leave and come back to the village whenever I want.
Sarah: HOW COME!?
When Sarah yells everyone at the party stops and looks at her.
Sarah: Um ... sorry. Go back to enjoying yourselves.
Everyone at the party slowly began to talk to each other again but not before some of them made sure everything was okay. When they make sure everything is okay, they are able to go back to conversating like they were before. She turns back to face Grey.
Sarah: Sorry for that.
Gray: It is okay. I don't mind.
Sarah: But really what did you mean when you said you are allowed to leave the village?
Gray: I mean just that. I have permission from the village head that allows me to leave and come back to the village whenever I want. But I didn't come over here to explain that. I came to introduce myself and to make sure you were okay. So, are you okay?
Sarah: Yes, I am. I just have a lot on my mind.
Gray: Do you want to let me know what it is?
Sarah: I mean I didn't even plan to celebrate my birthday and here I am at a surprise party where I know no one and everybody is having a better time than I am. And the one person I have trusted and cared about since the beginning didn't show up. He cares about the stupid project in that lab more than he cares about me. He can't even take a break on a day that I thought would be important to him. He saved me, he saved us. He saved us from years of torture and tears, but he doesn't ... he doesn't ... I am sorry I am having trouble finding the words.
While Sarah was saying this her voice cracked and wavered. She fought to hold back tears and it was a fight she was losing. Her frustration and confusion towards Kyle only grew stronger each day. However, the frustration and confusion towards him was always fighting against the unquestionable gratitude that she had. She brought her hands up to her face and covered her eyes.
Sarah: I hate him for not being with me. I hate him for leaving me here with people I don't know. He is the only person I trust, and he knows that so how come he doesn't act like it. I love and care about Master and I am even starting to warm up in Cinco a bit, but they just can't ever replace Kyle. If Kyle was here, he would be over here with me not in the crowd partying like they are. Not to say they are bad people for leaving me here but ... it is hard to explain this feeling. Maybe ... maybe it is my fault.
Sarah wipes the tears out of her eyes before they could fall. She then realizes what she has been doing.
Sarah: Sorry I didn't mean to put all of that on you.
Gray: You remind me of someone I once knew. You are still young, so I am sorry that you feel this way. It is true that this event was brought together because of your birthday but this is something that everyone needed. I know Lionel said something to you. He probably told you "we are all happy" and that isn't a lie, but it isn't the truth either.
Sarah: I get it ...
Gray: Hm?
Sarah: You are saying that I am not the only one that had things going on so I should just suck it up right? I get it. I am not special.
Gray: ... That is far from what I am trying to say Sarah. I am saying because of you everyone is here together.
Sarah: What?
Gray: Believe it or not but Me, Cinco, you, Lionel, and Kyle are the only ability users in the village. The other people here are either family members or very close to rouges. And if those rouges aren't here that would mean-
Sarah: They are either dead or caught by Break Point ...
Gray: You are amazing Sarah. You may not understand it and you may not believe it, but you have brought so much happiness into everyone's lives.
Sarah: How? I don't even know most of these people.
Gray: You don't have to know a person to make an impact on their life Sarah. If it wasn't for you Lionel wouldn't have brought everyone together like this. And let's mention how much of an impact you have had on Lionel. I haven't seen him this happy in a long time. Look at him Sarah. Look at all of them.
Sarah looks at the crowd of people dancing, talking and laughing, the kids running around playing, the Christmas lights lighting up the area. It was all so calming. It was all so beautiful.
Gray: I get how situations like this can truly be overwhelming and sad and when you truly need a break, take it. Take as long as a break that you need. But when it is all over, when you have finally collected yourself make sure to look at where you are and what it took to get here and see how truly beautiful your situation is Sarah. Make sure to give yourself credit for things that just couldn't have happened without you. Make sure to see the true beauty of things Sarah.
Sarah: ...
Sarah looks back at the party and stands up.
Sarah: Will you still be here in the morning?
Gray: I plan on staying for a few days.
Sarah: Good cause there are a lot of things I want to talk to you about. For right now though I am going to enjoy my party.
Gray: Are you sure you don't need to sit longer? There is nothing wrong with sitting it out.
Sarah: Nah. I want to be happy with them.