Cat and Mouse

It was clear the adults were getting tired of canceling school due to the string of attacks and casualties. They only gave a day off for the loss of Casey Cole, then there was a massive police presence on campus. Officers ranged from State Police, Sherifs, and City. Mick knew it wouldn't be enough with the weird things happening. If Shadowfury attacked, he'd find a way to clear a path. Or he's use the power of the Coven to do it for him. 

The current theory was that Shadowfury was someone who wished to be a hero through the Coven, and the people he'd killed and the hellhounds had been creatures for him to fight to look heroic. Sure it was flimsy, but it was all they had. At least in Casey's situation it made a little sense. Mick knew Casey for years, and he never exhibited powers before. The officer that was turned into the demonic monster hadn't had a repeat happening. Sharon wondered if that happened because the Coven suspected Mick was getting too close to something, Coulson agreed. As the bloodwork on both Casey and the officer had no anomalies in it, where Mick had anomalies in his to show his powers. The burn marks on the grass were just that, burn marks. 

Mick walked on campus, his senses going slightly wild. He felt so many eyes on him, but couldn't pick out anyone in particular. He felt paranoid, each step more unnerved than the last. It didn't help that the commons area had been closed off, and the students were sent into the gym until the first bell rang. Either there, or go to the library. Mick chose library, so he could study for his math test in peace. On the way to the library, Mick noticed Jake having an argument with Alice and her coven. His mind jumped back to the last time he noticed them getting upset, and reached for his gym bag. 

"Hey! Gym or library, no loitering!" An officer yelled, the girls of the coven cutting a wicked glare his way. 

"Yes, Sir," Alice hissed, leading her girls toward the library, leaving Jake storming off toward the gym. This would be perfect, Mick could keep an eye on them to make sure if Shadowfury appeared, he could stop them no matter what. 

Mick felt a strange buzzing in his head as he followed the coven, the pain almost like a dim migraine. He reached up, clutching his ears as the ringing grew louder. Something slammed into him, knocking him off his feet and to the ground. Davis and Patten ran up from the parking lot, helping Mick to his feet. 

"You alright?"Patten asked as Mick glanced at the library and dusted himself off.

"They're up to something," Mick pointed. "The Covenant went in there, and something slammed into me before I could follow." 

"That wasn't something," Davis stated. "It was someone. Bailey Annison to be specific. She climbed out of her car, and when she took a step she just turned into a blur." No sooner than Davis explained, there was a loud shriek from the commons area. The boys all looked and a massive block of ice had formed, towering over the buildings. 

"What in the heck is going on?" Mick asked as Davis grabbed Mick's bag pulled out his Recluse mask. "Hey!" 

"You weren't going," Davis already had his web shooters slinging webs to climb onto the roof of the nearest building. 

"You're lucky I have a backup," Mick pulled his hoodie out, sliding it on and grabbed his baton. "I need you to find out what those girls are doing in the library. They had to have something to do with this!" Mick looked at Patten who nodded, taking Mick's backpack and gym bag and heading toward the library.

The massive show of police seemed completely useless as several officers were frozen into pillars of ice, most of the entrances into the commons were blocked by walls of ice, in the center of it all was the massive pillar with what looked to be a person trapped inside, a girl backed against the pillar, and Shadowfury stalking toward her. 

"Go get the girl, I'll deal with the psycho ninja!" Mick yelled as Davis nodded. Mick shot webs at Shadowfury pulling him backwards before he could attack the terrified brunet girl. He looked between the two people dressed as Recluse, then Mick began his assault. Shadowfury had replaced his longsword, the two clashed, wind rippled along with electricity as locked in a clash of wills. 

"Why are you trying to stop me?" Shadowfury hissed. "Can't you look around and see that this girl is the real villain here? The Book of Shadows has marked her!" 

"The only villain I see is you!" Mick slashed as Shadowfury jumped backwards to avoid his blade. 

"This innocent blood is on your hands then!" Shadowfury growled as Mick continued his assault. 

"You don't get to try and guilt me! I've seen what you do!" Mick yelled as Shadowfury scoffed. 

"I didn't want to do this, but you're leaving me no choice! They want you dead anyway!" Shadowfury's motions began to blur. "I'm just not sure why there's two of you." He lunged at Davis as he stood between him and the brunette girl, Mick threw his blade with all his strength, hoping it wouldn't miss. 

The blade was twirling in the air before it slammed into Shadowfury, his blade inches away from Davis' chest. The ninja recoiled, as Mick pulled his dropped longsword into his hand with a web. Mick held both his and Shadowfury's blades in his hands, standing between the ninja and his prey, daring him to take another step. 

"You fancy yourself a hero today," Shadowfury staggered backwards. "But trust me, your day is coming. They've marked you for dead, and I know who you really are. Your days are numbered Mick Bellouve. You and your band of outcasts have a price to pay." 

"I'll stop you long before I let you hurt anyone else," Mick growled, unflinching at the sound of his true name, as he charged at Shadowfury. The ninja shook his head then clapped, vanishing into a cloud of smoke, the two blades cutting through the smoke to Mick's frustration. The longsword dissolved as he slung it into the ice wall. It began to crack, as Davis then used his staff to continue chipping enough to free the young girl. 

"Are you okay?" Mick ran to the brunette as Davis grabbed the other girl. 

"Stay back," the girls voice trembled. "I can't control it. I don't want to hurt you. Not after what you just did for me." 

"I know it sounds crazy, but you're going to have to trust me for a minute. We've got to get you out of here," Mick said as Davis motioned for him. He hurried over, the two pulled hard, shattering Davis' staff, but broke the ice enough to free the girl that was trapped inside. 

"Just leave me," the brunette was hysterical, Mick understood her fear: Strange new powers that she felt like she couldn't control, and she hurt people. It was very upsetting. 

"Look, I've been there. I can teach you to control your powers, but we've got to get you out of here first," Mick looked at the melting ice and heard the yelling police and EMT's on the other side. "What's your name?" 

"Samantha," the girl said nervously. "Samantha Lane." 

"I sure hope we can get out of this before they surround us," Davis said as Mick eyed the top of the science building. 

"I'll make sure of it, you just swear you'll get Samantha far away from all of this," Mick said as Davis raised his brow. "I'll be right behind you." 

"Don't do anything stupid," Davis said as Mick climbed atop the building, carefully looking around to see if there was a clear path out. He leaned down, pulling Samantha up, then pulled Davis up. "You should be able to slip out the side parking lot by the cafeteria." 

"Are you sure about this?" Davis asked looking at Samantha, and then back at Mick. 

"Yeah," Mick nodded. "Go before they see you." 

Mick jumped down, picking up the blonde girl who ran into him before, carrying her over toward the thin layer of ice where he could hear paramedics and EMTs chipping away trying to break through. "Stand back, I'm going to shatter the ice, I've got a girl who needs serious help, she's freezing cold." 

Mick saw their shadows move, he laid the girl down beside him then took his sword, slamming it as hard as he could into the smallest area he could. The metal groaned under the impact, but the ice cracked. "One more time," Mick said to himself as he reared back. With another heavy swing, the ice gave way, falling like an avalanche to everyone's surprise. Mick grabbed the girl, pulling her free from the slush as police officers ran up to him with guns pointed at him. 

EMT's quickly intervened, wrapping the poor girl in blankets and taking her into an open ambulance. The cops weren't so friendly to Mick, he was quick to comply, placing his hands behind his head and kneeling. They cuffed him, then led him to a large black heavy duty SWAT style SUV. They opened the rear doors, shoving him inside. 

"Well, isn't that interesting," a familiar voice said from the front of the vehicle. Mick looked to see a small slider window open. "She was right, you would turn yourself in."

"It would be you," Mick felt a little relieved to hear Coulson's voice. 

"I told you I'd be around. Didn't expect to be needed so quickly though," Coulson said as the truck lurched forward. "Also didn't think you'd have it in you to sacrifice yourself to let the others escape." 

"I'm guessing if you're here, they're not getting very far?" Mick said as Coulson laughed. 

"No, I had Sharon collect them once this got serious, the should be in route to the safe house now," Coulson stated. 

"Guessing that's where we're going?" Mick asked. 

"You guessed right," Coulson said. "The key is back there somewhere for those cuffs, you might want to make yourself comfortable. It's going to be a bumpy ride."