Chapter 63

Arya just leaped out of the hole in the wall she created.

Much faster than having to walk down the stairs at least.

She landed with a loud thud that kicked up some dirt.

She got right back up and glared daggers at Matthew.

Matthew looked very sheepish and like he was about to go into cardiac arrest when he saw Arya.

Everyone stopped to look at her. The thugs stopped to look at her. It was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

Arya didn't bother to look over her shoulders as she addressed those thugs.

"Let her go."

The thugs, either still in shock or refusing to obey her, didn't. 

Arya didn't hesitate to use her telekinesis to wrap invisible hands around the thugs' throats and they let go of the woman as they clawed and gasped for air.

Arya waited until their faces turned bright red and they collapsed onto the ground to show them mercy and release her hold on them.

They gasped and choked and coughed as they fought to breathe again.

They crawled away almost pathetically and Arya heard the mother getting back onto her feet and rejoining the crowd.

Arya felt all eyes on her as she walked over to where Matthew was, radiating a sense of power and strength.

So much power coming off of this young girl.

It was almost suffocating.

Arya stopped in front of Matthew before she glared at him, anger in her eyes.

"You told me that you had no food left. You lied. And now I see that you do indeed use food to control these poor people. Making them beg and do whatever you say, working like unpaid laborers for….", Arya turned and pointed at a random man in the line, "...how much food do you get?"

The middle-aged man responded with anger in his voice.

"Two loaves of bread most of the time with one flask of water-maybe a pound of dried meat if we're lucky. Hell, that's not enough for one person, let alone an entire family!!"

He punched the air with his fist as he spoke, others chiming in with him in agreement. Arya sensed the anger and months of frustration in their voices from fear and hunger.

It seemed like a riot was about to take place.

Arya thought that while the thugs may be armed with clubs, whips, and some small knives, they were no match against the fury and rage of what looked to be a couple hundred starving and exploited people. A whole mob. 

 Arya took charge to defuse the whole situation at once before there could be a full scale riot.

She never felt comfortable in any leadership position or taking charge-one of the reasons why she had no interest in the throne-playing around and living life based on her own choices-along with just knowing that she would not be able to handle the stress and all the responsibilities and duties that came with the crown.

But everyone seemed to be looking at her for leadership so she decided to step up just this once.

"EVERYONE CALM DOWN!!!!"

Arya was mostly shy and soft-spoken as people knew her as a princess but she discovered that she could be loud and commanding if she wanted to.

Everyone seemed to calm down and listen to her. Matthew looked like he wanted to make a run for it but Arya sensed what was going on and she grabbed him by the wrist before he could.

Her grip was iron-solid, firm but not painful, and Matthew looked like a scared rabbit in front of a hungry wolf.

She gulped, feeling some sweat forming on her head, but she pushed forward.

"This man here exploited you and used your desperation as a means to control you. He controlled your food and made you beg for scraps while he and his followers ate well. I will punish him right here in front of you. He deserves a good hard punch to the face!!"

Arya meant that as a means to appease the crowd and to finish up her speech and the people cheered and clapped.

One random person called out for Arya to "punch him in the face!!"

Arya didn't do it but she really felt like punching Matthew in the face.

Matthew looked scared and his face was white now.

Arya waited until the clapping and cheering was over to talk again.

"You will get the food you all need once I can get this asshole talking!!"

The crowd whopped and cheered for a few seconds before they settled down, eager to see what was next.

Arya turned to face Matthew.

"Where is the food? I mean the food you are hoarding."

Matthew had just about opened up his mouth to say something when someone started screaming. 

All chaos broke loose from there as the attackers arrived.

People screamed and fled in all directions.

Bodies hit the ground ominously.

The attackers were human.

And humans that Arya knew very well.

There was Catalina and Elijah along with Kanan and Jarek. Arya even recognized a few of the girls and boys from the Royal Academy from what little memory she had seeing them at the Academy. But they all looked strange and acted in an odd manner. Their movements were jerky and shaky, they moved like they were puppets on a string, their eyes glassy and glazed over. Faces were blank and emotionless. Some of them were armed with swords, spears and axes but some were wielding their powers. Elijah's hands flickered and glowed from the flames covering them and Catalina was shrouded in poisonous gas, her fingertips turning black from the poison inside of her.

 Nix. Arya could spot his blinding white hair and pale skin from a mile away. Shards of ice danced around his fingertips and the air seemed to be taking on a more chilly atmosphere.

All of them were attacking the defenseless people and they fought like wild animals.