“Comraderie and kinship, things so akin far beyond meaning.

Whilst consisting of deceiving, hope still prevails in its way. 

For not everything lies in monochrome.

Relish the relations you have made…for not all last for long.

Thank you my dear friends, I wish you peace

-from REDACTED 

Lovely. Really lovely.

Elena frowned whilst staring at her ‘fellow’ offenders who glared at each other with equal vengeance. Frost filled the miniature van that coerced them to close proximity by being bound by shackles to one another. If even one person wished to move, the rest had to follow and after a heated debate (particularly with Mahan and the amber-eyed man next to him) they collectively decided silence was the most optimal action at the moment. 

What could be expressed with fists and tongue was now reduced to scorching stares and snarls. No side wished to admit defeat, although for Elena, this was already touching the extent of her comfort zone. 

However, his primary issue was not with the men- heavens no, she could ignore them for her whole life. Her issue was with the red-head lady next to her (Leila Ravens, she guessed). 

It was not due to any stares, frowns or telepathic death threats. Rather, it WAS because she did not participate in any. 

After bashing our heads in, this lunatic is actually smiling?!

Careful to not get caught staring, she shifted her gaze from her broken shoes towards Leila’s beaming face as the woman hummed merrily with a whistle here and there. 

Her eyes were shut as her head lolled side to side as if she was at home chilling with headphones than in a police van with their faces plastered all over the media as delinquents. 

Elena’s eyes blew wide as anxiety took over adrenaline. In her haste she had forgotten her entire purpose. Her mission.

Nonono-nope. It’s fine. If you cannot get in the front door just use the back!

BUT they said no massacres…one person does not count right? 

Elena startled at a high pitch giggle as she was further appalled by the origin. 

Mahan!? 

From their first meeting until the showdown, she only knew him as either an immaculate angel or a bloodthirsty demon. Giggling like a schoolchild was NOT on her list of assumptions. 

Mahan grinned, rocking side to side as he waved his hands as well. His voice rose by several notes and sounded like a sparrow’s chirp when he sang. 

“We’re going in a van.

A very lovely van. 

Probably to get hanged,

Or better yet- SHOT! HAHA!” 

He broke off, shrieking in peals of laughter as tears fell from his eyes. Elena shuffled farther from Mahan, turning to witness the red-head man (now recalling as Raymond) who was closest to the spectacle. 

Raymond scrutinised Mahan, yet in an instant his eyes flitted over to a space above his head which made him crack a smile. Raymond nodded, then his eyes flicked to the empty space on his right which resulted in a frown. He then shuffled in his seat, crossed his arms and shut his eyes in sleep despite the racket in his vicinity. 

Elena stood shellshocked, not bothering to hide the way her face scrunched up.

She raised her head to the roof of the van, praying silently. 

Someone get me out of this madhouse!

BANG! 

A thud sounded from the metal barrier separating the group from the front seats, silencing the chatter. The thuds resounded once again, even more frequent as a burly screech was heard alongside them.

“SHUT YOUR TRAPS THE LOT OF YOU!” 

Elena was about to apologise as a gesture of courtesy before an incensed roar resounded next to her, clamping her mouth shut. As if this could not get any worse.

“SHUT YOURS FIRST YOU IMPUDENT HUMAN!” 

All eyes whiplashed to Raymond who (now rudely awoken from slumber) was in a scalding rage. There was a beat of silence at his response before an officer roared whilst hitting the barrier again. 

“Watch your t-!”

Not even sparing them a moment, Raymond aimed a precise kick at the barrier despite protests which left a deep dent in the size of his shoe. It was a miracle the metal had not given way at the sheer force, even more so given that Raymond’s shoes did not tear as well. 

Muffled gasps and screams could be heard from the front as the officers now halted their atrocities, for none dared to cross the line further. 

Raymond heaved rapidly amongst the tense silence before massaging his temple, groaning in annoyance. Though Elena could not hear clearly, from his mutters she could vaguely make out ‘git’, ‘stupid’ and ‘mortal’. She drew her eyes to the ground, begging for it to swallow her whole. She could not withstand being cooped with all these people. If they could even be called people. 

A psychotic woman.

An unhinged man.

And a sleep-deprived gangster.

Someone help me. 

Elena looked up once again as Raymond fell to his seat and curled up on his side in a desperate attempt to return to dreamland. However, his eyes shot open and gave them a once-over, with his scowl deepening significantly upon Mahan.-whose smile returned once more at the action.

“If any of you wake me again, that metal will be you.” 

With the ominous threat, he went back to sleep. Blissfully ignoring the eyes that were still trained on him as he dozed away. Leila raised her brow at the notion whilst Mahan was stifling delirious streams of laughter as Elena remained scandalised at their unimpressed reactions. 

Are they seriously not terrified?

For a while, silence was preserved aptly in the van with neither daring to speak. Each individual busied themselves with their thoughts and imagination. 

Leila stared at her velvet nails, occasionally blowing strands of red that thwarted her sight and mused at the events that just occurred. Roped in with society’s most hilarious delinquents on offer…albeit her situation did stem after the  ‘scuffle’ with the bastard earlier. 

Leila stilled as reality caught up with her, before sighing in disappointment. What a waste this was: from the gala, to her black and silver studded gown all the way to spending Reneirva’s funds. Pointless. 

Well, pointless from a legal perspective. It can not be that hard to eliminate the successful candidates, at least one of them.

Leila paused for a moment before scrapping the idea. 

Too hard to come up with another disguise. 

Let’s see…

However her thoughts pulled to a standstill in a sudden jerk much like the vehicle. Everyone raised their arms in an effort to maintain balance, however with nothing to grab ahold of and their interlinked chains, they came crashing to the centre. 

Leila grit her teeth as she tried to resist the collective gravity, yet with the dual haired man and the woman already sliding off-balance, she had no choice but to follow suit.

“Ow!”

“Watch it!”

Leila winced as someone tugged her arm forcefully and kicked in a random direction, clearly making contact from the sharp gasp. The trio were entwined by iron links to the point of almost choking, with the bonds not permitting even the slightest movement. 

They were almost resemblant to a human wrapped present with the insolent man being faceplanted into the metallic floor, the timid woman right on top followed by Leila who-at least- got a better view than the other two. 

At least my face isn’t going to swell tomorrow.

Hm…but weren't there four of us? 

Her observation was proven accurate as a prolonged creak of mattress and jingling metal sounded from above. Leila’s eyes widened as the sleeping form of a certain red-head plotted a trajectory straight onto her. 

Oh no. 

Leila squirmed trying to move from the line of fire, but it was futile as the sleeping man tumbled right above her, further crushing the other two underneath. Their shouts alerted the man as he stirred dazedly to consciousness. He peered down at Leila’s eyes, cocking his head in confusion before he beamed like the sun. The man mumbled so quietly that only she could hear amidst the chaos as he infringed into her space evermore so.

“Lavender...pretty…heh.” 

His smile was lopsided, similar to a child’s with all his teeth on display, but Leila was fuming at the words and his audacity to care.

What. The. Hell?

“Wake up!” 

In a haste, she freed her right arm and slapped him clean across, which, was extremely effective for waking him, not so much against the consequences. The man’s face morphed from naiveness to irritation, which Leila matched effortlessly. 

She aimed for another slap, which was soon shot down as he grasped her wrist securedly and scoffed. 

“So mature of you.”

Leila growled. 

“Says the one who threw a tantrum because his beauty sleep was disrupted.” 

The man rolled his eyes, ignoring the jab. He then clenched his jaw, now addressing the rest of the group.

“Can you hindrances NOT cause chaos for a second?” He seethed.

“Us?”

“You made a DENT. IN. METAL!”

Shouts of denial came as the volume gradually escalated into a full blown conflict. Chains rustled as the individuals now not only fought to be released but to throw hands once more. Their scuffle died down however, as light entered the van with the doors thrown wide which startled them all.

They froze in anticipation as shadows loomed over them. Given their positions, not one of them had a completely clear view of what was happening, only glimpes at best. They could only follow as chains were pulled, causing them to be dragged out the van. 

The group were tossed to the ground much to their outrage making their energy renewed once more. Having the most optimal view of the quartet, Leila scowled as officers surrounded them but became curious at their environment. There were no prison cells or monochromatic offices like she presumed, in fact, they were on smooth concrete pavement with multi-coloured rose bushes of inate beauty along with other florals of various scents encompassing them.

If this is not the station, where are we?

A cough captured their attention as they shuffled to find the source. A trembling old man, around his mid-sixties with a warm complexion and neatly tied silver locks resting on his spine emerged from the back of the enforcement. His attire matched theirs in formal extravagance and despite his shaky grasp on his cane, he stood with the full dignity and grace of a priest. 

“If you please, ladies and gentlemen.” His voice was brittle but filled with purpose.  

“Do pardon me, this was unfortunately the only method to bring you here whilst avoiding from the vultures called 'the media'. Ah, not in a crude intention! Please do not mistake me-"

He made to continue but was interrupted by the dual-haired man, who chuckled heartedly.

“Yes, yes, real sweet of you. Thanks. Apologies, but who the hell are you?” 

“Watch yourself.” One of the officers rose, pointing his rifle at the man who flipped him off, before his eyes glowed at his weapon.

“Oh, sweet product! Weak grip you have though, are you sure you can fire it? OW!” 

The man was shoved in the ribs by the ravenette whose eyes never strayed from the weapon in strained anxiousness. For once, the group were in collective apprehension and agreement. Just who was the man before them?

And what does he want? Leila added on silently.

The man paused, blinking owlishly before laughing merrily, waving the officer aside. 

“Pardon me once again, it seems I've forgotten my pleasantries. How foolish of myself. You see, I’m the reason you’re all gathered here right now. Well- at least why you went to the gala."

He tilted his head in amusement at their confused glances as they murmured noncommittally. Emerald eyes fell slightly as if his expectations failed to be delivered, though became neutral once more.

Did he expect us to know him?

The man sighed fondly, his emerald eyes rose to face them.

“I’m the ‘esteemed’ host of the gala tonight as the papers declare. Otherwise known as the Headmaster of Tellowania College: Kareem N. Ari. You can call me Headmaster Ari for short though! Afterall, we're going to be quite aqquainted in the coming years.” 

He grinned as if the bombshell he dropped upon them was a mere raindrop during a storm, as if his identity was a speck of dust on one's coat, as if there were not four pairs of astounded eyes locked on his form, mouths agape.

Headmaster Ari smiled, patting all their heads one by one like they were his flock of students. He whirled around and with a snap of his fingers, an attendant brought in a small stack of papers which he held for the stunned group to see.

“You’re all hired!” he declared.

“What?”