It sounded crazy to everyone that despite the happenings in the school, the annual prom night was still going to be held.
It could be seen as a strategy to calm everyone. A strategy to help people relax, take their minds off the recent happenings in the school and it might just work.
For Seven, it meant a different thing altogether.
Sitting and waiting for a miracle from above that was obviously not coming was useless.
Someone, somewhere, at some time, had told him that he didn't have to wait for things to miraculously work out for him because they won't, that he should go and look for solutions and make up one if needed.
Well, there wasn't any coming in sight, and they had exhausted their sources.
Maybe he was looking at it all wrong; just maybe they were all missing the point.
'No one gets anything done by playing by the rules!'
He thought, his footsteps as light as a feather as he stepped on the floorboards coating the principal's office floor.
They had been too worked up trying to hide their identity, working through the shadows then forgetting that that line and nature of doing things naturally comes with a few quirks.
If you were going to be underhanded and secretive about your ways, then you gotta do it to the fullest.
Opening the drawers with controlled urgency as he searched through the files piled within, he occasionally looked back, hoping that the principal would be too busy with the prom arrangements to interrupt him.
To be honest, he's quite impressed with himself.
His assassination skills had been a hidden talent.
Zephyr would prefer it to be hidden forever, but what right does he have to intrude? Just like Master, he had been uncharacteristically mute.
Acting alone, he was afraid that the rest might not be completely in tune with his approach. Without anyone to look out for him, he was on his own.
Lurking, his eyes didn't blink once as they swept the room.
Searching for anything that has the government's emblem or, more precisely, the Court's. Anything would be helpful, including the reports and files on crimes, but he found nothing.
It was a huge office, what he needed could be anywhere...
Just before he was about to toss the next file aside, a picture fell from it. He picked it and a sense of relief washed over him.
'That easy?' he asked, almost chuckling at the thought of something else going wrong.
His eyes lingered in the picture...
It was Simon's picture. The second suspected bully. It would have been quite difficult to recognize him if he had not held a mugshot board that contained basic information about him.
Thinking deeply, sadly...
Jace didn't survive the bear taser attack else, it would have been a lot easier to gather information.
The third and last bully was still unknown to them.
Taking deep breaths, he prayed inwardly that this piece would help.
And no other bad luck of course...
He swiftly went through the file, took shots, proceeded to make sure everything in the room was just the way it was before he came in, then crawled out after nodding in satisfaction.
---
Back in their hideout, everyone was staring at him with incredulous expressions on their faces.
"You broke into the Principal's office?"
Seven shrugged. "You hear that?"
Their eyes widened the same thought running through their mind...
'Who was this and what did he do to Seven?'
"Bet it doesn't sound as gutsy and stupid as you thought it would..." He lampooned ignoring their stares.
"You could have been..."
"Caught? But I didn't. I don't know about you guys, but this school is kinda my last bus stop. When the storm rages, even the saints break the rules; it is already pouring heavily out there; the line is bound to blur..."
"..." Everyone exchanged glances, but none said anything else to refute.
A few seconds passed and it seemed he wasn't ready to divulge anything:
"So anything?" Lexis broke the awkward silence, frowning.
"Hmm," he nodded. Showing them the screenshots on his phone.
"Now what? How do we find him?"
"The address is right there too," Seven answered, feigning ignorance of the obvious problem with his plan.
They'll have to escape the school which has a ban on every student leaving at the moment.
'They still don't get it!' He shook his head inwardly.
"We can't leave the school..."
"We can't? Weren't you guys listening?" Seven asked, rolling his eyes.
"No one gets things done by playing by the rules! For the greater good, I'm sorry but someone has to sneak out of the school. I already volunteered, unless someone else is willing?"
"..."
"Great then!" He glanced through the room.
"Aren't you forgetting something?" Cordis chipped in. "You could sneak out of the school but nothing guarantees you'll be able to get into that Prison..." She said, pointing her nose towards his phone.
With an obvious shrug, he replied:
"Why else do you think I'm here?"
Little chatter followed. For someone who social anxiety who had everything on, it was fascinating to see this meticulous and calculative side of him.
"You'll be coming with me tomorrow, right? It already comes to me that you already have an idea of how to infiltrate."
Cordis nodded, and with everything said and done, Seven stood up to leave.
"If we don't come back before prom tomorrow, call the police," Cordis added, fidgeting a bit at the thoughts of just how much and fast things were changing in her life.
"It's not a bad idea guys..." A voice, low and stern added again.
The voice belonged to Zed as she stood up, putting her headphones aside.
She could see the doubts on everyone's faces, and she knew being a leader, which she hadn't been much lately, she had to at least try and convince everyone all in favor of mutual trust.
"'Where I fell, the roots hold my secret is the last riddle, and it is obviously trying to tell us the connection between the death of the dancing phantom and the tree...
Aside from not knowing how we can't even get close to the tree to dig for answers. Courtesy of his rapid evolution hence more bloodlust. The bullies are the only ones that can help us and right now, Simon is the best candidate."
Exhaling sharply, she concluded;
"We have to trust them with this. Difficult, I know the fact that he's being held in prison. It makes things harder, which is more reason they need our help. Next morning, as early as 3AM, everyone meets up here!"
"Got it?!"
---
Sounds of soft but urgent footsteps could be heard. They zipped through the woods, the tall trees serving as their camouflage.
"I think we are far enough!" Cordis shouted lowly, gasping for air. It wasn't just because she was exhausted but the weight of her disobedience still weighed down on her.
Muttering to herself repeatedly that it was for the best, she opened her eyes to see Seven's fast-retreating figure.
Scoffing, she endured and kept sprinting. After a few minutes, Seven stopped and it took her a few seconds to catch up.
Sweat dropped down her face and she was about to complain when she heard some footsteps approaching them.
Already on edge, she took a stance, but seeing Seven unbothered, she repositioned, tilted her head, and narrowed her eyes toward the figure instead.
A male figure, tall and lean emerged from the bushes. He had neatly styled dirty blonde hair with blue eyes and looked to be in their age bracket.
Still unsure of his identity, she tentatively took a step back, partially hiding behind Seven.
Seven's face betrayed no emotion, but as the guy drew closer, his face—visible. Going in for a hug, a smile plastered on the guy's face revealing a set of deep pimples.
"Sev...long time, no see!"
Ghosting a smile, "Miguel!" Seven replied, letting go.
Concluding the pleasantries, Seven stepped aside a little and introduced:
"Cordis, meet Miguel, my cousin. He'll be leading us to the prison because he lives around that area."
"Meet Cordis, my friend."
Seven introduced, stepping aside for a handshake.
Sizing her up, his smile widened:
"Nice outfit!" He complimented Cordis's uniform. Seven didn't have one, never received it, and wasn't why it if he wanted to.
When their hands met, the touch lingered. They made eye contact, and Miguel chuckled, revealing his deep dimples. Cordis raised an eyebrow but later ghosted a smile.
"Clairsentient? Wow, Seven..."
"I'm right here, ain't I? Ask me."
Intentionally dragging out the silence she added, "Claircognizance!"