The truth
Her breath was turning ragged as she kept up her running pace. Stella fortunately still kept up beside her. They ran through the school hallways, Sprite already hearing the shrieks of her schoolmates echoing against the walls. She shut her eyes and kept running. Shouting to Stella to not look back and stop. The others would be fine. This deviant was different, it wouldn’t attack them. It was looking for her.
Her head snapped to the side, wide eyes taking in her best friend's messy state.
And now they were after Stella too.
Sprite found the human heart to be extremely irritating. It would, at the worst times, force them to do very stupid things for the people they cared about. Such as putting themselves in danger by getting the attention of a deviant from their Eternal best friend. Well, former Eternal.
Stella, of course, had no idea what she was. Nobody at school did. That made things easier and simpler. That was, until her way of thinking put her closest friend in danger.
“There!” Sprite pointed at the opened classroom at the end of the hallway. The doors looked sturdy enough to at least keep the deviant at bay for a while until she figured something out. She basically yanked Stella through the doorway and shut the doors, immediately looking for something to use as a barricade.
Luckily, because of all the time they spent together, she and Stella basically shared the same brain at this point. She was already busying herself by pushing the teacher’s desk towards the doors. Sprite ran over to help her out. The loud thuds of footsteps skidding in the hallway alerted her of the deviant, which was approaching fast. “Get away from the doors!!”
The doors shook roughly upon impact and the two girls screamed in terror and shock.
“Hurry, Sprite, think, think!!” She wracked her brain for a stalling solution. Her family – the other Eternals – already knew of the attack. The first thing she did was notify them. All she had to do now was keep Stella and herself alive until they got here.
A plan came to mind, but it came with a risk. A risk she didn’t want to take.
The doors shook again, the hinges almost falling off. Even the walls around them were cracking.
She took Stella's hand in hers and led her to the far corner of the classroom. It was a good slightly hidden spot among the many student desks and chairs. Sprite drew her attention as they crouched in the corner. “Okay, I have a plan, but you have to promise me that whatever happens you will close your eyes and stay quiet. Can you do that?”
“What- What do you mean?! Why-”
“Stella, just do as you’re told.” She snapped, checking back at the doors. Seeing the almost broken barricade, she faced her again. “Promise me.”
There was a bit of hesitation before she agreed. “Okay.”
“Okay,” Sprite repeated after her, relieved. But then the doors broke open. “Now! Close your eyes, now!!” Before she took her gaze away, she heard Stella let out a frightened squeak but otherwise followed her orders.
She dashed to the side of the doors. Her back was pressed up against the wall. Just as the deviant broke through the barricade, she cast a light illusion over Stella, making her vanish from view. She took slow, deep breaths as she watched the deviant turn its head, surveying the room. It was purposefully plunging through the class. Trying to lure out its prey. Sprite was surprised – almost worried that there was no sound coming from the hidden corner. But she knew Stella was there. If she focused, she could see the strewn papers slightly shifting because of her movements.
The deviant getting too close for her liking, Sprite set her plan into motion.
She created the illusion of fog gathering in the room. The thin cloud created a new terrain in her favor. As expected, the deviant began searching frantically for a way out.
She concentrated, her hands set in front of her, and carefully shaped her next illusion. This needed to be as authentic as possible. She could gradually make out the outline of its form shaping, and then she heard the thuds of its feet. She felt her energy dwindling. Good thing that the hard part was already halfway done.
Now, it was time to spring the trap. Taking one of the thick history books from the floor, she tossed it hard against the chalkboard. The impact caught its attention, and the deviant lunged blindly in her direction.
It stopped abruptly at the looming sight of the illusion she had made. A perfect copy of a deviant – No. The deviant. The one who evolved and slaughtered members of her family. It seemed her powers were greater than she thought, as she watched the illusion slowly trudge forwards. The real deviant, seeming very small in comparison. Maybe because of fear, respect, or maybe even genetic differences, the real deviant cowered at the sight of her Kro-illusion.
She has snapped away from her frozen state when a blur suddenly passed easily through her illusioned surrounding. It happened too quickly for her to process properly, but the next thing she knew the deviant was gone and there was a massive hole on the side of her classroom. Sprite was about to peer over the broken wall when she was pulled swiftly into familiar arms.
“Makkari.” She sighed in relief. Resting her weight on the speedster a bit when the adrenaline started wearing off. She didn't know how long they stayed that way, but it was long enough for her heart to stop pounding against her chest. Although, she turned sharply to look at the one holding her when she felt the arms around her tighten. The woman was looking toward her not yet dispelled illusion. It stood frighteningly still as if awaiting orders.
She waved her hand and the dreadful creature disappeared.
Along with it, the illusion she placed around the room slowly broke down. She whirled around quickly, remembering her friend. Only to find her standing not a few steps away. She jolted out of Makkari’s hold and went to check if Stella was fine. She stopped when she saw her face. Both eyes were wide in shock and uncertainty.
“No..” her heart sunk as she watched what akin to fear in her eyes “Stella, I-”
Her heart broke even more when she reached out and her best friend took a step back. Her hands outstretched, putting up a barrier between herself and Sprite. Before her mouth could utter a word, her eyes glow golden and fluttered close. Makkari caught her as she sagged to the ground.
Sprite swiveled around – the amount of energy she spent causing her to teeter a bit – towards the sight of Druig walking into the ruins of the classroom. His gaze was on the unconscious human in Makkari's grasp, but it flitted to her as she struggled to regain her balance. His eyes narrowed, silently daring her to say she was fine.
Sprite knew better and instead asked what he had done to Stella.
A second of silence made her think he wasn’t going to let it go, but he eventually answered. “She’s fine. Just asleep.”
Walking up to them, he explained the situation. “I’ve dealt with all the others. As far as they’re concerned, a deviant went on a rampage and their school was the unfortunate collateral damage. Also, that some superheroes had dealt with it.” He continued flatly. “Shouldn’t be too suspicious with all the new heroes and vigilantes appearing. Nothing will be tied to you. You could even still stay in this school if you wanted to,” he turned towards her, his eyes still sharp “but I’d advise against it. You’d put all the other humans in danger.” He waved absentmindedly towards the school around them, but she knew he meant Stella. She agreed that she couldn’t stay in this school anymore.
She gazed at the sleeping girl leaning heavily against Makkari. Then looked up at Druig, her mind coming up with a decision.
Like always, he already knew her thoughts before she said them out loud. “Sprite- “
She cut him off before he could change her mind. “-can she keep her memories?” Her voice came out softer and less convincing than she wanted it to.
Druig released a tired sigh. “Are you sure? You know how these things always end. Not to mention it would be selfish of you.” Same old Druig, never sugar-coating his words.
“I know Stella. It’d be much crueler to her if I just wiped her memories and left.” She stated. “Besides I’m human now,” he grimaced at her words, she knew he hated the reminder “things will be different this time.”
He didn’t seem convinced, and she knew he was going to disagree. Suddenly feeling very tired, she pleaded. “At the very least let Stella choose herself when she wakes up. Please?”
Accepting her words, he left Stella intact with her memories. After moving the sleeping girl to the infirmary, Makkari and Druig left. Not before pushing and prodding her to get herself treated for her minor injuries or at least rest. Using her powers – which is very not good for her human body – took a toll on her. But she wanted to be the first to explain what had happened and the choice she had to give her best friend. She dreaded the answer, but she knew whatever it was, she’ll accept it. It was the least she could do. For the chance of having her friendship.