Secrets(Adrianna & Odion)

[Lani Hunter]

The day was overcast having just had a front slide through the day before. Lani was content with the clouds and cooler temperatures. He walked through the familiar halls his hands in his pockets, one hand constantly feeling the account information in one of his pockets. He didn’t slouch or hide his face, instead he walked with confidence his shoulders rolled back and his gait a relaxed saunter. He knocked on his boss’ door and only had to wait a moment before hearing the bid to enter. He pushed the door open and his confidence was nearly shattered. His face had a smile on it and there was no change in his calm expression but his hands were shaking. He came face to face with his boss and paused in the doorway.

“Ah, Lani, come in, come in,” the man said pleasantly and Lani stepped in the door sliding closed behind him. Fate sealed. No backing down now.

“Sir,” Lani hesitated, his eyes dropping to his feet as he declined the offer to sit. “I have something for you.” He stepped up and held out the bank account information. It had the recent deposit slip showing the total amount in the account and all of the passwords and numbers.

His boss took it giving Lani a long stare before looking at what he was handed. “What is this?” He asked as his eyes fell on the numbers. It was more than enough to cover Lani’s debt in full and then some. Lani had done a lot of work, he had robbed a few banks to get the amount as high as it was so fast. He was careful to deposit it in pieces but he had already decided that banks terrified him. They were hard. People took security there very seriously. It was only too obvious that it had been a meta who had stolen the money.

“My resignation,” Lani answered glad his voice came out clear and strong instead of shaky and broken.

His boss folded his hand and his gentle fatherly face quickly turned cold. “Is that so?” At Lani’s nod he rose and walked around the desk. Lani’s heart hammered and his legs tensed to run but he held his ground. The backside of a hand crossed his face. He staggered back shock on his face as his boss grabbed his collar before he was able to stumble out of the way. “That is not how it works, Hunter, I own you.”

“But I paid my debt!” Lani protested foolishly.

His boss smiled cruelly. “Well then, I’ll take your debt and raise you a ransom.” Lani’s eyes widened and his boss tossed him into the hold of his men. Men that Lani had known all of his life. And he gave the order.

Lani didn’t have breath to scream as it seemed like the floor fell out from under him. The men had a field day on him. No, no one left his boss. Lani did his best to cover his head and protect his vitals but his mind was panicked. He almost didn’t feel the pain as his thoughts ran toward Adrianna. Panic made him bold, he fought back. Foolish Hunter.

By the time his boss called them off Lani, Lani didn’t think he would be able to stand. But stand he did. And ran. He would have run all the way to Hammel if he had to but his brain gave him enough sense to hotwire a car. He sped toward Pilot Ridge the car peeling out and complaining. A cop coming up behind him was quickly disabled as Lani’s power simply turned off the car. He had to get to Hammel. But he was already too late…

[Odion Martins]

(OOC: If this should unfold a little differently, someone let me know!)

It was a typical day at Hammel Institute. Odion had just been out this morning to buy more cat food. It was easier just to steal the money first and then buy the cat food. He had become a regular at the local pet store, and the clerks always knew what he wanted. Cat food every week, cat toys every month. He smiled thankfully at them as he left, things in his rucksack.

He walked back to school, his mind drifting. He wondered where Lani had gone. Odion had stopped by the blonde’s dorm to see if he was there before going for the food. When he wasn’t, Odi picked the lock and slipped in. But Lani wasn’t trying to avoid him, he simply wasn’t there. And as far as Odi knew, it wasn’t time to go back to Boston. Lani would’ve told him. And, Lani wouldn’t forget that it was his turn to watch over the kittens.

Sighing, Odion went to his dorm, fed the cats, and waited for Lani to show. But he never did. Odi glanced at the clock every couple of minutes. He stood up from his bed, and went back to Lani’s dorm. He wanted to talk to Lani, tell him about how he’d punched Rhett right in the face, tell him that someone named Declyn had shown up claiming to be his twin. He missed Lani, and the kittens did too. Odion took another walk through Lani’s room, looking for any clues, and also fought the urge to start tidying. Lani’s room was a sty to Odion’s standards. The ginger checked his phone. Nothing.

And then an idea struck him.

Odion made his way briskly to Adrianna’s room. He didn’t knock, because the door was slightly ajar. Odion frowned. Even at Hammel, this wasn’t usual. Being precautious, Odion pushed the door open a little farther, very silently, and took a peek inside. The living quarters were a mess. He stepped fully inside the room, walking past strewn papers and torn up books. There had been a struggle. Odion went to the one bedroom with the door open. He stepped inside, picking up a cell phone that had been abandoned on a bed. He pressed it. There was a picture of Adrianna and Lani on the backround, and one missed call from Lani.

Hitting the call button, Odion checked around the room. He could just feel that something was wrong here. Once Lani picked up, Odion spoke. “Lani? Where are you?” The redhead looked out the window to the student parking lot. There was a black van, back doors wide open. Odion made note of the driver, and two other men carrying a struggling Adrianna. Confusion took over as Odi’s heart sank. “Someone’s taking her...” He said, before the phone clattered to the ground.

He should’ve checked the other rooms. The kidnappers hadn’t left, one of them was still lurking in the bedrooms. And while Odion was looking out the window, someone knocked him in the back of the head.

---

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Summer was a bust. No California, no crazy mother, no Mags and no boyfriend. WTH? Of course she’d succeeded in getting a job and was working in a clothing store with a totally kick ass boss, but still. She’d much rather spend time with someone besides random strangers that she had to sell clothes to. Preferably Lani. After what had happened with her and him and Rhett, she had wanted to spend as much time with him as possible. (Without Odion.) But she wasn’t going to voice that thought. She hadn’t had a problem with Odion at all, though she was sure he thought she was a moron now that she questioned Lani after he told her not to. She liked to blame Rhett for it all though, even if she did take most of the blame because she felt like a sucky girlfriend.

Staying in her dorm for a good amount of the time had turned out to suck a lot more since her boyfriend was not just down the hall and couldn’t interrupt her when she was reading or whatnot just so they could have a makeout session. The last time that had happened, not so great. It wasn’t the kissing that was bad, it was the fact that her mother totally killed the mood. Talk about awkward. And it hadn’t happened since. Especially now that they’d had their first fight and she still couldn’t tell him how much she liked him without sounding like some sappy chick from a Nicholas Sparks movie. It wasn’t fair. Now he was a few states away and she could barely talk to him because they were both rather busy with their jobs. Not that she knew what his job even was.

Adrianna was back in her dorm, just taking some lame Seventeen magazine quiz about what her personality type was. She’d already taken it about twenty times, and of course got the same answer even if she did twist her answers a little bit. It wasn’t as much fun as it would have been had she gone out and bought the new magazine. But she wasn’t doing that because she just wanted to sulk in her dorm, waiting until she’d see Lani again. Pathetic? Maybe just a tad. She had to admit, being away from him really was not that fun. She missed him more than anything, and it was rough that she didn’t even have her mother to keep her occupied. At least then, she’d have been too busy to think about him.

Hearing a knock on the door, Adrian glanced up. Who the heck was knocking on her door? Everyone that knew her, knew that knocking just didn’t happen. So, curiosity might as well have killed the cat. She opened the door, and before it was even half way open, two very large men were plowing it down and roughly grabbing for her. Fear settled in and she started kicking and screaming…literally. No matter how loud she screamed, it did nothing. No one would hear her because there was no one around. Eventually, one man pinned her arms behind her back and held her close enough so that the other could gag her. Tears started to form in the corners of her eyes and she started wishing and praying that someone would show up. Hammel Security, a roommate, a random stranger…somebody.

Most of all, she wanted Lani.

They yanked and pulled her out of the room, leaving behind quite the mess and the door didn’t even shut behind her as she was taken down the stairs. No matter how hard she thrashed and flailed, their grips only tightened. It wouldn’t have surprised her if her arms were bruised, but not even that thought could push into her mind for long. The only real thought that was going through her mind was ‘who the hell were they and why were they taking her?’ This was just too scary to be real. Maybe it was an illusion? But there was no illusionist around, or she’d have felt it. The aching of her arms was telling her it was all real. Violently, the two burly men shoved her into a dark van and she landed hard, smacking her head against the window. Everything went black.

((OOC: Hope this isn't too awful!))

[Lani Hunter]

((OOC: It’s great! ))

The car complained and Lani swore colorfully over the radio. He tried one more time hoping and praying that Adrianna was just away from her phone at the moment. But she hardly ever left her phone anywhere. He hung up as soon as it went to voicemail letting loose another string of curses. He prayed to any god that was listening, any spirit, any deity, anyone really that Adrianna was safe. Lani’s brain snapped and he flipped open his phone again one eye on the phone the other on the road. He flipped through his contacts. If he could call Odion he could get the redhead to check. Hopefully. About to hit send Lani’s heart jumped into his mouth as a call came from Adrianna.

“Adrianna! Thank God!” Lani answered relief pouring over him until it was Odion’s voice that responded. “Odion?” Lani asked confused and his panic level rising. “I’m about an hour out. Where is Adrianna?” Lani probably should have been two hours out but he was pretending there was no speed limit. Lani screamed out a swear mixed with a growl. But then Odion cut off. “Odion? Odion can you hear me? Odion!” The line went dead. Frantic, Lani dialed Odion and drummed his fingers on the wheels as it rang. It went to voicemail. Lani cursed the world and cursed the sky as he threw his phone at the dashboard. He drove in silence his mind whirring so fast he could hardly keep track, it wasn’t until he rolled into Pilot Ridge that he realized the car had been out of gas for the last five miles and the pounding headache meant he had kept the car rolling mentally.

He didn’t bother going to Hammel he knew he wouldn’t find anything there. He went straight to where his boss’s unit had been hosted. Without thinking things through Lani burst in the door ready to smash the face of whomever came at him first. But there was no one. And nothing. He raced up the stairs and looked in all the rooms. It was like no one had ever been here at all. Rage fueled Lani and his power tore at the walls and the floor until there was nothing but a mess of debris surrounding him. He cursed again. This wasn’t helping anything. He needed to go back to Boston. He tore out of the building so fast that he didn’t even pause as he jump the stairs and sprinted to the streets.

Not foolish enough to steal another car Lani went to the old burger place he had taken Odion. He rushed in and blurted his story to Hugo. The man, bless him, had as much hatred for Lani’s boss as he did and let Lani borrow his ancient car. It roared as Lani started it up but once it got going nothing would stop the monster. It swayed and rattled as he pushed it over the speed limit and beyond. His brain was slowly coming back to him. He needed to stop reacting and start thinking. His boss wouldn’t hurt them. Not if he needed them as ransom. And he wouldn’t go after Lani’s family. He wasn’t that stupid. No if he wanted to keep Lani he would keep his friends safe and keep away from his family. He was not so foolish to think that Lani wouldn’t kill him or even kill himself to keep his sister safe.

He checked the time as he roared into the Boston area. Lani parked the car a few blocks down and raced toward the building he had called his home away from home for so long. Lani wasn’t thinking about what would happen after he freed them, not about how upset Adrianna would be about him lying nor about how furious Odion would be for the same reason. He peered in the window as he made his way up to the roof and searched in each one for his best friend and girlfriend. Lani shook his head as he caught sight of a shadow. No that was predictable. He moved skyward. He had to think like someone else, do something different. Something spontaneous, unplanned. So once on the roof he popped off the ventilation system and vanished into the vents. Lani slid along like a snake pausing now and again to listen and to look. He hoped they were ok. His boss had a good three or four hours on him. How much had he told them? His search became more frantic as he reached his boss’s office. Where were they? He slipped past and found a closet suitable to hide him. He slipped out of the vent and dropped soundlessly to the ground.

[Odion Martins]

“So who is this kid?”

Odion could feel himself coming to, but kept his eyes closed. His head was pounding, and he could feel each pump of his heart. The shaking surroundings meant he was in a vehicle, and he didn’t need to open his eyes to know which one.

“Odion. Knew Hunter’s name, knows the girl somehow. He saw too much.”

“Anything else?”

“Lani knows.”

Some cursing ensued but Odion wasn’t concentrating on that. The last thing Lani said to him, was that he was an hour out. And then the world went black. Now Odi was sitting in the back of a van with his hands tied up and a pounding headache. This whole thing didn’t make any sense, and Odion was grabbing at strings. Lani was involved, and these guys had meant only to kidnap Adrianna. Just who the hell had Lani pissed off that they would go to a public school and do this? But they knew who he was now, and he knew that he couldn’t be a wild card.

Someone groaned next to him, and finally, he opened his eyes. Adrianna seemed to be in worse shape after fighting a couple of grown men. Odion was surprisingly calm. “We’ll get out,” he said softly, trying to be strong. If Lani was only an hour out, he knew that these guys had gone after Adrianna. And then it clicked. Hadn’t Lani asked Odi to watch over the kittens? Odion had waited for nothing. Lani was already in Boston. And so were they.

“Out. Both of you,” the driver said as the van came to a halt. Odion winced in the summer sun, one of the goons pushing him, another Adrianna. Odi didn’t ask what was going on. Instead, he took a look at his surroundings. It looked like they were at a warehouse of some sort, being steadily guided towards the back entrance. Odion picked up on a warm feeling, his dark eyes flicking to the rooftop. Lani was already here.

Glancing at Adrianna, Odion was trying to find a way out. But then what about Lani? He couldn’t make a move without knowing what was going on. What kind of mistake have you made Lani? Odi wondered to himself, wincing as his captor pushed at the back of his head to make him go faster. “Move it scum,” he said, having way too much fun with this. Once Odion was free and his head wasn’t pounding, this guy was the first going down.

The pair of them were being lead to one of the rooms. They went straight for a while, then down a hall to the left, another left, and then into a room marked 1007. They were going to have to get out and now Odion knew exactly how to do that. Inside room 1007, a man was sitting behind a desk. They entered, the henchmen behind them, closing the door, and looking around carefully. They knew Lani was here somewhere as well. Odion smirked at the man behind the desk, reminded of the Godfather.

“Something funny?” He asked, eying Odion. Good, keep the heat off Adrianna. “Because I wouldn’t be smiling right now if I were you.” Odi’s smirk faded, the man looking at Adrianna with nothing but pleasure written on his face.

“You, my dear, are being held ransom, or our friend Lani won’t come back to work for me,” he said. Odion tried to keep his face straight as he tried to understand what was going on, the man looking at him once again. “And you, you weren’t supposed to witness this.” Still, the man seemed rather pleased with himself and Odion would’ve liked nothing more than to bash his face in with his knee. “Still, two birds with one stone only makes the pot sweeter.”

What the fuck is going on?

(OOC: Just going with the feel of Lani's boss Izy, hope this is alright! Just trying to get things moving, etc. etc.)

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrianna had become conscious before Odion, or at least that was what she thought because he wasn’t moving. She stayed curled up on the floor for a while and heard the two men in the front talking. Lani worked for the same man as these two. She didn’t know what they did, but she knew they worked for the same person. She just hoped Lani didn’t do what these two had already done to her. She wouldn’t be able to forgive him if he was a kidnapper, though she doubted he was. All of this had to do with the secret Lani was keeping from her, that she knew for sure.

As they began talking about Odion she listened carefully to see why they’d brought him along. Hell, she didn’t clearly know what she was doing with them. The realization that they hadn’t been after Odion had a bad affect on her. It was partially her fault that he’d been caught. If he hadn’t been in her dorm, he wouldn’t be stuck in this situation now. The two words that were spoken spread some relief through her.

Lani knew about what happened. Maybe he’d save them. But did she want to be saved at the risk of Lani getting hurt? She wasn’t sure, all she wanted was for Odion and Lani to get out safely, and hopefully herself as well.

Adrianna was confused about the whole thing. Why would these men go to Hammel, an institute that was usually filled with people just to get her? What made her so special? And how was Lani involved? It was so confusing and her head was throbbing too much as it was to figure everything out. Based off of her power she didn’t feel anything outside of Odion’s time control. Well that meant that the men weren’t metas. Maybe that could be an advantage? Though, with guns on their side, she wasn’t sure. Time control could be helpful in this situation.

All of the thinking sent a sharp pain in her head and she groaned quietly, keeping her forehead against her knees, she just wished she’d wake up and it would be a dream. The soft voice that followed confused her more for a moment, but then she recognized it as not one of the goons, but Odion. “How do you know that?” She asked looking at him desperately. Adri couldn’t get her hopes up. Not yet. She didn’t even know where they were going or why they were being taken. Hope was not an option yet. At least she wasn’t along though.

The car stopped and her eyes flashed up as the door opened revealing the two men she was not so fond of. One yanked her out while the other pushed Odion forward. Once she was out of the car she noticed that they were no longer in Vermont, but in a place she was unfamiliar with. She was pushed forward and she glared back at the man, “Clearly you have no manners.” He smirked at her and she got an uneasy feeling in the pit of her stomach. The way he was looking at her made her uncomfortable and she looked at the ground, keeping her mouth shut this time.

Arriving at a door with the four numbers on it, Adrian’s heart sped and she tried getting a hold of herself before she started crying. Crying would do her no good here, not now. How were they going to get away if they were stuck in a room with God knows who? Chewing on her lip she kept her eyes from wandering. She didn’t want to make eye contact with the two scary henchmen or the man that was sitting at the desk. The door closed and she jumped slightly at the sound of it clicking shut. Terror set in and her hands started trembling. She had just glanced around and saw the two men looking around as well. They knew something was up, and she felt the power that would explain why they were on edge. Lani was somewhere nearby, just close enough for her to get a feel of his power. It was very useful for her to be familiar with the feeling of his power. Looking at Odion briefly she saw him smirk and her eyebrows pulled together. What was he smirking about? This was definitely not a funny situation.

Adrianna looked away again as the man behind the desk spoke. She could feel his eyes on her and her skin began to crawl. Something about the way he looked at her made her even more afraid. He was too happy to see her there.

Held ransom? What? Lani worked for him. This was seriously getting weirder and weirder. She didn’t understand what Lani’s job was, but it couldn’t be something very legal, otherwise his boss would be nicer. Right? Who knew at this point? She really just didn't like what this guy was saying and how he was looking at her.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani dropped into a sitting position in the closest and closed his eyes. His mind was screaming at him that this was not the time to be wasting on meditation but he knew if he didn’t get his emotions in check all of this would be ruined. Oh his boss was so lucky he didn’t call the storm of fire or else he would turn this whole building into his funeral pyre. He was silent and he swallowed the emotions threatening to overload him and replaced them harshly with his brain. His brain needed to be the one working now not his heart. The panic in his was not reducing and Lani had to force himself not to hyperventilate. He had not been this freaked out since he had almost drowned so many years ago. He couldn’t afford to freak out now, no, Odion wasn’t here to knock him out of it.

He bit back a whimper as he thought of Adrianna in their clutches terrified and confused. Oh what she must think! Lani shook his head and pushed them out of his mind. Think! So maybe they were still in transit. They would have been moving slowly so not to draw attention but they still would have beaten him here. He wished his power could find Odion or Adrianna. He nearly slapped himself in the forehead. Of course he could! Adrianna had just enough residual telekinesis that if he really focused he could find her and if Odion was using his power or trying to use his power he could find him. So Lani closed his eyes and focused inward while pushing outward. He became his power and he faced silent and senseless as a breeze. He found Adrianna and his power greeted her happily. But his body had things to do.

He had found them. At least if Odion was with her he had. If they had separated them this might be a problem. Lani knew he had beaten them a little so he moved back into the vent and into the back office. He settled looking down over the corner. He couldn’t see Odion or Adrianna from his angle but he could see his boss and his boss was smiling so they were there. “He’s not here, we’ve looked everywhere,” someone said as they pushed open the door.

His boss smiled pleasantly. “Oh yes he is, keep looking.” Lani’s heart went cold and he winced as he spoke to someone. Who else would be smiling at a time like this? That had to be Odion! Lani bit back a noise of relief at least they hadn’t just disposed of him. Two birds with one stone, indeed. Lucky break. “I’m sure this must be rather confusing,” his boss continued now he stood and walked out of Lani’s visual, “But my employees tell me that you go to that special school? Tell me about it.” His boss wanted answers. But, he wouldn’t give anything away, he would wait until Lani had arrived for that if doing it at all. He enjoyed taking everything someone had and tearing it away. Lani ground his teeth and slid on knowing he might as well do as he had already decided.

He dropped down into the closet again and after checking the hall slipped down it as silently as a shadow. Not silent enough. In a house of thieves it was hard for one against many. He was spotted and he faced down the hall. Oh well, so much for his dramatic entrance, just as planned. Cornered he gave up and allowed himself to be man handled along. But he was shoved into another closet like space instead of taken to the office. Startled and panicked Lani slammed his fists on the locked door. Not as planned. So it was going to be like that? He had to help them! Why were they locking him up anyways? Then it hit him. His boss knew that at least Odion and Adrianna were meta at this point. They would know about the school. What they didn’t know was that Lani went there. But his boss intended to find out. And Lani wouldn’t be there to stop him. Like Hell. Lani battered the door and quick as a viper opened it with his power and knocked the heads of his guards together before locking them away. And he was off down the hall coming to a stop with his hand on the door knob. With a deep breath of a man heading for the gallows Lani opened it his face and eyes set in a mask of hard hatred. His allowed his eyes only a moment to glance over Odion and Adrianna to make sure they were alright before his eyes fell back on his boss. “Let’s talk.” He said as calm as if he weren’t about to negotiate for his girlfriend and best friend’s freedom.

[Odion Martins]

It was a good thing in the end that Odion had been taken as well, otherwise, Adrianna may not have had a power to use. If there were no metas, then she had no power, and was just as powerless as they were. Odion just hoped that if Lani was here somewhere, that she could control his telekinesis better than he could. Unless Lani had dome some major training, Odi half expected the blonde to show up like a bat out of hell. It wasn’t Lani’s style, but considering the circumstances, Odion might just have something to prove to the man behind the desk.

Someone came into the room, and Odion had to hold back a smile. Of course they couldn’t find Lani. There was a reason why this man wanted him back on his side, and that was because Lani was good at what he did. But another thought crossed Odi’s mind as he kept his face blank – did they know Lani had telekinesis? Odion watched everything unfold very carefully, and listened as best he could. He knew Lani was here somewhere as well, and hopefully he wouldn’t be stupid enough to come into the room they were in. Not room 1007, not room 1007, as if thinking this would help.

Odion watched Lani’s boss pace, and then inquire about the school. So did he know about Lani’s powers? Or did all he know was that Odi and Adrianna went to the school? Maybe he didn’t know what kind of powers Lani had, only that he attended. Whatever the case, Odion wasn’t saying anything. He could feel his power rise up in his chest, his mind ready to snap and trap them all. He was just waiting for the right moment. And yet, at the same time, he also wanted to hear this man out. He was curious as to what Lani had been doing here in Boston. But there wouldn’t be any questions answered yet. Apparently Lani was stupid enough to walk right in.

Lani looked like he had been chewed up spat and out numerous times. Always the hero. Odion’s hands twitched as he fought himself, trying to stay quiet. His dark blue eyes were on Lani, wondering just what the blonde would say to convince his boss to let them go. Odion was trying to think of a plan. He could pause time, Lani could get Adrianna out, and then he could join them and they’d be out of here. But that was too easy. Following through with that plan didn’t guarantee this guy and his cronies would stay away. No, they had to prove a point. Odion glanced to the older man, giving him a hard stare. He won’t negotiate, Odi thought to himself. This man was going to hurt Lani in the deepest way, and there was nothing Odion could do about it but watch it unfold. Or was there? What did this man want from Lani? What had Lani taken that he would land his girlfriend in another man’s clutches? Something had to be gained here, but Odion did what Odion did best, and played the part of a nobody.

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Adrianna would have been more or less screwed had she been taken all alone. Lani most likely would not have known that she’d been taken until later and she would have been more terrified than she already was. Still, she didn’t like that Odion had been taken as well because he’d been checking up on her. It may have been nice having him there to keep her from flat out crying, but she still felt guilty. She just hoped they’d all get out. Lani, Odion and her. If Lani was here, she wondered if either of them would be able to fully use his power. He’d been practicing, that she knew, but the first time she’d attempted to use his power…well it had been pretty awful. But that had been before she started studying it thoroughly and with the rate that Lani had progressed, she could only hope it would help in their favor.

Another man came into the room and reported that they couldn’t find Lani. She glanced at Odion and thought she saw the twitch of a smile. He was here, they just weren’t able to find him. He must have been very good because she’d have thought if he was there then they’d have found him quickly. She was thankful that he couldn’t be found. She was so scared that he’d get hurt just trying to save them.

The man behind the desk got up and she watched him cautiously. Confusing? That was an understatement. When he asked about the school, she glanced at Odion and wasn’t sure why he’d be asking about their school. Did he know about Lani? Did he even know what the school was for? It was possible that he knew, metas weren’t exactly a secret from the world, but they liked to stay hidden amongst ‘normal’ people. Adrianna had a feeling that keeping quiet would be the best answer. There was nothing she really wanted to say to this man anyway. He was too scary.

And then Lani walked in.

The very sight of him had her heart skipping a beat and frantically pounding in her chest, more so than it had been before. Her eyes met his only briefly and she bit down on her lower lip. He looked so different from the boy she knew so well. His jaw set, his eyes darkened in expression. If she hadn’t known him before this, she may have even been afraid of him. But she did know him, and this was just another side of him. Her eyes slid from Lani back to the scary man that he was speaking to. Would Lani be able to negotiate all of their safety? By the look on the man’s face, she didn’t think so. Her tension was growing and she started fidgeting again, her hands trembling.

[Lani Hunter]

Lani resisted the urge to let his eyes drift back to Adrianna and Odion and instead kept them like steel blade on his boss. Ex-boss. He watched his boss’s expressions change in split seconds. Surprise, anger, idea, happiness. “Lani!” He cried opening his arms and taking Lani in a tight fatherly hug. Or what appeared to be. Lani had been high on a purpose and now that he was here all of the bruises all of the pain struck him. And his boss squeezed his shoulders making Lani clench his fists at his sides and force himself not to cry out. He couldn’t stop the low whimper that snuck out from his clenched teeth. It made Lani want to reconsider his plan. He wanted to come in guns blazing and power raging. He wanted more than anything just to tear the whole place down. “Here you are,” he patted his shoulder and turned so that his arm was around Lani’s shoulder holding him tightly to his side as he faced Adrianna and Odion. Lani averted his eyes. “My best employee.” He announced proudly.

“We haven’t agreed to that,” Lani growled mostly to cover the pained noises he wanted to make. He shoved himself away and walked toward the desk and faced the window for a moment wondering how far down to the river it was from here. It would be just like when he was little. Maybe not so quick.

“Oh come now, Lani,” his boss drawled enjoying himself as he settled himself behind the desk, “Manners, we have guests.” Lani snorted. “Please sit. All of you,” he gestured grandly and Lani didn’t move. His boss’s demeanor changed immediately and he growled out the order again but this time there was the click of a gun cocking. Lani whirled to see who it was pointed at and his power reached for it but Lani made it shy away. He couldn’t lose control. So he sat hoping to be free of having to look at the pair of captives. But that was not so. They were shoved into seats parallel to the ones that Lani and his boss were in.

“What do you want?” Lani asked not looking at his friend or girlfriend or his boss.

“But your friends must be confused Lani,” his boss said milking it he turned to them. “But first I asked you both a question.” Lani’s eyes flickered to Adrianna as the gunman pressed the barrel against her head. “Please, sweetheart, it’s an easy one. Your school is the one for the powered freaks, yes? How many of you are there?” Lani’s whole body was tense and he was braced to launch himself across the room.

((OOC: Feel free to take over Lani's boss's character he's kinda open for whatever!))

[Odion Martins]

The man hugged Lani and Odion nearly lunged forward. This guy should not be touching him, never mind hugging him. Instead, Odi gritted his teeth, something that wasn’t helping the headache, but it was better than tackling this man. Odion noted the clenched fists, the attempt at no expression. Lani was hurt worse than him or Adrianna. The tables turned as Lani was presented as this guy’s best employee. Odion couldn’t help it, his eyes hardened even more. So this was the big secret. Bastard, Odi thought to himself, glancing between Lani and the man he pushed himself away from.

“Manners, we have guests.” Now why did that sound so familiar? Odion mentally cringed, reminded of himself. Lani was scared, scared like he had been on the rooftop. That memory made a little more sense now. Like Lani, Odi refused to sit, and a gun was quickly raised to his head. Odion only grinned a bit. They wouldn’t shoot him, not if they wanted Lani to comply. Still, they could rough him up a bit, and the man holding the gun hit Odion under the eye, and then at the corner of his mouth, making his lip tear open. “Wipe that smug grin off your face.” Odion said nothing and kept his eyes on the ground as he slumped into a chair.

Odion kept his breathing even, listening but thinking at the same time. This guy, Lani’s boss, didn’t need to say anything else. Those three words were enough to send Odi into a rage. Lani had been holding out on him alright, enough to get him landed in a warehouse somewhere in Boston, kidnapped. But there wasn’t time for that right now. Odion raised his head slowly, looking at Lani’s boss like he was a piece of shit, even though the ginger was bleeding. Odion was going to play this as though it had been Lani’s intention for him to get kidnapped. Now he knew what was going on, he could get them out of this. They really had no idea who he was, so, he was going to use that to his advantage. He had a plan now.

A barrel to Adrianna’s head, and Odion knew he couldn’t wait a second longer. Lani was freaking out and about to lose control. “You don’t get a second chance,” Odion said, all eyes on him. Perfect. He stopped time, bringing Lani with him. He would’ve brought Adrianna too, but it was too much, so she remained frozen along with everyone else. Odion stood, taking the gun pointed at her into his own hands. He approached the guy that hit him, and decked him three times, shaking his fist once the deed was done. That crony would be on the floor as soon as time resumed. “Who’s smug now?” He asked, even though the only person who could hear him, was Lani.

Lani. Odion turned, a gun in his other hand, which he tossed to Lani. The other guy in the room, there were only two plus Lani’s boss, had a gun as well, and Odion walked over to him, took it, and placed said gun in Adrianna’s hands. Now they were the ones with all the power. Odi’s head shot up with pain and time continued.

Odion’s gun was directed at Lani’s boss, who seemed utterly confused, no longer the hot shot who had everything under control. “You picked the wrong freak to fuck around with,” he said, clicking the gun into place. Lani’s boss raised his hands. Odion didn’t think he would be such a coward. “You see, Lani has friends in high places,” Odi smiled a bit, watching the older man take him in, “he knew you wouldn’t want to let him go, so he hired me for, insurance, if you will. Just in case things went wrong. I’ve been keeping an eye on you and your brigade for a while now and when you showed up to take the girl, I let Lani know exactly where you were and let myself be taken to keep her safe.” Hm, maybe Odion wasn’t such a bad story teller after all.

Time was on his side, literally. Lani’s boss and friends wouldn’t know if Odion had super speed, or mind manipulation. Odi didn’t hesitate in shooting Lani’s boss in the foot, making him scream and the other guys fidget. “Come after any of us again, and it’ll be through the heart next time.” Odion glanced to Adrianna. “Let’s go, ladies first.”

(OOC: Deal, I just wasn’t sure how much he’s revealing to Adri and Odi)

[Adrianna Carstyn]

Everything was just getting out of hand. As soon as Lani walked in it seemed like the tension in the room got even higher (which had seemed nearly impossible). His boss hugged him and could see Odion tense beside her. She however, stayed calm and just watched. Mentally, she was trying to sort through everything that was happening. All of the information that she hadn’t known and the information she did know, all piecing it together to figure out exactly what was going on. Lani was this man’s best employee, which meant what? That Lani was a thug? No. She knew that wasn’t true. But then what could it be?

Clearly, Lani wasn’t happy to be under this man’s employment. He seemed to truly hate his boss, but she didn’t understand why he’d work for someone so awful. Lani wasn’t like them, at least, she didn’t know the side of him that was. They were ordered to sit and she couldn’t even get a chance not to because she was forcefully pushed down. Lani and Odion were a bit stronger than her and tried to rebel, but she saw that it hadn’t been a very good idea. She winced when they hit Odion and squeezed her eyes shut. She didn’t want to see this.

Adrianna’s eyes snapped open when the gun cocked. She felt the gun press to her forehead and her lip trembled. Try as she might, she couldn’t keep the tears from springing to her eyes. Lani wouldn’t let it happen though. He wasn’t going to let them kill her, or that was what she hoped at least. Her power was reacting heavily and she felt Lani’s power tense along with Odion’s. Which should she use and when should she use it? Odion was the one that got there first and she was frozen in the process.

It was a few moments until time restarted and in her hands she found a gun. Surprisingly enough, she didn’t freak out and drop it, she held it firmly and aimed it at the prick that had pushed her around. Odion spoke and she listened, though her eyes never strayed from the man in front of her. One lapse in focus and he could take the gun away. Of course, that would only end badly for him because she could access her power and just pop him in the head with his own gun, but that was only if she had to.

Adri couldn’t help but smirk at Odion’s story. It was believable and well, it was kind of nice. He had protected her and kept them from doing anything too harsh to her. After this was over, she’d owe him a lot. The gunshot made her jump and she looked at him before turning to Lani and taking his hand. She didn’t know where she was going, but she hauled ass and made sure she didn’t lose Lani or Odion because if she did, well she was screwed. Her head had been a little muddled when they first came in, but she remembered a good bit of which way they’d gone. After a few minutes, she found herself at the door and pushed her way out. “Now what?”


((OOC: Hope this was good, if not I can change it and make it more difficult to get out? I dunno))

[Lani Hunter]

Lani glared at anything that moved and he was prepared for a negotiation. He was prepared to do what he had to do to fix this mess. To do what he had to do to make this right again. Lani was terrified, for those that he loved and for himself. Everything was coming crumbling down around him and there seemed to be nothing he could do about it. He never would have thought that this moment would come. He thought that he would be able to go his whole life keeping this secret. He had prayed for that but apparently gods don’t answer the thoughts of those who lack belief. He vowed he wasn’t going to look at Adrianna and Odion for he would probably lose it. But there was commotion and Lani had to make sure they were alright.

He rose to his feet and took a step toward Odion as he was struck across the face. “Hey!” He turned back to his boss. He gritted his teeth and his boss but smiled. Unthreatened. Of course he wasn’t afraid of Lani. He had no reason to be. Lani’s power was gather and he stared at Adrianna unable to breathe as she started to cry. Lani couldn’t imagine what she must be going through. He bit his lip wishing that there was something they could do but he was about to answer for them if Odion or Adrianna tried to be brave and not answer. He sat back and seethed stared at the gunman his eyes like blades cutting into the man. Odion spoke and Lani could have throtted him. This was not the time to be sarcastic! He shot Odion a look that asked what he was thinking. Then time froze and he knew.

Lani’s eyes flickered around as the strange silence took over. Time stopped. He rose to his feet and caught the gun using his power to twist it so he caught the handle. No longer hiding his fear behind a mask he looked from the gun in his hand to the redhead. Odion would see past the mask of composure anyways. He felt himself shaking with a mixture of rage and fear. “Odion, I…” He stopped himself, “Are you alright?” He looked at Adrianna, she was more docile than Odion so she was less harmed though the gun looked to have made her as white as the wall behind her. He didn’t move from his place by his boss and he gripped the gun unfamiliar and uncomfortable with the weight in his hand.

Time resumed and his boss’s eyes widened at the change in power. Lani forced himself to stay calm as collected as Odion started to speak. His eyes didn’t widen like they wanted to but god he could have kissed Odion he was so grateful! Lani nodded slowly as if to verify Odion’s statements. It was brilliant and Lani felt like he could breathe again. They had a way out. He jumped at the sound of gunfire and it took him a moment to realize that they were ok. Blood was erupting from his boss’s foot and Lani wondered if Odion slowed time or if he was just numb enough to imagine that it was. Lani was for a long moment too shocked to move and it took Adrianna grabbing him to pull him back into reality. Odion had just shot someone in the foot. He was pulled along but he shook his hand loose so he could push her out in front of him and Odion after her.

He turned as he was pulled out to take one last look at his boss who was staring after him though clutching at his foot. Their eyes met and Lani had mixed feelings. This man had been a father to him when he was younger but he had quickly seen through that mask and seen the evil and the hate in him had grown stronger with every time he saw the man. Now he looked and wondered why he had ever been terrified of the man. They were powerful. Three powerful teenagers. Yes he hated the man. But no he did not threaten him anymore. And to ensure he wouldn’t hurt his family Lani lifted his hand and the door closed behind them on his boss. That door was closed and it would take a skilled lock pick to break that door. This span of a moment closed that door but it left him without any other way. As he raced after Odion and Adrianna he wondered if they could ever forgive him for this. He eyes Odion. Why did he do that? He could have frozen time and slipped himself out, but he didn’t. Oh god, what had he done? All of his secrets all of his skeletons were dancing out in front of him.

He felt that drowning feeling again as they left the building. He was about to break down. But he couldn’t. Not now. Not here. “This way,” Lani croaked scoffing a little at the sound of his own voice. How pathetic he must sound. A coward. He might as well have been branded on his forehead. Along with a liar. A liar and a coward. But he didn’t stop to look at them. He took Adrianna’s hand trying to find some way to anchor himself in reality. Everything was coming down around him. Coward. He found the car he had lifted and it took him a moment to catch his breath. He turned away from the pair and took a deep breath. He wasn’t drowning he had to remember that. Why did this happen everything he started to panic? He shook his head. But he was drowning, just not under water. He got into the car finally and as soon as they were all in he took off. No one followed but he kept glancing at the mirrors, paranoid. Should he take them home to recover or just rush back to Vermont?

[Odion Martins]

Odion wasn’t sure who here wasn’t getting a second chance, all he knew, was that they needed to get out and he wasn’t being selfish about it. Either they all got out, or no one did.

While time was frozen, Odion could see how terrified Lani was, of his boss, this whole situation. It was nearly unbearable. What happened to the man so full of spunk and dirty tricks? Lani had enough masks to fool just about everyone, and yet here he was, masks down and vulnerable. The gratitude Odion once felt for being let into Lani’s life like this was no longer present, for how could one feel anything after being lied to? Odion didn’t grace Lani with words, the blonde didn’t deserve them. The look of hatred on Odion’s face would suffice. Oh yeah, he was just peachy – being kidnapped and slapped around all in one day, what fun!

Glad to see Adrianna taking action, Odion followed closely behind her as Lani pushed them out. As soon as Lani caught up though, Odion went to the back constantly looking over his shoulder to make sure they were still gaining. He hadn’t seen what Lani did to the door, but he did catch the blonde looking at him.

Another wave of pain shot through his head, followed by nausea. He had only ever shot one other person in his whole life, and he didn’t want to talk about it. That day four years ago, he had caused a lot of pain to someone, and now Lani was making Odion rehash old demons. Odion was glad to have taken it out on someone who deserved it this time. He was shocked by his own reaction, or rather, no reaction. He didn’t even hesitate in pulling the trigger. Whoever Lani was working for needed to know that the telekinetic was damn serious, and unafraid. There was nothing Lani could ever do to repay this favor, and the funny thing was, Odion didn’t want anything from Lani anymore. Not friendship, not payment, nothing. Odion was no one and nothing and nobody could change that. He wasn’t worth trusting.

It would’ve been easier to run away and leave Lani and Adrianna, but Odion couldn’t deal with the guilt that would bring him. And he hated that, he hated Lani for giving him a small hero complex, and a conscience. Odion also hated himself, for caring about another joker.

And it wasn’t that Odion didn’t know Lani was a coward and a liar, the redhead just really believed in Lani. Believed Lani was stronger than he thought, funnier than he thought, and better, just better than what life wanted to give him. Lani was meant to rise above this bullshit, Odion thought he was different… But really, Odion had trusted Lani too much, without ever meaning to.

Slipping into the back of the car, Odi stared out the window, fist in his mouth, wishing his head didn’t hurt so terribly that he could just fast forward them back to Hammel. He bit down hard, to stop the pain, the tears, and overall hurt he felt from today. The sun was setting, and on any other day, the horizon might be beautiful. But today's ugliness was something Odion would never, never forget.