Anthony Anderson.

One of the most important non awakened in the entire novel. He was the only other last surviving member of the Anderson family.

They were said to have, one by one, mysteriously passed under even more mysterious circumstances.

It didn't take a rocket scientist to know foul play stunk up the entire predicament.

But no evidence so nothing was done about it. Anthony, however, was the leader of the rebellion—the anti-government faction that rose up to stop the policing of superheroes.

So as soon as Aegon heard the name leave Kate's mouth, he stopped her. "He broke you out of prison, didn't he?"

"He did." She answered honestly. "Under the condition, I help him put an end to the government... And his brother."

The silence stretched between them, save for the distant sirens from the police cars nearing their location.

Mind-Forge's control on people was gone, so most likely the police had already received several calls all pointing to one location.

The club.

"I have to go," Kate said, glancing back at the end of the dark alley. "If you want to know more... Call."

She stepped closer and slipped a card into his pocket.

"Spe—" before he could fully call out her name, he turned to see she was already gone.

Leaving him standing in the dark alley in the middle of the night with a dead body.

"Aegon?!" Someone called his name. He turned around to see Zara and Ren running towards him.

Zara glanced over at Von's body and nodded in silent approval. "Good, you killed the bastard."

"We have to get out of here before the cops scour this place." Ren added.

Aegon said nothing about Spectra and they all ran into the night and made their way back to the academy.

---

The next morning Aegon was woken up again by an incessant Eli who wanted to hit the gym.

Groggily, Aegon stood and got ready.

Everything was weighing heavily on him. There were too many things in his mind he was scared he might go insane.

At least, he thought he'd confirmed who the mole was. It had to be Quinn.

After all, her mother was in the faction and she didn't deny her daughter's involvement.

Then again, she also never verified it.

Paranoia had slowly begun to seep its way into his mind. All his thoughts revolved around who's planning on killing me now.

Even as Eli spotted him, his hands hovering slightly below the bar that held about thirty kilograms on each side, all he could think about was if Eli had any ulterior motives.

Not that he ever said anything. He settled the weights back onto the rest and sat to catch his breath.

Chest glistening with sweat in the fluorescent lights, breath coming in steady strained gasps and his muscles bulged from the workout.

Eli walked back to him after finishing up on the treadmill, "You going to the gala?"

Drinking water, he set the bottle down and wiped his mouth. "What gala?"

"The gala the new principal's been going on about since he got here," Eli said. Whispering now, "Some people even think the director of V.A.L.O.R is gonna be there."

"Why are we even supposed to care about that?" Aegon said deadpan. "Doesn't exactly scream something you'd be interested in."

Eli tilted back as if slightly offended. "I'm interested in a lot of things. There's free food, free alcohol, rich horny old ladies—who are anything but free."

"You're disgusting." Aegon smiled and shook his head. "The entire point of that 'fund raising gala' is because the school is nearly broke and he needs some money—quickly."

"Duh." Eli said. "But also the Ascendant trial is coming up soon anyway, so I have to get a job."

Raising a brow, "What do you mean 'get a job'?... You don't want to be a hero."

"You want me to wake up every single day and put my life on the line for a paycheck." Eli gestured wildly. "No, thank you."

"So," Aegon added already standing up as they prepared the leave. "You're not coming back next year."

Walking out together, Eli answered. "Nahh. It ain't worth it."

They proceeded to walk out of the academy's gym before someone called Aegon in a rather peculiar nickname.

"D?!" Micheal called out, scurrying towards the two.

Eli's eyes widened, "D?" Facing Aegon. "When did that happen?"

Sighing from his nose, Aegon shook his head subtly. "I have no idea."

Micheal caught up with them, nodded slightly to Eli for recognition before fully turning to Aegon. "Haven't seen you in a while, are you good?"

Before he could answer, Eli placed a hand on his shoulder. "I'll see you in the dorm, man."

He, then, exited the gym.

"... Yeah." Aegon answered finally. "Just been a little busy with classes and everything."

"Oh." Micheal nodded. "Just hoping to see if maybe we could talk sometime?"

"Yeah, sure." Then he remembered Anthony and decided to ask if Micheal had any recollection of him. "Hey, Micheal."

"Yeah?"

"Apart from your dad, you know anyone else in his family?"

"..."

Micheal remained silent momentarily, a little surprised by the question. "Yeah... Uhm, why you asking?"

Indeed, he already knew that Micheal's relationship with his father was tense, so asking this might've been a problem.

However, he needed answers before problems came knocking on his door.

"Just asking."

Micheal sighed softly. "The Anderson family. According to the family pictures and portraits at home, there were six, four boys and two girls.

My dad being the second child,"

"You still see them?"

"Honestly, haven't seen a single one of them before. And my dad never talks about them, just pictures and memories he keeps locked up in the house."

"Was your dad the only awakened among them?"

"No." Micheal chuckled. "In the portrait I've seen, they were all in suits which means they were all Awakened heroes."

'How does a family of awakened heroes just die off one by one?' Aegon thought, "Alright, man. I'll see you at lunch."

"Alright, bye."

Aegon exited the gym. Already thinking of what could've happened to the Anderson family—paranoia had its uses.

***

Eli walked back to the dorm alone before his pocket vibrated.

RIRRING!——

Except it wasn't his regular phone. He picked it up, eyes swept across the place to make sure no one was watching before he hid behind a building.

"Hello." He said, voice barely above a whisper. "You're not supposed to be contacting me in school."

[ Do I look like I care? How's Dhalar? Is he still avoiding you? ]

Whispering, "No. Not as much. Think he's trusting me again."

[ Good. Keep it that way if you want your sister back. Heard there's a gala coming up. ]

"Yeah?"

[ Get ready. Because that's the day we burn that school to the ground. ]

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