White Scars [plot / open]

Jumping through the portal always left an uneasy churning in the pit of his stomach. He often avoided it whenever he could, sending Guardians, teachers, or assistants to go out onto the Island on his own proper behalf, whenever he could have helped it, anyways. The elder man smirked to himself, reaching in the deep pocket of his coat and thumbing his way around a small, thin glass vial. As he turned it over in his fingers and stared out, he couldn't help but swore he saw dark shapes off in the distance. Shadows, family shapes among them, slinking around and approaching eerily closer and closer.

His imagination, he knew. Nathaniel hadn't felt a single presence out there, minus his own. There was no way he would have let someone slip by at the last moment, not when he had so much to say, subtle words he didn't care for any uncanny ears to hear. His tight gripped around the hidden flask. He was a teacher, not any sort of commander. He spent all his spare days cooped up in the library, nose buried in dusty old books, or running his fingers over piano keys. War yearned to remain forever a memory of the distant past, but with all her interference the past few years, especially...

Well, he couldn't avoid it forever, now could he?

Nate had stayed up the length of the night before, serving out announcements, letters, invitations to those of the town, those who worked under him, and those who attended his school as Academy students: meet the next evening inside the depths of the portal for a special Assembly. There was no required attendance. No need to bring people out just to scare them. The curious would come, he knew.

He checked his watch, the near-silent ticks seeming to echo within' the clearing.

Anne had picked up the word that an assembly would take place today. It as no ordinary assembly. The portal was off limits, right? Something made her feel uneasy, but she put her trust in the teachers and went nonetheless. The young girl woke up early and after a hasty breakfast she went in search for the portal.

It was terrifying to see the portal in the middle of the school grounds. She took a deep breath, thinking about what her parents would say. They would call this outrageous. Anne-Marie swallowed and looked around. The grounds were empty. She didn't know whether anyone else is coming. With a shrug she stepped through the portal. She felt herself be picked up and in one second she was somewhere else. An island.

The girl stood there, frozen. Was this island on any maps? Things were lurking, she could hear them, feel them waiting patiently for prey. The Initiate understood quite well why this place was supposed to be off limits. She looked around. Somewhere something inside of her mind told her to not call out for anyone. She swallowed nervously, still looking around for any signs of humans.

Another student arrived just behind Anne. The older student had been through the portal more than a few times, and was relaxed with the thought of being there. What did put him on edge was the fact that they were meeting on the Island. Something big must have been happening. Blue eyes landed on the newer student near him and Leo beckoned Anne forward, noting that Nate was not too far away. No words left the father's mouth, only forcing a smile at the two other people.

Shepard had been asleep when he left, so there wasn't much of an issue in comforting him and his separation issues. In his haste to get out on time, Leo had thrown his Autumn house blazer on, which lacked its usual tie. At first he did not want to go merely because it would cut out his sleep time, but in the same thought, he had been in the same routine for a few weeks. At some point he found himself getting lost in the daze of repetitivity. Thus, Leo left the daycare with parting words to Harmony that he would be back soon.

Kayla stepped blinking through the other side, pushing through the sensation of vertigo the portal always left her with. She flexed her hand open and close, sparks crackling between her fingers. In. There was a pit of dread in her stomach, and even if he tried to hide it, she could see that same trace of dread etched in the Headmaster's face as he led them across to the other side. Out.

She grit her teeth, digging her nails into her palm.

He hadn't told her a thing. Nobody had told her anything about what this assembly was about, but somewhere in the back of her head, she knew. How long had she put it off in her mind? How long had she bleached out any memories of h҉er to deal with the guilt? How many pills had she taken from the infirmary to stave off the nightmares?

If he was leading them all the way the hell out here, there could only be a few reasons why.

In. Out. In. Out.

Kayla chewed on her bottom lip as she arrived in the clearing with the other students, anxious sparks popping over her head, staring off into the distance somewhere over the Headmaster's shoulder.

Odd, he thought, that the first one he noticed to step inside the portal after him was hardly a face he recognized at all. It did nothing to ease the uncomfortable guilt that gnawed away at him. It would have been easy to tell hers, and many like her, to go back; ignore what happened, assume that all was well until... what? The next big strike? There was no sort of happy peace until those in black were gone and out of their hair. It was obvious they couldn't protect their own campus, the way things were going, or the ones most young and vulnerable...

Nathaniel's eyes flickered to Leo's familiar shape, giving the angel a curt nod of his head. It was odd seeing him in his student uniform. For as many times as he'd seen him in the daycare, carrying responsibility over so many of the children, Shepard especially - it was easy to forget how young he was. Although, as a former prefect, it'd make sense. He was always mature for his age.

He'd spotted others along the rest. Guardians, teachers, and students alike. In the back of the crowd, he could spot his eldest son, a weary lull to his eyes. "Everyone," the Headmaster started. Pausing to clear his throat.

Where was he supposed to start?

"I've kept the truth from you far too long." His thumb pressed smooth the warm glass in his grasp again, as if it could provide any bit of comfort. "People in Black. Led by Agrona." Nate chewed away at the inside of his cheek, slipping the small flask out of his pocket, reaching it high into the air for all to witness- a shimmering cool liquid encased inside. It gleamed at the right angle, a faint rainbow echoing out and spilling over their small clearing.

He was quick to spot the Miss Croft in the crowd, dropping his arm and tossing the precious package her way. "This is what they're after," Nate muttered. He took a step back. "Along with everything else you see here. This island. Every creature that's leaked out into the world, every one we haven't managed to kill ourselves. They're all hers."

"Our lives, she wants as well." It was difficult not to jump ahead of himself then. His eyes met Leo's again. Alive or dead. It didn't seem to matter either way. Not even for their children.

Barry and Edward had stepped through the portal in time to hear Nathaniel's speech about Agrona. Barry had called upon his twin when he knew that it was time for the silver-haired speedster to stop hiding. The twins were dressed in a similar attire, with Barry's Escrima Sticks on his hips and Ed's retractable Bo Staff in a holster on his left hip. "Alright, why tell them now? What's going to happen?" asked Edward as his Cousin, Erik, stepped through the portal. Ed and Barry nodded to the newest Speedster at Beata. Barry, using his speed, gave Erik a quick run down of what was going on. The younger cousin nodded and stood by his family.

Christopher Allen and Thomas Haynes stepped through the portal next. They shared a dorm so they figured they'd come at the same time. Neither of them had heard what was happening but by the seriousness of everyone's faces they knew it was bad. They shrugged at each other and walked further onto the island to avoid any running into other late arrivals. All four of the students and Ed looked to the Headmaster of the school, waiting for further explanation.

Richard had stepped through the portal just as the crowd began pushing through. He heard something about this meeting and couldn't help but be curious. He had finally gotten over most of his wounds from his... outing several months ago and had recently gotten rid of his cast. Never had he appreciated having both arms so much. However, as the Headmaster began to speak, the guardian's eyes narrowed. So this is what this was all about? He knew something had been up for quite some time, but unfortunately the answers he wanted to hear offered no relief. Yet, the guardian stayed silent, waiting for a better explanation.

Declan walked through the portal already complaining and grumbling under his breath. He wanted to know what was up and stay in the loop in the happenings of the school, but as he walked through the portal and onto the island, he almost instantly regretted his choice. It was hot, muggy, and within seconds, he was beginning to feel sticky. However, the serious air kept him mostly quiet as he slid his way around to find Thomas standing next to several of his roommates. Of course, the spring didn't get too close, but it was nice to know that he knew someone here. As the Headmaster spoke, Declan quickly shut his mouth and stared at Nate in horrified amazement. That's what had been going on? The school was really good at keeping things hush if that were the case. How in the hell could they have hidden such big news for so long? And why?

"Do you believe in angels?"

Her finger twitched, sparks cracking between her nails. She glanced around at the alien trees, the earth and white sand, the distant sounds of monsters and worse and the crash of the waves against the beach... This place. Here. She reached out, snatching the vial of liquid out of the air. Kayla shook her head, narrowing her eyes. This? How did she have even more questions than answers with that one simple little revelation? "Why?" she asked. All those missions, those monsters were because of them? "What the hell is so great about all this?"

Anne-Marie stood there, watched more sudents spill in until they were all a questioning bunch, awaiting for answers. The man that came to them, she recognized him as the headmaster of the school. That was all nice and sunny, but why here on the Island, a forbidden place, did he call them all? She clasped her hands together and looked up at the older boys and girls, feeling smaller than ever. This was all beyond her. She was a twelve yearold, and darn it she had discovered her gift too soon, too fast. Her parents wanted the best for her, a higher education. But this school was downright scaring her a little.

"C-coming for us?!" she gasped, covering her mouth and looking around for signs of alarm on the faces of the other kids. They looked... focused, not really as scared as she felt, and her face flushed red in embarassment.

~~

A new face made her way through the portal. She hadn't caught the whole conversation, just the squeaky screams of some little girl. Evelyn looked around and slid in the back of the group, struggling to pick up from where the conversation had left off. Sure, she could ask around, but the Intiate stood there for a little while, not very interested really. It was as if this 'safe haven for gifted kids' was just a place to bunch them all up together and thus making their life more dangerous. It was easy to picture all of the people that wanted to get their hands on such powers some of them possesed.

A hint of a smile cracked away at the edge of his tired lips, gazing over the growing crowd as they watched him with cautious intent. Most of them, he knew, had their own nightmares that they'd carried around with them; all at his own expense. It was a heavy burden he carried with him, that had started to turn the strands of his hair gray and left dark circles under his eyes. It was a miracle he managed to stay so tall still, after so many years shoving the school's messes under the carpet.

"We're simply running out of time," he called out, golden eyes catching onto Edward's own gaze. "Whatever number of guardians we have, it isn't enough to compete with them. Even with help of the students. They've been recruiting more and more gifted rapidly over the years. Grunts, scientists, spies..." He furrowed his brow, turning aside. "Every attack so far as been nothing but a flaunt of her power."

He could still feel the phantom burn of his old wounds, scattered across his chest. "This dimension is more than this simple island, as I'm sure you've figured out. There's parallels and bridges connected to our own world all the globe over." He thought back to the small vial. "But there's one place they're looking for in particular," Nate held his hand out. "And it's here."

Boi. The news formed a pit in the guardian's stomach. Richard had a vague idea what the headmaster was talking about, but it was his gesture that made his skin crawl. He didn't to speak up, but there was something inside of him that wanted to know more. So far, they haven't been given many answers. "So what does this mean for us? What do we need to do to make sure that everyone is safe?" He asked. He actually hated this island. He had only been here a handful of times, but despite the vibrant colors that filled the air, the place gave him chills. However, the guardian had taken up the job of guardian for a reason. No matter how much trouble he went through at Beata, he wanted to keep it here.

/z-snap

Nathaniel wavered where he stood, keeping his gaze low to the ground. It felt wrong standing there, saying things the way that he did. He could feel his nails biting into the inside of his palm as he clenched up his fist. "I... I don't know," the Headmaster confessed. There was no certain making sure that they were safe. There never was. It didn't matter if they were in Beata or anywhere else in the world. Agrona had means of hunting down gifted near as well as they did themselves. There was no way to outrun the war she was bringing upon them.

"The Guardians we have now help, but they aren't enough. Everyday, she's finding more monsters from this world, has labs all over the earth, some we don't even know about..." He pulled back at his auburn hair, "We need the help of Sofia, but their cooperation so far has been... lacking." Better over the past year, but still not enough. "Along with whatever help we can find." There were smaller schools dotted across Asia, he knew, or in the southern continents. "If they manage to take this island all for themselves though, there's nothing we could do."

It'd be game over.