Pressure points
93. Ch12 S4&5
Hi! This is Bottled Embers.
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INDEX | Chapter 12 | Scene 1 | Scenes 2 & 3 | Scenes 4 & 5 | Next Scene → Coming soon.
Previously: Misty and Logan arrive at the party, and Tania is so impressed with how Misty showed up that she puts her diabolical plans on hold, at first, but Misty’s strange anxiety is turning into flat out anger about how fake everything is and isn’t sure how much more she can stand.
“You’re up,” Tania says, still clinging to Misty like a trophy. I blink, not quite following until the gaggle of onlookers part to reveal a battered wooden table set up for pong, red cups arranged in their usual triangular formation. A guy who looked like he hadn’t stopped lifting weights since high school stood on the opposite side, spinning a ping-pong ball in his hand.
I smile, raising an eyebrow at this blonde vixen as if to say; “You sure?” while Misty shifts uncomfortably in her grip. Tom and I used to play our own version of this game when we were kids, energizing the ball and making it do weird tricks. Maybe it’ll take the spotlight off of Misty a little.
The first shot is too easy. It arcs high then lands neatly with a satisfying plop, straight down into the center of one of their cups. The crowd gives a cheer and Tania’s eyes narrow. “Drink up Hank!” she smirks laughing along with the rest. I glance at Misty. Her expression is calm, maybe a bit too calm. She sips her drink, eyes scanning the room like she’s looking for for exits.
I let my next shot miss so I can focus on her and Hank grins, leaning in like he’s about to give a victory speech. I don’t care. Surrounded by so many people it’s difficult to zero in on only one person’s emotions. It’s easier to just shut down completely, but I can see Misty is struggling, trying to free her arm inconspicuously, while Tania chats with the person on her other side, oblivious. Misty’s frustration simmers just below the surface, heating up with every word that pours out of Tania’s mouth. She’s going to blow.
By the time Hank lands a shot the crowd is buzzing with light-hearted jabs and laughter, but the edge in the air is growing sharper.
“Misty,” I call, trying to pull her back into the moment, “Are you okay?”
Something unreadable flickers in her silver eyes as she nods quickly, then downs what’s left of her second cup, going for a third. I eye her, wondering if I should have warned her about alcohol before we came.
“Wanna give it a try?” I offer her the ball, knowing it’s probably not the best idea. For a second it looks like she might refuse, but then she steps forward, finally disentangling her arm from Tania’s and grabs the ball from my hand without a word.
Misty stands before the arranged cups, studying them with sharp focus, then throws. The ball zips across the table as if laser guided, bouncing in and out of three different cups to land squarely in the center of the furthest one. For few desperate heartbeats there’s stunned silence, while the closest onlookers stare aghast, then the crowd erupts into a wave of cheers and laughter. Hank swallows hard then moves to collect the four hit cups amid a torrent of ribald jeers from the spectators. Tania scowls, her face darkening as Misty coolly hands the ball back to me and saunters off.
“Nice shot,” I say softly as Tania makes a comment about beginner’s luck that earns her a laugh from the group. Misty’s emotions spike—anger, humiliation, and something darker threading through it all, but she doesn’t look back.
I hand the ball over to the next player, to head after her in the direction of the drinks table. I feel her detachment slipping, she’s even more on edge than before, a powder keg waiting to explode.
“Misty,” I say again, hoping she’ll hear me over the music, “You good?”
“I’m fine,” She says, her expression guarded as she grabs another cup and sips deeply.
“You should slow down,” I caution, resisting the urge to snatch the cup out of her hands. The sense sync flares suddenly—hot, wild and unsteady, like standing too close to a live wire. I open up and try to feel her out, expecting the usual stonewall, but what hits me isn’t Misty. It’s something deeper, angrier, a distant memory become manifest.
I reach for her arm, but before I can say anything more she’s surrounded by Tania’s friends, their voices playful but sharp enough to cut.
“Go hover somewhere else, Logan,” she rolls her eyes, with a weird greenish flash, as she smiles at the bullies around her.
“That was some shot!” one of the girls with a blue tipped black ponytail says in a syrupy tone. “Where’d you learn that, huh? Outer space?”
The group laughs, and Misty snaps. She moves so fast I almost miss it—one fluid deadly motion. Her hand shoots out, punching the closest girl in the gut and sending her flying across the table as drinks scatter everywhere. Before anyone can react she has Blue Tips by the collar, lifting her off the ground like she weighs nothing.
The room falls utterly silent.
“Misty!” I shout, pushing past the stunned crowd.
Her grip tightens, the and the squirming girl stiffens. Her emotions lash out like a storm, crackling raw and overwhelming. She’s not going to stop. Her anger burns through the connection, and I have to shut it out or it’ll consume us both. I don’t have time to think. I step forward, between Misty and the girl, her silver eyes lock onto mine.
“Let her go.” I say, my voice calm but firm. She doesn’t respond. The girl behind me kicks, her struggles weakening by the second. I reach for her wrist and tightening my grip until I can feel the bones grinding against one another. “Misty, we’re done here.”
For a terrifying second I think she might turn on me, the air between us crackles with tension. I can feel her teetering on the edge. I can hear Blue Tips behind me choking, her body going limp.
Finally, Misty drops the girl and takes a step back, her breath ragged. She wraps her arms around herself, eyes locked on Blue Tips, gasping while her friends rush to her side.
“Party’s over.” Logan says looking grim as I sink to my knees. My hands are trembling. My pulse still thundering in my ears. I can’t believe what I’ve just done. Guilt crushes over me, heavy and suffocating. She didn’t do anything. She was only talking, laughing with her friends. Why did I get so angry?
Everything else happens in a haze. I’m vaguely aware of Logan pulling me to my feet and leading me back to the shuttle. I don’t even register the trip back to the manor.
Luke is furious. He doesn’t yell, he doesn’t have to. I stare at the ground until he sends me to bed. I can’t explain.
The next day we are summoned to the Dean’s office. I’m out of the program. Logan and Luke stand beside me, but our feeble defense of the previous weeks’ bullying, provocation and alcohol, isn’t nearly enough to stand against the charges.
Both girls are hospitalized in critical condition. It’s aggravated assault at least, but with all the witnesses, they’ll be pushing for attempted murder. Blue Tips - Carol, is a minister’s child. The Planetary Guard will inevitably be involved.
The next week, crawls by, each day heavier than the last, until there’s a knock at the door. The rhythmic thrum of boots has never meant anything good. Luke told me that when they come, I’m to submit—it’ll go easier if no one resists. But I wasn’t prepared for the cold bite of Lonsdaleite fiber restraints, or the military precision with which they walk me down the long halls, guards on either side and no room for protest.
My bare feet pad silently on the polished hardwood, a sharp contrast to the purposeful stomps of the guards beside me. It feels like a small mercy, but not enough to quell the rising tide of shame. Guilt and regret overwhelm the instinct to fight my way out. I keep my head down, letting the hair I didn’t bother to tie up, fall forward to hide my face. Tom died to get me out of their hands, now here I am, calmly walking back into them as if it’s where I belong. Maybe it is.
“Morgan?!” Luke’s surprise, draws me from my reverie at last and I look up as we reach the shuttle.
“Well, well well,” the General drawls, looking the same as he always had: polished star studded uniform, eyes sharp as glass, and that infuriating smirk playing on his lips. “I can’t say I’m surprised, Doctor. It was only ever a matter of time.”
He turns his gaze to me, his smirk widening. “How have you been, little Elle?” My stomach churns at the sweetness. Of course it had to be him. I raise my head fully to glare at him, defiance flashing in my eyes even as the restraints bite into my wrists.
The General chuckles, as if defiance is exactly what he expected. He steps closer, his voice dropping, so only I might hear. “Fiery as ever, I see. Cathy has been dying to see you.”
I clench my jaw, refusing to rise to his bait. Logan starts to step forward, but he’s stopped by Luke’s hand on his shoulder. “Not the time son,” Luke says softly to him.
“That’s right Doctor. She’s in good hands now.”
His words carry a weight that sends a shiver down my spine. This has been in motion far longer than I realized.
“Take her aboard,” the General orders, and the guards usher me forward.
Next Time: Misty is taken into PG custody and whisked away for processing by none other than General Victor Morgan himself. Luke and Logan follow but Morgan has big plans.
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Author’s Notes:
The promised action! HAHaha!
Misty has got herself into a real pickle. Things are kicking into high gear here for the festive season, and it’s FINALLY school holidays. Who knew that those three hours a day I usually spend driving my daughter to school and back would translate to so much free time? If only I could spend it writing instead of doing everything else that’s been piling up for the past few months.
Anyway, that’s all for today.
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Until next time.
- Jenny*
Oh, and I’m trying tagging for Sci-Friday, so hoping this works…
Dré Labre , Kevin Alexander, Rudy Fischmann, BrianAlfred1983, Alejandro Piad Morffis, Hannah Yoest, Jeff Kinnard, Alex S. Garcia, Michael S. Atkinson, Ross Bingham, Scoot, radicaledward, Lausanne Davis Carpenter, Cole Noble, Jordan Moloney, John Coon, Edward Rooster, Redd Oscar, Andrew Smith, Jon T, Daniel M. Bensen, Zachary Roush, Stirling S Newberry, Rachel LaDue, Keith Hayden, Kay Moulton, David Sheley, L.L. Ford, The Brothers Krynn, Michaela McKuen, S Tallett, René Volpi, Sam Rake Kathrine Elaine, Ika Wright, Von, Jessica Maison, and Ryan Schneider,Matthew Brady, Thérèse Judeana, and Ryan W. CraverBryan Beal, njmksr, A.C. Cargill, Author, TIBERIUS, Keith Patterson, Michael B. Morgan, The Black Knight, and M.P. Fitzgerald - Graphomania, Andy Futuro
By the way… Thanks for the tags
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Interesting turn of events to say the least. Given that Luke went overboard to see that Misty was extravagantly prepared for this party, she was bound to attract an excessive amount of attention... And what happened with Misty's behavior at the party, was it the stress of trying to be something she is not a long with the alcohol?Or was her drink spiked with something? If I were the suspicious type, I would suspect a calculated manipulation to deliver Misty to the PG. But why would Luke make that kind of decision at this time? I am very anxious, especially now, to see where you are taking this last chapter...cheers now!
Another excellent release Jenny... I wish I didn't hate how I feel about where this all winds up :)