[O] Moonlight Reflections

Cole sat on the rooftop, a cool flat spot on top of one of the several towers. This tower was second highest, reaching for the ebony sky, a black velvet veil dotted with pinhole stars. This flat spot had a wall around it, hiding the school grounds from him. Or perhaps hiding him from the school. It could have been either one, as he didn't want to be found here tonight. Laying back, he rested his head on his messenger bag and gazed into the sky.

With nothing but sky in view, the effect was dazzling. He seemed to be falling, could feel the adrenaline oozing through his veins, feeling his heart skip in his chest. Cole's breathing picked up as he closed his eyes, inhaling softly through his nose and emptying his mind, filling it with this nirvana.

Once he opened his eyes, his heart had stopped its racing, he was calmed down. He could hardly remember why he'd come here, barely noting that he was walking. That led to memories of what had happened, of his realization of his mistakes, of what he was. The realization that he wasn't normal, even for a kid at this academy. Sure, they all had powers, some more dangerous or useful than others. Some had wonderful powers, like Gallen.

But how many of them had killed someone?

Cole shuddered, eyes welling. His heart dropped as quickly as it had risen only moments before. His breathing remained steady, but a tear ran from the corner of his eye down, over his temple and into his hair. Idly, his hand went to his bag and fished around, finding the rip in the double-layered inner pocket, going into this 'secret space'.

His fingers wrapped around something cool and soft, bringing it out. In his palm sat a little plastic plane, glowing in the moonlight. With a small smile, he pinched it between finger and thumb, moving it through the air, pretending it was flying.

Cole barely registered the door opening behind him, but a small part in him, the pooled up well of power, stirred to life, ready to spring. Though it left his conscious mind alone, leaving him to the simple pleasure of wallowing in his memories, thinking of his friendship with the boy. The plane stopped moving as it sat, veins pulsating in his hand. Memories of playing with the boy, his best friend, of them sharing lunch, Cole punching a boy who made fun of the kid. And Cole crying as the boy was crushed in front of him.

Sighing, he loosened his grip and began to put it away, reaching for his bag when he was hit with the pull. The airplane flipped into the air, torn from his hand by the sudden grab. Anger flashed through his mind, temper shot. Who had the nerve to come do something like this when he wanted to be alone? His thoughts were interrupted by the roof's surface grating at his back and left side, a few rough spots and rocks tearing through the cloth into his flesh. Pain joined the anger, fueling it on.

Stakes of near-invisible force slammed into the rooftop, digging gouges as he was pulled along, increasing the drag. Cole began pulling power from the well, using the field material to flip himself over, several leg-like tendrils pushing him over.

As he was pulled into the air, his eyes were dark brown with the effort of using so much of his power so suddenly. He felt lightheaded, not able to think about many things at once. But for some reason, he didn't need to think much when he saw who had him.

Hanging upside down, he saw clearly the person standing there, looking as angry as he felt. But she had no reason to be angry. It was her fault he was up here. Hissing, he turned his hands over, palms on the building. The stakes and tendrils faded away as the ground between his hands and Alex took on a shimmering quality, looking slightly warped through the creeping field.

Cole's eyes continued to darken. “Alex, You have ten seconds to tell me what the HELL YOUR PROBLEM IS!” He shouted at her, face screwed up in fury. All around her, the field shot up, thin tendrils weaving in and out of each other around her, forming a prison. Cole began shaking slightly, breathing hard through his teeth. The prison began to shrink.