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𝗩𝗢𝗟𝗨𝗠𝗘 𝗜. The Truth About Heroes

Sometimes, we mistake
familiarity for love, only to realize
that true love stands out in its uniqueness.
📜 𝗨𝗻𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻

𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐅𝐎𝐔𝐑
[ 𝗦𝟬𝟭𝗘𝟬𝟮︰𝗙𝗶𝗿𝘀𝘁 𝗗𝗮𝘆 ]

❛ They 𝒄𝒂𝒍𝒍 it 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒐𝒅𝒔. ❜

THE FIRST DESTINATION FOR COLETTE, ANDRE, AND CATE FOLLOWING THEIR BRAINSTORMING SESSION WAS LUKE'S DORM ROOM.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette thought about making an excuse to avoid going with Cate and Andre. Walking down the empty hallway, she wished she had.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Her stomach churned as they approached the door, where someone had spray-painted 'MURDERER' in dark red.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Jesus," Cate whispered, her gaze fixed on the letters.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre took a sharp breath, stealing glances at the girls on either side of him. Without a word, he lifted his hand, hovering it over the keypad next to Luke's door.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The keypad emitted a whirring sound as Andre's magnetism manipulation abilities coerced it to unlock, resulting in an audible click of the lock.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette licked her lips before reaching out and tugging the door handle to swing it open.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre and Cate entered first, with Colette following behind. Once inside, Colette immediately realized that there was no trace of Luke. In fact, it seemed as if no one had ever lived there.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The mattress was stripped, the room had a strong disinfectant smell, and the shelves and desks were completely empty.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette glanced over to see that Cate wore the same shocked expression. "Where is all Luke's stuff?" she asked.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre gritted his teeth as he stared at an empty shelf that once held framed pictures of Luke and his family, "They cleared it out."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Cate glanced at Andre with a curious expression and asked, "Who?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre turned in a circle, surveying the room once more. "Fuck if I know," he muttered.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette walked over to Luke's desk and ran her finger across it, feeling the smooth wood. It was the same wood that had been sticky from a spilled Black Noir Shake just four days ago.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She lifted her finger to her nose, which scrunched up at the potent smell. "Well, they cleaned his room. Smells like bleach."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Cate whispered, "Why would they do that?" before looking at Andre and Colette with concern. "What the fuck is going on?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette took a deep breath before turning to face her friends. "Nothing good."

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NIGHT HAD FALLEN, and Colette, Andre, and Cate strolled down one of the many pathways across campus, Brink's memorial just a few yards away.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette frowned as she looked at the array of candles and miniature American flags arranged in front of a picture of Brink.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette waited for that familiar feeling, the one she had when Luke had taken his own life. The feeling of loss.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀But this time, it was different. There was an odd lightness instead.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She tore her gaze away from the memorial and watched as Andre took a drag from his vape.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Never let your guard down, Colette," Brink had always said, "Not even around people you trust. Especially not people you trust." He had always emphasized the importance of Colette staying sharp, both in mind and body.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Even though Brink was no longer physically present, his words lingered in her mind. She wanted to be rid of them and be her own person, not just Brink's daughter.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Can I..." Colette hesitated as Andre pulled the vape away from his lips, but she continued, "can I have a drag?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre and Cate exchanged surprised looks. Colette rolled her eyes and extended her arm. "Just one drag, Andy." Andre hesitated for a moment, and Colette glanced at Cate. "You did say that being sober isn't fun, Cate."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Cate pursed her lips, then nodded, a small smile playing at her lips as she looked at Andre. "I did say that, Andre."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Okay," Andre conceded, handing the vape to Colette. She held it cautiously, eyeing it slightly. "Wait," Andre spoke up as Colette slowly brought it to her lips, "you've done this before, right?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette froze for a moment before nodding defensively, "Of course I have."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre raised an eyebrow, but before he could say anything, Colette took a deep drag from the vape.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Bad idea.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette sputtered as soon as the nicotine hit her throat, feeling like she had swallowed dirt. "Holy fuck!" she coughed out, shoving it in Andre's direction, who took it, "What the fuck is in that thing?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Doubled over in coughing fits, she felt Cate rubbing her back. Behind her, Cate struggled to stifle her laughter as Colette wheezed. Colette turned to Cate and tried to glare at her, but they both broke out laughing, with Andre joining in.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre chuckled under his breath before tilting the vape in Colette's direction, "Didn't know you were a vape virgin, Coco."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette shook her head, trying her best to glare at Andre, but she was still laughing, "You tell anyone and I'll fry you."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As their laughter died down, Cate hummed, "You know what I just realized? Luke's desk drawer was full of dildos," a mischievous played on her lips, "They're all gone, too."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette's eyes widened slightly as Andre chuckled, "So some security guard is not gonna shit straight for a week."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre took another drag from his vape, and Colette checked the time on her phone. She then looked at Andre, saying, "We should wrap this up. Our interview is in forty minutes."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre nodded, exhaling a plume of vapor. But as they walked, he suddenly stopped. Cate furrowed her eyebrows and stopped beside him. "What?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette looked up and noticed a security camera, which appeared to be melted. She tilted her head, frowning slightly. "Camera's melted," she said, her voice tinged with concern before she looked at Andre, "Did you do that?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"No," He shook his head, "No. Something hot did."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette's eyes widened.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Luke's voice echoed in her mind: "I'm so sorry, Lettie. Andre's dad has it, and I hope you can forgive me."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette scanned the area, looking for anything that resembled Andre's dad. "Andre," she whispered, her eyes landing on a gold statue within the camera's view. A statue of Andre's dad.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀When Andre looked at her, she pointed at the statue, her voice growing more urgent, "Your dad has it. That's what Luke said," She then motioned to the statue more frantically, "Your dad has it!"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre gasped lightly before making his way over to the statue, with Colette running behind him. Cate remained by the camera pole, her eyebrows furrowed. "What?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀They stopped in front of the statue, and Colette explained, "It was one of the last things Luke said to me."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Cate jogged over, frowning, "You never told me the last thing Luke ever said."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette and Cate skidded to a stop in front of the statue while Andre was already staring at it curiously. "I didn't know what to think," Colette shrugged, and Andre pointed to the statue, "I think he hid something in here."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre stepped up onto the slightly raised platform that held the statue, circling it before pausing in front of the pelvic area. Andre rolled his tongue against his cheek and pointed to it.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Seems like Luke's humor," Colette shrugged. Andre took a deep breath and held his hand in front of the pelvic area of the statue, forcing the gold to open up. He reached inside, feeling around.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"That," Cate shrugged, her bottom lip jutting out, "is really Freudian."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre pulled out a cell phone from the statue and hopped off the platform, holding up the phone.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"It's Luke's," Colette whispered, her heart racing.

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IN CATE'S DORM ROOM, they all huddled together on the bed, peering at the phone. It was set to a video, and after a brief moment of hesitation, Colette clicked on it.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The video started, showing Luke in his dorm room, his phone evidently in his hands. He was breathing heavily and shuddered as he sat on his bed. He glanced around as if someone were watching him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀After briefly scanning the room, he looked at the phone's camera. "Okay. If you're watching this, I guess things got fucked."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette's eyes welled with tears, and she bit her lower lip, willing the tears away.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With a shudder, Luke continued, "Okay, I know this sounds crazy, but they have my brother," Colette's eyebrows furrowed at his words. Sam Riordan killed himself a few years ago.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As if he could predict Colette's thoughts, Luke shook his head, "He's not dead. He's underneath the school. They call it the Woods." Colette's heart skipped a beat at the mention of 'the Woods.'

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"It's, like, this fucked-up hospital or something," Luke described, his eyes widening slightly in urgency, "They did messed-up things to him and to me. And Brink..." He shuddered loudly, "Lettie, Brink is a part of this."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette wished she could say she was surprised by the fact he was involved. She was, however, shocked by the fact that they held Luke there. The world's Golden Boy.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀From the corner of Colette's eye, she noticed Andre and Cate looking at her, but she kept her eyes on the video.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I'm gonna go in there right now. I'm gonna make him give me my brother back," Luke clenched his teeth, and Colette's heart tightened. A tear slipped out of Luke's right eye, and he sighed, "If you're seeing this, I guess things got pretty fucked."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Luke looked away from the camera, taking a deep breath. After a moment, he looked back, "I'm sorry. Help Sam if you can, please," He then smiles sadly, "I love you, Colette."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Despite Brink's voice in her head telling her not to show weakness, Colette let tears fall as he spoke, "I meant it when I said you're like a sister to me."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette glanced up, shutting her eyes as her whole body shuddered. In the darkness of her closed eyes, she heard Luke finish the video, "Tell Andre and Cate that I love them."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette opened her eyes and blinked rapidly as tears fell, her cheeks flushed. She took deep breaths as Cate's eyebrows furrowed, her own eyes glistening with tears. "Sam? His brother who killed himself?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre nodded, his voice heavy with emotion, "Yeah, he had, um...schizophrenia or some shit, right? And he...he died in that facility, that, um...Some-Something Grove."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette then stashed the phone in her front pocket along with her own phone. "Unless he didn't."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I mean," Cate hesitated, "that sounds insane, right? Schizophrenia runs in families. Is there any chance Luke could've had it?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"No," Colette denied, her voice cracking slightly as Andre got up from the bed, pacing in Cate's dorm.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Coco," Andre spoke gently, running his hands through his hair, "It's possible."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette glared lightly at Andre as he took a drag from his vape. Cate then spoke up beside Colette, "I mean, he was partying with us the night before. And he seemed happy. Why wouldn't he tell us?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre exhaled a puff of smoke before turning back to Cate and Colette. "I don't know." He then leaned down to the two girls. "But what if Luke wasn't crazy?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"He wasn't," Colette interjected, her words steady despite the tears still running down her face.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I just think..." Andre started until his eyes trailed over to Cate's nightstand, his eyes widened slightly, "Oh, shit. The interview."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Cate nodded in understanding, looking at her friends, "You two should go. I got to get a few hours' sleep anyway," She then rubbed her forehead, "My head kills from all the pushing I've been doing lately."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"No," Andre shook his head just as Colette was about to agree with Cate. "We should stay."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre started to stammer about needing to figure things out for Luke until Cate stood up, holding his hands as she looked him in the eyes. Colette's eyebrows furrowed slightly as she watched them.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Andre, seriously," Cate's voice was firm, "It's all right to want it. It's not just your dad. You want to make it to the Tower. It's okay," With a deep breath, she continued, "Underneath that scumbag candy shell, there's a fucking hero."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Cate then glanced at Colette. "That goes for you too, Coco. You both are heroes. Luke always knew it."

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COLETTE STRAIGHTENED THE BLACK PANTSUIT SHE WORE, a gift from Jordan. She had borrowed it for the night, and it gave her a boost of confidence, more so with her makeup. The makeup Jordan had applied, in Colette's opinion, was far better than anything the interview's makeup artists could have done.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The cool September air brushed lightly against Colette's cheeks as she walked alongside Andre, both of them only half a mile away from the building their interview was being held in.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Hey," Colette said softly, prompting Andre to turn his attention to her, "we'll finish this interview, and then we'll start looking for Sam, okay?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre stared at her for a moment, his expression tinged with dejection. Eventually, he nodded and replied, "Okay."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As they walked a few steps further, Colette realized that she couldn't hear Andre's footsteps beside her. She turned back to see him standing still, his gaze fixed on a crack in the concrete.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette followed his gaze, and her breath caught in her throat. Inside the crack, she saw a piece of Luke's bloody flesh.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette shuddered and placed a hand on her stomach, willing herself to calm down.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette looked up at Andre to find him already gazing at her with determination. She began to shake her head, but Andre spoke up, "We'll just be in and out. Your dad's office is right there." He pointed to the building to his right, and Colette let out a heavy sigh. Colette glanced back, seeing the building in the distance.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette pursed her lips as Jordan, now in their male form, drew on her lips with a lip liner that was slightly darker than her skin color.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A slight twitch coursed through her, and her heart quickened its pace. She told herself it was just nerves, but she couldn't help but feel the warmth radiating from Jordan's body.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Stop moving, Cole," Jordan sighed, gently gripping Colette's chin to steady her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I can't help it," Colette managed to say, her words coming out muffled as she barely moved her lips. Jordan couldn't help but let out a small chuckle, earning a playful eye roll from Colette as she fidgeted in the chair.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Jordan pulled away after finishing lining Colette's lips. They rummaged through their makeup bag and let out a triumphant noise when they found a brown-tinted lip gloss.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Turning around, they handed the gloss to Colette with a raised eyebrow, saying, "I'm sure you can put on lip gloss without getting it on your chin, right?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"That only happened twice!" Colette defended herself, snatching the gloss from Jordan.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As Colette opened the gloss and began to apply it, she caught Jordan's gaze in the vanity mirror.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Their eyes were mostly fixed on her lips. Colette rubbed her lips together, screwing the gloss shut, before glancing over her shoulder and up at Jordan, asking, "What?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"What what?" Jordan crossed their arms, their eyes meeting Colette's.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette gave them a deadpan look, "Why were you looking at me like that?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Jordan glanced away slightly, shrugging, "I was just thinking that I have a magic touch with makeup."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette tilted her head, and her cheeks warmed as she smiled. She looked back at her reflection in the mirror and nodded, "You do."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette stared at herself for a moment longer, and for the first time in eight years, she liked the person who stared back at her.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Her eyes welled up slightly, and she glanced up at the ceiling, willing her tears to stay at bay. "Hey," Jordan's eyes widened as they looked at her, "what's wrong?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette smiled wider than she ever had before as she gazed up at Jordan, "I'm just...happy."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Jordan looked at her with a look, one she'd seen before, but only from them. She wasn't sure what it was, but it made her feel both warm and cold at the same time.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette fanned her face lightly before taking a deep breath, "So, tonight, if Marie doesn't say that you fought Luke, I will."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Jordan smiled, their dimples showing in a way that made Colette's heart flutter. "Thank you again, Cole."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Colette nodded, and this time, when a sentence popped into her head, she didn't hold it back, "Anything, Jordan."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With a conceded sigh, she pointed a finger at him, "In and out. If we don't find anything in five minutes, we're leaving."

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Cᴏʟᴇᴛᴛᴇ Bʀɪɴᴋ's POV

ANDRE AND I WALKED DOWN THE LONG HALLWAY, the sound of my heels clicking against the polished floor reverberating as we approached the towering doors of my dad's office.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The clicks of my heels almost masked the rapid rhythm of my heart. Almost.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre's hand hovered over the keypad beside the doors, mechanically unlocking it with his powers.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I have a keycard, but a late-night entry might raise eyebrows in the logs. Making up excuses felt unnecessary at this point; this approach was cleaner and more convenient.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The doors whirr open, and we step through. I take a deep breath as I step in. It still smells like old spice and tobacco.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I beeline toward my father's desk as Andre rummages through my father's cabinets. Brink's laptop is neatly placed on his desk, exactly where he left it. I carefully open the laptop, eyeing the request for his passcode.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I chew on my bottom lip and sigh, my fingers tapping against the sides of the laptop. "Any luck?" I ask, glancing at Andre who's engrossed in my dad's file cabinet. Andre shakes his head, his back to me as he flips through the manila folders. "How about you?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I open my mouth to tell him no, but then I look back at his desk, spotting a picture of him and Jordan, both smiling brightly.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Something about the picture ignites warmth and a tinge of hatred within me. Yet, the warmth is directed toward Jordan, and I glance away, ignoring the fact that my heart is beating faster for a different reason now.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I've never had a crush. Liking people makes you weak. Falling in love gives you a vulnerability, as my dad always reminded me.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"He's not a God," some voice in my brain whispers to me, "he's not always right."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I inhale sharply and begin to type the passcode into the laptop: "JORDANLI."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The screen shook lightly, and the words turned red. In the corner of the screen, a black text popped up: "TWO MORE ERRORS OR ALL FILES AUTOMATICALLY ERASE."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Fucking fuckitty fuck.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Blood welled from my lip as I bit it hard. A metallic taste with a subtle tang hit my tongue, a blend of blood and my lip gloss.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I look down at the keyboard, deep in thought. What the hell could Richard Brinkerhoff's password be?

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Brink didn't care what I looked like," Jordan began, releasing Marie as soon as they had her attention. "As long as I was the best."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As I gaze down at the numbers on the keyboard, a light bulb flashes in my head, and I instantly start typing.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Remember, secret codes are always important, Colette," Brink told me as we drove toward God U for the first time. "Symbols are best, but for things that require a keyboard, numbers are your best bet. Maybe even add an asterisk or any other symbol to break up words."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I finish typing and look at the password: 567326*54. It was Jordan's full name in numeric form.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I click enter and wait with bated breath.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀It unlocks.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I guess if I needed any proof that my dad loved Jordan more than me, this is it. I should be angry, sad, or something, but all I feel is uninterested.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I don't care because I don't care about Brink.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Fuck.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀But I do care about...

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I clear my throat to stop myself from getting off track and motion Andre over as he looks at me, "I got in."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre's eyes widen slightly as he walks over to me. I settle into the desk chair, going through my dad's files, with Andre hovering nearby, his eyes scanning the screen alongside mine.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀In a folder labeled "Vought Database," there's a sub-folder named "The Woods."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Guess Dad didn't think anyone would get this far.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I click on the folder, and it contains 30 files, but it asks for a fingerprint scan. A fingerprint scan of a dead man. There's a fingerprint scanner next to my dad's laptop, ready for his use.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre takes care of it, swiping his hand across the scanner, and unlocking the file.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Within are numerous profiles with patient names. I scan through the names, and my heart stops when I land on a file.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Sam Riordan.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Without hesitation, I click on the file. A case photo and basic information appear, but what captures my attention is a video of a boy in a room with a portrait of woods behind him.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Fuck," Andre mutters above me, making me look up at him. "That's his brother?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Seems like it," I say, sounding breathless. Then, I notice the alarm on Andre's face. "What's wrong?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I saw him the other day, running through the quad," my eyes widen at Andre's disclosure, but I let him continue, "Marie and I stopped him from escaping."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"That's good," I mutter, feeling myself shift into overdrive. "If he escaped once, he can do it again." My eyes return to the tape of Sam. "This time, we help him."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre quickly grabs his phone and snaps a photo of the screen. Just as I hear the shutter, my eyes dart to the office doors, and my heart races as I see flashlights peeking underneath.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I exit out of the file and shut my dad's laptop before pulling Andre under his desk with me. It's a tight fit, and I can feel his knee pressing against mine, but it's the quickest move I can make.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Moments later, the door caves in.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Footsteps flood the room, and the all-too-familiar sound of heavy firearms fills the air. The window behind us reflects as the intruders flash about six flashlights around the room.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre and I hold our breath, straining to listen to the slow footsteps closing in around us.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I startle as I feel a vibration against my thigh, but it's gone as quickly as it comes. In the dim light, I can barely make out Andre pulling out his phone, and declining calls from his dad.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Fuck. Jordan.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Suddenly, footsteps approach the desk. I hold my breath and press myself against the inside of the desk just as someone stops behind it, setting their firearm down beside them.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A deep voice fills the room, "Don't bother with that shit. Just files and the computer." The person rummaging through my dad's desk takes his laptop. The deep voice speaks again, "Grab the hard drive from the security office. Meet me downstairs."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The gun is lifted, and all the footsteps fade into the distance.

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Cᴏʟᴇᴛᴛᴇ Bʀɪɴᴋ's POV

ANDRE AND I FOLLOW AFTER THE INTRUDERS A FEW YARDS BEHIND. We've only spotted two, but their padded gear and helmets make it abundantly clear that they're involved.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀As the intruders enter a staircase, Andre and I slow down, allowing them to descend a few flights before we follow. Andre extends his hand, keeping me behind him. It's a bit excessive, considering I still have Luke's powers and have no intention of letting them slip away.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀His powers are like a piece of him that I refuse to lose.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀My thoughts snap back to the present as a door opens on the final flight. Andre and I cautiously lean over the railing, spotting a janitor walking into the staircase. I silently urge him to leave, but he just watches the intruders.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Hey, guys," the janitor greets, which makes me roll my eyes. "What's going on? Can I help you?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀One of the intruders responds with a distorted and deep voice, "All good. Campus security." The intruder approaches the janitor with outstretched hands, and my eyes widen. "Nothing to worry about."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀In a swift motion, the intruder grabs the janitor's arm, pinning him to their chest, and then slits the janitor's throat. Blood spurts from the wound, and Andre stumbles back on the steps, landing with a thud.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I widen my eyes and duck just as the intruder looks up.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"What was that?" the intruder's voice sounds, and I expect to hear the sound of approaching footsteps, but they don't come. The only sound is from the second intruder, who says, "Hey, Greg will clean up later. Let's go."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Then, the footsteps fade away.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre rises slowly and peers over the railing with a shudder. "Oh, shit." I slowly rise as well and begin descending the flight.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Out of the corner of my eye, I catch movement from the flight above, and then a flashlight blinds me.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Another intruder appears on the flight above, pointing a gun at Andre. Andre quickly raises his hands and manipulates the metal in the gun, sending it crashing against the wall behind the intruder.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Instead of reaching for the gun, the intruder pulls out a small device. Just as I conjure a ball of flames into my hand, they click on the device.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I cry out in agony as whirring sounds fill my ears, as if the device is inside my head. Everything spins, and I stagger back, clutching my head. I hit the wall behind me, sliding down it while still gripping my head.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Did you know Supes have a wider range of hearing than us?" the intruder asks, but I can't think straight. "Like dogs," they add before increasing the device's intensity, causing my eyes to roll back as I slam my head against the wall.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Hey, Bob," a feminine voice cuts through the whirring noise, "Turn it off."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I open my eyes hesitantly, seeing a woman with her helmet up, gazing at Bob expectantly. "I said, turn it off, Bob. Right fucking now."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀The whirring stops, and Andre and I both let out twin sighs, slumping against the floor.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"What are you doing?" Bob asks, his voice lighter.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"I'll tell you what I'm doing, Bob," the woman starts, holding up a flashlight. "First, you're gonna get this flashlight nice and wet with your slutty fucking mouth."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀My eyes widen despite the pain.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Everyone has their kinks, I guess.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Bob lifts his helmet, staring at the woman with wide eyes. "What the fuck is wrong with you?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀She doesn't seem fazed and continues, "Then I'm gonna stuff it right up your tight little chocolate starfish until you see God." She smiles widely, making my eyebrows shoot up.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀However, a hand grips the back of Bob's neck, and I see Cate pop up beside him, whispering into his ear without her gloves. "Do it. You know you want to."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀After a moment, Bob nods compliantly. "Give me the fucking flashlight."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀My eyes widen as Bob gets to his knees and starts bobbing his head, sucking the flashlight as if it were a dick. He gags as he takes it in fully, and I gasp in shock.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Uh...

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I stagger to my feet, seeing Cate slowly descending the stairs to meet us halfway. "We need to go," she mutters weakly as Andre and I stand in front of her. It's then that we notice her eyes are bloodshot.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Your eye," Andre grunts out. "You've been pushing too hard."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Cate shakes her head, weakly stepping onto the last step. "I'm fine. I'm totally..." Then she slumps in Andre's arms, making me gasp. "Cate?"

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Andre gently sets her on the ground, and she begins to convulse. "Cate?" I whisper, but her body convulses harder by the second.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀"Cate!"

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Cᴏʟᴇᴛᴛᴇ Bʀɪɴᴋ's POV

AFTER CATE'S CONVULSIONS STOPPED, Andre carried her unconscious body to her dorm room while I ran, albeit awkwardly in my heels, to the building where the interview was supposed to take place.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Unsurprisingly, the building's lights are off, and the news vans that had been there earlier in the day are now gone.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I double over to catch my breath, wearing a permanent frown. Letting out a disappointed sigh, I reach into the pocket of my pantsuit and find my phone. I quickly unlock it and scroll through my apps. Tapping on Instagram, I initiate a live broadcast. I ensure my hair is in place and that my flushed skin seems intentional before starting the stream.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Within the first few seconds, the small viewer count rapidly escalates to thousands. "Hi, everyone," I put on my best smile as comments begin rolling in, many including "#ThinkBrink," expressions of sympathy, and some sexual remarks that I ignore. "I'll give everyone a minute to join and start recording."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀After a minute, the number of viewers skyrockets, going from thousands to millions. Not that it surprises me much, given that I have 179 million followers on Instagram.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I clear my throat before beginning, "As some of you may know, I had an interview with Hailey Miller a few minutes ago."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I clear my throat before beginning, "As some of you may know, I had an interview with Hailey Miller a few minutes ago, but I didn't make it in time. So, I'm saying what I wanted to say there here."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I inhale deeply, "Yesterday morning, Luke Riordan killed my father," I don't have to fake a look of sorrow, but it isn't for my dad, "I fought him in the halls, and now Marie Moreau and I are being called Guardians of Godolkin, but there is a guardian that you guys don't know about."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀With a genuine smile, I start, "That guardian is—."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀My phone trembles in my hands and a message from Jordan emerges at the top of my screen. As I read it, my smile wanes; Don't do it, Cole.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀A moment later, another message arrives; I mean it. It's not worth it.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Comments start to roll in, questioning my silence, and I clear my throat, summoning fabricated tears. "I'm sorry," I let out a gentle, feigned sob, "it's tough to speak about the remarkable man my father was. Richard Brinkerhoff is the true guardian of Godolkin. Tomorrow, we're holding a memorial for him."

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀I swallow a bitter lump in my throat as I lie through my teeth, "It would mean the world to me if you all posted your favorite moments of Brink with #ThinkBrink on all platforms."

𝐀𝐔𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐑'𝐒 𝐍𝐎𝐓𝐄

Enjoy Colette's POV because it's gonna be a rare occasion...but we'll also see Jordan's POV one day...

Anyway, the next chapter is very... Jordan & Cole-coded.

Also...for those who watched Episode 5, I fucking called it.

▍PUBLISHED . . 10/18/23 — ♡︎ ୫
© POETICLULLS,                    2023