A jet skimmed over the ocean, flanked by two helicopters. Its engines shook the surface of the blue depth below
Snow sat nervously across from silver–haired woman who watched her, completely ignoring the book in her hands
When turbulence struck, the hem of the woman's coat danced and Snow's hair flowed with the motion of the aircraft
An attendant came pushing a tray between them. She set down a bottle of wine, a glass of juice and a pack of cigarettes, before bowing and leaving
The woman picked up the pack, slid out a cigarette, and put it between her lips, the tip lit, and she exhaled a cloud of smoke, before putting the cigarette down
She pushed the glass toward Snow, her eyes never leaving hers
"Drink" she said with a smile, a simple—but oddly, terrifying smile
Snow picked up the glass, and slowly raised to her mouth, the strong metallic tang attacked her nostrils, and for the first time since the flight took off, she glanced down
"I'll pass" she lowered the cup and watching as it brewed different blends of yellow and silver, "it's poisoned—30 milliliters of mercury compound"
"Perfect" she reached out, Snow's grip on the glass loosened
She downed the drink in one go
Snow pulse quickened, and the hairs on her hands rose
"So" The woman leaned over the table, their faces were so close their noses were almost touching, " how was your...reunion?"
"W-well" a finger pressed over her mouth, and the woman then stood up, stretched, and with the snap of her fingers, the plane crashed into the water, the metal groaning under the pressure
The emergency hatch burst open, and the woman climbed out calmly, Snow followed her to the roof of the plane
"Sweetheart" the woman pointed into the distance. "If you can reach that lighthouse in one go, I'll allow you to permanently leave the island"
Snow's hands clenched at her sides, distance between the plane and the lighthouse stretched in her eyes. "How many chances?"
"How many do you think you need?"
Snow walked to the front of the plane, she looked at the lighthouse, then at the vast blue that separated her from freedom
She crouched, putting her strength into her legs, then she jumped, the force of her jump causing the plane to sink by the nose
The water underneath raged, small waves paving the nearby area
He hair was flowing against the air, flowing in random directions
She landed on the golden sand just beyond the lighthouse, under the cool shade cast by the large pine trees
She let out a breath. "I made it". She sat on the cold sand, fingers sinking into the grains
Looking back at the ocean, she saw the jet's last wings take their final breath as it sank to the bottom
She looked around, trying to see where the woman had went, her senses tingled, and she looked up. A small tornado was descending to where she sat
The leaves of the pines flew, the grains of sand followed, all of them spiraling into the tornado as it touched the ground
The tornado dissipated, sending waves of air outward into the surroundings, the woman stood where the tornado had been, holding a cigarette between her fingers
She flicked the burnt embers off. " One's strength is in their body, but it can only be revealed given the mind has preserved it optimally".
She released the cigarette, it fell on the ground, it's final embers burned away. "I was not expecting that"
Snow lay in the sand. "Am I free now?"
"Perhaps. Let's go, the car's waiting for us"
The woman started to walk away, Snow jumped, and grabbed the woman's hand. " What happened to the crew, the one on the plane?"
"Them?" She wiggled her hand free, and then she looked back into the ocean. "They're fine"
"Let's go" the woman started to move again, but Snow didn't move. "What now?"
"Unbelievable, you little brat" the woman summoned a wave from the ocean, the crew who were in the plane were carried into the sky, all 3 of them were glided steadily through the wave, until it reached land where it dissolved, leaving them falling from the sky
Snow raised her hand, and solidified the water, she turned it into a large block which caught the 3, and then she led it down to. The block finally touched down safely
In the suburban side of the city, In a large mansion, Aki finally woke up to the noise of laughter, Chloe and Alicia were sitting on a sofa, scrolling on a tablet
Hearing him stir, Alicia stood up and walked to the bed, where she began examining him
She placed a hand on his forehead, then she pressed their foreheads together, and then began checking his hands, then went for the shirt– before he stopped her
'I don't have a fever' he thought, grabbing her hands before the shirt lifted. "Cousin, relax, I'm fine"
He got out of bed, and walked out of the room, he went into the bathroom and washed, evaporating the last remnants of sleep
His hair dripped as he went downstairs
Rose sat in the kitchen wearing pijamas, and strangely, heels
She was drinking coffee in silence, he sat across the table from her.
Rose glanced at the empty coffee jug, then at the person across from her.
"Here" she pushed the cup to him
"Thanks" he took a sip, then slid it back with a grimace
"Yuck"
"It's coffee, what were you expecting"
"You could've at least added some sugar"
Rose picked up the cup, and took a sip. "I like it this way"
He got up and walked to the door, his hand rested on the handle as he turned back. "I'm going"
"Where?"
"School council meeting"
"Cool, be back in 2 hours, mom will be here"
"Got it"
Outside, he walked by the sidewalk, scrolling aimlessly on his phone when a small, black ball jumped at him, he caught it, and his eyes met the big gold pair of a little kitten
"A cat?" The little creature wrestled in his hands, trying to shake the grip, it's protests were met with a gentle smile. "Don't worry, i won't hurt you, ok?"
He put the little kitten atop his head, and then patted it before walking off
The walk was silent, apart from the occasional meows of the little cat– now named Ragnar
It rolled all over his head, purring and patting his head with it's tiny paws
After walking for over 20 minutes, he arrived at a large mansion, where Sam was waiting for him
"Hoshino, you're here?"
"Yeah, sorry I'm late"
"Don't worry about– what's that?" He pointed at Ragnar, which had stood on all fours, watching Sam wearily, as he looked at it, it grumbled, letting out a fierce meow
Aki picked the little guy, placing it in his palm. "This is my little friend — Ragnar"
Sam extended a hand for Ragnar, but instead of standing in it– it bit one of his fingers
"Ragnar?, I'm starting to see how that name would fit it" he blows on his finger, before leading Aki inside the mansion
Sam led him to the living room, where Milan and Mike were seated, reviewing paperwork
The two looked up as they entered, the cat in Aki's hand catching their eye
Aki sat at the furthest end of the table, and he placed the cat on his lap. Sam sat at the other end, and then cleared his throat
"Alright, now that we're all here. Let's begin the meeting"