They could not close the school.

This was the only thought that had run through Ren's mind as he stood there, in front of the gates that loomed imposingly before him. They were locked - barred by the bogeymen, preventing anyone from entering. Ren's gaze was stony, his eyes tracing the lines of the main building, the heavy metal of the gates, the anger in Arel's face. The secretary was not very intimidating normally - after all, he was a good two feet shorter than almost everyone, but right now Ren would not have chosen to be on his bad side.

Twenty four hours. That was all they had to defend their school, twenty four hours. The expression on Ren's face darkened, his lips pressing together in a thin line.

Fine. Twenty four hours. We can do it.

His gaze scanned the throngs of students as though in a trance, Ren's heart pounding in his chest. He didn't want to think of what would happen if the school closed, didn't want to even consider what would his life would turn into if he could not return to Amityville. Despite its quirks, its screw ups, the strange professors and students alike, Amityville High was home to Ren.

A home where he could go without fear of the two people he would be all right with if he never saw again.

He supposed he could live with LW, possibly, or even Jove. But he did not want to have to depend on anyone else, not again. He might have grown used to leaning on and appreciating the strength of those people he cared the most about, but that didn't mean he would be able to easily fall into their everyday routines at their own homes. Life here at Amityville was different; it was good, it was normal, it was what he looked forward to, and yet...

..and yet it might all be taken away from him - taken away from everyone.

Going back to his parents meant living by their rules, playing by their games, doing everything the way that they wanted. It was a lifestyle fit for a gryphon family, Ren supposed. After all, they were a proud race, used to being somewhat higher class than most - or, at least, that was what they all expected.

Especially Lila and Loki, father of Renaissance, Medieval, and now Baroque.

The last time Ren had tried speaking to them, it had ended in complete and utter disaster, with his mother trying to convince Ren to stop "letting that horrid mongrel tag at his heels constantly."

She had meant Jove, of course, and LW (who they disliked more than the "little brother," considering that Ren had refused point blank to break up with her) but as soon as he had heard "horrid mongrel" Ren had hung up the phone. Or rather, he had thrown it at the wall in anger, destroying yet another one of his devices (this was the third time). LW had finally taken away his new cell phone and had only given it back when he promised he would no longer use it as a projective to show his anger at his parents.

He could not go back there - like Jacking hell he was going back there. Not after he'd managed to finally, after seventeen - almost eighteen - years of his life, to break away from their hold on him. He was standing on his own now - he had a beautiful ghoulfriend that he loved, a precious little brother that he would never give up, friends to defend.

A home to defend.

Anger flared through Ren's veins, hot and fast. He took one of the FEAR meters from the boxes, holding it loosely in his hands before he took a few steps away from the rest of the crowds, standing off by himself. He set the meter down on the ground in front of him, then moved back a little. His wings fluttered against his back, beneath his hair, then settled, a few feathers drifting off to float aimlessly to the ground.

Ren couldn't deny that he had been a little off kilter as of late, but this was not the time to sit by idly when he could do something, anything, even if it was small.

:: I won't let this stand. ::

The wind gathered around his fingers; it was gentle at first, barely licking at his skin, brushing against his palm and ruffling up his arms to his tease at his hair. But then it grew stronger, Ren's eyes focused on the meter directly in front of his feet.

I can do this.

:: Let's go. ::

A small smile tugged at his lips, twisting upwards into a smirk. The wind burst from his hands and shot outwards, undulating and powerful as it collided with the meter in a violently windy explosion.

Ren's shoulders relaxed, leaning over to pick up the meter, the faintest hint of satisfaction on his face.


[ Damage > 11 ]

[ word count > 822 ]