People flee at the sight of John, a badass, ruthless, king.

He's known for his bad qualities, being merciless, brutal, and just plain horrible. Well, maybe they're the only qualities... that he actually has. Aside from the fact that he's given an incredibly unfair ability.

He's always seen alone, or with Cecile. An ally of John, but-- siding with him, was a terrible journey.

Even she, had to endure the violent attacks. John is absolutely ruthless.

Seraphina saw him landing a punch square in her abdomen, and then-- she saw him kick at her face, stomp on her arms, and throwing her across the hall. He shouted, cursed, and bashed at her head.

Seraphina was absolutely horrified.

Cecile was an ally, for god's sake!

How could John do this to her? More than that, how could Cecile endure it?

Seraphina wanted to help, but-- if Cecile was willing to work with John-- just for a little amount of power, then what could she do?

She'll probably just keep siding with John, despite Seraphina helping.

It was totally pointless to do anything. She felt guilty, just a bit, for not stepping in when Cecile was being attacked. But-- What could she do?

Shout at John?

Try to restrain him?

Call a teacher?

She could have chosen to help, but she didn't. It made her just as guilty as John-- but, she didn't want to become like John. She didn't want anything to do with him.

Nothing, at all.

Even though she told herself this, she still couldn't shake the guilt away.

She, and Cecile, locked eyes.

Cecile knew she was there, Cecile saw her. Seraphina recognized that look she had in her eyes, it's was her looking for any way out of this mess. She knew, because she always saw the look in the people she hurt, when she still had her ability, of course.

And Seraphina didn't help her.

Seraphina clutches the flyers in her hand out of shame. Why did she help Cecile? Why didn't she take action?

Was she scared?

Scared of John?

Memories flashes in her head, from back when they first met, to becoming friends, to eventually hanging out together. But, as the good memories come, the bad ones also show up, as expected.

Those memories vary.

The betrayal she felt when she found out he had an ability-- to watching Joker pummel another student-- to now. To when he is the new king, with the title he doesn't deserve.

He's violent, but he used to be kind. He frowns, but he used to smile. He hates Seraphina, but he used to like her.

He has changed so much-- so quickly that Seraphina doesn't even recognize him anymore.

Honestly, though, what happened to him?

Seraphina doesn't know, and probably won't ever understand.

She sighs, and shakes her head. "I... really have to stop thinking about such thoughts." She mutters to herself, and starts walking to the Safe House. The Safe House is a place where people can be free of John, and his torments.

A couple of people runs the Safe House.

Remi, Blyke, Isen, Arlo, Elaine, and well, her.

She slides the door to the classroom open, "Morning." She instantly spits out a greeting. "We still have some flyers left over here." She dumps them onto the table and sits herself on top of a desk. "Who wanna do it?"

No one answered her.

"You know, we're all finished pinning up ours... it's just you that had some left over." Isen explain, the whole group shows her their empty hands. "Why aren't you finished? I figured first floor has the most empty walls."

Seraphina hums, "Well," She gives her statement a bit of thought. "I ran into some trouble. First floor's off limits." She snaps her fingers.

"Why? What trouble?" Blyke asks, though, the rest already knew the answer.

Blyke's just a bit slow to catch on.

Seraphina gives an annoyed glare, she didn't want to explain her experience very much. "John's downstairs." Her gaze lowers at his name, and she remains silent before speaking again. "He's giving Cecile a beating."

Remi looks shocked, "Wait-- I thought she was his ally. Why is he hurting her?" Remi asks, but Seraphina shrugs and crosses her legs.

She was tired.

Seraphina gives a tired exhale, "God if I know. All the time I've spent with him... and I still don't understand him." No one understands John, not Seraphina, nor his father.

Isen sighs slowly through his nose, "Okay, we get it. Let's pause the conversation here. Talking about John makes me sick." Remi elbows him in the ribs and sends a glare his way.

It shuts him up.

"Even if John's a terrible person, you can't talk behind his back like that." But, even Remi was tired of his impulsive behavior. One minute, he's walking past you, and a second later, you've probably have angered him by just being present.

He's never friendly to anyone.

"Um... th-then how about we t-talk about something else?" Elaine fidgets with her fingers nervously. "Like-- how about getting the decorations ready?" Boy, she was nervous.

She points at the boxes of unopened décor Seraphina bought.

Seraphina adverts her eyes, and slides off the desk. "Not in the mood."

"You have to at least help us a little." Arlo stop her, "It'll take your mind off of him." He says, but Seraphina doesn't believe him.

Not one bit.

"Oh." Seraphina rolls her eyes, "You're getting pretty friendly after loosing your position. Someone's in a good mood." She sarcastically says, frowning.

Arlo's in a good mood, but Seraphina wasn't.

She's still bothered by the guilt she felt.

Arlo sighs at her childishness. "Whatever, do what ever you want." He goes to help the others decorate. "Oh--" He turns around to meet her in the eyes, "Just so you know, since you're free, you can pin up the rest of your flyers."

Seraphina gives an annoyed glare. "Okay, fine."

***

The next day was practically the same. Wake up, get ready, go to school, linger around with Evie... Then go to class, exit class, spend her free time around Evie again. Then, go back to class, but then find it boring and ditch it with Evie.

Then, after class, go to the cafeteria for lunch with Evie and her friends, finish lunch. After that, go visit Arlo, and talk with him for a bit. The two will walk to the Safe House and finish up with the decorations.

They would meet Elaine on the way there, and invite her to join them.

Remi, Blyke, and Isen would be there, like always.

But-- this was not in Seraphina's schedule... so--

John's the famous, feared king of Wellston. After exposing that Arlo wasn't the true king, he started to drive the school down into the ground. He was known for being ruthless, and terrible. An unfit for the king position.

He would always haunt Seraphina in the back of her mind, leaving her only feeling guilt and betrayal every time she thinks of him.

So, who the fuck is this?

The door slides open, and the whole group turns towards them, thinking someone has joined the Safe House, though, it is not what they expected. The person seemed to be shocked at the sight of the group and fidgets with his fingers.

They were anxious.

Their stare lingers on each and everyone in the group, as if he was taking in their appearance. "What are you doing here?" Blyke was the first to break the uncomfortable silence, though, he didn't seem very friendly towards them.

The person frets, and Seraphina could tell, they were nervous.

Their face is flushed red from embarrassment and nervousness. They pulled at their shirt to air it out a bit, "S-sorry..." They stuttered, squeaking because  "It's just-- I'm a bit lost." They giggle nervously.

Arlo frowns and furrows his eyebrows, "Lost? What the fuck do you mean, lost?" He didn't seem like he was taking the bullshit very well.

The person glances around, trying to ease the painful silence out the window. "W-well..." And then, they laugh nervously. "Sorry," They apologize again, "I've never been in this school before a-and it's a bit big."

Seraphina couldn't understand what was happening, who, the fuck, is this?

"John." Arlo's voice is demanding, "Cut the bullshit. Is this your new tactic of trying to become friends with everyone again? Because this isn't working."

The so called, John blinks and stares at Arlo with astonishment.

"What?" Arlo snapped him out of his trance.

John flinches and takes a step back; he was very jumpy. The male gives a nervous laugh, "S-sorry," He apologizes for the third time, and honestly, it's irritating Seraphina a bit. "I just-- I'm not trying to make things uncomfortable... but I--"

"Spit it out." Arlo snaps.

John flinches, and adverts his eyes away. "W-well, I just never knew my name was John." 

The group exchange glances of confusion, and this time, it is Seraphina who speaks. "John, what, the actual fuck."

Oh, she wasn't very happy.