Chapter 28: One last fight….

“Vadim wanted to keep me as his plaything.” he said with a shrug which made me notice the state of his old withering body. I could barely see the natural color of his skin from all the wounds and bruises. He wore a very thin and dirty line that barely covered his private parts. His white hair was grimy and cut unevenly. And his face was both swelling and bleeding.

Despite seeing him in this condition, something inside me knows that it is not enough for everything that he had done to me.

I marched up to him, stretched my arm through the bars and pulled on his collar hard enough for his face to press against the metal.

“You manipulating, lying, dickhead!” I bellowed at him. “You ruined my fucking life you piece of garbage!”

I threw a punch at his face which inflicted more pain to me than to him, considering my body’s current condition. But it was somehow worth it since it sent him tumbling on the ground.

“You took me away from my family! You tortured me for years! You forced me to kill innocent lives in that sick twisted tournament! You promised me that you would let me see my family if I won, but when I did, you placed another fucking order in my lap, one that involved the deaths of even more people!”

He stood up shaking his head as he wiped the blood from his busted lip.

“And for what?! So, you could use us mutants as your soldiers to take over the world?! You’re an ambitious fool!” I screamed at him as I tried reaching for him through the bars but he walked a few meters away from me.

“I can’t believe you used the dead bodies of mutants as vessels for...for that monstrosity! You really are a piece of garbage! You ruined a lot of lives for your own satisfaction! You deserve to burn in hell!”

“I understand your anger, my dear Calanthe. You can be mad at me for all your life but you should still remember who’s the real enemy here.” he calmly said.

“You’re the real enemy here.” I said with a grunt. He let out an exasperated sigh before talking once again.

“Before Vadim took power, I was about to send word to all of you that instead of killing the mutants who didn’t make the list, you should let them live and bring the others back to section C for training.”

“I don’t believe you. You wouldn’t agree to show mercy like that.”

“You don’t have to believe me.” he said as he stared straight into my eyes. “But at least let me tell you who changed my mind. It was the guy who just left your cell a few minutes ago.”

“Doctor Warren?”

“His real name is Alexei.” he said with a stern look on his face. “He’s my son. We don’t always see things eye to eye so we often stay away from each other’s business. But when he found out about your mission, he decided to speak up for the first time.”

“Yeah, right.” I sarcastically said with a chuckle. “Doctor Warren’s your son.”

“Like I said, you don’t have to believe me.” he said with a shrug before going back to his dark corner of the cell as if telling me that he’s no longer interested in talking with me.

Doctor Warren is Ivanov’s son?

…

“What do you mean she’s gone?” Professor Alexander asked in an awestruck tone. He arrived almost an hour after Clark, Felix and Andrea found out that Cali’s bed was empty. He left James Corvort to handle the authorities while the other teachers tried to keep the students at ease in his family’s villa.

“We dozed off for a bit and when we woke up, she’s already gone.” Clark said in a deep voice.

“What do you mean? She got up and left?!” Professor Alexander desperately exclaimed.

“I-I think t-they took her, professor.” Felix stammered with a pale face.

They all turned to him with a surprised look on their face that soon faded realizing how grave and true that situation is.

“How is that possible?” Professor Alexander said in a trance-like manner, as if someone had taken the life out of him as he let himself slide down the wall of the hallway.

“We have no idea, professor.” Andrea began in a sad tone. “But one thing’s for certain, they’re pretty eager to get her back, they didn’t even wait for her to regain consciousness.”

“What are you trying to say, Andrea?” Felix said in a warning tone after realizing the depth of his statement.

“That she’s not coming back,” Clark answered for him in a heavy voice. “Not because she doesn’t want to but because those people will not allow her to. Or worse, she may already be dead by now.”

“How could you say that?! Cali’s alive!” Felix protested in an angry voice.

“Felix, you said it yourself, Cali didn’t push through with her mission not only that she also wiped out at least a half of those—those creatures in the field tonight. Yes, we might’ve helped her but it’s expected since we’re only protecting our home. We didn’t betray them, she did.”

“That doesn’t mean she’s dead!” Felix desperately protested as he tried to hold back his tears that he doesn’t know whether from anger or despair.

“I don’t think they will easily let a traitor live.” Andrea grimly said, thinking about Harry’s dead body on the field.

“T-That’s n-not true…” it was Felix’s turn to collapse on the floor by sliding down the wall.

“What do we do now, Professor Alexander?” Clark asked the man who had gone silent on the floor, staring intensely at his feet that if he only had laser eyes, it would’ve been set on fire by now.

It took him a while to respond but when he did, his eyes changed. It looked exactly like the ones he had when he first thought of building the Deviant Heritage Academy. It was filled with determination, hope and a great deal of valor.

“We go home and protect our people, like always.”

Clark Miller’s admiration for Professor Alexander grew when he saw him rise up from that dirty hospital floor and marched out into the parking lot. He could not believe how a man could get himself together that fast when they heard that the love of their life had already moved on to the next life.

Clark knew that if it was Andrea who had been taken to her own death, he would lose his own mind trying to find her in the streets and every corner of the world. Thus, making him doubt if the professor ever loved Cali like he said.

As for Andrea Crimson, hearing those words come out of Professor Alexander’s mouth frightened her. She knew that after this day she would never see the wise, comfortable to be with and always smiling professor. Instead, every time she would see him in the halls of the academy, she could tell that his eyes would be filled with nothing but sorrow and despair.

Although, she’s not quite sure if it was because of the loss of someone he loves or that he let himself get fooled by an assassin who was sent to kill everyone he ever loved. Andrea had never understood how the professor thinks and understands things, she just knows about the things that would’ve made him upset after seeing his dedication to a variety of things or people.

It was only Felix Alvarez who was livid mad when he heard Professor Alexander utter those words with such determination. He didn’t want to accept the fact that Cali is already dead. He knew in his heart that she’s still alive and is waiting for them to come and rescue her. Or rather, waiting for Professor Alexander to come and rescue her.

Realizing this, Felix hated Professor Alexander even more. He didn’t deserve to be loved by someone like Cali. Since for Felix all Professor Alexander cared about is his pride and honor as headmaster and founder of the Deviant Heritage Academy.

None of these assumptions, even came close to what Professor Alexander really had in mind during those moments. Contrary to what they think, he didn’t abandon Cali nor believed even for a second that she’s already dead. In fact, he refused to believe that she’s dead. He was determined to find her and put those men who enslaved mutant children like her only to have them kill other mutants behind bars where they really belong.

“Step down as headmaster?!” James Corvort exclaimed the following afternoon when Professor Alexander had told him about his plan.

“If this is about what happened last night, you don’t have to worry about them, no one in this school blames you for what happened, Professor Grant.”

“No, it’s not, James.” he said as he hastily packed up his suitcase for travel.

“Please don’t tell me you’re going to look for her. Professor Grant you’re making a mistake. You can’t fight these people on your own and besides Miss Calanthe is probably dead by now.” James Corvort argued which made Professor Alexander look at him in disbelief.

“Why do you all kept on assuming that she’s dead?” Professor Alexander said in an irritated voice. “She’s not dead. I’m just going to find her and get to the bottom of this. I need to find out who are these men who wants to do a genocide on us mutants.”

“You’re only using that as an excuse.” James said with a scowl. “Why are you really going to find her?”

Professor Alexander paid no attention to him, instead he kept on packing his clothes. James stopped him with his hands and forced him to look him in the eye.

“Alexander, why are you doing this? Is it because you really love her or because you feel guilty?”

“I love her.” Professor Alexander said without hesitation this time. He answered that question without thinking about it, without contemplating about it in his brain no, instead he answered that question from his heart.

“She’s a murderer, Alexander.” James insisted.

“She had no choice, James.”

“Why are you only realizing this now?” James exclaimed. “You’ve known about this for months!”

“Because I’m about to lose her and I can’t let that happen.”

“How do you even plan on finding her?”

“I’m going to work with the Swedish Security Service and Interpol.” Professor Alexander said as he finished packing up his travel suitcase. “I have to do this, James. I can’t lose her.”

“Your people here need you.”

“After seeing how they fought so hard last night to protect this school, I don’t think so. They were so brave and strong, James, I don’t think I have anything more to teach them.”

“Who’s going to be headmaster when you’re gone?”

“I think you’ll do a much better job as headmaster than me.”

James held his gaze for a while before letting out a long sigh and patting the shoulder of his old friend.

“Safe travels, Professor Grant.” he said with a warm smile that Professor Alexander returned before walking out of his office one last time.

…..

It’s been almost an hour since Doctor Warren came in to treat my recent wounds from Vadim’s beating. And after a few persuasions I was able to get the truth out of him. He was indeed the son of Ivanov. The true successor of the family and yet he’s here running errands for the usurper Vadim.

“Why didn’t he fight back?” I murmured to myself once Doctor Warren was gone, hoping that the man on the other side would hear me.

“My son is not a fighter.” he said in a slow raspy voice.

“Oh, is that why you’re ashamed of him? Because he chose to save lives instead of taking them?” I mockingly said with a snicker.

“I was never ashamed of my son.”

“Then why does nobody know about him?” I asked but he no longer responded back. I let out a loud groan as I felt a stinging pain on my new bruises and wounds.

I have to get out of here. If Vadim’s torture kept going on for the following days, I would be dead before my birthday. And after everything that I had endured all these years, I am not going to let myself die without seeing my family one more time.

I can’t rely on anyone coming to my rescue. Alexander will not come barging in those doors to save me. No. I don’t think so. After he made it clear that he only got close to me because he was scared that I will kill his beloved students, he threw away everything that happened and what might’ve happened between us.

Every time I think about him my heart is filled with nothing but anger and pain. And it was more painful than all the bruises I get from Vadim’s daily torture.

I need to get out of here. I need to see my family again.

Suddenly, I remembered Doctor Warren’s words about a huge percentage of my genetic mutation abilities to be unknown. What if I figure that out? Maybe that would help me find a way out of here.

For the next three weeks, I tried to remember every single book I read in the library about mutants and telepaths as I endured the pain of Vadim’s beating. And every time I am back at my cell, I would try out different abilities with my mind to distract myself from the physical pain in my body.

One day, when I was just about to give up, I saw Ivanov doing his daily walk around his cell that he started doing a week after I got here, he says it helps him regain his strength. I focused really hard and harnessed every single amount of power in my mind.

“Slap yourself.” I whispered under my breath, at first nothing happened but a few seconds later he did slap himself on the face. After doing so, he contorted his face in a confused look as if he didn’t do that on purpose.

I smiled and almost leapt in joy when I saw this happen. I know it could still be a coincidence but it’s the only progress I had in weeks.

For the rest of the week, I would secretly make Ivanov and even the guard who brings my food do things that they don’t normally do but I made sure it wasn’t extravagant enough for them to notice that someone was making them do it.

When it’s exactly been a month since I got here, Doctor Warren came to visit me once again to treat my wounds. As he was wrapping my right foot with a white bandage, I decided to test my ability on him.

Use a skin toned bandage.

I almost shrieked in joy when he unraveled the white bandage and started looking for a skin toned one to wrap my right foot. Before he left, I used my mind to command him to bring a fresh set of clothes the next day and that it has to be in the color of white and pink.

If this goes well, if Doctor Warren does bring me a fresh set of white and pink colored clothes tomorrow, then I could proceed with my true plan.

The next day, Doctor Warren secretly handed me a fresh set of white and pink colored clothes and when I asked what made him do it, he just shrugged and said he felt like it.

That night, I began the first phase of my plan without wasting another day longer.

“Ivanov,” I called out to the man on the other cell. “Let’s make a deal.”

“You’ve got nothing to offer, girl.” he murmured in a raspy voice without even standing up from his ragged cot.

“How does freedom sound to you?” I smirkingly said as I slowly walked towards the bars that were separating our cells.

He heaved out a few deep breaths as if contemplating whether to hear me out or not, before he finally stood up and met me in the middle.

“Vadim offered my son’s life and freedom in exchange for mine.” he said with his face not showing even an ounce of fear or regret. It was as if he had already accepted this fate for a very long time. Well, I can’t have that.

“At least hear me out.” I said with more conviction this time. He didn’t walk away, he just stared at me with an impassive look on his face. So, I guess it worked, right?

“According to your son more than half of the people here don't like Vadim as the boss. They said he’s too selfish and egoistic that he doesn’t give two shits about the family’s welfare.” I began in a confident tone.

“What does that have to do with me? They think I’m a dead man.” he responded in a harsh tone.

“How did that happen anyway?” I curiously asked, folding my arms against my chest which I instantly regretted since it sent pain all over my body.

“Vadim used a drug from Section B.”

“Section B?”

“The laboratory.” he impassively said. “Don’t you know the three sections of Project A4156?”

“It’s not like I left Section C.” I said with a shrug off my shoulders.

“Section A was for the trained non-mutant assassins.” he said with contempt.

“Section B was the laboratory where they created the most beautiful and spectacular miracles.” he said with a wide sneer.

“They built monsters out of corpses and you call it a beautiful miracle?! You’re insane.” I said in disbelief which made his face turn back to a frown.

“And of course, you know section C.”

“Of course,” I said in a sorrowful voice. “Now what does that have to do with you still being alive.”

“Vadim injected me with a drug that would stop my heart for a few seconds during our fight. Everyone saw me collapse while Vadim claimed my seat. A few minutes later I was back to life when my son gave me the antidote.”

“He wanted you alive so he could make you his plaything?”

“Same as you.” he said before turning to walk away.

“Wait.” I commanded which made him stop. “I haven’t even told you the deal yet.”

“What is it?”

“You’ll lead the people who hate Vadim to the main house and challenge him on a rematch.”

“What makes you think I’ll win?”

“Because this time I’ll make sure that Vadim is not cheating and that your son is safe.” I confidently said. “And something tells me that you haven’t really lost your strength despite Vadim beating you up almost every day.”

“My father beats me up every day since I was young. Vadim hits like a little girl.” he boasted with a sneer.

“So, do we have a deal?”

“What do you get?” he skeptically asked, raising an eyebrow.

“Freedom.” I simply said to which he nodded. “Not only for me. But for all the mutants like me that you heartlessly sent to those schools with a terrible grave task. And even the ones on section C.”

“You know I can’t do the last one. It’ll be like digging my own grave. The authorities would come barging in those doors before you could even say Soviet Union.”

“What if I can learn to modify their memories? Will you let them go?”

“I’ve always known there’s something more to you than meets the eye.”

“Answer the question, Ivanov.”

“I will, as long as you will be my personal hitman.”

His hitman? No. I still want to go home, live a new life, a normal one with my family.

“That’s off the table.”

“Why?” he said with a smirk. “Did you really think you can go back home and start a new life with your family? You were gone for half a decade!”

“Shut up.”

“Your family’s wounds already healed. They moved on. Their grieving time is over. Do you really want to reopen their scars?”

Maybe this is really what I deserve. To live as someone who takes one. Maybe Lilian is gone. There’s no going back to who I was before. It’s time to give up on my old self. I am Calanthe. Lilian is gone.

I was right, promises were meant to be broken.

“Fine.” I reluctantly said to which he responded with a wide grin. “So, do we have a deal?”

“Yes, we do, Miss Calanthe.”

“Don’t call me that.” I snapped at him with a deadly glare. “Just call me Calanthe.”

“So, when do we start, Calanthe?”

“Right now.”