Chapter 14: Gorgon Glare
Adam Stiels stood in Nevermore's quad, the cobblestones slick with morning dew, the air sharp with autumn's chill, carrying the scent of damp leaves and distant woodsmoke. His HUD glowed: Level 1, 15/100 uses, 10-minute cooldowns. The Time Control System was his secret weapon, but memory gaps about Tyler Galpin's Hyde left him blind to the monster's form, a blur where claws should be. Ajax Petropolus' jealousy over Enid Sinclair had erupted, and a gorgon duel loomed in the quad, a test of skill and pride. Adam's goals: win the duel, earn Ajax's respect, and back Wednesday Addams' Hyde hunt with a stolen key. The system's voice was dry: Dueling a gorgon? Hope you packed your anti-stone sunglasses, kid.
The quad was a ring of outcasts, their cheers echoing off Nevermore's stone spires, the morning sun casting long shadows. Ajax faced Adam, his cap low, hiding writhing snakes, his gorgon eyes flashing with anger, his fists clenched. "You think you're hot stuff, Stiels?" he said, cracking his knuckles, his voice rough. Enid watched from a stone bench, her pink sweater a beacon, her eyes wide with worry, her hands twisting nervously. Bianca Barclay refereed, her saber glinting under the sun, her siren voice sharp as she laid out rules. "No powers, just skill," she said, smirking, her silver jewelry catching the light. Yeah, right, Adam thought, his speedster cover paper-thin, his pulse racing.
Slow Time: 1 minute. Activate? The world lagged—Ajax's punch crawled through the air, his snakes slithering like syrup, the crowd's cheers a low, distorted hum. Adam dodged, his boots scraping the slick cobblestones, and landed a quick jab, his fist brushing Ajax's jacket. He grabbed a marker from his pocket, painting a smiley face on Ajax's cap, the ink bold against the dark fabric. The system laughed: Smiley faces? You're gonna need a lawyer, kid. Time resumed with a snap, and Ajax roared, spotting his cap's reflection in a nearby puddle, his snakes hissing wildly. "Stiels!" he snapped, but his next swing was slower, a flicker of respect in his eyes. Adam parried, his fists bruised, and won narrowly, the crowd erupting in cheers, the air electric.
"Alright, Stiels, you're not half bad," Ajax said, panting, offering a fist bump, his snakes calming under his cap. Adam grinned, relief flooding him, his knuckles throbbing. "No hard feelings, dude," he said, meeting Ajax's gaze, the tension easing. Enid rushed over, hugging him tightly, her vanilla-pine scent flooding his senses. "You didn't have to fight for me, but I'm glad you did," she said, her grin radiant, her eyes locking with his. She's my spark, worth every bruise, Adam thought, his heart soaring, his monologue swirling: Ajax is cool now, but these gaps are a nightmare.
Wednesday approached, her black dress stark against the quad's vibrancy, her braids swinging like pendulums. "The Hyde's tied to Nevermore's founders," she said, handing Adam a rune-etched key, its metal cold and heavy. "Thing found this in Tyler's bag. Find the lock, Stiels." Her trust was fragile, her voice a blade, his gaps a fog where the Hyde's origins should be. They sat on a bench, discussing Nevermore's history, Wednesday's research pointing to a founder's experiment—raven's blood, monstrous transformations. "Dig deeper," she said, her eyes piercing. Adam nodded, frustration coiling like a spring. Why's my brain Swiss cheese?
Thing scuttled over, signing details of the key theft, its stitches glinting in the sunlight. Adam used Slow Time: 20 seconds to prank Ajax again, tying his shoelaces together, the world lagging as he knotted them tight. The system quipped: Shoelaces? You're obsessed, Romeo. Time resumed, and Ajax tripped, laughing despite himself, his rivalry cooling into camaraderie. "You're a menace," Ajax said, grinning. Enid squeezed Adam's hand, her warmth grounding him. "You're trouble, but I love it," she said, planning their diner date, her laugh a melody. Bianca joined them, her siren instincts sharp. "Tyler's close," she said, outlining a stakeout, her braid swinging.
Adam's monologue churned: Ajax is an ally now, Enid's my light, and Wednesday's my puzzle. But these gaps and Tyler's key are trouble. The system pinged: 16/100 uses. Dueling's cute, but don't turn to stone, genius. The Hyde's origins loomed, a shadow tightening its grip, Enid's loyalty his anchor in Nevermore's storm.
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