Harridan
V: Assimilation

Dr Eggman continued reading the Picture of Dorian Gray with most of his class not paying attention at all. Oscar Wilde was a famous name in the cottage. Marcel Martineau - Kieran's maternal grandfather - introduced her to Oscar Wilde via the Canterville Ghost. A personal favourite. In place of paying attention to Dr Eggman’s monotonous reading voice, she was doodling in her notebook. Occasionally looking at Logan. Logan wasn’t feeling Lord Henry Wotton’s persuasion either; instead, he was scrolling through his phone. When the bell rang, he looked right at Kieran packing her stuff, and smirk lightly.

Kieran breathed heavily then exited the classroom. Her high heel ankle boots clapped against the tiles, although the sound was drowned by clamouring students leaving for the day. "Kieran," Logan called. Wincing to herself, she slowed then turned to face him. "H-hey. Um... how've you been since...?"

"Spare us both the small talk awkwardness."

"Damn," he reacted. His almond-shaped eyes went wide but he nodded. "C-cool, cool. Er. I had fun Saturday, and, er..." Logan swallowed hard. "Um..." A jittery hand combed his loose wolf cut back. He cleared his throat. "D-do you want t-t-to go out again? Just us this time?"

A pair of black eyes went wide at that, and she couldn't help but blink her surprise. "I-I don't know," she admitted. Logan only offered a nervous he he, in response. Kieran took in the stiletto-shape of her black nails. It did cross her mind that Logan was leaving the notes. "Um..." she began, genuinely dumbfounded.

She took meek, snail-paced steps away from him. Logan, however, noticed her airy movements in the wagging zipper of her backpack, only slung over one shoulder. Logan's expression turned eager as he awaited her answer. Kieran squeezed her hold on the one strap, taking a deep breath in. The ruckus around was unbothered by the stiffly silence between the towering basketball player and the gloomy soccer player.

"Excuse me."

Without waiting for me to stop her, Kieran took off through the school. Logan stood, frown-faced, with his eyes on her hasten. Kieran ducked into the girls' locker room, panting. Darkness filled her fingers, and she tucked them tightly into her skirt's pockets. Far from empty, the rest of the soccer team were all prepping for practice. Kieran leaned into her locker, tugging out her kit and stuffing her bag.

The New Bristol lions were particularly famous when it came to football; hence why football usually had more attention from the town than any other extracurriculars in general. It was so bad that the lacrosse and wrestling teams were cut just so that more funding could be pumped into football. Leaving other sports, soccer in particular, to fend for themselves.

Girls’ soccer was also on the chopping block; there was only one reserve, Chloe Zieler. The only upside to girls’ soccer was that they mostly trained with the boys so they were more aggressive and cunning. Also with that was their winning streak. State champions six years in a row, state finalists twice and semi-finalists twice.

Despite that, teamwork was conditional; the dubbed ‘weirdos’ - Kieran, Chloe Zieler and the goalie, Layla - just had to do their jobs and not get in anyone’s way. It was evident just from the locker room behaviour. The rest of the team could have effortless conversation while the resident outcasts were usually away from them.

Kieran shied away from her fellow soccer players and took off her Van’s. There was laughter all around the girls' locker room, but the 'resident weirdos' weren’t involved. While pulling her socks over her shin pads, Kieran could hear the chaotic gossip exchange. All the news that circulated throughout the day was confined to a sweat-drenched room of girls.

Unlike Mr. Burgundy, who taught high school biology and coached boys' soccer, the girls’ soccer coach was Ms. Campbell. She taught in the section of New Bristol Elementary School. Ms. Campbell was a hulking woman with the biceps the size of watermelons! Green eyes and a blonde haircut that made her more androgynous. Whistle around her neck, in sweatpants and a sports top; she stood next to Coach Burgundy. Mr. Burgundy was scribbling leisurely across his clipboard while the two soccer teams made for the field.

Kent - Blaine's chemistry partner - crossed over to the girls’ side of the warmup and tapped Kieran on the shoulder while she tied up her hair. She glanced over her shoulder at him and he only flicked his chin towards the stands. There, Blaine and Donnie with Logan - were coolly watching the soccer teams warm up. Kieran merely finished with her hair before joining the warm-up.

After a jog around the field, Kieran rested her arm on Layla's shoulder with Chloe behind her. They were waiting their turn on the line of neon orange cones for dribbling practice. Blaine cheered Kieran's name loudly, making her friend scowl. Layla smirked at Kieran as the reached the starting cones. No words were exchanged but the message was loud; just as loud as Blaine.

Their race was on! Layla growled angrily at Kieran when Kieran took the lead. She slowed down to let her win before blasting the ball to Veronica. Layla haughtily skipped alongside Kieran then playfully shoved Kieran in the shoulder. They both watch Chloe pair off against the boys’ captain. Chloe knocked over a cone before he finished.

He puffed his cheeks with an exhale while Veronica stumbled up to him. Kieran looked back to the stands, but not at Blaine's loudness. At Logan. She cringed to herself but he only smiled and waved. Layla kicked the ball her way. Kieran stopped it with one hand, absentmindedly and without looking away from Logan. Layla’s eyes went wide at her while the people around them were also stunned.

“Whoa,” Layla commented. “Can you teach me to do that?” Kieran’s dark eyes shifted on to her before she finally felt the pleather in her hand. She looked over her shoulder to see the ball came from behind her. Kieran looked down sadly then kicked the ball back to the goalkeeper. “You okay, Rie-Rie?”

“It’s nothing,” she replied softly. “Just...” another defeated breath escaped her. Marie deflected then picked up a lone soccer ball. “Quick Touch?” Layla nodded then stepped a distance away from her while they kicked the ball around.

Kieran bounced the ball on her knees before kicking back to Layla. They quickly looked between Kent shooting balls at Junior, in the goal, then Yasmine who was laughing with Ashlyn and Bianca. Kieran shrugged it off while balancing the ball on her shin. She blasted it at Layla, nearly shooting her in the face if it weren’t for her quick header.

Kieran rested her hands on her hips while watching Layla slither her head around to balance the ball. She finally passed the ball back to her, but Kieran caught it in her hands with a sigh. Chloe coldly glided passed them, scowling daggers at Kieran and Layla. Layla cleared her throat awkwardly and watched until the reserve was out of earshot.

Kieran said nothing then Mr. Burgundy blew his whistle. She cast the ball aside then hustled to the group that gathered around their coaches. She glanced passed Layla at Chloe, who folded her arms to hide her shaking. Beyond her, Blaine and co. were still watching the two teams gather and the two coaches who were going on about the teams needing funding. All soccer players were expected to pitch at least two ideas for fundraising, or the school board would start to discuss cutting the sport from the school roster. A tense, unmoving air engulfed the soccer teams at the thought. Sᴇaʀᴄh thᴇ ꜰindNʘvel.ɴet website on Gøøglᴇ to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

Practice was unnerved after that announcement and the forty-five-minute match between the girls and the boys was awkward and stiff. It only made both teams play harder. As a midfielder, Kent got a lot of action along with Junior as a striker. As good as they were, they were no match for Kieran as a defender. She swept the ball clean from them, without causing a foul.

“You play dirty,” Layla pointed out from the goalpost.

She replied: “precision and skill are two horns on the same goat.”

“Yeah, yeah,” Layla jeered with an eye roll. “Tell that to the Bedford blondie whose leg you broke.”

“If nobody saw it, nobody can prove it happened.”

Layla shoved her playfully before Junior came sprinting towards the girls’ goalpost. Kieran and Veronica gave each other lightning fast knowing glances before making for the boys’ captain. Junior shot to Daniel but Veronica intercepted and blasted the ball to Danielle.

Kent swiftly tackled her for the ball and Kieran smirked before bolting for him with her twin French braids swaying. She crossed Justin and Malcom and Jackson before cleanly ran across Kent’s path. He continued running for the goalpost without realising Kieran had the ball. Only when he tried to fire the ball towards Layla, who ignored him, did he notice Kieran fire the ball to Danielle who scored their second goal.

Justin patted Kent on the shoulder with a laugh while Junior whistled at them to focus. Kieran jogged passed them. Watching her, Kent unknowingly saw how much more agile she was. Her movements were so precise and light; her hair too moved in complete and unnatural unison! Watching her spin towards him, her feet moved with the laser-focus of a ballerina.

It was only fitting; at tryouts - grade nine - Ms. Campbell pointed out how ‘balletic and poised’ she moves. ‘Arclight moves so gently and swiftly but she’s so aggressive and accurate’.

It came from years and years of soccer; it started with her grandfather, Marcel Martineau. Before they moved into the cottage, he coached little league. The girls' team didn't want Kieran because she was special needs, so Marcel trained her day and night for that whole season. Next season, Kieran annihilated the coaches' expectations. That - in turn - led to a few too many yellow and red cards. When Marcel passed, Doreen gave Kieran his soccer ball. It was all she needed to not stop playing. That too razed in the fire.

Kieran was blocking Malcolm from passing to Justin only for Junior to cross between them. He blasted the ball towards Layla who moved too slowly. She stood up and threw the ball to Veronica. Veronica fired the ball more than halfway across the field. The ball was caught between Charlie R and Danielle for a few moments before Mr. Burgundy blew his whistle.

“Final score, 2-3 to the boys. See you all tomorrow in biology and don’t forget your fundraiser ideas are due Wednesday! Nice work everyone.”

Kieran made for her water bottle with Blaine strolling up to her, with Donnie and Logan a ways behind her. "Did you seriously blow off the one and only guy who showed legitimate interest in you?" Kieran stopped what she was doing. "Dude, don't look at me in that tone of voice."

"I..." Kieran sighed, watching the two stop out of earshot. "I panicked," she confessed. "I wasn't expecting it."

Blaine slapped her forehead and groaned. "Kieran Brielle Arclight, this why God invented this thing called communication. You tell the other person what you're feeling, and they do the same, and you make an executive decision together." Kieran shrivelled. Blaine looked to the two boys. "Get your chopstick-ing butt over here," she ordered, and Logan obeyed.

"Blaine..."

"Zip it, Alana Cook!" Blaine combed her hair behind her ears and squared her shoulders when Logan sheepishly walked up to them. "You two, absolutely need an introvert translator. Logan, Kieran doesn't like to talk about her feelings. She would like to go on a date with you. Kieran, Logan likes you. Do like him back?" She nodded with her shoulders elevated stiffly but she nodded. Logan gave a weak smile. "Great. Saturday, pick her up at 18:00 and have her home by 22:00; her mother doesn't tolerate shit. Also, don't let her mother know you're her date, tell her you're the Uber, or something." Blaine - without missing a beat - focused on Kieran. "You're going to the open-air movie night in Langford Park. Bring a blanket and a sense of humour."

Blaine looked between them. "Thank you," Logan stated.

"You're welcome," she answered. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have last minute prom details to tend to. Oh, Rie, we're going shopping tomorrow. And you will love what I picked out for you." Kieran only nodded. "Goodbye, Thing One and Thing Two." Blaine skipped over to Donnie and through an arm around him.

Logan returned to looking at Kieran. "U-until Saturday," he concluded. She nodded vigorously and stiffly. "You were great out there."

"Maybe I'll come to your game, Friday."

"And I'll be at your game, next week," Logan countered. "Kay, bye."

Kieran too went her separate ways from him, undoing her raging curls. There was a spring in her step as she returned to the girls' locker room. It remained still when she bounced towards her black Kawasaki Ninja. She stomped erratically, chipperly in place. She reached for her gloves, only to see the black creeping over her fingers. Her lips stretched at that. When she turned her side mirror up, she saw it spreading to her eyes again.

Acting quickly, Kieran sped through the school parking and took off through the backstreets of New Bristol. A trail of darkness was left in her wake and dissolved in the air. Her heart started racing when she saw the shadows creeping passed her gloves and up her wrists. The siren behind her was no help. She groaned her fluster but slowed down and pulled over. She clenched her fists, taking deep, wild breaths as the familiar man in uniform approached her.

Kieran directed her dark visor towards him. "Afternoon, chief Sulkin."

"Rie," he sang, lifting his sunglasses to reveal the eyes equally wide as Blaine's. "You in a hurry, somewhere?"

"Y-yes. I'm not in a good mood; I'm just trying to get home."

"Rough practice?"

Kieran gripped her handles tighter. "I know I was speeding, sir, I'll take the ticket and just--"

"Slow down," the chief of police cut in. "Part of getting home is being safe on the road. Do you need an escort?"

"I'll be fine."

"Don't let me get a call that you were in an ancient, kid. We've got a father-daughter dance to go to." Kieran beamed under her helmet and gave a small nod. "I hope you feel better, now move it."

Kieran took off with the police chief watching her in approval. She revved faster when she took a corner and zoomed down Old Bridge Road. Through the trees was the little cottage; 20 Old Bridge Road. She parked her bike and ran passed the little home, unearthing her head from the helmet. She tossed it aside as she crossed the trees for her flowering meadow. She exhaled heavily before panting and taking in the serenity.

"I've got a date," she breathed. After a few more deep breaths, feeling her heart steady, and standing from her hunch. "I've got a date!"

Kieran shrieked and cheered for herself, spreading her shadow-based prowess into the grass. She ran on the spot excitedly and squealed. The darkness pulsated out of her in waves with every trill of glee. She screamed then fell onto her back laughing. The grass and wildflower around her whooshed from her saturating that patch of the meadow. She was looking up to the sky, giggling like a giddy little girl.

Her grin faltered abruptly and Kieran sighed. Tears swelled in her eyes. She rolled onto her side to sniffle to herself. Uncontrollable tears flooded out her under the clear, blue sky. A light breeze blew up her black and white plaid skirt and slithered over her black pantyhose. Kieran combed her black hair out of her face, revealing her reddened crestfallen mug.

"Gran, I've never felt this alone before." Kieran snorted thickened snot back up. Kieran roughly wiped her face. Her Vans felt a little heavier on her slow, walk back. "Why are we different from everyone? Why are we like this?" Kieran slowed in front of the cottage. "Why am I like this?”

She hugged herself, noticing the word SOLD!! newly splattered across the For Sale sign. Kieran wiped away her tears and approached the grey door. Walking down the little tiled path, that had marigolds on either side. Blooming jasmine lattices were over the front windows, filling the spring air. She spun around to face the little garden Doreen took great pride in. It was visibly unkempt after all the passing time.

Still, Kieran could see - bright as day - the yellow wisteria Blaine requested. On the right side of the garden, beyond the shadows of the evergreens, in full sun. Kieran wiped away more tears then let out a shaky exhale. Pursing her lips, Kieran walked back down and towards her bike. Kieran cruised off, feeling lighter. Her drive down the main streets was peaceful. She parked her ride. She trailed into James' house, finding only the cleaning staff.

Kieran - like an unseen shadow - slithered up the stairs bracing herself for another mysterious letter. Instead, she found Anna steaming her curtains. "Hello," she greeted. Kieran looked around the room, expectantly. On her desk was the familiar folded paper. "Something wrong?"

"Who has access to the house," she asked setting down her helmet. "Like, keys and access codes and stuff?"

"James, obviously; I have housekeys and access to the alarm system; and the staff only have access to the interior rooms, the pool house and the shed. Why do you ask?"

Kieran held up the letter. "Someone keeps leaving me these," she stated.

Anna came to her side and took it from her. She opened it to read: "Congratulations on your first date. If you need help with your hair or makeup, just let me know. I'd also love to go dress shopping with you tomorrow, if you'll let me. If not, I understand. I love you will all my heart, Kieran. Love..." Anna looked to Kieran. Kieran took the letter from her to read:

Love, Mommy. And underneath that was, (You'll be calling me mommy soon, my love). "What do I do?"

"Tell Magnolia," Anna offered. Kieran shook her head. "She's a journalist. I'm sure she knows a police officer or two who look into it."

"I wouldn't trust her to save me from drowning."

"That's a little dramatic." Kieran said nothing and thought back to Magnolia leaving her in the fire to burn. "I'll come finish your room later," Anna concluded. Kieran spun her head towards her. "I know you prefer to be alone. I can respect boundaries like that."

"Thank you, Anna."

"You're welcome, sweetheart. Something to eat?" Kieran nodded. "Grilled cheese?" Another nod. Anna shut the door behind, leaving a defeated Kieran with her note. She flipped it over to see more. What she read made her eyes stretch in frigid-water-hitting shock:

I have powers too!

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