Jon and his group were secretly training in the gymnasium. Galvin and Carl were on a sprinting contest while Jon and Athena were practicing elemental control. Athena's core elements were water and wind.
She mastered the wind element and water was her support. Her mastery of the wind element allowed her to hurl objects at an astonishing speed, controlling air pressure. Her projectiles may not be as deadly as bullets, but they could cause serious pain if they hit.
Jon was to withstand Athena's attacks. They did the practice to showcase their abilities in using their elements. Dodging or blocking the attacks was allowed. When Jon was ready, Athena let loose several projectiles. Jon deflected most of the attacks by hardening his skin with the earth element. Other projectiles were slowed down using the wind element and Jon catches them with his hands one by one.
"How did you do that?" Athena, impressed, asked.
Jon explained, "I used the wind element. I countered using air pressure, thus slowing the projectiles down. That's how I was able to catch some of them with my hands."
"Is that even possible?" Athena asked in surprise.
"It is, it takes a lot of practice. Yes, it could be done." Jon replied.
Meanwhile, Galvin outpaced Carl who stopped halfway on their fifth round of the challenge. "I can't..." Carl said while catching his breath.
Galvin approached Carl and said, "Take it easy. We were doing this for almost six times. Give it a rest."
The alarm rang, the four decided to end their training session and changed their clothes for class. After changing his clothes, Jon went out first and waited. While he was leaning on the wall, Jon heard of rumors.
"Have you heard, a famous student was abducted last night..."
"It's terrible! I hope that she would be found soon..."
From what Jon heard from bits of the conversation, the person was said to be famous. Jon suddenly thought of Lorelai, however he dismissed it thinking that it would be impossible. Kidnapping someone like Lorelai would be having a death wish.
Carl, Galvin and Athena exited the gym and met with Jon. "You're late!" Jon said to the three.
"I'm sorry…" Athena apologized.
"No, it's fine. Let us go. Classes will start soon." Jon said and the three headed to their classroom.
In the classroom, the students were already at their respective seats. Jon sat at the front while Carl and the others sat in the middle seats. After the second ring, their professor entered the room. She was holding a red folder that contained announcements. Teachers holding red folders were rare and it possibly meant something important like possible passing of someone important or worse, an incident.
The students start chatting on their seats seeing their professor carrying the folder. Hearing the commotion, the teacher ordered silence in the room. The students stopped talking and paid attention. The professor then began to speak and said.
"Good afternoon students, I have an important announcement to make. Last evening at 10 o'clock. Lorelai Vermillion was kidnapped by unknown perpetrators. Her driver Ronald Franklin was found dead, shot on his head. Up until now, Lorelai is nowhere to be seen. Enforcers are now investigating and are conducting search and rescue…"
The news shocked the classroom. They could not believe what they heard. Someone was after Lorelai's life. Jon who thought of the same thing earlier kept silent. He couldn't believe of what he predicted.
"Jon Mercer, Carl Vinson, Galvin Meyer and Athena Silver. I want all of you to remain in the room after this class." The professor announced after.
"Why us?" Jon asked the professor.
"The enforcers would like to have a word with you guys." The professor replied.
Jon's company was left with no choice. If they don't cooperate the enforcers may detain them. The four decided to stay in the classroom after classes and waited for the enforcers to arrive after class. Galvin and Athena were tense of the situation while Carl was worried.
"I never thought they would do that to Lorelai..." Athena said, worried.
"Whatever happened last night has nothing to do with us. Right, Jon?" Galvin asked, fearful of the enforcers that may interrogate him.
"Calm down Galvin, they won't suspect a thing if you stay calm. Quit being tense." Jon said, trying to calm him down.
"Calm down? Lorelai talked to us last before she was abducted. I just can't stay calm!" Galvin exclaimed.
Carl stared at the floor with guilt on his chest. He pounded it three times with his fist times and said, "It is somewhat our fault. If Lorelai didn't attend the competition she wouldn't be abducted."
Jon snapped and replied, "You don't owe her anything, Carl. She joined on her own. None of us here wishes her harm or capable of pulling such a stunt."
"What about Gina and her crew?" Athena asked.
"I doubt it. They are just bullies. Even if they had ill intentions, it's not their style." Galvin replied and continued, "Still, how am I going to answer those enforcers?"
Someone knocked on the door from outside. The professor entered first before the two enforcers. One of them was fat with his belly protruding his uniform while the other one was a lady officer in her early thirties.
"Good afternoon, we would like to ask some questions." The lady enforcer said.
Galvin calmed down by seeing her. "I think they would not harm me after all…" he thought.
"I'll talk to this kid first." The fat enforcer referred to Galvin.
Hearing this, Galvin turned white as a ghost. His courage had turned to fear. Jon tried but could not calm his friend down. He placed his palm on his face as a reaction to Galvin's awkward behavior.
"Will he be alright?" Athena asked Jon.
"He will be… I hope." Jon replied.
After Galvin's interrogation, he looked drained out. His knees were wobbling as he walked away to find a seat. Carl on the other hand was calmer and sat beside Galvin.
"It's your turn, both of you!" The female enforcer called Jon and Athena.
Jon went to talk with the fat enforcer while Athena to the lady enforcer. As Jon sat down, the enforcer grabbed his folder and read Jon's record. He gave a sigh and then began to speak as he placed the folder down. "Good afternoon young man. I will just ask a few questions. I would just like to know your relationship with Lorelai Vermillion and are you on good terms with her?"
"Actually, sir. It's complicated." Jon replied.
"Can you elaborate, young man?"
"Lorelai and I don't have any positive relations. I am not on good terms with her." Jon said truthfully.
"I see…" the enforcer replied and asked, "Is there anything I need to know?"
Jon explained, "We were having it rough with some bullies. Lorelai I admit, stood for us. I don't believe she did it for kindness or pity."
"That makes sense… I believe the bullies were Gina Winston and her group?" The enforcer replied.
"How did you know?" Jon asked in surprise.
"The whole school pointed to her. She is claiming rivalry to Lorelai. Although a good lead but not much evidence to support their involvement." The enforcer concluded.
The enforcer then ended his interrogation and went to his counterpart. The two enforcers talked and the approached the professor. Jon's company were observing the three talking.
"What should we do now? They may take one or all of us to custody!" Galvin nervously said.
"You haven't said anything funny or suspicious, did you?" Athena asked him.
"Why would I say such a thing!?" Galvin exclaimed.
The enforcers exited the classroom and Galvin felt relief. He stood up but the professor told them to sit down. "I have some important announcement to make for you guys." She said to the group.