***
"Forgive me for saying so, but your methods seem excessive compared to the threat posed by these kids." The Headmaster sat behind his desk and tried to look authoritative, but Mr. Black knew Higgins lacked the authority to have the bathroom cleaned, let alone to challenge his disciplinary choices.
That didn't stop the bastard from running his mouth, though. "These paranormal children are the heart of our organization. They're the reason we exist at all. They must not be so broken and terrified that we can no longer use them effectively. That boy didn't have to be whipped. You could have found another way."
Dark shadows filled Mr. Black's vision. "These kids, as you call them, are freaks of nature. They're self-righteous pricks with superpowers who think they're better than everyone else because of some genetic defect. You've let them get away with murder for too long. They need to be taught some manners and respect, and that's what me and my men are doing."
Mr. Black put the full weight of his own power—the real power that came from combat and weapons training—behind his stare. "My job is to keep this school safe. These kids lack discipline and have dangerous abilities. Accidents are bound to happen, and it would be a shame if one of the faculty members got hurt, don't you think, Mr. Headmaster?"
The color drained from Higgins's face. He looked down in defeat. "I understand."
A hard smile curled Mr. Black's lips upward. Some people are just too easy to break.
Shouts filtered into the office from the courtyard outside. Mr. Black jumped up and pulled the shades.
Two kids stood face-to-face, as though dueling. One was dressed in all red, and had even dyed his hair red, and held a ball of flames in his hand. The other wore blue and played with a ball of ice.
A tall boy stood just outside the dueling area and raised his voice so that all the kids gathered around could hear.
"Some say the world will end in fire,
Some say in ice.
From what I've tasted of desire,
I hold with those who favor fire.
But if it had to perish twice,
I think I know enough of hate,
To say that for destruction ice,
Is also great,
And would suffice."
Mr. Black couldn't believe what he was seeing. Were these kids really about to duel to a Robert Frost poem?
Flame and ice clashed between them. The crowd screamed.
Mr. Black and the Headmaster ran from the office into the courtyard.
"Fight! Fight! Fight!" The crowd chanted at the top of their lungs. They formed such a tight circle that Mr. Black had to pull out his gun to get their attention.
The gun distracted the ice boy just as he deflected a fireball—only the fireball didn't fizz out as planned. Instead, it careened into the crowd and lit a young girl's hair on fire. The chanting ended abruptly and the kids began scattering to their classes or dorm rooms.
The ice boy having already disappeared into the crowd, Mr. Black aimed his gun at the fire boy. "What the hell is going on here?"
Instead of cowering, the boy flared another fire ball in his hand. "You can't do anything to me. I have power you can't even imagine, and I'm sick and tired of this crap you're putting us through."
Mr. Black cocked his gun. "You think you can hurt me before I pull the trigger. Try it."
The boy's fire winked out.
"I'm glad we understand each other. Now, are you going to pull something like this again?"
"No, sir."
"Good." Mr. Black lowered his gun and let the boy turn around and leave.
Damn kids. They never learn. Think they can just do what they want, when they want.
The boy had only taken a few steps when the gun went off. The bullet slammed into the back of his head, splattering blood and brain matter onto the sidewalk.
The few kids who remained screamed and ran away.
Higgins bent behind a bush and vomited.
Mr. Black waved to the guards around him. "Clean up this mess, and take the girl to the clinic for medical attention."
Someone grabbed his arm on his way back to the office.
Higgins's face contorted in horror and rage. "How could you do that? What were you thinking? You just killed that boy in cold blood."
"I meted out justice to someone whose power could destroy others. He could've killed that girl, or don't you care about her? Look, Higgins, I know you have a soft spot for these kids, but you have no one to blame but yourself. If you hadn't let them run wild, they wouldn't be rebelling like this. I don't tolerate fools, regardless of their powers. And I can guarantee you one thing: no one else will be dueling on my watch."
A disheveled guard rushed over to them. "Excuse me for interrupting, but Mr. Black, the Seeker would like to speak with you in his chambers."
"In person?" Seeker's powers scared the shit out of Mr. Black, not that he would admit it to anyone. Still, he avoided face-to-face meetings when at all possible.
The guard shifted uncomfortably from foot to foot. "Um, yes sir."
"Very well."