Forum Thread

D*mn it, I did it again it was a sharp realization, but Dallas could recognize that look. For years Alex had looked at her the same way, although there were many other emotions that were hidden under that, it's a good thing that Alex finally forgave her. Still, that look still hurt Dallas deeper than any weapon ever could. "Don't look at her" Dallas tells Leaf. She wraps Leaf into a hug, both comforting her and blocking her view of Cora. "It's all over, don't worry" she whispers to Leaf.

Leaf broke intos sobs as Dallas hugged her close. Leaf and Cora had been close, almost like sisters, losing Cora was almost like when-

Leaf jerked her mind away from that thought before it could finish. After a few moments the two pulled away from each other and Leaf wiped her nose on her sleeve, her heart stung but they needed to warn the others. Sharing a glance they both headed to the exit, seeing it locked Leaf stepped forward.

Power of the sun,
Gift me with your light.
Shine into the dark,
Restore our fading sight.

Leaf's dark brown hair turned gold and fanned out behind her as if they were rays of sunlight, her iris turned gold.

Rise into the dawn,
Blazing star so bright.
Burn away the strife,
Let my hope ignite.
Let hope ignite.

Leaf's hand outstreached towards the locked door and it burst open, the door swinging open. Leaf returned to normal, she looked at Dallas. "Go, warn the others. I'll be behind you."

Dallas bolted out into the rainy night, she could hear the others. "What happened? Where's Leaf and Dallas and Cora?" Blaze asked sounding angry.

"In the basement. . .Dallas killed Cora! I saw it." Jackson stated, he sounded both serious and evaisve.

Dallas threw down the flashlight and stormed towards the group. "That's bullsh*t Jackson!" Everyone turned and looked at Dallas. "You killed Cora. You hit her so hard, her head split open."

"That's a lie!" Jackson spat back. "I saw you kill her!"

"The hell's going on?" Amber asked just coming out with her kids and Leaf's kids, they looked scared.

"Look at her hands! They're covered in Cora's blood!" Dallas froze and looked down. They were covered in blood but not from Cora. But this detail didn't matter. There was blood and blood was blood, by now everyone was probably starting to believe Jackson.

Blaze looked at Dallas on confusion and horror. "What the hell did you do?"

Jackson's hand rose above the others as dark matter started to gather around it. "We saved her life when anyone else would've kept walking. We fed her. Sheltered her. And this is how we're thanked? By murdering one of our own! Well, F*CK HER!" He pointed the blob of dark matter towards Dallas with dangerous eyes.

---

Having been conversing with some of the medics, Semi startled when Jackson and Dallas suddenly began yelling at each other. "Resorting to violence is not the answer." He instructed calmly, marching over to the two of them. "Nothing will come out of taking a life in exchange for another. No more blood needs to be spilled tonight." Despite having no powers of his own, Semi stood between the two of them, back turned to Jackson to face Dallas. In this situation, Dallas was the one who held the most suspicion, blood coating the girl from head to toe. "Now that we have all taken a moment to breath and calm yourselves, the best course of action is to examine Cora's body and have each of you tell your side of the story."

---

Felice heard screaming and accidentally sent out her power. Extreme confusion greeted her instantly, along with rage and a small tinge of...guilt? And fear? Plus slight delight? Someone definitely just told a lie. She leapt out of her bed and ran outside, where she saw Jackson threaten Dallas. Felice knew that, logically, Dallas need someone to believe her. She ran forward, pulling back her powers as she went to block out the confusion so she won't doubt herself. "I believe you." She whispered to Dallas. "I felt what happened, and I feel that Jackson's lying." She gave Dallas the most reassuring smile she could manage without being able to feel sympathetic.

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(Last post then I'm going to bed. Also, Leaf will convince the others since she was there, but dont go get her, she's mourning Cora at the moment. You can still try to convince th others though.)


Jackson ignored Felice. "Cora was murdered by this. . .lunatic! She took a flashlight from the basement and hit Cora so hard her head split open! Why else would there be so much blood on her? The least we can do is make sure she doesn't kill anyone else again!" The Dark matter seemed to hiss and burn and bubble as if mirroring Jackson's rising rage.

---

"Well, it's also possible that she tried to help Cora. I'm sure you know bandaging a large wound without getting blood on you is really hard. Don't just jump to conclusions from insufficient information." Felice retorted. She sensed a burst of guilt, which meant Jackson was at least partly right, and most likely Dallas had killed Cora. However, the indignation told Felice Dallas didn't do it without good reason. Felice could sense Leaf's grief as well.

---

"With all due respect, sir." Semi sighed, not bothering to turn around as he massaged his temples. He regarded Felice with a raised eyebrow, not knowing the girls power yet. "Sir, once we review the evidence and have found her guilty, I won't stop you from throwing her to the wolves. Yet, I can not on any good conscious convict a potentially innocent person to death." He shifted backwards slightly to hopefully put more distance between Dallas and Jackson. "Ma'am, you said you believed in Dallas. Can you give me your reasoning as to why?"

---

"I didn't tell you my powers yet...right." Felice had forgotten about that until she felt the confusion coming from Semi. "My powers allow me to feel others' emotions. Empathy, if you may." Her politeness came from sensing Semi's calmness. "I feel the emotions corresponding to lying coming from Jackson even now, so I believe he's lying. Besides, when I followed Leaf and Dallas when they went downstairs to investigate a commotion, I saw Jackson and Cora arguing." Rage kicked in and she gritted her teeth, fighting to not attack Jackson. "I felt extreme anger and protectiveness from Dallas after that. I pulled my powers in afterwards, but I believe Dallas and Jackson may have fought. And Jackson is mostly responsible for Cora's death. "

---

"Incriminating evidence indeed, however, because of the source I don't think I can take your account as solid evidence. Although it certainly tips the scales back into balance, unless we have hard solid proof, I am unwilling to label either of them as the guilty party." Semi noted, voice mellow and calm. He was a regular in the midst of a wave of super powered individuals. One wrong move meant that he would be the one on the potential chopping block. He was already taking a big risk stepping between Jackson. If what Felice said was true, he might not be safe from whatever power the leader wielded. "You said you heard Jackson and Cora arguing. Do you remember what they were arguing about?"

---

"I heard 'You can't keep doing this' and something about just a few more. And I felt a lot of fear from Cora, besides the anger." Felice remembered. "I left before I heard anything else, though." She reminded herself to not get too angry. Besides, she sensed that Semi was in fact very nervous, for some reason. Maybe his powers don't allow him much fighting ability.

---

Breathing out, Semi nodded. "Okay." He breathed, fear spiking through him momentarily at the new knowledge before he squashed it down. Fear would cloud his judgement, he needed to make a fair and concrete decision, people's lives are on the line here. This pinned Jackson as the aggressor, and even though it came from a witness who didn't physically see the scene, the testimony is vital evidence. "So what the evidence we currently have weighs roughly equal, although there seems to be more stacked against Jackson. Despite the copious amount of blood on Dallas, much of it can be explained as her trying to save Cora. In addition, there is eyewitness testimony that pins Jackson and Cora arguing before anyone arrive which casts suspicion upon him. However, it is still too early to say that Jackson is the perpetrator. What say you that we go down to the scene of the crime and see for ourselves what transpired?"

---

"Sounds good." Felice replied. "I can lead you there." She sensed how fearful Semi was, perhaps of Jackson. He also believed her, which is good. She hoped Semi wasn't afraid of blood. Actually, everyone here were probably used to the sight of blood. "Let's go, then." She began to walk away.

---

"Thank you." He nodded. Walking between Jackson and Dallas, Semi sighed and wished not for the first time the world turned upside-down that he had alcohol to drink. "I'm a physiotherapist, not a lawyer or what have you. I don't get paid enough for this." He groaned, steeling himself for blood. While he wasn't squeamish, he couldn't be considering his line of work, but he was't looking forward to this

---

"Well, you're a pretty good detective." Felice replied as she descended the stairs, leading Semi along. "We're here." She nodded to the open door. Leaf was still sobbing over Cora's corpse. Felice allowed Semi to go first and stood in the doorway so no one can attempt to close the door and lock them in. She could sense Semi's discomfort.

---

"Thank you. I suppose in a time like this we all need to step up and do our part." Semi smiled thinly. Seeing Leaf sobbing, he decided that she would be the first thing he would take care of. It was never the dead that one had to be delicate with, but those they left behind, and from the looks of it, Leaf and Cora had been close. Ignoring the body for now, he took a knee beside Leaf. "Hello. Would you like anything? Water perhaps, or would leading you back up to your children be acceptable?"

---

Leaf looked at Semi, her eyes rimmed in red, her voice trembled as she spoke. "Willow, Sage, Cosmo. Are they okay? Jackson didn't hurt them did he?" She stood up with trembling hands.

---

"I'm pretty sure he's trying to convince them that Dallas was the one who killed Cora and is completely responsible." Felice informed Leaf. "I spoke against him, after Dallas, but I don't think many people will believe me. Semi does. He says he want to have a look around." She winced fiercely from the waves of extreme grief and sadness rolling off Leaf.

---

The color drained form Leaf's face. "He's lying." She looked down at Cora, her heart stung in pain but Leaf would make sure that Cora's sacrifice wasn't for nothing. "Cora was trying to warn Dallas and I a bout Jackson messing with Dark arts and that's when she brought the flashlight down on her, it split her head open."

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Felice sensed Leaf was telling the truth. "I see. I left too early to get a handle on what was happening... But I knew Jackson was lying. I believe you." She gave the most reassuring smile she could manage. "By the way, what's the 'Dark Arts'?"

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"Dark cleric arts and alchemy." Leaf responded. "The kind that usaualy require human sacrifice or something similar."

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