A Dire Connection

The trio stood transfixed before the monitors, their eyes tracking every movement in the now subdued chaos of the auditorium. The turned students shambled aimlessly, their aggression seemingly dampened by the lockdown forcefield. The monitors displayed a harrowing scene: Principal Voorhees, standing alone in the midst of the auditorium, surrounded by the transformed students.

Voorhees looked visibly exhausted, his body bearing the marks of numerous confrontations. Bloodied wounds were evident even from the camera's distance, painting a picture of a man who had fought valiantly against overwhelming odds.

As the trio watched, Voorhees pulled out a two-way receiver and began to speak. He spoke urgently into it, his voice a mix of command and desperation. The trio's attention was riveted to the screen, watching his every move.

Then, to their surprise, Voorhees' voice echoed in the room, coming from inside the desk in front of them. Leo quickly rummaged through the sliding compartments of the desk, his hands finding another receiver from which the voice emanated.

Leo grabbed the receiver, his voice tense yet clear. "Principal Voorhees, this is Leo. I've got the student council president, Ava and Ethan Sterling. We're in your office. We can see you. Are you alright?"

Voorhees' reply was laced with a grim acceptance of his situation. "I'm alive, Leo. But I'm not sure for how much longer I can hold out. I'm surrounded, and there's no way out for me now."

Ava's hand went to her mouth, her eyes reflecting the shock and sorrow at his words. Ethan's expression hardened, his fists clenching at the injustice of it all.

Voorhees continued, his voice growing softer, "I'm glad to hear you're safe. You three need to focus on surviving this. Help anyone you can, but remember, your lives are the priority."

Leo, struggling to accept what he was hearing, responded, "Isn't there something we can do for you, sir? We can try to—"

Voorhees cut him off, "No, Leo. My time is running out. You need to look after each other. I'm not making it out of this one."

Ava interjected, her voice laced with concern. "But, sir, with our abilities neutralized, how are we supposed to defend ourselves?"

Leo, still grappling with the situation, directed a crucial question to the receiver. "Principal Voorhees, did you know about the lockdown dampening our abilities?"

There was a brief pause before Voorhees' voice came through, tinged with regret. "Yes, I knew. The lockdown system was designed as a last-resort measure. In the event of a war or invasion, it would prevent any superpowered individuals from using their abilities on campus. It also seals the school, preventing anyone from entering or exiting."

Leo's expression grew somber as he processed this information. "So, it was a necessary sacrifice..." he murmured.

Voorhees continued, his voice weary. "It was a difficult decision, but yes. Although it has taken away your powers, it seems to have weakened the transformed students as well. They're no longer as aggressive or fast as they were. That might give us a small advantage, or at least a chance to survive a little longer."

Ava, listening intently, added softly, "So, in a way, it's helping us, even if it feels like we're more vulnerable now."

Ethan, leaning against a wall, nodded slowly. "It levels the playing field, but we're still trapped in here with them. And without our abilities, we're... just ordinary."

Voorhees' voice, though weak, carried a note of encouragement. "You are far from ordinary. You're trained, you're smart, and you're resourceful. Use those skills. Survive. And remember, you're not alone in this. You have each other."

As the trio continued to watch the monitors, the situation in the auditorium grew more dire. The turned students were inching closer to Principal Voorhees, clambering onto the stage with a slow, relentless determination. Despite the imminent danger, Voorhees showed no intention of fleeing or defending himself.

Breaking the silence, Voorhees once more spoke again into the receiver. "Remember, the lockdown barrier will eventually need to be lifted, and the only way to do that is from the console in my office. When the time is right, you'll have to make that decision."

"Wasn't the idea that the turned students stay on campus? Why would we let them out?"

"It's fair to assume that this is happening worldwide, based on the conversation Leo and I had with the agent this morning. More likely than not, everyone is suffering the same fate as us. However, the military and head supes should be quick on their feet and take some semblance of control. Silvercrest is mainly an academy, however it's got quite a few secrets that'll help a lot of military and civilians." 

Ethan spoke up this time. "There's probably students still alive in hiding. If they see the barrier come down, they might risk running and getting caught."

"I did think about that, and I have an idea. The bell tower at the center of the campus is still in good condition. It could serve as a way to attract all the turned students to one location. It might buy you some time or create a diversion when you need it. However, it's not electronic anymore. Someone will have to go and manually ring it." 

The trio looked at each in silence realizing that they'll have to be split up at some point. 

"Finally," Voorhees spoke once more. "In one of the desk compartments, you'll find two bracelets. They were designed for me and for Leo as a contingency. They should offer some resistance to the dampening effects of the lockdown."

This time, Ava's voice rang out. "Only two?"

Voorhees paused, then spoke, " Ethan, I have a feeling that your curse might not be affected by the lockdown. It's a little unique." 

Ethan, processing Voorhees' words, focused inward, trying to summon the power of his curse. To his amazement and relief, he found that he could still access its strength. His arm surged with the familiar, dark energy, unhampered by the dampening field. "It works... I can still use it," he announced, surprise filling his voice. "But why?"

Ava quickly rummaged through the desk compartments and found the two bracelets. She handed one to Leo, who put it on, hoping it would grant him even a fraction of his powers back.

As they prepared to leave the office, Leo spoke into the receiver one last time. "Thank you, sir. We won't forget what you've done for us. We'll make it count."

"Take care Leo

The final moments in the principal's office were tense and solemn. On the screen, they watched as Principal Voorhees, accepting his fate, threw the receiver aside. With a resigned yet brave expression, he opened his arms, ready to face the inevitable end as the turned students closed in on him.

The trio's reactions to this heart-wrenching scene were a mix of shock, sorrow, and helplessness.

Leo stood still, his eyes fixed on the screen. His face was calm, almost stoic, but his eyes betrayed a deep sense of frustration and regret. He understood the principal's decision, the sacrifice he was making, but it didn't lessen the sting of losing a mentor and leader. His hands clenched into fists at his sides, a physical manifestation of his internal struggle to accept what they were witnessing.

Beside him, Ava's reaction was more visceral. Her eyes shimmered with unshed tears as she watched the screen, her hand covering her mouth in a vain attempt to stifle the emotional turmoil within her. Principal Voorhees had always been a figure of kindness and strength in her school life, and seeing him in such a state was almost too much to bear. She blinked rapidly, fighting back the tears that threatened to spill over.

Ethan, on the other hand, was visibly upset, his face contorted in a mix of anger and nausea. Watching someone he respected being devoured was a gruesome sight, one that stirred a complex whirl of emotions within him. His stomach churned, and he had to look away for a moment, struggling to compose himself and come to terms with the grim reality unfolding before them.

After a minute of deafening silence, Ava's voice softly rang out in the office. "What now?"