Chapter 221

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> *He's **moved on?***
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*- John's internal thoughts about Arlo*

This is the 221st chapter of *unORDINARY.*

## Summary

John and Zeke are walking down a school hallway, when John finds a student reading the school newspaper. He snatches the paper from the student’s hand, and the student frantically runs away. John searches the paper for an anti-Safe House article he had forced Cecile to publish, but could not find it.

Cecile is filing some papers in the Press Room, when John and Zeke enter. A panicked Cecile calms her nerves and asks John his reason of visit. John demands to know why the anti-Safe House article wasn’t in the newspaper. Cecile responds that it wasn’t necessary, and so she did not publish it. An enraged John walks up to her and reminds her that he decided everything about Wellston, and she has no say in this. Cecile retorts that she ran the press for three years, and thus knows what is best for its integrity. She claimed that the article appeared desperate, but before she could continue, John screamed at her, accusing her of trying to support the safe house while it was on its last legs. Cecile tries to reason with John, but the King isn’t willing to hear anything. He reminds her that it was because of him that Cecile was reinstated as Press Head.

A bitter Cecile remembers all the times John mistreated and injured her, and adamantly tells John that she doesn’t need the post anymore. She walks past the bewildered King. John regains his senses and orders her not to test his patience. Cecile continues to walk to the door but Zeke blocks her path, refusing to let her leave. John denounces Cecile’s turning on him after he gave her all her power. Cecile turned around and shouts at John, asking him why he treats his allies like trash, but John deftly replies that trash is what she is. He turns around and walks up to her, getting ready to crush her. A trapped Cecile can only watch her imminent doom.

In the courtyard, Remi and Arlo are discussing the affairs of the Safe House. Remi proposes that the Safe House go for a weekend trip or a day out in the town to provide a change of scenery. Arlo agrees and tells Remi to check with Keene whether this was a sound plan. Before they can continue, John and Zeke appear and block their path. Arlo glances at Remi, and sees hatred in her eyes. He places his hand on her shoulder and steps forward, asking John what the matter was. John demands to know what Arlo was planning by joining the Safe House. He tells the former King that it seemed like a stratagem to spite him. Arlo assures John that he had personal reasons for joining the Safe House, and they had nothing to with John. John mocks Arlo, saying that someone like him wouldn’t care about the Safe House. The school preferred Arlo as a King, and this was merely a move to help gain his title back, said John. Arlo denies this once again, saying that he has no interest in the title. He and Remi begin to walk away.

John furiously grabs Arlo’s wrist, telling him that Arlo’s disinterest in the crown still didn’t justify his actions that caused John to come to his present state. Arlo agrees, but said that he had paid the price for that mistake, getting publicly humiliated by John. He proceeds to say that the fault was not his own alone, but John’s as well, as John threw a fit each time things didn’t go his way, gave others reasons to avoid him and tossed away his friend. John relives several painful memories of Seraphina, Claire and Adrion. He yells, telling Arlo that he was just as horrible a person as John was. Arlo sardonically tells John that he has nothing to say to him, and begins to walk away again. This time John uses force, using Cecile’s ability, Energy Ropes to grab Arlo’s arm, blocking his escape. An irritated Arlo asks what more John wants, and the King tells him that he never gave him the permission to leave.

## Appearing Abilities

* Aura Manipulation
* Vine Conjure (copied)
* Phase Shift