Chapter 246

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> *It's your choice, John. Leave now while you still can...or stay, and risk being targeted by Spectre.*
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*- Arlo*

This is the 246th episode of *unORDINARY*.

## Synopsis

Arlo isn't exactly thrilled to see John outside of school. He asks what he was doing in his hotel room. John claims that Arlo invited him, to the latter's confusion. Turns out, John elected to interpret Arlo voting with the minority as a summons. In all seriousness, John brings up the fact that Arlo needs his help for something, both having forgotten the presence of two others in the room. Blyke demands that they both hush before they disturb the neighboring hotel guests. Pointing out that they have a busy day awaiting them, he suggests that they all settle in for a good night's sleep. John asks why their room has double the occupants there are supposed to be. Blyke answers that there was no time to book extra rooms since Arlo joined last minute...and John wasn't even on the roster. He adds it's fortunate that the suites are roomy, so he and Isen would share a bed, and John and Arlo would share the other. John protests to the arrangement, to which Blyke growls that he wasn't getting any other options...except perhaps out in the cold.

Isen, having remained his typical "reserved around irritable high-tiers" self, tries to sort out a compromise. He offers both beds to the two strongest guys in the room. Blyke is fed up with his friend's habitual simpering, and chews him out for not standing his ground more often. Isen tries to calm him down by reminding him that they were supposed to be quiet for their neighbors' sakes. Arlo can only sigh at the whole development.

Ultimately, Isen falls asleep on the floor, while Arlo and Blyke share a bed. John lies in the other one, but is unable to sleep. Seraphina sounded dead serious about wanting him to stay away. He wonders if he should take her warning at face value. Then again, she was willing to welcome Arlo despite the supposed risk, and he in turn voted for John to join them. The absurdity of it all caused him to toss and turn for most of the night.

Morning comes a little too soon for Blyke's liking. He silences his alarm before taking a look at the time. With only fifteen minutes to get ready, he leaps out of bed. The others soon rise as well. It's too early for John and Arlo to tolerate each others' presence...and way too early for Isen to smooth things over. As he runs to join Blyke, Isen's bedtime socks do not go unnoticed by a bewildered John.

Before he and Isen head down for breakfast, Blyke gives one last warning to John and Arlo to not take too long. Now that they had to room to themselves, John felt it was a good a time as any for Arlo to explain all the weird stuff that's happened during their month-long separation. John shares the story about how he trailed Seraphina to a rendezvous with some teleporting guy at the park, and how her aura wasn't as strong as it normally was. Arlo considers the act depraved, which John sees as game recognizing game. Continuing, John insists that there was no other choice, since Seraphina wasn't being straightforward with him. Not agreeing that John had run out of options at the time, Arlo tells John that Seraphina was only trying to keep her friend out of harm's way. John isn't persuaded to back off because of her selfless concern, touching though it was. He writes his well-being off as expendable when the safety of a dear friend who forgave his betrayal was on the line. John declares that he won't abandon Seraphina during her time of need ever again. He notices that Arlo doesn't seem to acknowledge the sentiment, but it's only because he's not clear on how he's supposed to respond. Once again, John asks Arlo for the whole story, and even says "please".

Arlo sees that John's ignorance of the danger is proof-positive that Seraphina outdid herself in keeping him in the dark. Surely, she'd hate it if her efforts had gone to waste. But Arlo, thinking of Remi, decides that his hatred of her not taking every precaution is equal. So Arlo reveals the existence of Spectre to John, and how the organization lured Seraphina into its service by promising the restoration of her ability. John asks why she'd bother working for them after her ability was returned. Arlo explains it the promise was just bait in a snare. John learns that ability restoration was only ever meant to be temporary, and repeat treatments are only available to obedient underlings. Angry at the thought of Spectre holding his friend's ability for ransom, John finally understands why those crooks at the mall were marking powerhouses back then. Arlo speculates that she's not the first unwilling high-tier agent trapped under such circumstances. John asks if Arlo is helping her because he too fell for the trap. Arlo says that it was very nearly so, but he just happened to be in the area when Seraphina was inducted. He knew too much now, and that meant he would be dogged until he was made powerless too. John asks if Arlo wouldn't have preferred to not risk going out in the open at all. Arlo responds that Seraphina was assigned to work in Rowden, and it's not hard to figure out why. He felt that the high-tiers of Safe House could use the extra protection. John is skeptical that Arlo cared about helping anybody other then himself, but Arlo clarifies that there are others he'd go out on a limb for. But back to the moment of truth: Arlo and Seraphina couldn't do this alone, so John had a choice to make. Either he flees before it's too late, or he remains and risks becoming another Spectre slave. Without hesitation, John answers:"F\*ck Spectre."

In their own room, Elaine and Seraphina are getting ready. Seraphina is too troubled by John's safety to pay Elaine's question about breakfast time any mind. She had sent him a request to text when he made it back Wellston, but had gotten no response. Suddenly, there was a knock at the door. Elaine went to answer it, and she's disturbed by the unlikely pair waiting on the other side. Seraphina, on the other hand, is outright alarmed. It was John and Arlo, ready to take on the day's challenges.

## Appearing Characters

* John
* Isen
* Blyke
* Arlo
* Seraphina
* Remi (flashback)
* Kayden (flashback)
* Leilah (flashback)
* Spectre Agents (flashback)
* Elaine

## Appearing Abilities

* Aura Manipulation (flashback)
* Barrier (flashback)

## Notes & Trivia

* This is the first episode of unOrdinary to be preceded by any form of advisory warning.