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Everything is different now. Everyone knew it, but it was a thought she couldn't shake. Up until then, Hydra had always been something lurking just out of sight, like a scary story you told a child to make them behave. Sure, it wasn't a real threat, but as long as the child believed that a monster would rise up out of the sea and take them away if they strayed out too far they would never face the danger of drowning for fear of the monster. And likewise the threat of Hydra kept the Descendants on their toes, motivated them to train and fight for good. But Hydra had attacked once, and it would attack again. And unless there was some way to keep it at bay it would keep coming until it had achieved its goal. That was how organisations like that worked.
So Petra worried, for more than just the taken students. She worried for the students left behind, for the mentors who would no doubt have to put together some plan of attack to guide their students through... she highly doubted any of the Descendants were at their peak, strategy- and battle-wise. Not that she would ever say it to anyone's face, lest it set off new accusations of her being a bitch for no good reason.
Still, it was enough to tire her out, and by the time the alarm sounded she had attempted to settle down a little, tucking herself into bed and getting comfortable. As it had just two mornings ago, the alarm startled her, and she sat bolt upright, trying to understand the alert. "This is not a drill. Approaching foreign vehicle. All hands to the main floor."
Petra paused to grab her robe, pulling it on over her nightgown, but did not bother to put shoes on. She ignored the lift entirely; she took the stairs three at a time until she skidded barefoot into the lobby, almost colliding with Tobias's wheelchair. It seemed the other students had been similarly caught off guard - Wynne was already there, pale and wide-eyed, her jacket buttoned up wrongly and her wings trailing on the floor; Jensen Jones was stumbling out of the lift, still wearing the infirmary pajamas, her hair curling every which way. In her hands she clutched a heavy-looking bat with spikes driven through the end, the wood at the end stained and worn (whether from actual blood or for effect Petra was unsure).
"More Hydra, perfect," she snarled, clearly not in a playing mood. Last time they'd caught her off guard and in a dress. This time she was ready to beat some skulls in with her weapon, and she'd take every one of them down with her if she had to. Already her hangover was ebbing away with the adrenaline, replaced only by a single burning desire to murder whoever she could get her hands on.
Wynne was not so sure. Talking to Tobias earlier had made her realise many things, chief of which was how tiny her position in the universe was. She was well aware of her status as a liability to the academy, and was hardly equipped to defend it against its enemies. But she thought she should be standing here with the rest of them as well, at least making an effort. If Hydra managed to take them down tonight... at least she had gone down fighting.
But there was no need for it. A voice rang through the foyer, cutting clear through the room. "Oh m’god… Ets Frankie!"
"If this is a joke, McCulloch, you're going first," Jensen started angrily, taking a step forward, but she found herself being pushed aside by a pair of heavy hands on her shoulders. Riley moved past her, ignoring even the mentors, until he'd reached Frankie's side, putting his arms around her. His face was frozen in shock, mouth opening and closing as he tried to find something to say. But no words came to him, and eventually he settled for pulling her into a tight hug, cradling his best friend against his chest.
"How... we thought you... you're safe," he managed as he finally pulled away, holding her at arm's length. "Frankie, oh god, you're back." He finally took in her sorry state, eyes widening as he tried to understand. "You can - you can tell us what happened later. We gotta get you to the infirmary first. Is everyone back?" They had to have rescued everyone. Frankie would never stand for leaving a fellow student behind. Looping his arm around her waist, he began to help her into the building, intent on getting medical help as soon as he could.
Petra was not so sentimental. Once she'd ascertained for herself it really was Frankie at the door, she moved quickly, squeezing past the reunited students into the cold outside, past the huge vehicle parked right in front of the school. If they had been followed back... But there was no one. No armies thundering down the driveway to meet them, no helicopters hovering ahead. Aside from the clamour coming from the school behind her, the night was cold and quiet - almost too peaceful, in contrast to what they'd experienced earlier. The sky stretched dark and empty above their heads, and a lump began to form in Petra's throat, though no tears came. She stood alone in the driveway, looking around, and only when she had convinced herself that they were safe did she begin to head back inside, holding her robe closed against the wind.
A couple of unfamiliar faces stood amongst the students moving into the school. Her guard up again, Petra moved to stop them - three students, two male and one female. Looking at their injuries, she felt a small twinge of guilt before reminding herself of the danger the academy had just faced. She couldn't risk letting threats in. "You'll forgive me for being suspicious, I hope. Who are you, and can anyone vouch for you?"
Jensen threw her bat aside, surging forward. She let Riley and Frankie have their reunion. Behind Frankie, the others were beginning to clamber out of a truck, but Jensen didn't have eyes for any of them, her eyes searching the faces - some familiar, some unfamiliar - until she spotted the redheaded figure on the ground. She knelt down beside Wren, ducking her head to meet Wren's gaze. "Didn't bring me a bouquet of Hydra heads?" she asked, almost conversationally. "How're you doing, baby?"