Black Panther Academy

chapter 2-Part 3

CONTINUATIONS...CHAPTER 2- The Six Gangs

"By whom?"

"The six factions."

Axeril looked at the map.

"So the six gangs destroyed the original group."

"Yes."

"Then why are they coming back now?"

Riven didn't answer.

Axeril stepped closer.

"Why?"

Riven finally said:

"Because someone wants revenge."

Suddenly, the headquarters door opened.

Everyone turned.

Serena stood there.

Riven's expression hardened.

"What are you doing here?"

Serena ignored him.

She looked directly at Axeril.

"I need to speak with you."

"About what?"

Serena held up the old photograph.

Axeril stared at it.

Her eyes widened.

The little girl in the photograph was unmistakably her.

But that wasn't what shocked her.

She recognized the woman holding her.

Axeril whispered:

"That's my mother."

Everyone stared at her.

Serena nodded.

"Yes."

Axeril took the photograph.

"Where did you get this?"

"From our archives."

"When was it taken?"

"Eleven years ago."

Axeril stared at the picture.

She had been five.

Her mother looked younger.

The academy director stood beside her.

But there was something else.

On the back of the photograph was writing.

Axeril turned it over.

Three words were written in black ink.

THE HEIR RETURNS.

Axeril's hands began trembling.

"What's an heir?"

Nobody answered.

Serena looked at Riven.

"You should tell her."

Riven remained silent.

Axeril looked at him.

"Tell me what?"

Riven finally spoke.

"The Night Panthers had a leader."

"Who?"

"A woman."

"Who?"

Riven looked at Axeril.

"Your mother."

The room became completely silent.

Axeril stared at him.

"My mother?"

Riven nodded.

"Your mother was the last leader of the Night

Panthers."

Axeril stepped backward.

"No."

Serena placed another photograph on the table.

It showed Axeril's mother standing in the center of a group of students wearing black panther symbols.

At the bottom was a date.

Eleven years ago.

Axeril's breathing became unsteady.

"My parents told me she was an ordinary woman."

Riven shook his head.

"They lied."

Axeril's eyes filled with anger.

"Why?"

"Because the Night Panthers were hunted."

"By who?"

"The six factions."

Axeril looked at every person in the room.

"Then why did you bring me here?"

Riven's expression was grim.

"We didn't."

Axeril froze.

"What?"

"You were already coming."

"Who sent me?"

Riven looked at the photograph.

"That's what we're going to find out."

Suddenly, the academy alarm began ringing.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

Jace ran toward the computer.

"What's happening?"

"All six territories are being breached."

Mika stood.

"At the same time?"

Jace nodded.

"Someone is attacking every gang."

Riven looked at Axeril.

"Stay here."

Axeril grabbed her backpack.

"No."

Riven stared at her.

"I'm coming."

"Axeril—"

"If someone is attacking six groups because of

me, then I'm involved."

Riven didn't answer.

Axeril walked toward the door.

"Besides..."

She looked over her shoulder.

"If my mother really was the leader of the Night Panthers..."

Her expression hardened.

"...then I want to know what happened to her."

The doors opened.

The Black Panthers followed.

Outside, the academy was descending into chaos.

Students were running through the halls.

Alarms screamed.

Security doors slammed shut.

The six faction symbols displayed on every screen began flickering.

One by one, they disappeared.

Red.

Silver.

Gold.

Rose.

Blue.

Black.

Then a seventh symbol appeared.

The black crown.

A message appeared beneath it.

THE HEIR HAS RETURNED.

Axeril stared at the screen.

Then another message appeared.

AND SHE WILL CHOOSE WHICH SIDE LIVES.

Riven clenched his fists.

Mika whispered:

"This isn't a warning."

Axeril looked at her.

"No."

She stared at the black crown.

"It's a challenge."

And somewhere deep beneath Black Panther Academy, a hidden door slowly opened.

A figure stepped out of the darkness.

He looked at an old photograph of Axeril's mother.

Then he smiled.

"After eleven years..."

He turned toward the staircase.

"...the daughter has finally returned."

...