WINTER IS COMING

[Doom]

"What?!" she shrieked. "Are they okay? Is Kailen okay?"

[Gifted]

"Kailen's okay, we don't know about Adam and Isobel. Monique, it is too dangerous to stay where people know that we're here."

[Doom]

"I-I know, it's just..." Monique drew in a breath. "You're right. I'll go sort this out. What should I do when I'm all packed?"

[Gifted]

"If your family is running, stick with them If not, call me back in the next day or so. We're not going to have a roof over our heads on the run, and it'll be smartest to stick together."

[Doom]

"Got it. I'll see what they--"
Crash!
Monique flinched. Without a word, she hung up and went to see what had caused the noise.

Returning to her bedroom, Monique gasped at the sight. Her father lay on the ground, groaning, beside an indent in the wall. Her mother stood at the opposite side of the room, panting with a sneer. Upon seeing Monique, her mother immediately looked afraid.
"S-sweetie! It's not what it looks like!"
Monique trembled, then started to gather up what had been hastily thrown into her suitcase.
"Monique, listen! Your father is going to be fine! Things just got a little out of hand!"
Her mother tried to get her attention by touching her shoulder. Monique, without thinking, turned and seized her mother's hand. It sounded like meat searing. Monique's mother recoiled with a shrill shriek, not daring to try to further persuade her daughter. Monique, without a word, finished repacking the suitcase, hoisted it, and left.

A mere block away from the house, Monique fell to her knees and wept. She fumbled her phone out of her pocket and called Stephanie again.

[Gifted]

"Hey, Monique. Did you find out what your family is doing?" Stephanie asked.

[Doom]

"They're not going," Monique said, trying to reign in the crying. "I had to leave. Where are you? Can I come to you?"

[Gifted]

"Absolutely, Monique." Stephanie could tell something had happened by the way Monique's voice shook. "I'm in the hotel I was before, alright? Kailen's here with me. We'll make it through this together."

[Doom]

"O-okay, I'll..." Monique took a long pause to look back at her home. With a sigh, she stood, saying, "I'll be there as soon as I can. Talk to you soon." She hung up, then hoisted the suitcase and set off.

[Gifted]

Stephanie sighed and hung up. "Monique will be here soon. Did you manage to grab any of your bags?"

[Raven]

"No. I wasn't sure what to do," Kailen admitted.

[Gifted]

Stephanie sighed. "I don't have any change of clothes for you and we don't have any food..."

[Doom]

Suddenly, there came a meek knocking at the door.

[Gifted]

"Oh, there she is." Stephanie went to open the door. She hugged her friend when she saw Monique on the other side.

[Raven]

"There wasn't anyone at the house anymore, we could probably swing back there shortly," Kailen said. "Most people don't realize I have a power."