Beacon blinks, trying to make sense of what is happening before her.

The heat of the fire.

People screaming.

Smell of smoke and ash.

What is happening?

“Tink, please listen to me!”

She turns her head and Cotton is there, in his Water Craze gear, looking a bit worse for wear. He’s bleeding and has a burn mark on his arm which he is clutching.

“What’s happening?” She questions.

Taking a step towards him, he scrambles away, thrusting his good arm out as if to ward her away.

Immediately, she stops. Something churns in her stomach. His eyes are wild and desperate. His whole body is tense and preparing for an attack. From her. Cotton is afraid of _her_.

“Water Craze, what is going on? Who did this?” She persists.

A bit of the fear leaves his gaze and is replaced with befuddlement. Like she asked something dumb. “You did,” he breathes.

Her whole world spins, tilting on its axis. Even though she isn’t the one injured, she stumbles, her knees giving out.

Taking in her surroundings again, she sees the scorch marks of her light abilities. Light seems harmless until it burns.

She can taste the sooty ash on her tongue now. Breathing it in, the guilt coats her gums.

Only one person could do this. Make her do something unimaginable and not remember anything.

Because her mind wasn’t her own.

Brainwash.

He used to be a hero of sorts, but Pippa always had a worry in the back of her mind about his abilities and the extent he was willing to go.

Now that worry is reality.

He needs to be stopped before he takes control of everyone.