Clary hurried up the broken steps of the New York Institute, rushing through the pouring, freezing rain. She had decided to come here today in hopes of talking to Jace and the others about a new rune that had come to her today, for she believed it could aid them in their search for Valentine. She placed her hand on the door, muttering the words that granted her entrance to the abandoned, converted church.

Inside, the Institute was cold. It was strange, usually the Institute always seemed to hold a temperature perfectly fitting to the air outside which, today, was warmer than the Institute.

Clary shuddered with cold and confusion as she made her way to the elevator. Pressing the call button, she stepped back and summoned the image of the rune to the front of her mind. Curling with twists and variations in definition, the rune sent a message Clary had not yet been able to decipher, but it'd given her a strong feeling that made her think of her father.

She stepped into the elevator as it arrived, and waited patiently as it heaved itself up each level. When it opened, she was greeted by Church, the Institute's cat, winding in between her feet. "Take me to-" she started, but cut off abruptly when she heard voices emanating from a room a few feet away from her.

"…don't know what to tell her," Alec, Clary thought. "Yeah, I mean, she's a disaster waiting to happen, a risk to all of us. If we just let Clary run loose through the streets trying desperately to kill a demon or be something she's obviously not, she'll only make things worse." Isabelle's words pierced Clary like an ice pick, and she had to suppress a gasp to hear the rest of the words.

She heard at least three people in the room chuckle at what Izzy had said, which sent another wave of pain through Clary. "I mean," Clary instantly recognized Jace's voice, "Sure, I like her and all. But she is truly hopeless. She has absolutely no Shadowhunting talent in any inch of her body. This rune power of hers? I just don't believe it." Any hope Clary had had of Jace defending her, telling them she had potential, vanished into thin air.

"So what do you suggest we do about it?" Simon? It?! There was silence in the room as they all awaited an answer from one another. Clary took this as her cue to announce her presence. Swallowing all her fears and humiliation, she walked into the room, unwilling to look anyone in the eye, despite their shocking stares.

She pulled the rune she had drawn on a ripped out piece of notebook paper. She slammed it down on the table, staring at the lines and designs instead of the penetrating eyes around her. Everyone was too shocked to say anything, so Clary spoke instead, gathering every ounce of courage in her body. "It's giving me a feel like it can help find Valentine," she said, her voice shaking with threatening tears, "Believe me or don't believe me, that's up to you. Sorry I've been such a pain for you guys." And with that, she turned around and walked straight out the door, leaving this place behind her forever.