Emma's eyes fluttered open, her vision hazy as the dim room slowly sharpened into focus. Sleep clung to her like fog as she shifted on the brown sofa, the blanket slipping off her shoulders.

As she slowly sat up, her gaze swept across the unfamiliar living room. A suffocating weight pressed against her chest as the memories crept back.

Greyson hadn't kept her close out of care or loyalty. He was Uden Academy's golden leader, clever and charismatic, always in control. Emma had once believed his attention meant something.

But now she knew the truth: she had only ever been a backup—someone he could rely on if Scarlett got injured.

The thought hit her like a punch to the gut. Her stomach twisted into a tight knot, and she collapsed forward, burying her face in her hands, her fingers tangling her hair. A sob slipped free before she could stop it.

Hot tears streamed down her cheeks, soaking into her sweatpants as she frantically wiped them away, only for more to take their place.

She should be in the infirmary where she was needed. Instead, she was here: useless and broken.

She tried to push herself up, but her knees gave out beneath her, and she crumpled onto the worn green carpet, her strength drained to nothing.

Emma felt herself being lifted. Her vision was still blurry, but through the haze, Mark's silhouette came into focus. "Take me to the infirmary," she whispered.

"You need to rest," Mark said, easing her back onto the couch. "Hanna says to stay out for now."

"No," she croaked, her voice cracking as she pressed her palms into her knees to steady herself.

"You fainted," he said, handing her a small bowl.

Emma stared at the bowl of black beans, all that was left from the dwindling supplies. Her stomach twisted despite the gnawing hunger clawing at her.

She picked one up, rolling it between her fingers like a pebble. The others needed food too. She couldn't waste it, but the sight alone made her nausea spike. She looked away, swallowing back the bile.

"I'm weak," she whispered.

She perched at the edge of the sofa, wiping her face. Speaking her mind had once felt brave, but now it just left her emptied out.

"How's the infirmary?" she asked quietly.

Mark hesitated. "Hanna said two people died while you were out."

The words hit like cold water. Emma's breath caught. Two people.

She blinked, trying to process it. If she'd been there—if she'd just stayed on her feet—it wouldn't have happened.

A sharp pain pulsed behind her eyes. Her hands clenched into fists in the blanket.

They died because she wasn't there.

Her stomach turned violently, the black beans in the bowl suddenly impossible to look. She couldn't even do the one thing her power did.

"Jason burned his wrist," Mark added. "He's on his way."

Jason was careful, and not the type to burn himself during the storm. But nothing had been normal lately.

The storm was only two days in, and already a girl from Emma's class had died. The illness was spreading fast—deadly—and no one knew how to stop it.

The door banged open, letting in a burst of cold air as Esme zoomed into the room. "Hanna said you fainted or something. She doesn't want you anywhere near the infirmary until you're better."

"I'll go when I'm done eating," Emma whispered, keeping her gaze on the black beans.

"Oh! And Jason burned his wrist," Esme said, bouncing on her heels.

He trudged in behind, snow crunching under his boots. His coat was half-zipped, and his cheeks were flushed from the cold. He peeled off a glove, revealing the burn on his wrist.

Emma closed her eyes, her hand trembling as she placed it over his wrist. She fought to suppress the nausea rising in her throat, but it crawled at her from the inside.

"This place is cool," Esme said, poking around the living room.

"I mostly just come here to sleep and eat," Mark replied.

Emma pulled her hand away from Jason's wrist, her eyes catching the small trace of blood there.

"Don't throw up!" Esme's voice jolted her.

"I wasn't going to," Emma mumbled, fingers tracing the rim if the bowl, avoiding his gaze.

"Thanks," Jason said, lowering himself on the carpeted floor.

Suddenly, her chin was gently tilted upward, and her eyes met Bryce Cross's. The same Bryce who had once burned a hole through the science class counter and placed a decorated pencil figure beside it.

"I'm not here to burn the counter again," he said with a smirk. "Unless you want me to."

The corners of her mouth twitch, but the smile didn't quite make it. She knew he was trying to lighten the mood, but her mind was too heavy to let it.

"We're going on a mission to stop Greyson," Esme said, her voice full of resolve.

Emma swallowed hard, fighting the lump in her throat. She blinked back the tears, determined not to let them fall. The last thing she needed was for anyone to see her break down again—especially after fainting in the infirmary.

"He wants to turn the hydro back on, apparently," Jason explained, standing back up.

"I get food if I show them," Bryce said, reaching into his pocket with a grin. "Oh, and I've got something for you."

He pulled out one of his pencil creations—googly eyes, pipe cleaners for arms and legs, glittery purple hair, and a red feather stuck crookedly to the centre of the pencil.

Emma couldn't help but laugh, though tears streaked down her cheeks.

Bryce carefully placed the pencil in her hands, his fingers lingering over hers for a moment. "I never ended up making your pencil," he said softly.

She stared at the pencil, her eyes welling up as she shook it, hoping the motion would steady her thoughts.

It wasn't just the pencil—though the gesture caught her off guard. It was everything. The dying. The exhaustion. The realization that she had been used like something disposable, her own feelings never part of the equation.

"See? You're overwhelmed," Mark said.

"Mack doesn't want you pushing yourself too hard," Bryce remarked.

The mention of Mack tugged a weak smile from her, even as tears continued to streak her face.

She remembered the day Bryce set the counter on fire during the science experiment. Amid the chaos of the fire alarm blaring and everyone scrambling to evacuate, he'd turned and asked her, "What do you want to name it?"

She hadn't hesitated. "Mack," she'd said, and the name had stuck. It was a small, silly moment, but one that had become a memory they both carried.

Her smile faltered, and she whispered. "Maybe."

"No way," Esme interjected, shaking her shoulders violently. "You will not go!"

"I'm going tomorrow," Emma mumbled.

"I'll beat up Luke for you," Esme said, playfully squeezing her cheeks.

Luke was responsible for injuries she couldn't heal, and the thought made her head throb. She glanced down at the pencil creation—its crazy simplicity had pulled a small smile, but it wasn't enough to erase the weight she felt. Wiping her tears, she lifted her gaze.

"Good luck," Emma murmured.

Esme grinned, pulling her scarf up over her face like a ninja mask. "You've got this, and if you don't, I'm be your backup. Stealth mode activated!" She struck a playful ninja pose, giving a thumbs-up in solidarity.

"Dude, try not to burn your skin," Mark said.

"He might if he shoots himself with that power," Bryce sneered.

"Let's go!" Esme cheered, speeding to the doorway and jumping up on her toes.

Bryce crouched down in front of Emma. He pulled out another pencil figure—same googly eyes—but this one had glittery purple pipe cleaner hair and a blue feather. He waved it at her like a flag.

"Macky will come back and see you when he's done with his spy mission," Bryce said with a mischievous grin. "Might even burn another counter."

With that, the four of them headed out, leaving her alone with Mark. She lay down on her side, her gaze fixated on the pencil girl, her head aching.

Emma hadn't seen Bryce since the very beginning, when things first started to spiral out. His pencil figure trembled in her hands. Her chest ached and her vision blurred, but she held back the sob.

The tears came anyway.

Not from the cold.

Not from hunger.

The pain.

Jade was completely lost. The sky hung low and bruised, the snowstorm relentless, and Esme's constant whining made it impossible to tell where they were—or how far they'd driven.

"You can't drive!" Esme shouted.

Bryce tossed the driver's manual back at Esme. "I'll throw you out the window," he sneered.

Jason squinted through the frost-covered window. "Where on hell are we?" he muttered, his voice thick with frustration.

Outside, the world was a suffocating blur of white. Snowdrifts swallowed the road whole, and the sky sagged in a heavy grey sheet that erased the difference between day and night.

Esme sighed, slumping back in her seat. "Everything looks the same here," her tone flat. "Snow, more snow, and... oh, look! More snow."

Bryce gripped the steering wheel, glancing at them in the rearview mirror. "Relax, we're not lost. The power plant isn't far from Rick's. We're just going stopping to get gas," he said.

Jason's eyes widened. "We need to get to the power plant," he said, his voice rising in urgency.

"Why? You need to get back to that housewife?" Bryce sneered.

Jade rolled her eyes, but the comment lingered. She wasn't close to Bella, but lately something felt off.

Bella had always been a bit controlling, but now it was taken up to a whole new level. Every time they were in town, she'd suddenly need Jason's help with something. It was weird, and Jade couldn't shake the feeling there was more to it.

"Well, we don't exactly know what Greyson's up to," Jason muttered.

"Bella used to help with all these missions, but now she won't even lift a finger," Esme said, bouncing in her seat.

Jason sighed, running a hand through his hair. "She just doesn't want to help."

"How boring," Bryce drawled, rolling the words on his tongue.

Jade leaned her head against the cold window, letting the snow blur everything outside. The storm swallowed the world in white, and for a moment, she let herself drift.

Back then, before everything went wrong, she hadn't been anyone special—just another athlete with secrets. Scarlett Russell was the only one who truly knew her. Things made sense then, or at least they had.

Scarlett was the type of person who turned heads without even trying. At Uden Academy, it was no secret that she could've been a model if she'd wanted to. Her hair was always perfect, her confidence unshakable, and she had that magnetic energy that made people take notice.

Jade had a thing for Scarlett that went beyond friendship. Scarlett, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy toying with her feelings. She'd act like she felt the same way, but it was all part of a twisted little game—just a way to amuse herself and make Jade join Greyson's group of freaks.

She remembered the time she tried to confront Greyson. It could've gone either way, but instead, Luke had laughed, and Greyson smirked—like they were all in on a joke that she wasn't part of.

Everyone in Greyson's group knew of Jade's sexuality. Scarlett had used that knowledge the way she used everything else—to twist it slowly, smirking the whole time.

But that wasn't why Jade had been sent to Uden. If anyone asked, she never gave an answer. Let them wonder.

Jade didn't feel that way about Scarlett anymore, but she still found her breathtaking.

During their freak training sessions, Jade had been partnered with Esme. She was gutsy and confident—qualities that both intrigued and inspired her. Together, they worked on sharpening their powers, learning to use them effectively.

The car hit a sheet of black ice and lifted weightless for half a second before sliding into Rick's lot.

Jade's stomach followed a beat later.

"See? Made it," Bryce said smugly, crossing his arms and leaning back in his seat. "I'm not the pumper."

She glanced over as Jason groaned and rubbed his temple. He shoved open the door and stepped out into the blizzard, snow blasting through the gap like smoke.

The headlights barely pierced through the darkness, and even with the interior lights on, it was hard to see much beyond the dashboard.

Bryce popped the gas tank open, and the group huddled near the warmth from the vents.

"I'm surprised you're teaming up with us," Esme remarked.

"Better than shovelling snow or dealing with an idiot named Mia," Bryce said, glancing back at her.

"Let me see what you made Emma!" Esme demanded.

"I'm not making you one," Bryce shot back, sarcasm dripping his voice. "You'd probably break it in five seconds."

She watched Esme concentrate, eyebrows furrowed and her eyes locked on Bryce. "I know! You're in love with Emma!" Esme blurted.

Jade smiled despite herself. Esme was loud, relentless, and somehow exactly what this frozen nightmare needed.

Bryce didn't even flinch. "Yes, and?" he replied, shrugging like it was the most obvious thing in the world. "Who wouldn't be?"

Even Jade could tell. Bryce's behaviour around Emma was different—softer, more attentive. Like the time he called her the prettiest girl in the church, right before the daycare was attacked.

"You gonna flash that power?" Esme remarked, making hand gestures.

Bryce stuck out his tongue. "Intangibility," he said. "You could shoot me, and the bullet wouldn't touch me."

He reached under his coat and pulled out the pencil person. It reminded Jade of something you'd make as a kid.

"What even is it?" Esme asked, leaning close to get a better look, but he snatched it away.

"I made it the day I burned the counter in science class," Bryce explained, waving the pencil person back and forth. "That was a fun day."

Jade's mind flashed back to that afternoon. She'd been gearing up for the volleyball finals at Uden Academy. Since Bryce set off the fire alarm, they never finished and called it a tie between the teams.

"You've kept it this whole time?" Esme asked with a laugh.

"Can't I be a romantic?" Bryce asked, flashing a sly grin.

Jade watched as Jason jumped back into the car, his face pale and breath uneven.

"Drive," he rushed out, running a hand over his face.

"Did you finally realize that I'm right?" Bryce snickered.

"I saw her," Jason said, his head resting against the dashboard.

"Bella was out in the snow?" Esme asked.

"No, Ashley," Jason said, voice low.

The name hung in the air like a storm cloud. Ashley hadn't been a problem for months—not since Greyson was banished. Her absence had brought peace in this chaotic place. If Ashley was back, that meant she was behind this.

"Where'd you see her?" Esme asked, bouncing in her seat.

"Figment in the field," Jason muttered.

"Beep, beep, bitch," Bryce said, yanking the wheel in the snow.

"Get back on the road!" Jason shouted.

"If she's behind this storm, this is payback," Bryce said, honking the horn.

Esme grinned. "Just like Stick did, except this time nobody will know."

Jade felt she'd stepped into a game she didn't want to play. Then again, they were all still stuck inside this bubble, like hamsters in a cage.

"There!" Esme called, pointing ahead to where Ashley stood in the middle of the road.

"Let's go!" Bryce hollered, slamming the gas pedal down and driving over snowdrifts.

The car tore down the icy road, snow hammering the windshield—until Ashley appeared frozen mid-step in their path.

"Now!" Esme shouted.

The impacted jolted through the frame of the vehicle—but it didn't feel like hitting a person. It felt hollow.

Ashley's body snapped backward, folding in on itself like smoke caught in headlights before she was thrown in the snow.

For one suspended heartbeat, the storm died. The wind dropped. The snow disappeared.

Silence pressed against the windows.

Then it snapped back. Wind howled. Snow slammed against the glass.

"Did we kill it?" Esme asked, nose pressed to the glass.

Bryce cracked the door. "She's gone."

"Acid hole," Jason muttered, rubbing his forehead.

"That was so badass," Esme beamed. "Did you see that? We're like action movie heroes."

Jade stared at the swirling snow. "Aren't we supposed to be at the power plant by now?"

That was the plan—before they'd stopped for gas and somehow got even more lost.

"Leading sucks," Jason muttered.

"Come on, that was awesome," Esme grinned. "We stopped the storm for a second!"

Jade watched Jason's face harden. "Ashley's behind all of this," he said.

"Let's hit her with a shovel," Esme offered. "Worked for Divina."

"We need to stop Greyson," Jason said, shooting a glance at Bryce.

Bryce just smirked.

Jade watched them from the window, snow streaking past like static. The power plant loomed in the distance, but fixing the hydro? That could take days. James might know, but should it even matter?

She exhaled slowly. The road felt endless, and any second, the storm could send them spinning off in the dark.

"You're taking on a three-versus-six? Don't count on me for that," Bryce whistled.

"I'll try talking to him," Jason said flatly.

Jade knew that was a waste. Greyson and Jason didn't get along, and never would.

Esme cracked her knuckles. "Okay, Plan B: punch 'em."

Jason groaned. "Esme... Zane said we need you digging trenches."

Bryce laughed, one hand on the wheel. "Relax, it's not like we're in real."

"It's for underground housing to stay warm," Jason sighed.

Jade zipped up her snowsuit, grateful for the warmth but craving more.

"I can't dig," Esme said, twisting her bootlaces.

"Conner can melt surfaces," Jason said.

"If I can run, I'm in," Esme grinned.

"There," Jade said, pointing through the storm.

The power plant rose from the whiteout like a dead giant.

The SUV, which had been racing down the icy road seconds earlier, fishtailed as Bryce slammed on the brakes, sending the vehicle to a skidding halt.

Esme darted out of the SUV, nearly tripping as she slammed the door behind her.

"Let's just see who's in there!" she called.

Esme nearly slipped, catching herself with a little spin, then bounced toward the entrance like it was a game.

Jade watched her go—fearless, ridiculous, and kind of beautiful. She shook the thought away.

She climbed out after her, spotting another vehicle parked nearby. Someone inside raised an eyebrow at them.

"Super Jason here to save the day from Greyson's plans?" Henry snarled as Stick—who no longer looked like a stick—sat beside him.

"Where are they?" Esme asked, hopping impatiently on her boots.

"Inside the building, obviously," Bryce remarked.

Henry rolled up the window without another word. The wind was so violent that they stumbled like drunks. While the three of them struggled, Bryce walked through the wall.

"No fair! Wait, let me try something," Esme said, glancing around before grabbing a rock. She threw it at him, but it passed right through his stomach, landing onto the floor behind him.

Jason lit his hands with a faint glow. It wouldn't do much, but Jade still had no idea what to expect from this place.

"Bryce, any idea where we are?" Jason asked.

"No, I've only been here once. My dad forgot something at work when he was driving me to visit my brother," Bryce said, rocking back on his heels.

"Esme, don't speeding around." She pouted, and Jade almost laughed. "Let's just hope we don't freeze to death."

The room was dark, the only sound the faint rustle of sheets as Cindy twisted the fabric beneath her fingers. Telling Emma the truth hadn't been planned—it had just slipped out.

Ever since Melany died, working beside Emma at the infirmary felt wrong.

It still burned that she'd been powerless to stop it—sidelined because of her eye. She could see well enough with the other one, but that hadn't mattered. Not when it counted. Not when Melany needed her.

She teleported back at the house Jason shared with Bella. She slouched in a chair, wrapped tightly in a blanket, her expression flat.

"Jason went to find Greyson," Bella muttered.

Bella's behaviour was different now. She was stubborn, annoying, and convinced Jason should stay put and wait it out. This wasn't golden-girl Bella anymore. This was housewife Bella: no wild missions, no helping when things went bad, just hiding and hoping.

"Well, the hydro is out," Cindy snapped.

"He should just stay inside," Bella replied coldly.

Cindy felt her jaw tighten. Typical Bella. Always thinking caution was some sort of plan.

"And what? Wait for the pipes to freeze? The food to rot? You think Hydro One's just going to roll in with snowploughs and generators?"

Bella blinked but didn't budge.

"Last time he went after Greyson, they nearly killed each other," she admitted. "I just... can't lose him too."

Cindy's jaw tightened. She didn't get it. She hadn't been standing there, paralyzed by fear every time someone she cared about went into danger.

"Then stop sitting on your ass and do something," Cindy snapped.

Bella swallowed hard. "It's safest to stay inside," she insisted. "There are others who can take the lead."

"It solves nothing," Cindy grated.

She could feel the heat in her body. Bella standing there like this was just another storm they could ride out with candles and canned soup.

Cindy narrowed her eyes. She really thinks waiting was safer? That this wasn't already falling apart?

"You're just sitting here, pretending everything's fine while he's out there freezing!" she snapped.

Bella's jaw tightened. "I'm trying to keep him alive," she shot back. "Unlike you, I can't teleport in and fix everything."

They'd never been close, and Cindy didn't expect that to change. She liked Jason, sure—but she wasn't interested in drama or whatever this was turning to.

Bella turned away, arms crossed, like she could shut out the world if she just closed herself off hard enough.

Cindy's throat tightened. Her hands curled into fists at her sides. She doesn't get it. She never had to watch someone bleed out while she sat there, helpless.

The words clawed their way out before she could stop them.

"You think you're the only one who lost someone?" Cindy hissed, her voice trembling slightly. "She died right in front of me. And I couldn't do a damn thing!"

Bella flinched, but cracked in response. "I'm staying safe!"

Cindy's hands curled into fists at her sides. Her chest tightened, and a lump rose in her throat. She wanted to turn away, run, to disappear—but she stayed. Her eyes, hard as ice, betrayed a flicker of something: fear, guilt, grief.

The girl who once panicked at injuries or hid the truth was gone, but replaced by someone hardened. But underneath the wound still throbbed.

"Well, I'll go find Jason and see what he's up to," Cindy said, rolling her eyes.

Before Bella could respond, Cindy was gone.

She appeared in the long, frozen hallway of power plant, her boots echoing against the concrete. Empty rooms stretched on and on.

Cindy bopped back into the house, crossing her arms. "They're at the power plant," she said bleakly.

"The power plant is dangerous!" Bella exclaimed, springing to her feet.

"The electricity's out, so they won't get zapped," Cindy jeered. "Get over it."

Cindy remembered why she rarely talked to Bella. Their clashes had started when Bella became overly protective, always insisting Jason was busy or staying with her until she felt better.

Bella was lying through her teeth. Cindy knew the overprotective act was just an excuse. Maybe someone else could knock some sense into her, but Cindy wasn't sure she had the patience.

A knock sounded at the door, and Cindy opened it without hesitation. Zane stood in the doorway accompanied by a boy with his arms crossed.

"Is Jason around?" Zane asked, brushing snow from his shoulders and onto the mat.

"Power plant," Cindy said, hands firmly planted on her hips.

"Cindy, can you help us out?" Zane asked.

"Fine," she replied.

She shot a glance at Bella, then grabbed the green scarf from the hook, wrapping it tightly around her neck before pulling the hood of her coat over her head. She rushed out, hopping into the fire truck as they sped toward the icy road, leaded toward an abandoned building.

"We're going to dig trenches," Zane said.

"What am I supposed to do?" Cindy asked, her eyebrows furrowing.

She didn't understand how any of this involved her. She teleported from place to place, not digging holes in the ground.

"Conner's the one drilling the holes," Zane explained. "You just need to brace him from behind so the ground doesn't collapse in."

Xander approached, holding a large tarp that billowed like a flag in the wind. Zane grabbed the other end, lifting it overhead to form a makeshift shelter.

Cindy watched as Conner sank into the frozen ground. "It's basically a rabbit hole," he grumbled, carving long, winding tunnels beneath the ice.

Xander kicked at a frozen clump of dirt. "So, we're just digging holes to sit in?"

Zane wiped frost from his coat. "Better than lying out there and freezing," Zane said grimly. "Emma fainted today."

Cindy suspected it had something to do with the truth behind Greyson and Scarlett's actions. But, what was really happening was that people were falling ill and dropping like flies.

Someone appeared beside Conner's side. Angel, the boy who had stopped Luke at the daycare using his gravity control powers.

Cindy watched Angel lift clumps of mud out of the hole. She wanted to disappear, to be left alone, but something pushed her to stay. Part of her still wanted to help, though most of her didn't.

"Is that how moles live?" Xander peered down at them curiously.

She was helping others but didn't care that people were dying from the illness. Worse, Emma was out of commission from stress, leaving Hanna to handle everything alone.

When had she become such a jerk? Was she turning into Scarlett? She didn't care about anyone else's feelings, even as they threatened to swallow her whole.

No, she couldn't go back to the infirmary—not with things they were now. That's why she acted cold and distant around others. She gritted her teeth, feeling tears in her eyes.

Why did it have to be Melany? Of all people, why her? Cindy knew it should have been her. Melany wasn't supposed to protect her. If someone had to die, it should've been the damaged one.

With a heavy sigh, she closed her eyes and teleported into the infirmary. The sight of the bodies covered in blankets made her stomach twist.

Hanna looked up from pouring some water, offering a weak smile. "Emma's resting, if you're looking for her."

Had her words to Bella meant more than just the housewife? Was this bitterness really who she'd become since the day Melany died?

Cindy bopped back into her house and sat on her bed. Everything was falling apart and there was no way they'd survive this. How could they stop a blizzard and restore power?

She gritted her teeth as tears finally broke free, slipping down her cheeks.

Seems Bella and Cindy aren't on good terms.

Did you expect Bryce to be in love with Emma?
-Lexi