The SUV rumbled through the darkness, headlights cutting through trees that all looked the same. Yara sat rigid beside Nevaeh, shoulders tense like she was waiting for something to go wrong.

Yara twisted in her seat. "Why are you even coming?"

Nevaeh smirked. "Gossip and secret missions. What else would I be doing?"

River's hands tightened on the wheel. "If they break anything, I don't care."

Nevaeh wouldn't be surprised if someone destroyed a wall before they even got there. She assumed it wouldn't be Greyson and Scarlett that would break it, but Tumbles and Preston. Even if they stayed far away from Scarlett and Greyson, someone would still manage to destroy something.

"I wish I got to go relax there," Yara complained. "Wait, isn't Sunny's soon?"

Nevaeh grin stretched wide, and her fingers drummed against the SUV's door. Her eyes darted to the snow-covered forest area. "Perfect!" she whispered.

Thoughts of Jason's latest antics and the housewife's mysterious comings and goings made her stomach twist with curiosity.

"It is; we should pay a visit. You turn down the next road," Nevaeh said.

River veered into a sharp turn, tires skidding slightly on the icy road. Ahead, the crooked metal sign of Sunny's appeared, half-buried in snow. Snow had piled high around the camp, and several trailers had been pushed together.

"Pull in there," Mark directed.

River turned in, and the first person they spotted was Jason. His eyebrows had been knitted, and his hands were ready to shoot. At first, he didn't recognize River until he spotted Mark.

"Yo!" Mark leaned halfway out the window.

Jason stepped closer, his breath misting in front of him. James and Jade stood behind him, their silhouettes outlined by the eerie glow of a cracked fish tank someone had propped on a crate for light.

This whole situation at Sunny's was interesting. Nevaeh couldn't help noticing Bella still wasn't here, which made her wonder if Jason had ever gone looking for her.

"What are you doing here? I'm guessing you aren't here for a nighttime drive," Jason said dryly.

Yara rolled down the window. "Deadly mission from Zane."

James stepped forward, his breath fogging the air. "You're doing the last resort, right?"

Jason ran a hand down his face. "Are you guys crazy?"

"Pretty sure we are, bro," Mark said.

Nevaeh tuned out the back-and-forth, eyes scanning the camp. Trailers huddled together like sardines, narrow paths shovelled through the snow leading to tiny fire pits that sputtered weakly in the cold. For some reason, the place felt almost orderly.

"This place is looking decent," Nevaeh said, squinting toward the trailers.

"We finally cracked the lake open for water," Jason added. "Also... have you heard anything about the baby?"

Nevaeh's eyes widened, and she leaned over River's shoulder, straining to hear. "What baby?" Her voice pitched higher, heart hammering.

"The baby stopped the storm," James implied.

Now this was news—far better than affairs and secret hookups. The kind of secret that blew everything apart. If someone really had a baby growing inside them, that meant everything was about to change.

A grin tugged at Nevaeh's lips. "That's wild. I need to see this for myself." She glanced around, already plotting how to track down that mother.

"Let me know when my brother wants me in town." Jason trailed off with a sigh.

Nevaeh sank into her seat as River rolled the window up. The SUV jerked forward, tires squealing on the icy road. Shadows of skeletal trees raced past and the frozen lake beside them stretched into darkness like an endless void.

She leaned back as the SUV slid along the icy road, mind wandering.

Relationships were an open book to her—every stolen kiss, whispered betrayal, and dramatic fight filed neatly in memory. She smirked, knowing more about the people around her than they suspected, and feeling no shame in it.

No one planned for a baby here—not in a frozen death trap filled with monsters, little food and water, and no authority. Most of them barely understood sex, let alone the consequences. It was messy, impulsive, and rare. That's what made it possible.

She ran through names in her head, crossing them out one by one. She began mentally eliminating anyone who definitely wouldn't be sexually involved—or who clearly wanted nothing to do with it.

The process left her with a small group of candidates. She could rule out someone who went to Uden Academy since Mia told her girls aren't exactly innocent.

As she considered the possibilities, her eyes widened in realization—she should have predicted it at the start: Scarlett. It should have been obvious that scientists could have figured it out.

Greyson and Scarlett have a complicated relationship, but they had sex when they were thirteen. They'd been alone on the island for weeks, maybe more.

Add that to Scarlett's reputation—stringing along guys, manipulating them—and the answer clicked into place like a finished puzzle.

After a drive through the snowy area, the SUV finally skidded to a stop at the frozen lake. Ahead, a large boat rested against the cracked ice, its silhouette dimly visible by the headlights.

"We're here," River said awkwardly.

Yara gasped as she stared at the boat in disbelief. "You gave this up?" she exclaimed.

"There barely enough gas for the trip back," River added, his voice low. "If anyone leaves the island again, they'd need another boat."

Nevaeh eased herself onto the boat's cushioned seat, the cold seeping through her coat. Her fingers tapped nervously against the armrest. A surge of thoughts hit her all at once. If she was right, this baby wasn't ordinary. Mutation? Weapon? Miracle? Her stomach twisted with possibilities.

She stared at the cracked ice that surrounded them. Tumbles was out—too young and naive to understand pregnancy. However, Cindy would know something. Beneath the cold exterior lay the remains of the compassion and empathy she once had.

The boat bumped against the frozen dock with a dull thud. They climbed out, boots crunching over the fancy boards. A single light flickered near the edge of the island's structure.

River's voice cut through the quiet. "Here's the problem." He pointed to the cliffside. The staircase lay twisted and frozen solid. "No way up that way."

"None of us got useful powers to boost ourselves up there," Nevaeh stated.

"Is it broken completely?" Yara asked.

They walked along the edge of the island's beach, searching for a way up. A collapsed staircase lay twisted near the cliffside, clearly frozen beyond repair. Yara was muttering about climbing gear when River stopped at a narrow crevice hidden by frozen reeds.

"There's a service elevator. Might still work," he said.

"You have an elevator on this island!" Yara exclaimed in disbelief.

River jabbed a faded button on a steel panel hidden in the rocks. Silence stretched, thick and tense, until a low groan rumbled from below.

The doors slid open, revealing a cramped, boxy elevator, with faded orange walls.

"Where does this lead?" Yara asked, looking around the small elevator.

"Basement," River said.

The elevator groaned to a halt. When the doors slid open, they stepped into a dimly lit basement, walls streaked grey walls and smelling faintly of burnt electronics.

"Amazing," Yara gasped.

River led them up a narrow staircase, each crack echoing in the silence.

They stepped into the kitchen and froze.

"Why is there a potato on the wall?" River asked.

Yellow mashed potatoes were smeared across the wall like graffiti.

Yara didn't hesitate. She stepped into the kitchen and immediately zeroed in on a plate of cheese and crackers sitting on the counter.

"I want food," Yara said bluntly, already grabbing a handful. "I think your microwave blew up."

The potato massacre was everywhere—yellow mush stuck to cabinet doors that looked mostly wiped up, and a small scorch mark charred into the countertop where the old microwave probably met its explosive end.

Nevaeh grabbed a handful of crackers topped with cheese, and they began devouring the food like starving animals. Despite disliking cheese—something many people seemed to enjoy—she found herself shoving the snack in her mouth without hesitation.

Just then, Cindy bopped into the kitchen but froze the moment she saw them. "Oh no," she whispered.

Yara waved a cracker. "Want some cheese?"

Cindy accepted it mechanically, not breaking eyes contact with them. "I know this isn't some house tour," she said sharply, putting her hand on her hip.

She didn't look like she was panicking, but Nevaeh could hear that she was.

"Zane sent us," Yara implied.

"We need to talk to him," Mark said.

Cindy crossed her arms, her body rigid. "He's probably asleep," she said flatly. "You'll have to wait."

Nevaeh narrowed her eyes, watching Cindy like a hawk. She wasn't buying the passive front, noticing the way her gaze lingered on her for a moment. Nevaeh caught the way her fingers fidgeted with the hem of her sweater.

She was hiding something.

Without warning, Nevaeh grabbed Cindy's wrist and pulled her down the hallway and into one of the side bedrooms. The door clicked shut behind them.

"Is Scarlett pregnant?" she asked.

"Does it matter?" Cindy snapped, striding across the room to peer out the window.

"It's a yes-or-no question," Nevaeh said.

Cindy didn't answer her but continued staring out the window. She knew that she could get this girl to crack despite her trying to lock everything away inside.

"You may be cold now," Nevaeh said, stepping closer. "But I know you'd still care for the baby. Even if it's Scarlett's."

Cindy spun around and glared at her. "She is," she snapped. "You and I are the only ones who know. It's not a normal pregnancy either. I think she'll have this baby sooner than nine months. I'm guessing because Scarlett found a test somewhere and it said she was two weeks pregnant. From what she told me, it shouldn't be possible."

"Aren't some babies born prematurely?" Nevaeh asked.

"Yes, but she has early symptoms. Some symptoms can appear as early as six days," Cindy stated, shaking her head multiple times.

"How early do you think?" Nevaeh asked.

"I'm guessing maybe eight months. That can be normal, but most of us are children. Bringing a child into this place of death? It's crazy, and that's why we have to protect it." Cindy mumbled and rubbed a tired eye. "Talk with her yourself, but I'm just guessing. Don't tell anyone because we can't have people know yet."

Despite how badly much wanted answers, she knew she had to wait.

They tumbled into the snow, somewhere neither of them recognized. This whole trip had been a blur of getting lost in this darkness—Esme knew neither of them could navigate for their lives.

"Are we back yet?" Emma muttered, her voice muffled beneath her blue scarf.

"Yeah, but we should search!" Esme chirped, tugging at Emma's arm again.

Emma froze. "Search... for what?"

"We'll go see how the things at Sunny's are doing!" Esme exclaimed.

She wanted to see if they actually found anything else that was interesting. If there were followers, that meant she got to fight and be the superhero that she is.

"I'm tired," Emma mumbled, starting to cry.

"Superheroes don't cry all the time," Esme said firmly. "We must not shed tears."

Emma muttered, "You're only saying that because you want me to heal your feet."

Esme shook Emma's shoulders, hard. "You're the healer! Crying is not allowed!"

"I'm not a superhero."

"You saved Zane's life. And helped with the illness."

Esme didn't understand why Emma cried all the time. She's been super negative about herself, which she wasn't like four months ago. She knew it was overwhelming with the infirmary, but this was different.

"Yes, but many died." Her voice cracked.

Esme gripped Emma's wrist, and they went speeding through a field. "You just need to let loose!" she called.

The darkness streaked past them as Esme raced forward. Trailers, broken posts, and snow-covered crates blurred into one long smear of white and grey.

Then her boot caught an icy patch at the edge of the abandon trailer field. With a yelped, she slipped.

Both girls tumbled into a deep snowbank beside a broken fence. Snow exploded around them, clinging to their coats and faces.

Emma groaned. "I hate this."

"See," Esme chirped, spitting out snow. "Totally fine."

Jason jogged over, his hands glowing faintly before dimming at his sides. "Are you two alright?"

"Super!" Esme popped upright, snow still clinging to her sleeves. "We wanted to come check things out. Ashley's apparently scared, I sliced Luke's body up with barbed wire—"

"You what?" Jade cut in, staring with widened eyes.

"I chopped his body into pieces! Emma only vomited once, which is kind of impressive," Esme said proudly. "Oh, and apparently there's a mutant baby now. Gross, right? Your brother is also returning to town."

She didn't like that Greyson was coming back to town. She would be a leader if she understood how, but it's all about responsibility and making sure everything is in order, which she didn't like.

"I'll show him up!" Esme exclaimed.

"Is he back already?" Jason asked.

"Oh! And Emma's connected to Divina or something," Esme said, shaking her head.

Emma pushed herself upright. "Ashley and Divina are both scared of the baby, but for different reasons. That's why I asked Zane to bring Greyson back."

Esme watched the three of them stare in horror. It was crazy that Emma was connected to Divina, but that meant they would retrieve more information that they needed to beat ugly Ashley.

"Ashley fears the child, like Divina, but Divina is scared that Ashley will kill the baby. Now we have the complete darkness of both the bubble and the sky. There might be more, but I don't know what," Emma's voice cracked.

"And we know how to kill Ashley," Esme chimed as all three stood close. "You know how Ashley isn't really Ashley? Well, Divina needs to pull the same thing."

"Host body," James gasped. "You're saying that Divina needs a real body to counter her?"

Emma nodded faintly.

"Is she intending to use that mutant child's body?" Jason asked.

This whole mutant child situation was weird to Esme. She didn't understand why Ashley would be scared of a little baby with these crazy powers. It took her four months just to completely master her own power.

"The child has to be born, or we will be in more danger," Emma said quietly, lowering her eyes.

"You'll literally vomit," Esme stated.

"Hanna can do it," Emma rushed.

Childbirth sounded like pure torture. Better to run, think, and stay free—ignore the mutant child, ignore the power it might grow into.

Emma's voice trembled as she crouched in the snow, brushing snow from her scarf. "There's still something missing," she whispered, eyes scanning the dark horizon for any hint of movement.

James nodded. "Divina's scared, and it shouldn't be because of some child being born."

"Let's just go and beat Ashley ourselves," Esme blurted.

"I really didn't want to deal with this," Jason mumbled.

"Do you know where Bella is?" Esme asked.

"I heard she might be with Eden," Jason muttered.

"Bella's not going to feel anything soon. Eden's scary," Esme said.

Esme had heard countless stories of Eden's powers—how she could basically fry people's brains. It was like flipping a switch that turned off rational thoughts and body movements.

"Can you search for her?" Jason asked, eyeing Esme only.

"She's probably at the safe house," Emma mumbled.

"What safe house?" Jason urged, stepping closer.

Emma instinctively backed away.

"It's in this bush," she whispered. "Bryce said Eden used to brag about doing... criminal stuff there."

"You think they're hosting a cult sacrifice?" Esme asked.

"Eden isn't that crazy," Jade said with a sigh.

"We get to team up together! Unless we get killed and sacrificed instead," Esme said, waving a hand.

Teaming up with Emma brought Esme joy; they were becoming closer in this bubble. Despite them having a bad sense of direction, she liked performing these adventures.

"No," Emma mumbled, curling herself in the snow.

"I'll repay you," Jason pleaded.

"There's nothing to repay," Emma mumbled bitterly.

"Emma and I will try not to get lost in the dark," Esme chimed, grabbing Emma's wrist. "Speed Demon will save the day!"

She dashed into a random field in search of this house. She didn't know if she'd actually find it, but she'd be the superhero that would save the day, even if she didn't like the housewife.

Bella slumped against the rough wall, her lips twisting between frustration and exhaustion as Eden dissected Stick's past mistakes.

She shouldn't even be here—she was supposed to be searching for Jason, making sure he could finally get a break from leading. They were supposed to spend time together.

Then Eden said it: Bella's behaviour was controlling. The accusation hit her like slap, leaving a bitter taste in her mouth. Controlling? How could wanting to protect Jason be manipulation? If she was truly sought to control him, wouldn't she have clung to his side, making sure he never left?

Memories of her old life clawed at her—before The Bubble, things had been simpler, maybe even certain.

She had been the golden girl—winning online fashion contests, mingling with older teens, attending parties, and basking in attention. Kids her own age registered her existence.

Then came The Bubble, and everything she knew about her life crumbled.

Old friends vanished. Popularity no longer mattered; survival and loyalty had taken its place. Beauty drew both admiration and suspicion. Charm became a weapon others feared, and mockery replaced applause. Threats replaced parties.

Bella—once untouchable—had been reduced to a name among many.

Jason had started off as a question mark. At first, Bella thought The Bubble wasn't real—just some elaborate dream.

But weeks past.

No adults came.

None of her old friends appeared.

The illusion hardened into reality.

And Jason became her anchor in it.

Jason was a figure of power in this strange bubble. He was not just physically strong and influential; he was a leader. He was the one trying to stop Greyson, or whoever it was he was using to do his dirty work.

Once, Bella had believed she was special—chosen. But the spotlight had shifted. Now, Scarlett held every eye, her beauty effortless, presence magnetic.

Bella, once the centre of the attention, now faded into the background, invisible. The world moved around her, and she barely existed with it.

She had once been crowned the prettiest girl in her grade—a title that once opened doors, sparked whispers, and demanded attention. Now it meant nothing.

In the Bubble, beauty and popularity were irrelevant; power was currency. Likes and followers were worthless when every shadow could hide a threat, and every misstep could cost your life.

Part of her longed for that power through beauty, influence, or sheer cunning. She didn't want to be the helpless girl, frozen at the edge of every mission she couldn't survive, every fight she couldn't comprehend. She longed for control, agency, for even one thing in this relentless world that belonged solely to her.

"Revelation says 'That he will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death shall be no more; mourning, crying, and pain will vanish, for the former things have passed away,'" Eden intoned.

The words slammed into Bella like a cold wave, dragging her from her thoughts. Her cheeks burned wet with tears.

"Shut it," she snapped.

"Bella has finally come to realize she's not as important as she thinks she is," Eden said, not looking at her.

For a moment, Bella wondered if jealousy had been the root of everything—Scarlett, Jason, even her own insecurities. But it wasn't that simple. She had always wanted to help. She wanted answers. She wanted to know where her friends and parents had gone.

The Bubble wasn't some teen paradise like she'd once assume. No adults hadn't meant freedom; it meant control shifted. Greyson didn't want chaos. He wanted order. Power. Information. The kind of control that made people loyal—or afraid.

Sure, Nevaeh did create Party Culture like things hadn't changed. But it was fake. Hollow. Nothing deserved celebration when monsters wandered this place.

Bella didn't have powers. No superhuman strength. No tactical genius.

Ilya and Zane still found ways to matter. But Bella? She was "the girlfriend." The one Jason wouldn't leave behind.

She lingered at the edge of the group when Jason set orders. When a child tripped, she froze, unsure whether to help or step back. Others rushed forward, but Bella simply stood there, hands empty, unnoticed. She blended into the shadows that no one counted on.

She just existed.

Jason loved her romantically and loved no other girl. However, she had kept him locked away. She wanted to keep Jason safe, but he's out of town completely. Setting up Sunny's or fixing the location of the leftovers from the storm.

Stick's voice broke the silence. "God, I confess that I've been a liar, murderer, and controller," he said, his voice heavy with remorse. "I hope you'll be able to forgive me for my past transgressions."

Eden tells her she has to fix herself alone. If she didn't follow Eden's order, she'd probably be poisoned. She wanted to find an alternative to this situation, but she couldn't think of any strategy to leave.

"God tells me that He forgives you," Eden said, placing a hand on her chest. "But, you must connect. You must reveal your thoughts and feelings."

Bella didn't want to turn into Eden—didn't want to be consumed by blind devotion dressed up as righteousness. It wasn't just about religion. It was something off beneath Eden's calm expression. Her piety felt like a mask than salvation.

"God wants you to talk to Vickie," Eden stated.

Vickie had been another classmate, someone Bella barely knew.

"Connect all your feelings with God," Eden said.

A cold realization crept over her. Maybe she wasn't so different from Scarlett after all.

She used Jason. Not for attention, but for safety.

She held him close like a shield.

Against the storm.

Against Luke.

Against the fear that Ashley might return and finished what she started.

"You're right," Bella mumbled.

Eden didn't even look at her. "That you're controlling?" she asked innocently. "Or a bad influence in God's eyes?"

"Both," Bella confirmed.

"Philippians says: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God," Eden recited. "And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

But Bella didn't know what could guide her. No prayer. Not Eden. She'd been drifting ever since Teagan died.

She wasn't a leader or a healer. Others had found their roles by fixing, tending, and protecting.

Bella just existed between them, unseen, her usefulness lost somewhere between fear and longing.

There had to be something she could offer. Jason helped Emma with injuries or went hunting for food with Zane. She knew about the mission he was on with James and Jade, maybe creating a new space to move.

She hated how her mind spiralled—how she even wondered about Jade. She was a girl, and that meant possibilities. Just like Stick, who had a thing for her. He never made a move on her since this started, but he did make a few back at school.

"You must free yourself from your weight," Eden implied.

Free herself from Jason? The thought alone gave her goosebumps and made her stomach twist. But maybe that was the point. If she wanted to change—truly change—she'd have to walk away from the comfort of his love and the safety of his arms.

"Do you have paper?" Bella asked.

"I had it prepared," Eden said, pointing to the small kitchen table with a piece of paper.

Bella stared down at the page, its whiteness glowing in the dim candle light. She picked up the pen and held it there for a long time. What did she even say? This wasn't a movie. There were no perfect words, dramatic music. Just her. And a goodbye she didn't know how to write.

Dear Jason,
I don't know how to say this, but I need to step back for a while. I can't keep holding onto you like a shield. It's not because I don't love you, but because I need to figure out who I am without leaning on you. I'll miss the nights we stayed up talking. You deserve someone who isn't drowning in fear and guilt. I hope someday I can be that person too.
Bella

She read the letter three times, each lime tightening her chest. Would he understand? Would he be hurt? Almost certainly.

But she had no choice—this was for herself, not him. She needed to discover who she was without clinging to Jason's.

Deep down, she knew he deserved someone whole, someone not drowning in fear and self-doubt.

Bella folded the paper, her hands shaking. Each step to the living room felt like walking across a tightrope; one misstep and Eden might notice her hesitation.

What if Jason tried to follow her? What if Eden punched her if she refused?

Her chest tightened, and she swallowed back a sob. Eden's calm smile waited at the table, too perfect, too patient. The weight of her choice pressed down on her shoulders.

"God approves your choice," Eden stated.

Bella said nothing. Just stood there, letter in hand, the weight of her choice sinking down deeper.

"You've taken the first step toward fixing yourself," Eden added.

"It's a strange choice," Bella muttered.

"All those who walk with God make strange choices," Eden said.

Bella wasn't sure she was walking with God or just walking away—from Jason, from guilt, from the person she didn't want to be anymore. Either way, for the first time in a long time, she was walking on her own terms.

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-Lexi