Written right next to the underlined term, 'Possible Solutions' in Rav's intern friend's data report about Apex Vision cameras were the two words.

   Blind Spots.

   Of course! If Talise could take advantage of the camera's blind spots. Turns out we still had a chance of pulling this off after all the unexpected issues that surprised us—

   But wait.

   The cameras we were dealing with were the 360-Degree Angle kind. Cameras like that captured virtually every range. I mean, it was in the name for goodness sake! 360-Degree Angle! What on earth was Rav's intern friend talking about?

   Rav needed to talk his parents into firing this guy.

"Is your friend sure this is data on Apex Vision Cameras?" I asked as Cami, Dorian and I disrupted the circle we'd formed around Rav by reverting to our previous positions.

   Looking over to Camila and Dorian's faces, it was clear I wasn't the only one plagued with disappointment.

"He just texted that he's well-aware of the cameras' three sixty degree angle capabilities, if that's what you mean," Rav said, lifting his gaze from his phone's screen.

"Maybe he should have added the spell that we would need to reveal these cameras' blind spots," Each word Camila retorted dripped with sarcasm. "Since the only way we'll find out is obviously through magic and lucky for us, we have bloody Dumbledore on our side!"

"Relax," Rav replied, shooting her an eye roll. "Let me call him."

   As Rav held the phone to his ear, I caught a glimpse of the time on its screen. If I wasn't mistaken, it was less than fifteen minutes before Talise and the other Visitors at Zavlon went on their thirty minute lunch break.

   That intern better explain how Talise could safely use the so-called 'blind spots' these cameras had fast.

   Maybe this idea of sending Talise to Zavlon was great before, but with the presence of the Zavolonians instead of Edna, no solo tour, plus the cameras, we'd been completely sidetracked.

   If we were worried about Talise being in danger then, what could we say now? The school's cameras, with one wrong move, could capture her if she tried escaping the group. And if that happened...

   It took a stinging sensation in my palms for me to realise that my hands had tightened into tight fists this whole time.

"Guys, gather around. I'm putting him on speaker phone," Rav said, placing his phone on the table before addressing the intern on the other end of the line, "Go on, Dave."

"Hold on. Unmute our mic for Talise to listen too," Cami told him.

   After doing so and explaining to Talise what was about to happen, the quiet atmosphere that followed had a twinge of eagerness as we braced ourselves for what Dave the intern had to say.

   Dave began by stating what we practically knew already. The cameras currently had no blind spots. But it didn't have to stay that way.

   According to him, we were going to create blind spots of our own.

"How, though?" Camila mused.

   He mentioned how the data provided by the Hooda Security system included that Apex Vision cameras had certain system vulnerabilities.

   Vulnerabilities that gave Dave the opportunity to hack into the cameras.

"This is where the blind spots come in," The intern's croaky voice got louder.

   He proceeded to inform us of how every Apex Vision camera had four lenses within them to create the three sixty degree effect. After hacking the cameras, he was going to make recordings of the areas the lenses captured and replace the live footage with his recordings.

"But this is only going to apply to two out of the four lenses," Dave said, "This means that two still are going to be capturing everywhere else live ."

   Giving Talise the opportunity to drop our own cameras around the school without being detected by the other two lenses which will be masked by Dave's recordings.

   So, blind spots! ... sort of.

"And no one will be aware of the change?" I asked.

"That's where our problem is." I didn't like the sudden grimness in Dave's tone. "Apex Vision, the company, provided each of the cameras with defence systems to fight off any potential threats they may face. My software can easily subdue these defence systems but the company prepared for that too. The owner of the camera will be notified of the breach when the defence system fails to perform its task. The good news is I have the ability to delay the message. The bad news, though, is, not for long."

"How long?" Dorian, with a straight face and folded arms, queried

"Five to eight minutes, give or take."

"Thanks, Dave," Rav gave a cheery reply. "We'll call you back soon."

   I closed my eyes as he hung up the phone. My shaky hands moved to lessen the frustrated sigh that escaped my lips.

   As much as I appreciated Tali's ability to sneak around and break into teachers' lounges and confiscation closets, headmasters' offices and even my very own home, now more than ever, this was a huge upgrade from all that.

   The reason why we couldn't just make Talise leave the cameras at random places was because as durable as the cameras were rolling around, they couldn't go up the many flights of stairs Zavlon Academia had.

   In order to ensure we covered every possible area in our search for Mr Sacury's lab—which could be anywhere at this point— the cameras needed to be effectively dispersed.

   But the destinations we'd chosen weren't in any way close to each other. Talise needed time to get the cameras there.

   Five to eight minutes wasn't enough. Which is why I had no regrets concerning what I was about to do.

"Talise?" I called out, moving closer to Rav's laptop.

"Yeah?"

"You are going to spend the rest of the time as a normal Visitor. You're going to to have lunch with the others, complete the group tour—"

"Beth, what are you..." Dorian's words trailed off upon seeing my hand held up.

"You are going to have lunch with the others," I repeated, refusing to break my gaze from the laptop, "complete the group tour and wait at the previous spot we dropped you off for us to pick you up when Visitation Day ends."

"What are you talking about, Beth?" Talise's sharp whisper came from the other end. "We've been given a chance to elude the cameras. Why the hell would I stand down now?"

"Five to eight minutes isn't a chance," I scoffed. "I'm not going to sit back and watch you take up a suicide mission."

   I glanced at the rest of the group in the van, expecting them to back me up and make Talise understand what grave she was digging for herself by considering Dave's option.

   None met my gaze, though. Rav, Dorian and Camila's eyes suddenly found anything else that didn't involve eye contact with me interesting.

   Backstabbers.

"Excuse me," Tali's low tone began to seethe, "Last time I checked, you were the one who literally begged me to do this! Have you forgotten that already? Have you forgotten how much it took to even become a Visitor in the first place? Making the leg brace? You're saying that we should just forget about it all? That I should walk around fully aware that there are mind controlling aliens ready to unleash havoc on the Earth? That I have the devices that will help us find the lab which will put a stop to all of this and do nothing?"

"If it doesn't put you in danger, yes!"

   As heat pumped throughout my body, I struggled to control my breathing. Why couldn't she just see where I'm coming from? This was just too much of a risk.

"Beth, I know you're speaking from a place of concern." she sighed. "But we both know backing down now is not an option."

"We'll figure something else out," My response switched to a pleading coax. "You can't be put into this much danger. Please, Li."

   That nickname was my final card. If using the pet name I'd given her when we were kids didn't make her cave...

"Beth, now that I know we have a chance, I wouldn't be able to live with myself if I didn't take it."

"Li, plea—"

"Listen to me carefully, Beth." The pause in Talise's response provided a dramatic effect. "I'm doing it." 

A/N: Based on my research on 360° angle cameras, they have no blind spots. This solution is purely from my imagination, hence the reason it may not be scientifically accurate.

Thank you for reading ❤️🎊! Feel free to leave any thoughts about Talise's decision. Did Beth have a point?

QOTD: Have you ever been to a concert? If yes, how did it go?
If no, comment how you and me are in the same boat🥲