Two weeks later

Shelby's P.O.V

I skipped downstairs after a good night's sleep. Jess and Sasha had the Sclub7 going, and the kids were dancing with smiles on their faces. I grabbed two pancakes and some dry cereal and sat down next to Cory, who was still powerless. He stared down at the half-eaten pancake on his plate. "Hey..." I greeted. I held out my cup of dry cereal, and he took a pinch of it.

"Hey," he replied, obviously quite down. 

"You're... still a great person. I'm sure God has something big in store for you." I smiled.

"I guess..."

"Is something else bothering you?"

"Where's your bad soul?"

My eyes widened. I thought for a moment. "I dunno. She just... ran away."

"I don't want to bother with her quite yet." Cory cracked a smile. "The peace and harmony here is nice."

Yammy burst into the room. "WHO IS HUNGRY FOR SOME COOKIES, COS I GOT PLENTY!!" she shouted with a huge grin and a big container of cookies.

The music stopped as everyone came to the table. Cookies are obviously a good waking mechanism. Everyone who was still sleeping came down in a few seconds after hearing 'cookies'. And I don't blame them because cookies are rad.

We all munched on our cookies. I felt a bit empty in the heart, knowing that Max and Ross were no longer here. But then my eyes landed on Meghan, Stacy and Joey, who were deep in conversation with Lizzie. I felt a hand on my shoulder, snapping me out of my thoughts. "You okay?" Oli asked as he pulled away.

"I guess. Just feels a bit weird, ya know?" I replied. "I don't like not having Max and Ross here. But... it's comforting to know that we've brought people together, from both the woods and the enemy."

"Joey and I had a jam-out session yesterday, it was great."

"Stacy, Meghan and Joey are often composing songs. Have you chatted to them about that? I'd imagine you'd quite enjoy joining in with that."

"Oh. I'll do that. But cookies come first."

There was a crash from the lounge room. Everyone froze, eyes dead-set on the doorway. Slowly, I stood. Sasha stood also; as did Oli, Joel, Jack and Callum. Jess floated over to me. Stacy, Joey and Meghan all stood, one after the other; while Will, Graser, Liam and Em all stood simultaneously. The rest of the mentors stood. As a group, we all made out way into the lounge. Two unfamiliar girls looked down at a broken vase. "Oh no," whispered a girl with brown hair.

The other girl's hair was blonde, although the blonde was very, very faintly pink. Her roots were brown, and she said, "We come in peace." Both her hands made peace signs. 

"We need your help," brown-haired girl said.

"Who... what... who are you?" Scott asked. "What do you need us for?"

"My boyfriend... he was taken by the FAE."

"What's with the other girl?"

"Yeah... no-one knows what her deal is."

"I'm Elise!" the blonde-pink-brown-haired girl chirped. "I play ukulele, have been to a KidzBop concert, and have epic Grandma pants that I am wearing right now."

Everyone stared at Elise. "You don't know me?" she frowned.

"No..? Are we meant to?" Joel asked.

"I'm the singer, Elise Ecklund??"

Oli's jaw dropped. "You're kidding," he said.

"No. You've forgotten what I look and sound like?"

"Been a while. And very dramatic. A lot has happened."

"Who's the other girl?" I asked.

The other girl smiled at me. "Come on, Shelby. You know who I am, don't you?" she asked.

I stared at her for a moment. Then it hit me.

"Mika..?"