The Kismet soldiers forced Chase and his acquaintances down a sketchy path that had been carved into the side of another cliff bordering the quarry. Chase winced as the point of a rifle prodded his back.

''Watch it,'' he hissed.

''Say one more thing and I'll blow your head off your shoulders.''

That was the last time he talked back. Now, he wasn't usually a wimp, but if his life was kind of on the line. And he kind of liked living. So, he made the executive decision to keep his mouth shut.

Pebbles fell off the edge of the ridge the group soldiers and their captured victims navigated across. Chase gulped and forced himself to look forward. He feared if he glanced over the edge, which was too close to his feet for his liking, he would accidentally fall and meet his demise.

Quite frankly, he wasn't ready to die.

An uncomfortable rubbing sensation plagued his wrists, which were bound together by silver handcuffs. They weren't like the restraints police officers used. Instead, they were black, sleek, and controlled remotely. There was no way he'd be able to slip out of them without cutting his hands off.

After they all successfully made it down into the quarry, the six teenagers were herded through the excavation ground. They passed by the hulking drills pulverizing the stone ground. In some of the deeper pits, Chase could make out the red glow of whatever it was Kismet was collecting. Desperately wishing he could block out the shrill sounds of the mining equipment, he grit his teeth and continued walking towards wherever it was they were being taken to.

No one spoke. Everyone was too terrified and shocked to even say anything.

Stella cried quietly while Emily staggered forward with a deep scowl on her mauve-painted lips. The others wore expressions mixed with shock and horror. Chase noticed Theo's lip quivering as the boy frantically searched around himself. It also seemed like he was hyperventilating.

Chase's eyes widened. If Theo didn't get access to his inhaler soon, there was a high chance he could suffocate.

He stopped walking and turned around. ''My friend can't breathe. You need to help him— ''

The guard behind him forced him back forward and shoved him for extra measure. ''Keep moving, kid.''

Looking over his shoulder while doing as he was told, he tried getting the man to listen to him. He didn't have any luck, as the mercenary continued to ignore him. Still trying to help, Chase gave Theo a few words of encouragement and promised him he'd be alright. It seemed to help his panic attack a bit because he slowly began breathing normally, albeit a bit heavier than usual.

After what felt like an eternity, they an area in the center of the quarry. A couple of the vehicles were parked in a circular formation. One van sat parked in the center of the circle. Multiple computer screens were built into its side. An older man with a silver ponytail clad in a stark white suit stood in front of them, his hands clasped behind his back as he analyzed the information on the displays.

The Kismet guards ordered them all to stop walking and the soldier with the sword walked over to the him.

''Kane.''

''Apex.'' Kane glanced at the six teenagers before him. ''I see you succeeded.''

''They didn't put up much of a fight,'' Apex noted. He locked eyes with Chase for split second.

Suddenly, the blond had the strong urge to punch the guy in his face. Fortunately for Apex, he was still handcuffed.

Kane tapped the silver band coiled around his finger. ''Good. We don't need any unnecessary casualties tonight.''

''Okay, who the fuck are you?'' Emily glared at Kane with her piercing dark eyes.

''Emily...,'' Theo warned, his voice wavering with caution. The others stared at her with wide eyes. The armed men around them gripped their weapons, carefully eyeing Emily as she seethed at the man standing in front of her.

Kane put his hands up innocently, his sly smile still present on his pale lips. ''It's a valid question. I supposed I should explain.'' He pressed a hand over his heart and bowed. ''I'm Kane, leader of Kismet, and I'm here to help you.''

Chase blew air out of his nose while shaking his head.

''Help us?'' Stella inquired.

Nodding, Kane inched closer to them. Upon getting a better look at the man, Chase noticed the red tattoo spiraling up the pale skin of his hand. A few scars marred his exposed flesh as well.

''Today must be my lucky day,'' he said. ''I've met very few Primes in my life. I never thought I would see six in one place at the same time. This is such a delightful coincidence.''

''Primes?'' Oscar shook his head and squinted. ''What the hell are you talking about, man?''

Chase scanned the data on the screens behind Kane. They displayed chemical readings, a digital map with blinking lights in various places, and images that looked like they belonged in a chemistry textbook.

What the...?

''Primes are the future of the world,'' Kane explained. ''It's what you are. It's what I am. It's what we are.'' After being met with more skepticism and confusion, he chuckled. ''Primes are an evolved species of human. We possess special abilities. Abilities that make us stronger than the average person. We're gods amongst men. And after we complete our mission, everyone will see. The strong will survive and reclaim this planet.''

Chase didn't know whether to laugh or reel in horror. This guy couldn't have been serious. At the moment, he felt like he was in some terrible action movie. He just needed the hidden director to yell cut so he could go home and forget this night ever happened. Though, he had a feeling that wouldn't be happening.

''You're saying we have powers?'' Andre—the other captured River Hill High student—asked.

''Not yet, at least,'' Kane answered. ''Which brings me to why my men are here.'' He gestured at one of the glass crates next to him. Chunks of glowing, red crystals resided inside the containers. ''This is the key to unlocking your powers. It's the key to changing the world. The world provide us with a gift and it's our destiny to use it.''

''I'm sorry but that's a load of bullshit,'' Oscar said. ''How do you even know that we're...what'd you call us? Primes?''

Kane looked at Oscar. ''I am what I like to call a detector. Like I said before, I felt your presence up on that cliff.'' His eyes lit up and he licked his lips. ''There was too much potential energy for me to not have noticed. That's why I had Apex bring you all down here to me.''

''I don't buy it,'' Emily said as she shook her head.

The others seemed to agree with her.

But for some reason, Chase knew Kane wasn't lying. The whole thing was too crazy to be fake, as strange at that sounded. Besides, it made too much sense. Why else would wanted mercenaries be on American soil if not looking for something that could grant them superhuman powers.

Kane turned to Apex, who was now leaning against one of the black vans, cleaning his fingernails with a knife he pulled from the strap on his leg. ''They don't believe us.'' Would you like to give our new friends a little...demonstration?''

Apex looked up and sighed. Then he disappeared, leaving a swirling vortex of red and black particles behind. He then reappeared next to Kane.

Stella gawked at the black-haired man. ''How did you just...?''

Beside her, Oscar made the sign of the cross over his chest and mumbled something—probably a prayer—in Spanish.

''He was just right there,'' Theo said while pointing a trembling finger in the direction of where Apex had been standing.

Apex stared at the hostages with a bored expression on his face.

''One of Apex's abilities is teleportation,'' Kane explained. ''He has another but we won't be showing you that tonight.'' He looked at the group, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

''What do you want with us?" Emily asked.

Kane dipped his head and stroked his silver beard. ''We're the future. Soon, we'll have the numbers to uproot the governments of the world. The inferior beings of this planet don't deserve to be in charge.''

''And you do?'' Chase asked.

''If not me then who else?'' Kane turned around. ''I want you all to join me. You'll be compensated nicely for your efforts, don't you worry. With your help, we can change this world for the better.''

Chase and his friends exchanged glances of disbelief. The boy couldn't believe what he was happening. The leader of a terrorist cell just invited him to join his ranks. If his father had been in the same position, he would've spit at Kane's shoes and declined with a harsh, ''Fuck off''.

And that was exactly what he did.

Apparently, that was the wrong decision because he was quickly met with the butt of a rifle to his face. The blood came before the pain. A red river leaked from his nose while pinpricks assaulted his facial region.

A scream rang out beside him, but the ringing in his ears prevented him from determining its source. His vision swayed like a ship being ravaged by a tempest. Despite this, he nodded and spat blood onto the shoe of the soldier who hit him. The guard prepared to deliver another blow but was stopped by Apex.

''Alright, alright, settle down,'' Kane said while motioning for the guard to stand down. ''No need to get violent.'' He directed an apologetic glance at Chase. ''Sorry about that. My men don't tolerate disrespect. Now, I urge you all to reconsider my offer. I believe it to be in your best interests to accept.''

''And if we don't?'' Emily asked pointedly.

Kane's stormy eyes clouded. ''It would be very unwise for you to decline.''

Stella sniffled. Her teary eyes were wide with fear. ''Please just let us go.''

Oscar nodded vehemently. ''Yeah, man, we aren't the people for...whatever the hell it is that you're trying to do. Thanks for the offer but we're not cut out for, ya' know, destroying the world.''

''But that's where you're wrong,'' Kane said. ''I am not trying to destroy the world. I want to save it.''

If that was the case, he had a strange way of showing it.

''This is your chance to do something great with the gifts that have been given to you,'' Kane said. ''Let me unlock those gifts.''

Emily shook her head. ''Not a chance, psycho.''

Everyone else seemed to be in accordance with her statement.

''I have to say that I'm disappointed with your decision.'' Kane sighed and wrung his hands. ''But you all are still valuable to me.'' Chase's eyes widened.

Andre arched a thick eyebrow at him. ''What are you talking about? We just said we didn't want to help you— ''

He was interrupted by a guard's walky-talky blaring with loud shouts and gunfire. Chase couldn't really make out what the person on the other line was saying but he did catch one frantic sentence: ''Atlas is coming!''.

With his face still throbbing, Chase tilted his head at the mercenary with the communicator.

Kane blanched. ''Escort them to a van and get them on a jet to headquarters immediately. I want them prepped for the transfusion as quickly as possible.'' The guard nodded curtly.

''Wait, transfusion?'' Theo asked. ''What're you— ''

''Go now,'' Kane ordered before facing the computer screens on the side of the vehicle behind him.

The guards directed their weapons at the six teenagers and ordered them over to one of the armored vans parked near the exit of the quarry.

#

Chase winced as he was pushed into the back of the van by one of the guards. His friends were thrown inside with him shortly after.

Grimacing from the pain flaring in his bloodied—and possibly broken—nose, he propped himself up against the interior wall of the vehicle. He blinked a few times, trying to adjust to the sudden darkness caused by the two guards closing the back doors of the van. Lined on the floor of the van were a few of the glass containers that held the scarlet rocks Kismet were digging for.

They provided a faint source of light, causing shadows to be cast across the faces of the six students nearby.

No one spoke as they settled into their makeshift seats in the back of the van. Next to Chase sat Andre, who barely fit inside the vehicle.

The guy was taller than Chase—who stood at a healthy six-foot-two—and was built like a professional linebacker. He grunted as he tried readjusting himself. Though, without the use of his hands due to the handcuffs they all wore, it seemed to be making it more difficult than it should've been.

''You all are just going to sit here and do nothing?'' Emily stared at them all as if they were crazy.

''Well, it's not like we've got a ton of options,'' Chase replied.

She shook her head at them and moved over to the other end of the van that separated the back of the vehicle with the driver's area. The top portion of the wall was filled with small holes, allowing them all to barely see the two people sitting in the front. She then raised her cuffed hands and started banging on the metal barrier, demanding for the guards to let her out.

The man in the passenger's seat turned around with a 9mm Glock in his gloved hand, and ordered for Emily to be quiet. He aimed the gun at her face and she quickly scurried over to the other side of the van. The man put his gun away, earning a scowl and a raised middle finger from Emily—who had since returned to her seat.

''Way to almost get yourself killed,'' Stella said.

''I'd rather die than get experimented on.''

The engine of the vehicle rumbled to life and they began driving out of the quarry, rolling down the rocky path that would eventually lead out onto an abandoned backstreet.

The group returned to silence. The only sounds that Chase could hear were the ragged breaths of the others around him and the large tires crushing the gravel underneath them.

After a while, Stella whispered, ''Where do you think they're taking us?"

''Who knows? Probably some creepy mad scientist lab so they can experiment on us,'' Oscar replied. Some of his curly, black hair fell into his face. He kept blowing it away, only for it to keeping settling in front of his eyes. Sighing, he gave up.

Theo's eyes darted around. 'What if they probe us?''

Stella shook her head and squeezed her eyes shut. ''Can we not talk about it? I'm trying not to think about it.''

''Quiet back there!'' the driver barked.

They all did as they were told.

The low hum of the tires filled Chase's ears as he rested his head on the metal wall. Fortunately, the discomfort ripping through his nose had reduced to a dull throb. Though, the dried blood around his nostrils wasn't the greatest feeling in the world.

He went rigid upon feeling someone resting their head on his shoulder. As he prepared to shift his body to move them off of him, he realized it was Stella. Suddenly, he didn't have a problem with it anymore. Her quiet sniffles filled his ears.

He wanted to say something to help her feel better. Out of all of them, she was probably having the worst night of her life. Not only had she broken up with her boyfriend a few hours ago, but she had also been abducted by terrorists.

But nothing Chase could've said would have made the situation any better. So, he simply sat there quietly and let her cry on his shoulder. If he could've hugged her, he would've done that too.

Someone crawled over to the wall that separated the back of the van from the front. Chase frowned at the person. Due to how dark it had gotten in the van during the course of the ride, he couldn't tell who it was.

''What the hell are you doing?'' he hissed.

The person lifted their head, peering through metal grid on the other side of the vehicle. Light poured in through the van's windshield, revealing the person to be Oscar. He turned around and looked at everyone. ''You guys see that?''

''See what?'' Theo stuttered. ''I'm really not in the mood for any more surprises.''

Leaning forward, Chase tried to get a peek at what Oscar was talking about. Blinding lights assaulted his corneas, partially obscuring his vision. Despite that, he could make out the silhouette of another vehicle racing towards their own.

And it wasn't slowing down.

Then something collided in the side of the van, sending it toppling over.

Screams rattled Chase's ears. A scary feeling of weightless encased him as the van flipped. The contents of his stomach rose. Before he knew it, his body went crashing into the ceiling, which now served as the left-side wall. The containers around him shattered, spilling its contents all over the inside of the vehicle. Glowing red crystals cut at his skin. Burning rubber and the deafening sound of crunching metal intruded Chase's senses as he began to black out.

The van stopped rolling. It paused on the two left-sided wheels for a few seconds, threatening to tip over again but it kept its balance.

Chase laid motionless on the floor feeling as if he was outside of his own body. The jagged rocks from the broken containers scratched and cut his skin. And to top it all off, he was fairly certain his left leg was broken.

He struggled to lift his head while trying to get a look at himself. Sure enough, his shin was bent at an awkward angle and felt like someone injected molten lava inside of it. Someone next to him groaned in pain but he wasn't sure who it was. No matter who it was, he was just glad they were still alive. He hoped he would be able to say the same for everyone.

One of the doors in the front of the van opened and a Kismet guard toppled out. A round of gunshots sounded, followed by a sharp cry that was silenced as soon as it started. Fear seized Chase's body. His blood felt like ice water.

They were being attacked.

''Guys?'' he croaked. No response. They probably couldn't hear him; he could barely hear himself. ''Anyone?'' There was still no answer. A lump formed in his throat as he choked back a sob.

Gruff voices sounded outside of the back door to the van. Seconds later, the doors were pried upon and the harsh light from a flashlight poured inside. Even with his sight waning he could see the shapes of two men in dark blue uniforms.

''There're kids in here!'' one of them yelled. They climbed into the wrecked van and started pulling to pull someone out.

After successfully removing Stella and Emily from the smoking vehicle, the soldier in blue began to drag Chase out. Once he was safe from the wreckage, he was carried over to another vehicle. Through his daze, he heard one of his friends saying something. He turned his head to the side and looked at the speaker through half-closed eyes.

It was Emily.

She was in the arms of another soldier.

''Fire...there's a fire.'' She pointed a trembling finger at the van.

Chase shifted his hazy gaze to it and—sure enough—a blazing fire rose from the front of the vehicle. At the back, he spotted someone pulling Andre's unconscious body free from the van. Panic rushed through his body. Oscar was the only one who hadn't been pulled out yet and there was no one else around to help him.

He weakly tapped the arm of the man holding him up. He wanted to say something, anything to warn the person but his brain couldn't form the words. Tears formed in his eyes as his throat tightened. Out the corner of his eye, he saw another uniformed man sprinting over to the van.

But he was too late.

The vehicle exploded in a flaming swell of fire.

Chase stared on in horror as he watched the van erupted into the flames. The black metal melted and glass from the windows exploded onto the pavement. The fire devoured the van and the chilling sounds of Oscar's screams haunted the dark road.