"That's not good," Jason muttered grimly, his eyes fixed on the orange glow devouring the horizon.

"Guess we found that deranged thing," Greyson spat, his voice cold.

They took off, sprinting across the uneven field as darkness cloaked the world in shadow. The only light came from the roaring inferno consuming Simcoe ahead and the faint, wavering beam of a single flashlight cutting through the gloom.

Jason gasped between heavy breaths. "What exactly are going to do once when we get there?"

Greyson's eyes narrowed, locked onto the charred edge of Simcoe looming ahead. "We have to find a way to slow her down."

As they reached the town plaza, Jason's eyes swept over the devastation. Buildings that once felt familiar now lay in smouldering ash and jagged rubble.

The streets were ripped open by deep cracks, like scars carved into the ground. Thick smoke curled and twisted through the air, ghostly tendrils drifting.

"Head toward the outskirts," Greyson ordered, already veering away from the ruined plaza.

Jason coughed harshly, the acrid smoke burning his throat. "Looks like most of the people in the plaza... they're dead."

They skirted around houses not yet engulfed, searching for anything. Just ahead, there were bodies lay sprawled across a driveway and street—charred, twisted, unrecognizable. It looked like a scene from a horror movie where everyone was killed in the first ten minutes.

"Buildings, too," Greyson muttered, eyes narrowing. "She's wiping out everyone here first, then she's heading straight to the campground."

The street ahead remained untouched by flames, but the storm's wrath had already destroyed the homes. What stood were mere skeletons off shattered wood drywall, twisted remnants of what once was.

"Cindy and Emma... they were still in town," Jason said, his voice cracking.

"They'd get out of here if they had the chance," Greyson said flatly. "They wouldn't wait around."

Jason doubles over in a violent coughing fit, his hand clamped over his mouth as the thick smoke closed in. His lungs burned with every breath, eyes streaming—not from grief, but from heat and ash.

The moment triggered a flash of memory: the blaze child he once tried to save, a freak consumed by fire.

Simcoe was no longer a town—it was hell itself. Fires roared in wreckage. Then stench of burning flesh and wood clung to everything. Dead bodies lay motionless.

"Ashley's probably still in Simcoe," Jason started.

Suddenly, an invisible forced slammed into him, sending his body flying backward. He crashed hard onto the ground, the words dry on his tongue.

From the smoke, Ashley emerged wreathed in flames and pure fury.

"Die!" she screamed.

Greyson's hand shot forward, his invisible punch landing with brute force.

Ashley flew backward, crashing into a nearby burning tree, the crack of the impact reverberating through the scorched streets.

Flames clung to her clothes, eating through fabric and flesh. Still, she rose blazing, broken, her face twisted with madness.

Jason staggered to his feet. Dizziness clouded his vision, and his legs nearly gave out. He forced himself forward, stumbling through a driveway. Desperation surged as he searched for anything.

Ashley's steps were slow as she advanced toward them, eyes burning with malice. "Jason and Greyson," she hissed. "The two high ranks. But that doesn't seem so true anymore, does it?"

"Have you come to admire my beautiful work?" Ashley taunted as she jabbed a finger at Greyson. "Or better yet... tell me where your mutant child is hiding!"

"I don't see it," Jason muttered, his palms outstretched.

He wondered if the child would intervene again. It had before—protecting Greyson from Ashley attack. Jason didn't understand it, but he knew that the baby did not want Greyson to get hurt.

"Might be in that house," Greyson said, his finger stabbing toward a half-collapsed yellow house up ahead.

Ashley's eyes flashed with recognition, and in an instant, she was charging toward the house.

"Burn it!" Greyson shouted.

Jason sent a beam of light at the house, wood cracking and sparks flying as flames licked the roof.

Greyson seized the nearest abandoned car with an invisible grip and hurled it through the air, metal screeching as it spun toward the house. It tipped and slammed onto the burning house, sending a cloud of smoke and splintered wood in to the air.

Ashley staggered out, coughing, flames curling around her like living hair. She raised her hands, but Greyson's invisible grip hit her mid-motion, throwing her off balance.

She slammed into the ground, grit and ash coating her face, and then rose again, snarling. She threw her hands out, and the invisible force slammed into them.

Jason was ripped off his feet and hurled through the air, his body slamming hard against the jagged pavement. His limbs twisted as he tumbled. Pain exploded through him.

"This will be easy work," Ashley sneered, her eyes gleaming with sadistic pleasure as she lifted her hands once more.

Ashley's launched a bolt of blue light at them. Jason and Greyson quickly darted to the side, narrowly avoiding the searing attack.

"Tell me where it is!" she screamed, as her muscles swelled, mimicking James's super strength.

Greyson retaliated with another invisible punch, the force of it sending Ashley flying backward into a pile burning debris. The crackling flames wrapped around her, but she didn't falter.

"Why would we want to tell you?" Greyson snarled.

Jason regained his footing and blasted a beam at Ashley. She screamed in agony, firing back as he felt his body burn.

"I'm done with your games, Ashley," Greyson growled, his teeth grinding together as a surge of white light flared from his palm. "Once you made me mad. Twice? That's unforgivable."

"You're the one toying with me!" Ashley shirked, as she staggered to her feet.

Greyson's expression turned icy, his eyes narrowing. He unleashed another beam of white light, this time aimed at directly at Ashley's legs, the force enough to knock her off balance.

Jason fired a blast of light.

Ashley shot her hand forward, an invisible shield forming in front of her. The rebound force slammed into Jason, tossing him in the air.

He crashed hard onto the broken sidewalk, the impact sending pain through his body. Groaning, he rolled on his side, his head throbbing with each pulse.

Greyson approached Ashley, now on her hands and knees, gasping for breath. She managed to raise her hands in a last-ditch attempt, firing a burst of burning light at him. The attack ricocheted off an invisible shield, striking her instead.

"You shouldn't have gone after my parents," Greyson began. "You've heard my voice in your head, and Divina warned you."

Ashley's bloodied face drained of colour as fear flickered behind fury. "What are you talking about?" she spat.

Greyson used an invisible grip that lifted Ashley effortlessly in the air. Her arms flailed, but the force that held her was unyielding, pinning her down.

"I'm connected to them, Ashley," Greyson said. "I see what they see, I hear what they hear, and  I know what they know. You're not the ruler here. You're just a monster."

Jason eyes went wide in disbelief. It wasn't just the cold calm in Greyson's voice—it was the way he levitated effortlessly in the air, his control so absolute it made the scene feel almost unreal.

"I am the ruler here, and I will always be," Ashley spat. "No mutant child, no goddess, is going to steal my domain. This is mine!"

"Time's up, Ashley," Greyson said.

He swept his arm forward.

Ashley flew, crashing into a nearby blazing house already engulfed in flames.

The structure groaned and collapsed as the fire swallowed her house.

Greyson closed his eyes, fell to the ground gently, and glanced around the area.

"It happened again," Jason remarked. "We can't go back there, but we could trail her."

"It seems like option with everything going on," Greyson said. "Stay near the end of town. We can't risk getting too close, but we can't loose sight of her either."

"We can't beat her," Jason admitted.

They stumbled toward a higher vantage point, where they wouldn't miss seeing Ashley if she left the burning house.

The flames devoured the burning building, obscuring everything in a haze of smoke and fire. The door was lost in the inferno, as were the remnants of the house.

Jason knew the fire wouldn't kill her—nothing short of a miracle could do that—but it would slow her down, at least for a while.

"We got lucky," Greyson muttered, his eyes narrowing as he scanned the burning wreckage. "What did it do this time?"

"It did the same thing as before, except this time it was talking," Jason said. "I think it's angry, if that's even possible. It used its powers again, sent Ashley straight into that house."

"We have to follow from a distance. She can't see us, but if she keeps burning the town down, we need to find a way to stop her," Greyson said.

He and Greyson knew the truth.

There was no stopping Ashley.

Not like this.

Not until the baby was born.

"Ashley's injured, which buys us some time," Greyson said. "But I don't know how much longer we until she heads to the camp ground. We need to take advantages of her weaknesses while we can."

It felt wrong, but it was the only option left in Ashley's endgame. She wasn't going to give them any reprieve to recover or panic about the mutant child. No, this wasn't just a battle—it was life or death, and there were no other choices.

"If we die, it's over for everyone here," Greyson said. "It's not about our ranks, but they won't have the powers for people to fight back, even with that mutant child on the way. Without us, they're helpless."

Cindy rushed through the campground, her heart pounding hard enough to make her dizzy. Her eyes darted from shadow to shadow, searching desperately for anyone she recognized. She wasn't alone in her fear—everyone here was trying to survive Ashley's wrath.

From Sunny's, she couldn't see the flames consuming Simcoe, but thick, dark smoke clouds billowed into the sky.

"Zane!" she shouted. "Ashley set Simcoe on fire."

Conversations died instantly. Those still clutching weapons or whispering strategized turned toward her, horror spread across their faces. They were slowly losing more people. Whatever protection they had left, it wasn't enough.

"Come with me," Zane replied sharply. "The whole town?"

"Shooting Jason's light all over the place. People are dead, Zane," Cindy said, her voice trembling. "A lot of them."

For the first time in weeks, fear fit her full force. Her hands wouldn't stop shaking, and her stomach churned like she might be sick. This wasn't about helping with Scarlett's pregnancy or teleporting people that were injured. It was about inescapable death.

"Do you know where those two are?" Zane asked.

Cindy ran a trembling hand over her face. "Emma sent me back to warn you." She paused, taking a breath. "I imagine they saw it."

Zane's eyes narrowed. "Is this about the child?"

How did bringing a child into this world devolve into complete chaos? They should have expected it from the moment they arrived in this place, but not Ashley's overwhelming fear. Her main objective is killing the mutant child because it was the key.

"Check on everyone," Zane said. "I'll handle Scarlett."

Cindy teleported to where Greyson and Jason lay unconscious on the pavement. She waved her hand in front of their faces, but neither moved.

"Great," she muttered her breath.

Suddenly, she felt herself thrown backward, her feet lifting off the ground.

Greyson groaned, slowly sitting up and pressing a hand against his forehead. "What are you doing?"

"Checking everyone's hotspot," Cindy replied, crossing her arms. "Zane wants an update."

"Ashley's probably out there burning houses because of my kid," Greyson said. "Ashley doesn't know where it is. I think once the whole town is burned, it's the campground."

From their location, they looked around. The flames still raged across the plaza, consuming everything in its path. There was no way to extinguish the fires anymore as there was no water or electricity.

"Scarlett's doing fine, since I know you'd like to know that question," Cindy added.

"Good," he whispered.

"I'll warn you two if anything changes," Cindy implied, bopping away.

She flashed onto the roof of a green car. The vehicle jerked beneath her as she gripped its sides tightly.

Carefully, she inched forward and reached for the side mirror, her fingers closing around it. She pressed her other hand against the roof for balance.

River turned his head and immediately screamed. The car slammed to a stop, nearly tossing her off the roof.

He turned on his glowing light as Cindy scanned the people around her and noticed that some appeared injured, while others were unharmed. Her gaze landed on Bella, causing her to roll her eyes, as she placed one hand on her hip.

"That was so funny!" Mia managed between laughs. "You should have seen his face!"

"Is there a problem?" Emma rushed out, barely hearing the words.

"Other than Ashley burning down Simcoe?" Cindy started. "Well, Greyson and Jason are injured."

"Already?" Emma gasped.

Cindy glanced at Bella, who had her eyes on the ground. Had she finally to terms with the kind of person she'd been?

"We're all heading back," River said.

Cindy bopped back to where Greyson and Jason were. She watched Emma stare at the town in horror.

"Yeah, it's bad," Cindy said dryly.

Emma dropped to her knees in front of Greyson, pressing a hand to the side of his head. He gritted his teeth as Jason seemed to stir from his state.

"Is the nightmare over yet?" Jason mumbled.

"No," Cindy responded plainly.

The two of them had made out on more than one occasion. Cindy knew they weren't together—Jason was still stuck on Bella, whether he admitted it or not. However, romance wasn't her department or focus during those six months. The baby that will end up saving all of their lives.

"Cindy, there's one more thing that has to be done," Emma started. "You have to take Scarlett somewhere safe."

"Wait, what's going on?" he asked.

"Your son or daughter wants to be born," Emma said.

"My intuition was right?" Cindy asked.

She is already tired of bopping all over to try and find the safest place. She knew if she went to the island, she'd probably pass out in the middle of the lake from exhaustion.

"Safe isn't exactly this place," she said dryly.

"Try Wasaga Beach," Emma suggested. "The change rooms are large enough to hide in."

It wasn't that finding a place would be difficult; she'd be the one delivering this baby. She held her head in her hands. She has studied it for months in case it turns out that she ends up delivering it. All of it has become too early.

"What if it's weeks or days?" Cindy panicked.

"Bring food, water, and other necessities," she trailed off, almost nauseated.

"Should I check on Angel and Esme?" Cindy asked.

"Go straight to Zane about the information. Even asking Scarlett or Hanna," Emma said.

Cindy bopped away where Zane sat, who was in his RV with Yara and Talia.

"Emma's healing the brothers, but I'm doing a task," Cindy explained. "Emma believes Scarlett will give birth prematurely; send someone to check on Esme and Angel."

She bopped inside Scarlett's RV, where Hanna sat across from her, perplexed. "You're going to give birth early," Cindy said.

"That's why it keeps kicking repeatedly," Scarlett whispered.

"We're going to Wasaga Beach. If Ashley comes, we'll bop somewhere else," Cindy implied.

"You need someone else," Hanna interjected, her tone serious. "And you can't do the whole birthing process by yourself."

Hanna couldn't come because someone still had to be left on the campground in case people still got injured.

"I'll ask Zane if Stick and Nevaeh can come," Cindy implied. "I'll ask him quickly."

She bopped back to Zane, still in his RV. He seemed to be contemplating something, but she guessed it was something with Ashley's plans.

"Are we okay with bringing Stick and Nevaeh?" Cindy asked.

"They should be okay. I'll have to change a few things now that you'll be at the beach," Zane said.

Cindy's legs ached, and her head felt heavy from the past few days of chaos. She teleported in front of a fire, forcing herself to stand tall even though her hands shook. Nevaeh sat with two girls, looked far more composed than Cindy felt inside.

Nevaeh smirked. "What gossip do I get?" she asked, her hands behind her head.

"You get to be a nurse," Cindy said.

"It will be gross, but I'll take the risk," Nevaeh grinned.

Nevaeh wasn't exactly the person Cindy imagined helping out with delivering a baby. It should be Hanna or Emma since both helped in the infirmary, but neither would be possible for assistance right now.

"Pack up a bag of things you think we'll need," Cindy instructed.

Nevaeh rushed away faster than Esme. Cindy sighed, bopping in front of the trailer where Stick was staying. She knocked, waiting as he opened the door, he looking slightly dazed.

"Your redemption plan is changing. You're going to be a bodyguard to make sure nobody attacks," Cindy explained.

"Instead of guarding Scarlett?" Stick asked, sounding unsure.

Cindy wasn't sure if he would actually accept doing such a job, given his current road of redemption through religion and the guilt he carries.

"The baby is coming soon. It could be hours or days, but soon," Cindy rambled.

"Okay, I'll pack some things," Stick said.

Cindy nodded before bopping back to her own to trailer. She closed her eyes for a moment, trying to visualize the essentials. While some items seemed obvious—like a towel or a sharp tool—she understood everything was unpredictable.

She grabbed a small bag and started packing essentials, like a flashlight, a towel, a blanket, and a knife. They would also need some food, so she added fish to the bag.

She was aware that they might stay in a dark changing room without proper protection. She considered the current security situation—Esme and Angel might still be patrolling the area, unless they ran into one of the followers.

As she hesitated for a moment, she considered whether to bring one of those biology books with her to better understand what was happening. She had read it several times that explained they go into labour before everything else happens. She flipped the book inside, and bopped back to the RV, where Nevaeh was already waiting.

"Are we going to bring everyone?" Scarlett asked dryly.

Nevaeh smirked slightly and shrugged. "An extra nurse and a bodyguard," she said, sticking up her thumb.

"Stick is grabbing some food," Cindy added.

"Do you have any names picked out?" Nevaeh asked, leaning across from Scarlett, who had just arched an eyebrow.

Scarlett's arched an eyebrow. "Yes, but I'm not saying for both genders," Scarlett replied. "Are we just hiding out there until my water breaks or whatever happens?"

"Yes," Cindy stated. "Emma feels that it wants to be born. A prime example is the kicking."

The RV door opened to reveal Stick holding up a red bag. "Food and water," he said.

Scarlett lifted herself to stand as she held her wrist, along with Nevaeh's. There would be no way she'd risk leaving Scarlett alone.

They stood inside the dark change room that was untouched by the storm's destruction, but far from clean. The air reeked of mildew and dirty feet, and murky water pooled across the cracked cement floor.

Nevaeh grabbed a battery-powered lantern from the bag and switched it on, casting a yellowish glow across the change room. She placed it on one of the faded green benches nailed to the wall. The sinks were stained and blocked, and the stalls looked like they had overflown at one point.

"Okay, we'll have to jam something against the door," Cindy stated.

Nevaeh twisted the lock on the door with a smirk. "This place is disgusting, but I'm not risking getting burned alive," she irked.

Scarlett carefully sat herself on the cement floor using the bench.

"I'll get Stick," Cindy said as she bopped back to face the boy.

"Can I really protect that baby?" he whispered, looking down at her.

"We'll both protect it." She bopped them into the change room, placing the things on the ground.

She looked at the scattered items that she brought along. She realized nothing was really clean—the towels, extra clothes, even piece of cloth she intended to wrap around the baby when it was born.

"Let's get this room set up, so hopefully we aren't staying out here for days," Nevaeh sighed.

"If we run out of something, I'll bop back and get it," Cindy stated.

"Yeah, I think that'll be sooner than we expect," Scarlett said.

Cindy spun around.

A dark stain spread across Scarlett's pants.

"Yeah... Emma was right," Nevaeh said.

"I'm not guarding Scarlett anymore?" James asked, frowning at Zane.

"Cindy didn't have time to check where Angel and Esme were," he replied. "There's only one car left, so I want you to go alone."

James's mind flashed back to the last time he drove. That was the night he was supposed to inform Jason about the vanishing situation, but, he ran into to Emma, Esme and Jade.

Now the danger had split into three parts: Ashley, Divina, and Scarlett's mutant child.

"Ashley is still in town, but I don't want to risk having more freaks gone," Zane stated.

James understood why Zane was hesitant to let anyone else leave. At any moment, Ashley could pop up and burn this whole place into ash.

"They were headed to Wasaga Beach, but on the east side," Zane explained.

The east side had the wider stretches of sand; the west side was crowded with changing rooms. Most people preferred the west. That meant if they were heading east, they'd have more space.

"You're certain that's their location?" James asked.

"Actually, take Yara with you. We don't know if anyone is injured," Zane remarked.

"All four of them are gone," Yara said, opening the RV door.

James froze. "Gone? Where did they—"

Zane stepped forward, his expression grim. "Emma predicts that the baby is going to be born."

James remembered Emma's frantic explanations about the mutant child. Her words made little sense, but one thing was clear: Ashley's intentions were deadly.

The core issue was Ashley's fear of Scarlett's child—a child that could already channel its power through both Greyson and Scarlett. The potential of the child is both terrifying and intriguing. No one truly understands the full extent of their powers; all anyone knew was they were powerful.

The degree of power that Ashley and Divina have combined into one could bring the light back. James refused to consider how far that child's power extended.

"Find them quickly, because time is paramount," Zane said, handing him a set of keys.

James turned on his heel, clenching the keys tightly. His eyes scanned the shadowy campground as he followed Yara. He felt the prick of goosebumps as he noticed people standing with weapons in hands, rifles and pistols aimed in every direction.

"That one," Yara said, pointing toward a grey Ford car with cracked rear window.

Around them, people stood frozen with weapons in hands.

It wasn't just Ashley anymore.

No one knew what that child was capable of.

James slid himself into the driver's seat, his fingers tightening around the keys.

A few onlookers stared.

He turned the key. The engine sputtered, coughed, then settled into a shaky rhythm. The car lurched forward, rattling over the uneven campground, dust kicking up behind it.

He took a deep breath and steered toward the road leading east, the way leading to Wasaga Beach.

"I hope that mutant child ruins Ashley's plans," Yara sighed, setting her legs on the dashboard.

"It already has," James replied quietly. "It uses Scarlett and Greyson's bodies as hosts because it isn't born. Just how that god is a host for Ashley."

It wasn't exactly hosting but more interconnection, like the voices that nobody else could hear. The connection between a parent and child, but in a different way.

"The mutant child probably has heightened senses," James explained. "That's why it probably used Greyson's body because he was in danger. From the sounds of it, the baby sounds like Greyson."

The thought of dealing with someone just as ambitious and determined filled James with dread. He knew it would mean giving orders and leading, something he didn't want to witness.

"There!" Yara called out

James snapped his head in the direction she pointed.

He slammed the brakes.

Angel staggered ahead, Esme slung over his back.

The headlights cut through the darkness, revealing blood soaked into Esme's clothes, dripping steadily on the ground.

Angel's movements were sluggish, his arms shaking as he fumbled with the door.

James watched in horror, unable to look away from the gruesome wounds on Esme's body.

"I threw Luke into the lake," Angel stated. "Esme is sleeping, but she fell victim to Luke's noodle arm."

"That's... a lot of blood," Yara said, shutting the door as Angel sat in the back. "Emma's in town somewhere."

James's chest tightened. Anger surged like fire, but so did fear. He swallowed hard, trying to push down the nausea twisting his stomach. He couldn't face Luke in a fight, and now he didn't have to worry about him popping up like normal.

"Hanna is back at camp," Yara said, returning her gaze to Angel. "Are you crying?"

"I saved her... but she drying," Angel explained, tears streaming down his cheeks.

"Superhero," Esme murmured, pushing herself up on the seat. "See, James, we beat Lukey."

"Your face is half destroyed!" James exclaimed.

Esme's face was covered in so much blood that she had tried to wipe it away with her glove. She lifted her arm toward him, wincing.

"Luke's buried deep in the lake," Esme said, trying to grin. "Now we just have to deal with Ashley."

"Speed Demon, get your injuries treated, or Emma will come panicking at you," Yara remarked.

"I'll get part of it treated, but I honestly can't feel it," Esme implied.

"You need to rest," James said.

"Are you going to save the day while I'm resting?" Esme's voice almost sounded eager. "Beat up Ashley with some punches or shoot her. Be a badass like Divina."

James knew he wasn't like Jason, who could easily keep Ashley distracted. And being a computer geek wasn't going to help anymore.

"Esme, rest," Yara repeated.

By the time they returned to camp, the tension hadn't eased.

James helped Esme and Yara assisting Angel.

They looked around for Hanna.

"What happened?" Jade exclaimed, rushing towards the two of them.

"We beat Luke," Esme said.

"All of that was from Luke?" Jade asked.

It was strange to hear Jade express so much emotion, as her voice usually had a mellow tone.

"Where's Hanna?" Yara inquired.

Jade pointed to one of the orange-coloured tents.

Despite his strength, James resisted the urge to carry Esme, forcing himself to conserve his energy.

"Why aren't I surprised?" He gently placed Esme down in the tent with Jade's assistance.

"I'll need Emma for your face. I think Cindy ditched her in town." Esme laughed, but it made her wince.

"Emma won't make it back on foot. She'll panic halfway there and probably throw up," Hanna said, shaking her head.

Emma had been in town with Jason and Greyson, but nobody wanted to step near town with the raging fires.

"I'll go," James volunteered.

He wanted to break free from being the computer geek everyone knew him to be. He was always the one programming the information for Greyson or set off doing some scheme for Scarlett.

"Take Conner, because your power is pretty easy to see," Hanna said.

"Don't tell Emma until a bit later because she'll ask questions and then vomit," Esme rambled.

James has never met anyone as easily nauseous as Emma. Even if she had been working through her problems, she will still vomit if someone has a bone sticking out of a body part. Everyone knew that they weren't going to leave her to deliver the baby because she'd probably vomit.

"Conner, you're going to help James," Hanna said.

"Fine," Conner spat.

"Are you sure that will be okay?" Yara asked.

She glanced toward the distance.

"It's burning out there."

"Talk to Zane about it," Hanna said.

She looked between them.

"Right now, we need to find Emma."

It seems the baby is going to be born early. Do you think it will be a girl or boy?