The news reports painted a picture of complete chaos. Outside the invisible barrier that had encased the town of Simcoe for nearly a year, the world reeled from the aftershocks of what the media had already called "The Grocery Grab." A seemingly ordinary, beautiful, teenage girl had snatched an entirely grocery story from the outside and somehow integrated it into the Simcoe bubble. The sudden gust of air created a shockwave of wind that sent bystanders tumbling.

Injuries ranged from minor scrapes and bruises to critical head trauma; deaths were confirmed. The audacity of the act, the sheer spectacle of it, even drew morbid praise from some people, with the hashtag #GroceryGrab trending.

Cassandra was trending across every social media platform imaginable. Twitter exploded with theories, each crazier than the next. Facebook groups dedicated to Simcoe's predicament filled with hubs of speculation. Was she a mutant? A government experiment gone wrong? An alien attack? Despite the online opinions, nobody came up with a solid answer. Although that had been the first time in ten months that people had seen the inside of Simcoe again.

Heather Harp seat glued to her phone, scrolling through endless images of the chaos. She hadn't been present during the event, but the graphic photos and shaky smartphone were glued im to her mind. The scene looked like a bomb had gone off.

Ironically, Jason and Greyson had both been present. They didn't stop the girl, but something about her seemed familiar. Examining one video from YouTube, she saw that the sour glare wasn't one of happiness. That girl knew what she was doing with those supernatural powers.

"People have speculated, but no one has come up with a solid answer," John Iverson said, sitting in a hospital bed.

John, her husband, lay propped up in a hospital bed, his arm in a sling and a bandage wrapped around his head. As a police officer, he had been one of the first responders to the scene after the earthquake. He reported three teenagers standing together.

Heather sat in a red plastic chair in the corner of the hospital room. The late afternoon sunlight streamed through the window. She glanced up from her phone, taking in the endless stream of news articles, blog posts, and Twitter threads flashing across its screen.

"It's not that; it's her looks and that power," Heather explained.

How was she having a normal conversation when she should have realized her twin boys knew each other? They might even know the truth, but Heather didn't.

There was a knock on the hospital door, and she saw Roger Bolton. He held up a document, its pages filled with information, as she left the room. They sat in two empty seats near the elevators, the hum of machinery a constant backdrop.

"Cassandra Russell-Newman, also known as Scarlett Russell and Greyson Newman's child, according to a girl named Mallory," Roger revealed. "Unfortunately, we can't meet with Cassandra, Jason, or Greyson due to them doing a suicide mission. According to one boy named James, Ashley is responsible for everything."

Heather felt her blood run cold, her limps growing heavy. The hospital atmosphere suddenly felt suffocating. Ashley? Responsible? It didn't make sense. How could her daughter create this occurrence?

"However, we're going to meet with my daughter. We'd have to go now if you want to understand their knowledge," Roger stated.

The two stood from the chairs and went into an elevator. The hospital, Collingwood General, buzzed with activity; nurses hurried past, their faces etched with concern, and anxious visitors whispered in hushed tones. People talked about the incident. Mostly about how they could see their children.

The two slipped into a black Lexus and drove down the busy streets. When they pulled into a guarded meeting spot near where the chaos had happened. Roger showed his ID, allowing them through. They parked in the empty lot of Foodland before seeing two girls standing nearby.

Heather walked with Roger as one of the girls held up a small whiteboard. Roger waved a hand at the one girl, holding his own whiteboard with a red marker. Nevaeh looked smug, while Cindy appeared with crossed arms. Heather could tell it was Lisa Yung's daughter, but this wasn't the same Cindy she knew. It made her wonder why she wasn't with Melany.

"What is going on?" Roger asked while writing on the whiteboard.

Nevaeh said something, but they didn't hear anything until the last couple of words. "And death. Ashley is trying to kill us all. It's awful, and I'm pretty sure she's burned most of Simcoe. Let's see, where do we start? Oh, probably back before the vanishing."

Heather wasn't even sure what to expect from what had happened in the past ten months.

"Greyson and Jason fight all the time because they dislike each other. Luke ended up killing some people, but he's in the lake sliced-up. Greyson did initially kill him, but he turned into one of those psycho followers. Ashley caused a deadly storm where tons of people died," Nevaeh said. "Scarlett and Greyson had Cassandra."

"Do you know why Ashley is killing?" Heather asked as both girls glanced at her.

"Scared of Cassandra," Nevaeh said.

"Ashley's god," Cindy started. "God created the vast majority of this grand problem."

"Then there's psycho Divina, who wants to kill Ashley, but the only way we get out is if Cassandra and Divina kill Ashley," Nevaeh remarked. "Greyson and Jason know they are twins, by the way."

She had been writing a document about Greyson on the day they landed outside Simcoe. People had just been standing outside all together, confused, until they spotted the large bubble that almost blended in with the city.

"We're quite fearful." Nevaeh's words jolted Heather from her trance.

"They will probably lay a lot of charges against some of you," Roger sighed.

"It's fun grabbing whatever you need. After all, most of us would be dead from that storm if we didn't steal," Nevaeh said.

"Police officers won't see it that way," Roger implied.

"Yes, but someone on our side wants to press charges," Nevaeh remarked.

"River Dunlop could," Cindy spat.

The son of Cecile Dunlop, who has been distraught in all her interviews. Why would he want to press charges? His mother doesn't look like the type who'd get pressed with charges.

"Which can get us free since we're all going to live in some fancy mansion he builds," Nevaeh implied. "He's laying charges for sexual assault and child abuse. Nobody expects it through hidden secrets."

"Don't lie, Nevaeh," Roger said.

"Maybe Cassandra is actually right," Cindy started. "They're stupid."

Nevaeh pushed her long hair back with her hand on her hip. "River hasn't left for his duty, which means he could come here."

Heather cast a glance at Roger, who stared, perplexed. "Should we contact Cecile?" she asked as Nevaeh looked on with the urge to laugh.

"Sure, I'll have to contact her," Roger said, going to make a phone call.

Cindy disappeared from her original spot, causing Heather to stare with wide eyes. Did she just magically walk away?

"Are you telling the truth?" Heather asked.

"I'm one of the people who knows the secrets," Nevaeh said with a smirk.

As quickly as she disappeared, Cindy reappeared back with River. The boy seemed lost, then jumped back at the sight of her. Heather remembered seeing him plastered across magazines and gossip columns. He always seemed so carefree, and so effortlessly put-together.

She had seen him in magazines and tabloids, discussing his modelling career that he's done since birth. The articles usually focused on his looks and talent. But there was one articles she remembered vividly: an exposé about an eating disorder he battled, which prevented him from modelling at one point.

"What's going on? Why can we see adults?" River blurted out.

"These two want to confirm the truth," Nevaeh said.

"What?" River had wide eyes, as if he had seen a ghost.

"They don't believe you'll press charges, so they're acting like idiots by attempting to contact your mother," Nevaeh said.

"No, I'm not ready." River panicked as he shook his head various times.

"We're here, though," Nevaeh stated.

Heather watched Cindy walk closer to them as she squeezed his hand before letting go. River had tears in his eyes, almost looking like he'd cry at any moment.

"She'll be coming soon, since she's stuck in traffic right now," Roger said, walking back over. He seemed startled to see River already there. "I just need to confirm with you the charges you will be laying against your mother."

"Sexual assault and..." he trailed off with his eyes closed. "Child abuse..."

"This may be a private question, but when did it happen?" Roger asked.

"I was thirteen, almost fourteen," he mustered out.

Heather stared in shock, but she still didn't know if he had been telling the overall truth.

"You don't believe him?" Nevaeh snarled, her eyes directed at Heather.

"It's no wonder you lied about only having one son," Cindy sneered.

Heather had no clue how they found out the information. Maybe they went snooping, but she didn't have a solid answer.

"Don't look surprised, Heather. Everyone knows the truth because Luke and Scarlett found the information." Nevaeh said.

Heather remembered those two from Uden Academy. Luke Orr, who had an antisocial personality but used violent tactics that could kill a person.

Scarlett Russell, whom she had multiple sessions with. It was always about her seductive behaviour—getting away with things. Heather had seen them, just like she'd seen Greyson, causing some injuries with his mind.

"Nevaeh!" Roger spat.

"I enjoy gossip because I hear it all," Nevaeh started, tapping her temple. "I know the truth, just like River. Don't dismiss my behaviour, because we all aren't the same people anymore."

With that line, Heather turned, hearing a car pull up. Cecile stepped out, staring directly at where her son stood. River appeared he might pass out as he stared down at the ground.

"Heather, could you wait in the car?" Roger asked.

Heather walked back to the car, seeing the panicked expression on Cecile's face.

Esme sped through the open field, the tall grass whipping at her legs. It wasn't that she exactly knew where Ashley's whereabouts was, but she assumed she'd be hiding in one of the bushes. Esme stopped, feeling breathless with her hands on her knees. Cassandra warned people not to go alone, but Esme could do it. After all, she's a superhero.

Looking around the open field, she could see how the bubble looked transparent. She had sped up to look around at all the people, but she didn't see her parents when Cassandra caused a scene.

"Esme!" She turned, seeing a breathless Jade on her own ice. "Are you an idiot?"

"I can take Ashley by myself," Esme chimed as she held up her gun. "How did you even find me?"

"I've been leaving ice trails, plus you'd eventually slow down," Jade stated.

"I'm drinking water and then going searching," Esme said, taking a long drink of water.

Esme had stopped by that new grocery store that entered through the bubble, which gave her more motivation for food to eat. She even took a blue Powerade since it always tastes amazing.

"You should go with at least one person. There's a huge risk of getting killed," Jade panicked.

"Why are you worrying?" Esme asked, eyebrows knitted together.

Jade wasn't one to show such obvious anxiety; usually, she remained a stoic wall, emotions carefully concealed. Maybe she'd been spending too much time with Emma, who partially trembled in nervous energy. It was hilarious.

"I'll tell you later," Jade breathed.

"Tell me!" Esme complained, tugging on the sleeve of her shirt.

"I like you."

Esme tilted her head. "A lot of people like me."

"Not that way."

Esme furrowed her eyebrows in confusion. stared with knitted eyebrows because she didn't have a clue what she was implying. Emma liked her as a friend, which meant it wasn't her statement.

"I knew it," Jade whispered. "Do you like James as a friend?"

"Well, he's cute, plus we made out a couple of times," Esme said while shrugging. "I'm in seventh grade now, so I don't know much about relationships."

"Never mind," Jade grumbled.

Did Emma ever tell her about relationships? If she did, it looked like she'd explode from embarrassment.

One time, Emma threw a blanket over her head when she brought up Bryce kissing her. She had been laughing for a solid twenty minutes.

"Okay, we'll beat Ashley together." Esme beamed, bouncing on her toes. "Did you see her?"

"No," Jade said.

That didn't help with locating anywhere. Could she be with Jason? Others are supposed to be destroying followers, since they can.

"People," someone said, both whirling around.

"Followers!" Esme said with a grin.

There were five followers in the group, and one of them fired Jason's light. This is exactly the type of fight she has been waiting for.

"Yay, they have powers now," Esme cheered as she used her power to speed around and shoot her gun.

Each time she fired a bullet, there was a loud bang. Some of the followers dodged, but she managed to him one. Jade used her power to freeze the followers with Jason's light in place, as Esme shot and destroyed him.

"It's like those shooting games at a carnival!" Esme called, shooting another one.

However, the last follower shot ice at Jade, knocking her down. It was up to Esme to shoot the boy in front of her. She shot quickly and he popped, and she proudly held her gun in the air.

"See, I could have done it myself!" Esme called.

She wondered how many bullets she had left, but she would still manage to find a way. Why was Emma worried about her face? It felt fine, even if it stung a bit.

"Your face is bleeding," Jade pointed out, gesturing to Esme's cheek.

Esme looked down at her hand, which was covered in blood. It must've opened when she was running through the fields because none of the followed touched her.

"Emma's going to be mad at me," Esme sighed, shaking her head.

"You should go back and get it healed," Jade suggested.

"No, it's not even that bad," Esme replied with a grin.

It wasn't too bloody, so it wasn't a concern. If she went back, Emma might refuse to help her because she left without saying anything.

"I can barely feel it, so I'll be fine," Esme reassured, giving a thumbs up. "We got followers beat too. That means we're getting closer to the host-body situation."

"That means someone dying," Jade said.

Esme was determined not to give up her body. Superheroes couldn't always risk their lives, and she wasn't needed alive. Someone else could take the risk, but she didn't know who was willing to do so.

"We need to find Ashley or more followers," Esme exclaimed, bouncing on her toes.

Suddenly, she was knocked to the ground, the wind knocked out of her. Cassandra loomed over her, with her teeth clenched and her eyebrows narrowed.

"You thought I wouldn't find out?" she barked, giving Esme a hard glare.

"Oh yeah, you can locate me," Esme said. "We defeated some followers!"

"I specifically told you not to go after Ashley alone, but you still did," Cassandra grated. "Don't do it again, or you'll end up dead. Zane gave you instructions on where to go, which you should have followed. Don't disobey again."

With that, Cassandra disappeared, leaving Esme pouting.

"See?" Jade started. "She wasn't the only one who knew you were going to die."

Cassandra's anger, one could say, was reminiscent of the punishment Greyson always used to pull.

"Fine," Esme conceded.

She may go alone again at some point, not to make anyone angry, but to prove that she could defeat Ashley.

The sight of his mother terrified him more than Ashley's endgame. Nevaeh continued to hold his hand, but it only made him want to run. It wasn't her touch that left his heart racing, but the trauma of that night—endless crying and purposely throwing up his food.

Boys aren't supposed to battle with such issues, but he has every day since he was sexually assaulted. It was a mix of disgust, fear, and hopelessness.

The maid was the one who caught him sticking his finger down his throat at the house in Toronto. They hired a therapist to help him with his eating disorder, but Cecile threatened him not to talk about what happened.

That had happened two days before the adults disappeared. It's why they left him alone at the cottage while they were off to some fashion show somewhere.

Cecile exclaimed, "I've missed you so much!"

She still looked the same, with her short blonde hair was slightly curled and wearing a new design from her new fashion line that was extremely colourful. Her face was heavily made up in makeup, and she wore expensive diamond earrings.

However, her concern was all a facade, as she was trying to the image of a perfect family in front of the people watching their interaction.

"So, this is the woman who sexually assaulted you?" Nevaeh inquired with a cold smile.

Cecile maintained her small smile, but River could see the panic in her eyes. People did not accuse Cecile for anything, especially not a crime.

"What is she talking about?" the tall police officer with a hooked nose asked.

"I can hear dark secrets. If you want proof, I can get someone," Nevaeh implied. "Cindy," she bopped away.

"It is not right to accuse someone of a crime," Cecile spat.

"No? I don't think it's right to sexually assault a child."

Cindy appeared with Cassandra, who glared sourly. "What? I'm trying to find followers."

"We need you to prove something," Nevaeh stated.

Cassandra faced her palm at Nevaeh, while with the other, she pushed her hand through the bubble. River stared with his jaw dropped as she faced her palms at them.

"How about you watch a movie?" she snarled.

Cassandra flicked a finger, all of them landing on the ground. Pulling back her arm, she placed it at her side. Nevaeh and Cindy even seemed shocked at what Cassandra had performed.

"I'm busy," Cassandra said, disappearing from sight.

"Why are there images in my head?" the second police officer asked, standing back on his feet. The tall cop basically jumped to his feet, his eyes directed at Cecile.

"Is this true?" the police officer asked.

"Is what true?" Cecile asked innocently, acting as if Cassandra didn't do anything.

"Did you sexually assault your son?" the tall officer asked.

"The girl must be pulling some trick," she avoided answering.

River watched both police officers look at each other, then back at them.

"I don't think Cassandra would lie," Nevaeh started. "She's quite an intelligent child."

"From whatever that girl did, she could use a memory of something that could put you behind bars," the tall cop said.

"It's true," River mustered out.

He doubted that his voice would be heard. Adults always saw it as an issue of stress from doing so many shows or just wanting to quit. Nobody ever researched deep into the issue despite the crumbling fear on his face.

"My son is lying. You know how much children lie," Cecile said.

River lowered his eyes to the ground. That was one of her common excuses she used because all the blame always fell into his hands, not anyone else's.

"Do you happen to have other witnesses that know about this?" the second police officer asked.

"Get the four of them," Nevaeh said.

Cindy bopped away, first arriving with Mia. When she saw the police officers, she screamed with her hands up.

Bryce snarked, looking a the police officers. "Looks like they're here to finally arrest you."

These four were the worst people to be witnesses in this investigation. The ones involved with crimes—maybe some of the police officers knew their names.

"We need to ask you some questions," the tall police officer said.

Mia ran straight at the transparent bubble, slamming her body to the ground. It no longer zapped her like it used to, when she touched it.

"Do any of you know about Cecile Dunlop?" All four of them stared, making River wonder if they had no idea who she was.

"She sexually assaulted River. He has some mansion on the island, where your microwave happened to blow up," Mia said, turning to look at them.

"People went to our island?" Cecile asked. "I thought you'd stay on the island for safety."

Bryce stated with a smirk, clearly enjoying the chaos. "Lying parents are quite a sight. We're used to seeing that."

That's right; many students at Uden Academy had issues with their parents. River had heard stories of parents who grew came to hate their children or became fed up with them.

"We're going to miss you so much," Will remarked. "And then proceed not to call."

"If it isn't police officers and adults." Eden said, "what did we do this time?"

"Why on earth does she have a gun?" Roger exclaimed.

Eden smiled as she stood with a shotgun, pointing it at people on the outside. Her eyes were dark and devoid of humanity when she looked a the police. The crackheads seemed unbothered by her threatening behaviour, nor did they appeared about being near four police officers.

"Mia will end up shooting herself in the foot," Bryce stated, his hands in his pockets.

River then noticed more police cars arriving at the scene. Did they call for backup when they couldn't even touch them?

"What's going on, Bryan's?" one female police officer asked, walking over with three more.

One of them suspiciously eyed them before pointing a finger at Eden. "I know her," he spat.

Will and Mia burst into laughter. "Eden's going to jail again!" they both exclaimed, holding their sides.

"From that new crime documentary on Netflix about the family of seven children," he said. "The Weber family."

Eden had her chin tilted up, as if she was looking down on them. Was this her true nature was all along? He knew she was apathetic, but she seemed to view the police beneath her.

"That's Eden Weber? She doesn't even look like herself," Bryan's gasped.

"I forgot how famous you are," Mia awed.

"I'm surprised they recognized me," Eden remarked, scanning over the small crowd in front of them.

River had no idea about the crime documentary involving Eden. He didn't like watching shows that were about true crime, as they always made him feel on edge.

"River," the female police officer called out, causing him to jump. "Are you certain you want to make these sexual assault claims?"

He gulped and nodded, his eyes fixed on the ground. The main issue was still in front of him: his mother, who wore a victorious smile, as if she knew she would win as she always did.

"One of the girls gave us evidence," Bryan stated.

Cecile whipped to face the police officer, her eyebrows furrowed in confusion. River watched as the other police officer placed a hand on his mother's back.

"You're under arrest for sexual assault against a minor," the police officer declared.

"He's lying!" Cecile exclaimed.

"Karma is quite a bitch," Eden snarled with a smirk.

Two police officers escorted her to a car and drove off. River stood frozen, as if it were all a dream.

"We'll have to talk to you alone again. Can we meet tomorrow?" The female officer asked.

River slowly nodded, realizing that this time it wasn't going after the followers this time. Instead, he went after his mother and actually won for once in his life.

As the police officer drove away from the scene, everything came crashing. River fell on his knees, and buried his face in his hands. Tears streamed down his cheeks, hot and uncontrollable, as he shook his head.

Did that actually happen? Had this actually been some kind of dream? All of it felt so overwhelming that he didn't know the exact reason why he was crying.

"Wow, we actually weren't the perpetrators of a crime!" Mia exclaimed.

None of them touched to hug him, which he knew why. They knew that touch terrified him more than any normal adolescent.

"It's not completely over, but we got somewhere," Nevaeh said softly, crouching down.

Years of not only surviving sexual assault, but grappling with the pressures to be the perfect model. He often felt like a marionette doll, dangling on strings pulled by his mother's expectations, leaving him trapped.

"Does she really get arrested?" he whispered, glancing up through glossy eyes.

"Normally they do, but they have to go through a bunch of stuff," Nevaeh said, shrugging.

River hugged Nevaeh and Cindy, which surprised him. From meeting people who didn't care how they appeared, despite being labelled, they always couldn't care less about others opinions.

Cecile had to make sure he had the perfect expectations, especially with clients. Half of the issue has been handled.

"Okay, it's time to go follower killing," Mia cheered.

"Zane paired you four together? Is he going crazy?" Nevaeh asked with a smirk.

"Yeah, we're being assigned," Will implied, pointing at Nevaeh.

"Most freaks are going hunting for followers," Bryce remarked, hand on his hip.

"Those things are such creeps. That's why I'm the one shooting the gun," Mia said with a grin.

Anyone knew that it had been a bad idea. Not for the sake of Mia not having power, but because it's Mia. Someone who would laugh if Ashley got shot, causing her to fall to the ground.

"That will be interesting," Cindy stated with a frown.

River wondered if anyone else without powers had been sent. It could be someone who wants to risk their life. He's supposed to meet a police officer tomorrow while people are out killing followers.

"We got our food," Bryce remarked, waving a hand back at them.

"Don't get lost!" Will called out with a grin as Mia and Eden rushed to keep up with the two boys.

Inside, River felt that the group might fail.

River finally got his voice heard! And we finally got to see what is happening in the outside world.