Scarlett slumped against the RV window, her head heavy with exhaustion. She felt herself being shaken awake, pulled from her sleep by the persistent stirring of the world outside.

Cassandra stared at her, blinking rapidly, as if trying to piece together where she was. Scarlett watched her, wondering how much of the chaos her daughter had really processed.

Cindy had brought her back without saying much about what happened—just as usual.

Eventually Scarlett fell asleep because her body was still trying to catch up with her after everything that had been going on.

"I'm awful, Mom!" Cassandra's voice trembled. "I... I let two people die. I didn't have the energy to save them because I was trying to drain Ashley's power. I'm supposed to help but I... I couldn't."

Scarlett felt a pang of sympathy and a little worry. Would Cassandra blame herself like this forever? Who on earth did she get that from? Could that be from herself when she blamed herself for what happened with Emma?

It was her fault because she didn't bluntly say Greyson wasn't into her. Even the endless manipulation of those around her to get something she or Greyson wanted.

Cassandra sank down and rested her face against Scarlett's shoulder. "Why do I feel sad? I didn't feel this way about the other deaths. Is it... is it my they died? Emma and James... Divina went chasing after Ashley. I... I don't know."

"You can't always save everyone," Scarlett said softly, lifting her daughter's chin. "Even if you have the powers, some things are out of your hands."

Cassandra didn't look up. Her hands fidgeted with a dirty pillow, tracing invisible patterns. "But why? I've never seen people die," she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Scarlett felt tears welling in her eyes and brushed them away. She had seen people around her die—sometimes at the hands of others, sometimes left cold beneath the snow. It hadn't just been Ashley's bloody hands.

She didn't witness many deaths during the storm, except when they weren't all that way. She was close to actually being murdered. It wasn't from Luke, but David had actually left her fearing for her life when he shot at her. All she had chosen was to grab the boy he had a crush on, pulling him to be a witness to Collin's disappearance.

That was the moment when fear began to consume her. She wasn't sure if it was her own life or Greyson's, since he had used his power to reflect the bullet that killed David. One thing was certain—the experience had left her feeling terrified.

"Well, when people die, they no longer exist. No talking to them or playing games with them," Scarlett said.

Cassandra pressed herself against Scarlett, her hands shaking as she clutched her sleeve.

"I don't want to die..." she whispered.

Scarlett's stomach twisted. "What are you talking about?"

Cassandra swallowed hard, tears pooling in her eyes. "I don't know if Father told you... but when we defeat Ashley... I'll die."

Scarlett felt as though the world had dropped from under her. She blinked, uncomprehending, then pressed her hands to Cassandra's face.

"But why?" she asked.

Her chest ached, and for a heartbeat, she couldn't even breath. This wasn't how it was supposed to go.

"It's because of my powers. It will all happen soon, but it depends on Divina's attitude," Cassandra explained. "I will try to seal away the last power. I want to make sure that you are all free."

"I thought you couldn't do anything unless you were in close contact," Scarlett said.

Cassandra shrugged, fiddling with her fingers. She wanted to help her child, but she knew she couldn't change the inevitable truth. The final battle was something she couldn't control.

"I don't want to die, Mom," Cassandra voice trembled, her eyes filling with tears. "I know it will make you sad, but I want you to be safe. I'm sorry if I'm disappointing you."

Scarlett wrapped her arms around Cassandra, pressing her face into her daughter's long hair. Warm tears slid down her cheeks, soaking Cassandra's shoulder.

She held on as if letting go could shatter them both.

"You could never disappoint me," Scarlett whispered. "You will be saving us, right?"

Seeing the true battle would be the true pain. Greyson was still out with Jason, tracking Ashley with fireworks or weapons. Either way, Scarlett knew that she wouldn't be walking out of this place with her child.

She could always have children in the future when she coped with everything that happened. It all depended on the situation, since getting pregnant was a slip. It wasn't planned, but due to not using protection.

Cassandra lifted her palm, and a soft white light spread across her skin.

Scarlett watched, shocked how simple draining Ashley's powers seemed. It wasn't some giant blast that could destroy everything in its way.

Cassandra's shoulders slumped. "It's done," she whispered.

Her chest heaved and Scarlett could see the effort it had taken to seal the last power away.

Scarlett didn't think it would be so quick, but there had only been one power left. Now came the final part of tracking Ashley, for which Zane may recommend all of them going there.

"Now, we have to find Divina and confront Ashley. I'm guessing the two are together, considering how crazy Divina is," Cassandra said, looking disturbed by her own words. "We need all the help we have, even if they aren't freaks. We've lost a lot of freaks, so it isn't as if Ashley is going to burn everything. Everyone has to fight, because this is the endgame."

Divina scanned the dim highway, irritation tightening her expression. Cassandra was supposed to erase Ashley's powers completely, yet someone how remained—the ability to melt through solid ground.

Maybe Cassandra hadn't erased Ashley's powers after all, but those high ranks were gone.

The only problem that remained was that there was no Cassandra to get rid of the remaining powers. She left her alone in this place she didn't know very well.

"Stupid god," Divina mumbled.

Humans were strange.

They mourned each other endlessly, yet God was still alive.

Priorities clearly meant nothing to them.

Divina rolled her eyes on the cracked highway. She yawned, rubbed her eyes, and let exhaustion pass unnoticed.

Why bother with concern when the hunt had already begun? There was no reason for that problem, which left the solution: weaken Ashley without its powers.

Could these weakly humans on the outside do it?

She smirked, watching Ashley rise from the ground. This is exactly what Divina needed after waiting through this agony. In her mind, there was no better remedy for pleasure than torturing that thing.

"Has that stupid mind of yours remembered your powers?" Divina snarled, her hands on her hips.

Ashley's jaw tightened.

"Yes," she said, though uncertainty flickered behind her eyes.

"Oh really? Then tell me the names of the humans," Divina sneered.

"Conner," Ashley began, but then fell silent.

"Is that all?" Divina laughed, shaking her head. "Cassandra shattered your mind so badly you can't even remember any of the powers you had? Pathetic. It's probably because you took over a body that can literally do nothing!"

Divina gaze flickered to a large broken lingered nearby, its wood decayed. She wobbled over and picked it up.

"You're ridiculous, goddess," Ashley snapped. "You think I'm weak?"

"Go on," Divina taunted, swinging the branch into Ashley's stomach. "Prove you're really a god."

She swung the branch like a bat, aiming for Ashley's head.

Divina smiled as Ashley doubled over in pain.

Every strained breath, every twitch of weakness, filled her with satisfaction.

"Quit making me suffer," Ashley sneered.

"Why would I ever stop that? It's quite amusing to watch squirm like an ant," Divina replied, stomping her foot on the broken highway.

The paved roads had been destroyed by the storm that Ashley had caused. Most of them were filled with holes or ripped up.

Divina watched as Ashley began to sink into the ground to disappear.

She lunged forward, seized Ashley's wrist, and spun her around hard enough to hurl her into a dead tree.

Divina's mind felt dizzy in a strange way, but she didn't care about weakness.

She walked toward Ashley's body slowly.

There was no need to hurry.

Ashley could barely crawl now.

"It's all perfect what Cassandra did. I wonder what would have happened if she got rid of them all on the spot," Divina taunted.

God had always been such a weak creation, which is why Divina knew that she would excel in everything.

"This wouldn't have happened if that child hadn't been born, and you know it! Everyone would be dead by now."

Divina rolled her eyes at Ashley's accusation. She always blamed everything on the mutant child, but in reality, it didn't matter. There would always be a way for her to win over this stupid thing.

"I still could have broken in a human. Did that thought ever cross your mind?" Divina snarled. "I couldn't care less about humans dying, but you must die."

Divina began gliding her fingers over Ashley's crispy cheeks, feeling the texture of the burnt skin beneath her touch. She poked repeatedly at her flesh until Ashley's screams pierced through the air, making her grin deviously.

With all her strength, Divina lifted the heavy branch high above her head and slammed it right onto Ashley's forehead, knocking her out cold. She then grabbed her right leg and dragging her down the highway.

As she pulled Ashley along through the dried fields, thoughts circled her mind, What could she do with this thing? Drown it in the lake until it stops wiggling around? No, she had already tried that, and it wasn't effective.

Maybe she could throw Ashley to the humans instead.

Let them see what this ugly god had become.

Yes.

That sounded entertaining.

If Divina emerged victorious, it could lead to her dominance over these humans with her own rules.

She hurled Ashley toward the transparent barrier surrounding the ruined town.

The invisible surface rippled like water the moment Ashley slammed into it, violently throwing her backward on the highway.

Divina tightened her grip around the branch, feeling its rough texture dig into her palms. A wicked grin spreading across her lips as she noticed the size of the branch begin to increase.

Power pulsed through her body for the first time in what felt like forever.

Her grin widened.

Finally, something answered her.

"What's happening?" Ashley demanded.

"Time is up, God," Divina sneered. "I've said that with the storm stopping, Cassandra being born, and now this."

Divina lifted Ashley weightlessly and hurled her against the barrier again.

Ashley slammed again the barrier and crumpled onto the highway again.

Embarrassing.

"It can't be! She wasn't even in range, and you still can't until she finds us," Ashley snarled.

Divina slammed the large branch into Ashley's face, snapping her nose. "Bold of you to assume that."

Did Ashley always have to be this stupid? The moment Cassandra erased that list of powers from her mind, it was as if something cracked in Ashley's mind. Honestly, she wouldn't be surprised if her brain was split into pieces.

Humans crowded beyond the barrier, staring like frightened animals.

Divina didn't care about them.

They couldn't harm her from any distance.

Were they idiotic like Ashley? How did they assume breaking in with a helicopter would work when she had her own powers? No, they are all weak humans who can't provide anything. Only the mutants can help, which would become the new choice. It happened quicker than she assumed, but that didn't matter to her at all. If she had power, she'd be satisfied.

Divina gripped Ashley by the throat, her fingers tightening around her skin. hands strangling her despite having no pulse. Ashley wasn't even human anymore, but something inhuman, just like her. The girl before was no longer the golden girl, but someone who had blood on her hands and enjoyed murder.

"Are you ready to die, God? I can't wait for this to happen," Divina taunted.

Ashley managed to crack open an eye just as Divina smashed her foot against her cheek.

"That means you die, and that child," Ashley growled. "All three of us die, and you don't seem concerned at all."

Divina wasn't concerned because if Ashley died, all her plans would succeed.

Dying was always her goal.

She tightened her grip around Ashley neck as her nails dug uselessly into Divina's arms.

Their faces were inches apart.

"Do you think I care?" Divina whispered. "I would burn this entire world to watch you die."

They were sitting on the highway, staring at the destroyed Paradise Hotel. Emma wanted to move, but her body refused.

It wasn't exhaustion from the road or the fighting—it was what came after. The weight of Esme and Jade being gone sat heavy in her chest.

She had arrived too late, just like with Melany.

The memory came back without warning—stairs under her feet, too fast, too loud.

Then Melany on the floor. Still. A gunshot wound in her chest.

Emma had screamed, but the sound felt far away.

She remembered not moving after that—just standing there, frozen, as if her body forgotten how.

"We'll have to go back eventually," James said after a long pause.

Nevaeh lit another sparkler. It flared to life with a sharp hiss, scattering pale sparks in the dark.

For a moment, it almost looked harmless—like normality trying to exist in a place that didn't allow it anymore.

If anyone had seen them from a distance, they might've mistaken it for kids fooling around I n the night, not something happening in a shadow of a destroyed hotel and too many graves.

Their impression of them would always be one of fear, considering these powers may never go away. Healing, superhuman strength, mind reading, and burning light. The hospital would probably want her to help, but she didn't want to be a nurse.

They may put Nevaeh in helping with collecting information or using James' strength to their advantage.

"I'm sure Divina is getting ready to finally beat that thing," James remarked.

Emma forced her thoughts away from it. Dwelling on death never helped anyone survive it.

"Great. Love a future filled with court dates and people watching is breath," Nevaeh said dryly. "If they're hot, it may not be a problem."

Somewhere, Bryce was off with the crackheads. They were all crazy, but she was dating Bryce. It still amazed her that someone had actually fallen in love with her. She wasn't sure if that had been possible with how insecure she had been.

"Should we get back to find out where this fight is?" River asked, turning to look at them. He still seemed uneasy, despite his mother getting arrested.

But it still followed her anyway—memories that didn't feel like memories so such as injuries that never closed properly. Betrayal had always felt like that. Something that didn't kill you, just changed how you healed afterward.

Sometimes it came back in fragments—like Cindy teleporting into the infirmary, talking so casually about a secret affair and how Greyson had been using her as part of a scheme.

Emma never knew what part hurt more: the betrayal itself, or how normal Cindy made it sound.

"We're almost out of here," James mumbled. "Cassandra has one last power to drain, I think, then it's hospitalization and court sessions."

Emma vividly remembered seeing death repeatedly during the storm. Every day, someone would die or cough up their lungs. She still had a weak stomach, which made her feel nauseous thinking about the whole thing.

"We'll be getting charges like Mia," Nevaeh said.

Mia had a reputation as a stoner, who Emma kept away from. She remembered during an assembly when Mia had been dragged her out by two teachers. According to Bryce, it was for the questioning of the first Simcoe party that they crashed, where some items from the house were stolen.

One part of herself may always have a bit of doubt about everything. When you're betrayed and have that help, all of it doesn't leave. Sometimes, telling information left her fearing if someone would break her trust.

Emma stared at the dirt clinging under her nails. No matter how much she washed it, it stayed.

The lake had been cold, but it hadn't been enough to make her feel clean.

She didn't move for a moment, letting the stillness sit there.

"Well," Nevaeh said, breaking the quiet. "We do have to get back."

She was right, but Emma didn't move at first. A part of her longed to stay it this moment of quietness, especially with the news of death in her heart. On the other hand, she wanted to move and relax in her RV.

Without great effort, she wobbly stood, nearly losing her balance as she felt her muscles ache. She exhaled slowly, reminding herself she couldn't fall into despair on death, even though Esme and Jade had died.

"Yeah..." Emma trailed off, as she rubbed her tired eyes.

She didn't like it when her eyes felt raw, especially since it made her feel weak. One small part of herself would always be that way, even if she successfully didn't get down on everything.

"We could still shoot fireworks off," River suggested. "I know Greyson took some, but I'm sure people still want to see a show."

Nevaeh turned to James. "James, what's the best approach?"

James rubbed his eyes as he scanned the dimly lit area them. "Let's give them a memorial for those who died," he said solemnly.

The final show was to remember all those who had fought through hardships only for their lives to end in death.

"It's not that we can all properly grieve by fighting," he implied.

People she had grown close to ended up dying. She sadly knew that Esme's ego often led her into dangerous situations. Considering that Jade died first, it wasn't about her ego, but she had still gone on reckless adventures that could end her up murdered.

"Should we shoot them off in Simcoe? I'm sure Mark could be there to help," Emma suggested.

James had his lips pressed together, getting back on his feet. Maybe it could have been that he felt that dreadful feeling like she did right now.

"That should be okay, unless Ashley appears. I doubt it with Divina having her own powers," James said.

Emma felt a shiver run down her arms, knowing that somewhere in the shadows lurked a deranged girl intent on torturing Ashley. She watched Nevaeh grab a sparkler and light it with a match. The sparkler burst to life, showering tiny sparks like fireflies against the darkened sky. It was crazy how something so simple could create such beauty.

"It's a long walk. We should drive," James said, nodding toward the car.

No one argued. There wasn't enough energy left for it.

Nevaeh tilted the sparkler upside down, standing with a smirk.

"You have to be careful!" Emma exclaimed in. "You'll be doing something Eden would do!"

"I'm not crazy like that girl," Nevaeh replied casually. "You think I'm ruthless enough to set cars on fire?"

Emma rubbed her sore eyes, drained from crying and lack of sleep, as she waited for them to decide what to do next.

"Are you sure we won't run out of gas? Plus, we don't know where everyone else is and..." she rambled, but she watched Nevaeh's smirk grow.

"Is someone worried Bryce might have been involved with the fire?" Nevaeh teased.

Emma's eyes flickered up instantly.

She had never understood that worrying about someone you love could be so consuming.

When she dated Greyson, she always had questions that stemmed from her insecurities and doubts about their relationship.

"Uh, we're not focusing on that right now," Emma rushed out, stiffly walking over to the car.

She was worried about what had happened at Uden, though she doubted it was just a faulty fuel tank. The only person who could have burned down Uden Academy was Eden.

"I mean, we could try and find them," Nevaeh said. "But I think it's best we shoot off fireworks. I'm not in the mood to die today."

"Okay," Emma replied softly.

The sky was still dark with a distant glow of fire. Cassandra might clear up all this once she has finished whenever those two fight. Emma could only imagine that it might be today.

Nevaeh was already moving, heading toward the water's edge. She tossed the sparkler in without ceremony—it hissed out instantly, swallowed by the dark.

She walked past the ruins of Paradise Hotel.

Emma hesitated for a second before following. The sand shifted under her steps, cold and um even.

Nevaeh held the sparkler, its light dancing across her face. "Ever get a kick out of doing something you shouldn't?"

"No," Emma said quietly.

Nevaeh raised an eyebrow, like she didn't believe her. Then she flicked the sparkler into the water. It hissed in a soft sizzle, like it was never meant to matter in the first place.

"I stood up to my father, since he's always disliked the way I'm a gossip machine," she said, looking at her. "Plus, I got someone arrested, so it's a win-win situation."

Emma pressed her lips together as the waves whispered against the sand. The gentle rhythm should have been soothing, but her heart still raced, and a low hum of unease throbbed im her chest.

"Maybe I've just become heartless or something for parents," Nevaeh mused, her hands resting casually behind her head. "We've become so used to pain in this place that everyone has changed. I think the biggest example is Cindy."

The vivid memory floated in Emma's mind of running into the infirmary only to see Cindy cradling a lifeless body in her arms.

Its was a scene that stuck in her mind, once that marked a turning point for her understanding of evil.

For the first time, she recognized how malicious Luke was and the horrors of murder.

"I mean, who'd expect the golden girl and golden boy to sacrifice themselves?" Nevaeh continued. "They were always so popular in school, caring mostly about themselves."

Emma was one who didn't expect either of them to sacrifice their lives for a cause. When she learned about Stick's situation, it had to be about his redemption. He had chosen to save Mallory's life over his own that many would considered noble.

Although, Emma couldn't help but wonder if this act stemmed from the ruin he had made on own life, leading him to believe that Mallory deserved a chance at life while he no longer did.

"Well, we should get going before the final showdown happens," Nevaeh remarked, turning on her heel.

Emma looked back at the water one last time. The surface was calm, as if nothing had happened at all.

Behind her, the ruins of Paradise Hotel loomed in silence. Ahead of her, the darkness felt heavier.

The end of this would be approaching the hell of the real world.

Divina's powers are back and Cassandra dies during the final fight...

What do you think Ashley has in store for them?