Jason's vision blurred, bursts of bright light flashing behind his eyelids. His arms ached where they were bound above him, wrists digging into the projector mount on the smart board. Below him, Luke stood unimpressed.

He didn't know where they had taken Bella, but if he didn't figure out a way to escape soon, he might not live long enough to find out.

"Maybe he just needs Jesus," Eden said sweetly, hands folded in prayer.

Jason coughed, tasting blood from his cracked lip.

Luke loomed nearby, silently studying him with a golf club hanging loosely in his right hand.

Jason needed a plan before he ended up nothing more than another body on the floor.

"He doesn't need Jesus," Luke snapped.

"Let's pray," Eden murmured, already folding her hands and closing her eyes.

Jason remembered Esme saying some students were devout Catholics. It wasn't the strange Bible verses that unsettled him though—it was Eden. She prayed calmly in front of a blank white wall, almost too calm.

"It won't work on him, Eden," Luke sneered, his grip tightening on the golf club.

This went from going grocery shopping to learning about the art of prayer. Hopefully, Esme had already found Bella, since she'd been the one who had come to help.

"There's nothing wrong with prayer," Eden said, her voice lifting to a higher pitch.

"Where's the old Eden who used to sneak off campus with those crackheads?" Luke snarled.

Jason thought Eden's innocent smile cracked for a second, replaced by a cold glare. Then it returned—darker this time.

"Are you trying to hit a nerve you shouldn't?" Eden taunted, her voice turning dark.

Luke gripped the golf club like a baseball bat and swung it hard into Jason's side. Pain exploded through his hip and hissed at the impact.

"Shut up, Eden," Luke snapped before spinning a round and punching Eden in the nose. "That's for the other day."

Eden staggered back, one hand rising to her face. She wiped her fingers across her nose and looked down at the smear of blood with eerie calm.

Luke swung at Jason again, aiming the club at his side. He gritted his teeth, pain flaring in his ribs.

Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Eden reach for the second golf club that leaned against the wall. In one swift motion, she lunged forward, swinging it hard into the back of Luke's head. He let out a pained yelp, his hand flying to the back of his head.

"Don't disrespect the crackheads," Eden hissed. "I might be reformed, but I can still be the old me when I want."

Taking advantage of the situation, Jason twisted his palms toward Luke. Blue light shot from his hands, scorching the golf club from Luke's grip.

"Trying to burn my body now?" Luke sneered, eyes flashing with amusement as he grabbed a metal ruler on a nearby desk.

Jason narrowed his eyes at the crazed boy before him. Luke thrived on pain and suffering—it didn't matter that Jason held a burning power; all Luke cared about was the torment he could inflict.

He angled his hands toward Luke, aiming his power at the ruler. Instead of merely melting the ruler out of Luke's grasp, it shot straight towards Luke's forearm. The burning light seared down Luke's skin and he screamed.

Urgency surged through Jason as he dropped down from the projector. His wrists were tightly bound, but he sprinted toward the door.

Pausing briefly, he scanned the classroom for anything that could free him. His eyes landed on a metal door handle, and began sawing at the ropes with determination.

Just as Jason launched down the hall, a sharp blow caught the back of his thigh. He hit to the floor hard. Pain shot through him. A cry escaped his lips as he turned his head. Eden stood there. Her smile was innocent but her eyes cold and unreadable.

"This wasn't to help you," she said casually, swinging the golf club with effortless ease. "Better watch your back for the crackheads."

"Found you!" Esme shouted, grabbing Jason's wrists without hesitation and speeding off down the hall.

Jason murmured. "I think I burned half of Luke's arm off. Eden hit him too."

Fear, confusion, and relief tangled in Jason's mind as he wrestled with the consequences of his power. Had he killed Luke with that blast to the arm? The last time he used his power was against Maverick, when he accidentally burned off his fingers off.

Esme sped through the school halls until she skidded to a stop in front of Zane. He stood by the fire truck, eyes wide with concern.

For a second, Jason couldn't move. The lights were too bright, the air too open, his ribs still screaming like Luke might step out of the shadows at any moment.

"I think I bought us some time," he said quietly as Zane and Esme lifted him into the back of the fire truck.

"He burned off half of Luke's arm. That's a huge advantage!" Esme said, settling down behind him in truck. "And you said Eden hit him too?"

"That so-called innocent Catholic wasn't looking so innocent," Jason muttered through gritted teeth.

Jason tried to pinpoint what had sparked Eden's anger. Then he recalled Luke mention of crackheads. Weren't those street addicts? It didn't add up if Eden was really involved with them.

In the back of the fire truck, Bella lay curled on her side across seats. Jason gently shifted her, resting her head on his lap.

"It was mostly Eden's power doing," Esme said.

Jason gritted his teeth as a sharp pain flared in his side with every movement. Why did he always end up hurt whenever he came here?

Zane started up the fire truck and headed back toward town under the darkening sky.

Greyson wanted war right before their birthday, but was it about power or personal resentment? Jason didn't care; all he wanted was to help, not make things worse.

"Wait, what about Devon and Cindy?" Yara asked, glancing at Zane.

"Forget him. He's a prick who thinks Greyson will promote him," Esme muttered, pulling on her thick socks and tying them tightly to ease the pain.

"Cindy probably teleported back to the infirmary," Zane said.

"Who?" Bella murmured, her voice hoarse. Still dazed, she lifted a hand and pinched Jason's nose.

"Ow!" Jason hissed sharply.

"I just wanted to get groceries," Bella slurred, slowly coming back to herself.

Suddenly, Zane slammed on the brakes. "Bodies," he said, leaning out the open window.

Jason tried to look but the pain in his side held him back. He watched Yara climb out of the track to help, while Esme leaned halfway out the window.

"Are we in Simcoe?" Bella asked, her hands resting gently on Jason's cheeks.

"Dead bodies," Esme said grimly.

Seeing dead bodies has become a natural occurrence. But there was a difference between the deaths caused by Ashley's actions and those from reckless stunts by kids.

Jason heard the back door of the truck creak open, accompanied by muffled thumps as Zane and Yara moved in and out.

"There were three," Esme mumbled, leaning farther out of the window to get a better look.

Zane and Yara climbed back into the truck, apparently unfazed. Had everyone numb to this kind of violence?

In the real world, murder meant a trial, handcuffs and orange jumpsuits. But inside The Bubble there were no laws. No justice. People could kill and walk away, unless they crossed Luke and his thugs. Then the punishment was far worse than prison.

Zane started the engine and glanced at the glowing gas light. "We've got enough for now. But, if we keep making these Uden Academy runs, we'll run out in a week," he said.

Bella looked up at Jason, worry flicking in her eyes. He wasn't sure what crazier—the idea of the fire department rolling in on a golf cart, or that a child had an apartment complex ablaze with uncontrolled powers. Neither gave him much confidence in their safety.

"Shouldn't," he mumbled, though even he didn't believe it.

Luke losing his arm had slowed things down, but Greyson was still plotting, even without full control. If he came down to a fight, what could Jason even do? He couldn't spike a volleyball, but not throw a punch.

As they reached Simcoe, Zane pulled up outside of Coffee Culture—a cozy little café with a red-and-while exterior that looked too peaceful for everything they'd been through.

Jason carefully lifted Bella from her seat—she was dazed, her eyes glassy and distant. As he shifted his weight, a sharp pain tore through his side, forcing him to press a hand against the spot, gritting his teeth to keep steady.

Esme helped guide Bella out of the truck; she stumbled, then clutched Jason's shoulders to steady herself.

Zane pushed open the café door, and a soft bell chimed overhead.

Behind the white counter Nevaeh stood, a familiar smirk playing on her lips. "It's been a while," she said slyly, sliding steaming cups of hot chocolate toward them as she leaned casually on the counter.

"I work here?" Bella asked, her voice rough.

"It helps me keep up with the gossip," Nevaeh said with a mischievous smile.

The air was thick with warm scene of coffee grounds and sweet chocolate.

Jason sank onto one of the bright red stools near the counter. The counter curved the café like a border, each section lined with matching stools. Small black tables filled the rest of the space, some cluttered with empty cups or used plates.

"Well, Jason burned off Luke's arm, which is great!" Esme cheered, grabbing a sugar packet and pouring it onto her tongue.

"You burned off Luke's arm?" Nevaeh asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Kinda," Jason muttered, shrugging carefully as he clutched his side.

Bella slid onto the stool beside him and let her head rest on the counter. Her blonde hair was tangled, falling into her face as she winced.

"Come on, it's a yes or no," Nevaeh teased, smirking.

"Okay, yes," Jason admitted. "It didn't exactly fall off."

Esme shot him a look, eyebrows knitted in confusion, then glanced at Zane, silently begging him to take one of the dozen sugar packets she'd stashed away.

Bella lifted her head slowly. "Do you think they'll cut it off?"

Jason wasn't sure what to believe. Would they really amputate Luke's entire arm? Or was that just another rumour swirling in the chaos? And if Luke couldn't fight back, would Greyson take the chance to finish him off for good?

"Plus, you got abducted. That kicked off a whole wave of gossip after Zane went after you. Xander and a few others tried to step up in, but honestly? It didn't make much of a difference," Nevaeh said.

Zane leaned in. "Any new strange events?" he asked, eyes narrowing.

Nevaeh snapped her fingers. "I heard Ashley made more holes."

Zane's dark eyes went wide, mirroring Jason's own panic. More holes meant more danger, and more lives at risk.

"Rumour has it the holes are opening up behind Rick's Gas Station," Nevaeh said.

Rick's Gas Station sat on the edge of town, isolated on the south side—more a place to pass through then linger.

"We could top off the gas if we figure out how to use the pump," Jason said, glancing at Zane.

"But we'd need cash or a card to pay," Zane reminded him.

Gas pumps didn't just spit out fuel without payment. Jason had seen his mom deal with this when filling up their red car.

"Here," Nevaeh said, sliding a hundred dollars in cash across the counter. "Some kids wanted the latest gossip, so I told them it came with a price."

Jason held the cash uncertainly. "Will it even work? I don't even know how to pump gas."

Nevaeh smirked. "Here's the tip: stick the nozzle in the circle, not the exhaust. Learned thats the hard way."

Jason raised an eyebrow. "You've done this before?"

"A dozen times," Nevaeh said, grinning. "Don't ask."

"I know how to pump gas," Zane said, catching Jason's glance.

Having one person who actually knew the ropes was a relief.

If energetic Esme tried pumping gas, Jason was certain she'd somehow shove the nozzle into the exhaust pipe. He knew better—that it wasn't supposed to go in there—and the last thing he wanted was the fire truck blowing up. That was a nightmare he wasn't eager to experience before vanishing.

Jason didn't want to disappear. Not now. Not when Bella had already lost so much. Teagan had rekindled their friendship, but most of her friends hadn't. If he vanished too, what would that do to her? And if he was gone, who would stop the chaos when he and Greyson left?

Ashley smiled coldly as she stared down at the fresh hole she created, and four kids lost to it. If this kept up, more would be drawn to her cause, pulled into her vision.

She was no longer the girl they mocked, the one they threw stones at during recess. She was something else now.

With each victory, Ashley pictured herself changing—not just growing stronger, but become someone worth looking at. Maybe then she'd look like those humans, Scarlett and Bella. Why had she had been born so ugly.

"Because you're ugly."

Ashley jerked at the voice, eyes darting around the deserted gas station for any sign of movement. That words lingered faint and distant, like a mocking echo.

Without hesitation, she grabbed a lifeless body by the arm, dragging it across the tangled grass that swallowed the empty field.

"Did you hear that? The goddess?" Vickie whispered, one of Ashley's many willing followers. "Maybe it's just an animal or some kind of plant?"

"You can't read, right? Probably can't even tell the difference between right and left."

A surge of anger bubbled inside Ashley as that mocking voice pierced her thoughts.The goddess could only reach here in her mind, because she was God. The controller of everything in this stupid human body.

Ashley wasn't a name fit for someone like her. It was a weak human name. The goddess had no real name, just an arrogant presence that made Ashley want to hurl a car.

"I know you're toying with me!" Ashley screamed, echoing across the empty field.

"No one's there?" David asked, furrowing his eyebrows as he hefted a dead body over his shoulder.

"Goddess," Ashley hissed, her teeth clenched.

"Tick-tock... oh right, time is too advanced for you."

That was the last straw. Ashley dropped the corpse's arm with a thud and scanned the field, breath quickening. Her eyes locked onto heap of leaves forming ahead—twisted into the vague shape of a person, yet faceless.

"You're a leaf?" Ashley scoffed. "That's what you decide to be?"

In an instant, Vickie and David vanished from sight. Ashley clenched her fists. She knew what the goddess could do, even without a physical form. It didn't need a body to contact her.

"How are you doing this?" Ashley barked.

The goddess drifted closer, each step barely touching the ground. Ashley's eyes tracked the glowing mass of leaves that now formed a jagged arm, shimmering with unnaturally.

A blast hit Ashley before she could react. She flew through the air, slamming against an oak tree. Bark tore at her skin. Pain exploded in her ribs.

"Shouldn't you have the answers, God?" Goddess mocked.

David charged forward, while the goddess made him disappear by popping behind him and hitting him in the back of the neck.

"Oops," Goddess chuckled.

"If you're just a pile of leaves, then I know exactly how to burn you," Ashley snapped with a sly grin.

"Gonna grab a leaf blower? What if I'm a stop sign? Or a fish?" Goddess laughed.

Ashley gritted her teeth. "You aren't alive," she spat.

A twisted smile flickered across the goddess's faceless form—a gap between the orange and yellow leaves where a mouth might be.

"How am I talking?" Goddess taunted. "Ever think someone broke into your domain, God? Or maybe someone else created me? But you're too stupid to even wonder."

"You broke in, didn't you?" Ashley growled, teeth clenched tight. "This is my domain, not yours!"

"My rules, which means you're going to get killed. When I make my appearance, you will realize I'll be just like you," the goddess said.

The goddess shifted, reshaping into something entirely new. Ashley stumbled back, her racing. How could it form like that? But questions wouldn't work. She needed a new way to stop it.

"Boo hoo!" the goddess cackled.

It extended its hand towards Ashley with a swift motion, causing her to fall harshly onto her back. The goddess lunged forward, jumping onto her stomach. A sharp pain shot through her as felt begin to crack her ribs crack as she screeched out in agony.

"I know how to end you," the goddess hissed, tracing a cold thumb slowly across her throat.

"You'd never really do this," Ashley said.

"Really? You think I'm the kind to be nice to those I hate?" Goddess sneered.

Ashley forced herself up, muscles burning as she shoved the goddess off her chest. She wasn't done yet.

She watched as the goddess scanned the area, then spotted someone. A grin spread across its faceless form before it shifted back into a swirling mass of leaves.

"No!" Ashley exclaimed.

Cindy stood frozen, eyes wide and mouth agape, paralyzed by the horrific scene unfolding before her.

"You need to protect yourselves," the goddess warned, casting a sly glance back. "Tell Greyson he's coming closer. And don't let them disappear."

The goddess vanished, leaves drifting to the ground.

Cindy hesitated only for a moment before teleporting away.

Ashley kicked at the scattered leaves, her whole body trembling with fury. She pressed her fingertips to her lips, knowing Cindy held the information that should never have been shared. None of this was supposed to happen. Jason and Greyson had to vanish.

"Call me Divina now. Goddess is boring."

Ashley's kicked faltered as a sharp pain stabbed her ribs. She sank to her knees, groaning.

Collin lay nearby, motionless on the grass.

Divina had been a real pain in the ass. If Greyson and Jason didn't vanish within four days, Ashley knew she'd gave to take more drastic measures.

"My body is actually closer than you realize."

Ashley drew in a sharp breath, lips curling into a sour smirk. They'd disappear with her plan. If not, she had other ways. Divina might lack a body, but it was still a goddess. Killing it had become the only option.

"Call me Ragnar, Divina." Ashley said. "It's time to take what's mine."

She was no longer just a stupid girl nor a powerless God. Ashley smirked, hoisting the corpse once more.

Vickie and David looked around absentmindedly. She wouldn't get anywhere with these two losers.

"Just like you."

Greyson stood alongside Preston, who was frantically waving his arms around in a panic. "Where's Luke?" he barked.

Preston struggled to respond, his breaths coming out in quick gasps, but Greyson's attention was quickly drawn to Eden. She was dragging Luke by the back of his t-shirt and saw what seemed to be an arm hanging from Luke. There were dark burns incinerating on his left arm while he appeared unconscious.

"I didn't do this," she said, dropping him on the ground.

Greyson raised his hand, summoning an invisible force that lifted Luke's burned arm into the air. The sudden sight made Greyson speed down the hallway, straight toward an empty classroom where Finn, Henry, and Maverick were waiting.

As Greyson burst into the classroom, he noticed Luke slowly opening his eyes. He scanned his surroundings but let out a bloody scream and withering around in agony. Jason had done this, which meant his powers seemed to be growing.

Preston came in, holding up the saw. After handing it to Greyson, he gave it to Henry. "Cut it off," he ordered as he took the saw and stared at the arm, which was almost completely off.

Maverick wrinkled his nose. "That's just nasty."

"Since you're all being babies," Scarlett snapped as she grabbed the saw.

"No! Don't cut it off!" Luke yelled, thrashing against the force holding him down.

"I need you alive, Luke," Greyson said, tightening the hold.

Scarlett took a breath and angled the saw to one side. Gritting her teeth in disgust, she began to saw back and forth. Luke's burned arm fell to the ground with a heavy thump, leaving behind a pool of blood.

Still gripping the saw in her hand, Scarlett handed it to Henry. She retrieved an old shirt from the desk and tied what remained of Luke's injury.

"Kill me," Luke whimpered.

Scarlett hovered her head over his own, a frown on her face. "Luke, you've pissed yourself and no longer have an arm. Suck it up," she spat.

"We need Emma, so bring her back to Uden," Greyson ordered, looking directly at Henry and Finn, who left for Simcoe.

Luke cried from the pain as Scarlett stared wryly at Greyson. She wished he had killed Luke instead of just his arm. At least if he had died, Scarlett wouldn't have to worry about Luke ditching her if Greyson left.

"You have to clean the wound," Eden said. "Give me that cloth, and get me water and soap."

"No way in hell are you touching me!" Luke shouted, twisting helplessly against the invisible force.

Greyson's arms were crossed and he Preston darted out of the room and return with a bucket of water and dish soap.

Stick approached Luke cautiously, a towel clutched in his hands. Greyson noted the boy's hesitation and shallow breaths but said nothing. He didn't have time for fear.

"Do you need a puffer?" Scarlett snickered.

Greyson ignored her, focusing on the task at hand. Stick knelt beside Luke and tied the bloody towel around what remained of Luke's forearm.

If Stick kept acting cowardly after Luke's torture, he'd have to do something about it.

Preston placed the bucket of water by Eden. She stared at the water before her eyes were drawn to a bottle of rubbing alcohol against the wall. She strode over and grabbed the bottle instead, pouring some on the towel and scrubbing the wound.

"I'm going to kill you!" Luke shouted at Eden.

"Good luck with that," Eden snarled, jabbing the needle of clear liquid into the side of Luke's neck. "Thank Simcoe for having Midazolam on hand."

Greyson watched Eden's innocent smile appear before turning on her heel to leave the room. Knowing Emma wouldn't be here for a bit made Greyson chew his pinky nail. It wasn't that he knew the basics of how to help someone with a sawed arm. With the shirt Luke had on, it seemed like he didn't have an arm anymore.

"I'm going to kill Jason for this," Luke grated, gritting his teeth.

"Focus on prep for now," Greyson said dryly. "Since hostage situations are getting bland."

Luke slowly sat up on the desk, staring at the severed arm Scarlett had sawed off, blood still oozing from the wound and pooling onto the floor. Greyson had a different idea than capturing Jason and the others.

As Luke finally got off the desk, his legs wobbled and he stumbled forward before falling unconscious. Preston slowly crouched down beside him, placing two fingers against the back of Luke's neck for a pulse.

"He's still breathing, so I don't know what's wrong."

Cindy then appeared in front of them. Sitting on the floor, breathing hard, she glanced up at them. "I saw something," she began. "Wait, why is he unconscious? Did you guys give him something?"

"Some liquid," Preston said.

They moved towards Greyson's office, with Cindy looking around as if she were searching for a clue to understand what the drug might be for. Greyson settled into the large office chair behind his desk, leaning forward.

"I've been practicing going from place to place," Cindy said breathlessly. "Anyway, Ashley was there too, along with some kind of leaf creature."

"This isn't arts and crafts," Scarlett snickered from the black couch.

"It had this weird and said three statements," Cindy started. "Protect ourselves; Greyson's getting closer, and don't let them vanish."

Cindy's words might merely be an act of creation, but no one could make leaf bodies. He wondered how he was getting closer, but it was probably because of the war with Jason.

"Who vanishes?" Greyson asked.

"Ashley had been pretty angry," Cindy remarked, shrugging her shoulders.

"Probably you and Jason," Scarlett implied, looking through a fashion magazine from under the couch.

When this goddess reveals themselves, Greyson should know who they are. If they're close, that could mean someone broke into this bubble.

"Someone broke in," Greyson said.

"I don't see any holes, so just wait until after that vanishing happens," Scarlett said.

"No, we have to figure something out," he said directly to Cindy. "Can you go back to where you saw them? Bring me any information."

Cindy nodded and teleported away. If the goddess knew about him, that did mean they posed a threat.

Preston entered the office, Emma following close behind, her smile barely reaching her eyes.

Greyson pointed at Luke's unconscious body. "Heal him," he said flatly.

Emma stepped forward and placed her hand on Luke's forearm. Greyson watched the soft glow flicker around her hand, the light illuminating the stark red of the wound.

Minutes dragged. Greyson's gaze never left Luke, noting every twitch, every shallow breath. He calculated the effect of the healing, judging its speed, not precision.

Slowly, Luke eyes opened, meeting Greyson's with a devious grin.

Emma withdrew her hands, nearly stumbling backward.

"I can't grow your arm back," she said, placing a hand against the wall for support. "But I closed it the best I could."

"Emma, stay at Uden from now on," Greyson instructed.

"What do I tell Melany?" she replied softly, looking up through her bangs.

"I'll talk to her," Greyson implied.

Preston had turned transparent again; Scarlett stared with a smirk; and Luke stared at his forearm. This all seemed to be playing out nicely.

"I have to gather stuff from town," Emma said, looking directly at him.

"Scarlett can grab them," Greyson remarked with a smile.

Emma just pressed her lips together, nodding her head at them and leaving in slight scuffles.

"I'm not grabbing them," Scarlett spat, sitting up on the couch.

"I'm talking to Melany, so we'll do it then," Greyson said. "Preston, go spy and figure out what Jason's doing." He nodded but left the room.

Greyson chewed on his pinky nail for a moment before an idea crossed his mind. Winning this war as ruler of this place would give him power.

"I get to kill Jason," Luke hissed, picking at the nub of his arm with gritted teeth.

"Gonna give him a handshake with that left arm of yours?" Luke glared hard at Scarlett.

"We're going to find a way to get the powerful freaks on our side," Greyson said. "Luke will stage an attack one day before my fight with Jason."

He knew this could get the attention of Ashley and the goddess, since he wanted to know the true nature of everything.

Eden has done what most of us have been wanting to do. Plus, we got Jason burning Luke's arm off so it seems a win, for now.
-Lexi