Driving into the middle of nowhere felt eerily similar to a hostage situation for Zane. He couldn't shake the thought that he'd rather be mugged for a box of cookies than deal with whatever lay ahead.

Bella had finally snapped out of her daze and was staring silently out the window.

Esme leaned through the fire truck's sliding panel as wind whipped through her hair.

Jason sat nearby with a bag of ice pressed to his side from Nevaeh.

The road ahead was dark and narrow, bordered by grasslands and scattered clusters of trees. Despite everything that had happened in the past two weeks, none of it felt normal. It was like watching a murder mystery unfold on TV, except Zane had never made time for television.

A flickering old light came into view, casting a ghostly glow from a rusty pole beside an abandoned gas station. Next to it stood a small variety store, flanked by two gas pumps.

"Is this place even open?" Esme asked, climbing out through the rectangular window.

Zane opened truck door and stepped onto gravel.

The place was silent.

The pumps still worked. Their phones didn't.

"Esme, who are the crackheads?" Jason asked, wincing as he shifted in place.

"The four top delinquents from Uden Academy," she replied breezily. "You probably don't have to worry about them. They're around your age, but completely unhinged."

Yara squinted, frowning. "Top delinquents?"

Esme sighed. "I've heard they're basically students with bad reputations, like being involved in serious illegal trouble at school. Rumour has it, they even made the news for a major crime."

"What kind of crime?" Zane asked.

Esme thought for a moment. "I don't really know," she said. "It almost got the academy shut down, though."

A chill ran down Zane's spine at the thought of those four and the chaos they could unleash. He hoped discovering their identities wouldn't make things worse.

"I've never been to this gas station," Bella said, crunching over the loose gravel.

Jason peered through the convenience store's glass door. Inside, a flickering fluorescent light cast a pale glow that spilled onto the cracked pavement outside.

Zane concentrated on refilling the fire truck. He hooked the heavy gas nozzle onto the pump and popped open the gas tank door. Taking the cash Nevaeh had given them, he slid it into the machine.

"Esme, you can't do that!" Jason's panicked voice rang out.

The convenience store door creaked open.

Esme stepped out, chewing gum with a grin. Her arms overflowed with candy: a bag of gummy worms, a large bag of Cheetos, a bottle of lemonade tucked under one armpit, and a packet of Skittles clutched under the other.

"They can't catch me. I'm too fast for them." She tossed the candy between her hands.

"It's not exactly something we can get away with," Jason muttered, shaking his head.

Esme waved him off dismissively. "The Bubble isn't the real world. Here, we do whatever we want."

Yara burst out of the store, clutching a colourful mix of candy. Her sudden energy was almost shocking after she had seemed so tired.

"Hey, look! There's something over there!" Esme shouted from across the road.

The gas station light stretched long shadows across the pines and thick grass. The grass grew so high it reached Zane's hip.

Esme dropped her candy and dashed toward whatever caught her eye, ignoring their protest.

None of them were in prime condition for a fight. Fatigue and injury slowed their movements, making every step a struggle.

Zane moved closer, watching Esme's shadow flicker near whatever she'd found. She waved her hand back and forth in front of something that looked like a face.

"That ugly girl!" Esme called out.

Zane's eyes widened as he rushed forward, Jason stumbling beside him, struggling to keep up. The uneven ground made every step a challenge for Jason.

As they reached Esme, they froze. Ashley stood there, completely motionless, like a lifeless doll. Her expression was vacant, her eyes void of awareness or recognition.

Esme slipped behind Ashley and kicked her square in the back. The force sent Ashley stumbling forward, hitting the ground face-first with a dull thud.

"Esme!" Jason exclaimed.

"We can't let her get away," Esme said firmly, brushing a strand of hair from her eyes. "Don't you want to know more this goddess?"

At the mention of the goddess, Ashley's eyes snapped wide. "Don't talk about Divina," she hissed with a glare. "Are they here?"

"Who's Divina?" Jason asked cautiously.

Ashley's jaw clenched, her teeth grinding audibly as her face twisted with rage.

Zane couldn't understand why Ashley feared Divina so deeply. But the anger on her face suddenly drained, replaced by wide eyes. She turned from Jason and stared toward the empty left field to their left, as if sensing something none of them could see.

A chilling voice echoed through the stillness. "Of course I'm here."

They turned toward the voice and froze.

Beyond the gas station light, something stood motionless in the field.

Its body was woven from tangled grass and weeds. Where a face should have be, a hollow grin stretched across its head.

It looked like the field had come alive.

"What the hell?" Esme gasped, taking a small step back.

Zane gaze shifted, spotting Bella hobbling awkwardly toward them. She stopped halfway, eyes locked on the creature with fear.

The monster's single grassy hand pressed against its rigid side as it moved forward with deliberate slowness.

"Wait," Jason interjected.

"Ragnar probably can't think straight," Divina taunted. "It can't even read."

"You're the goddess?" Jason asked.

Divina's arm snapped outward.

Grass exploded beneath their feet as Ashley was ripped off the ground and hurled backward. She hit the uneven dirt with a dull thud, groaning in pain.

An amused laugh escaped the creature as it arched its body back slightly, savouring the moment.

"These forms are entertaining to wear," Divina gloated.

Esme's eyes widened. "She just got slammed by that grass thing," she said.

"It's quite amusing, isn't it?"

Footsteps pounded against the gravel.

Vickie and David emerged from the darkness just as Jason raised planted his feet and raised his hands. Light erupted from his palms—Vickie and David disappeared into a blink.

"Woah!" Jason gasped, his eyes wide as he stared down at his glowing hands.

"Keep practicing your abilities," Divina advised, as it fixed its gaze directly on Ashley. "Those holes are designed to kill you all."

This grassy manifestation—whatever Divina truly was—clearly understood what Ashley had been attempting. That chilling certainty meant it likely knew exactly how to stop her.

"I'm right," Divina taunted.

Ashley staggered out of the grass only a few steps from Jason.

She nearly lost her footing on the uneven ground.

A grass creature and a young girl stood face-to-face.

"I'll find you. You're hiding somewhere," Ashley spat.

Divina lifted one grass-woven arm.

The field exploded outward.

Ashley flew back and slammed into the dirt hard enough to knock the air from her lungs.

"Don't vanish," Divina warned sharply.

Vanishing was clearly tied to the strange events they had witnessed—an unsettling force lurking the surface of this twisted place.

"Are you hiding close by?" Jason asked.

Divina glanced over at them, despite lacking physical eyes. With a forceful motion, it slammed one of its thick, grass-like legs into Ashley's stomach, causing her to groan in pain.

"Can't tell you that," Divina said with a sly grin.

"You don't even have a real body," Ashley spat out, eyes narrowing.

"Ragnar's been downright stupid, using some dumb girl as its body," Divina snarled.

Tears streamed down Ashley's cheeks, her a mix of anger and frustration.

Jason stared at Ashley without speaking,

The terrified girl on the ground was no longer human.

"Protect yourselves and warn the others," Divina warned.

It dissolved back into a swirling pile of grass and leaves.

They all stared frozen, eyes locked on the spot where Divina had vanished. Silence hung heavy between them.

What could anyone say after witnessing not just Ashley's presence, but the mysterious Divina, whose powers remained an unknown threat?

"What the hell?" Jason blurted it out.

Ashley suddenly screamed and sprinted into the darkness.

Nobody chased her.

They stood frozen in the field, still processing what they had just seen.

"So... Ashley isn't Ashley anymore?" Jason whispered.

"Divina is the goddess," Zane explained quietly. "But they don't exactly have a true form. It's more like a shifting presence that can take on many shapes."

They all trudged back to the firetruck, spotting Yara slouched in the front seat, munching on a Mars bar.

"Find anything?" she called out, crumbs clinging to her lips as she chewed.

"Some kind of grass person is the goddess!" Esme exclaimed, waving her hands animatedly as she tried the mimic the creature's form.

"Ashley appears to be the real problem," Zane said grimly, snapping the nozzle back into place, and slid into the driver's seat.

Glancing back, they squeezed into the cramped seats of the firetruck. Zane started the engine, relief flickering as he noticed the gas tank was full. At least the fuel still worked, but for now long?

As the dim glow of the town's lights grew nearer, they pulled up to the daycare. Zane opened the door, and a chorus of children's cries flooded his ears. Stepping inside, he met Ilya's gaze across the room, and despite the chaos around her, her face softened into a small smile

"Evening," Ilya managed, as she gently squeezed the hand of a child beside her.

"We just wanted to check in, see if you needed anything," Zane replied.

"Some blankets, if you can find any," Ilya said, her eyes scanning the room. "There just aren't enough for all of them."

Around the daycare, there were over thirty children present, each one ranging from toddlers to preschoolers.

A toddler cried over a broken crayon while two boys argued over a stuffed dinosaur.

Scattered across tables were open boxed crackers on the tables, while toys lay strewn across the floor.

"We'll search some houses," Zane said.

"Nice to see you. Thanks for everything," Ilya said, smiling as Zane nodded.

He climbed back into the fire truck, starting the engine with a low rumble. The street was surprisingly bare. Normally, people would gather in groups for safety—Greyson's advice—but tonight, the shadows held none.

Despite Greyson's treacherous nature, there was no denying that he was sharp.

As they pulled to a stop in front of the church, the soft glow of streetlights cast long shadows across the pavement. Cindy was standing outside, her figure barely visible in the dim light.

"Hey!" Esme called.

Jason opened the door with difficulty, his movements low and unsteady, wobbling slightly as he stepped out of the truck. His arm wrapped protectively around Bella, who leaned heavily into him.

"Surprise!" Esme called out.

Cindy glanced over and rushed up toward them, her face illuminated by the streetlight's soft glow. She guided them inside as the heavy wooden door creaked shut behind them.

The inside of the church was cloaked in shadows, the dim lighting casting long pools of light on the worn pews.

Zane followed closely behind, the faint smell of incense lingered in the air, as they descended the stairs into the infirmary.

Once they reached the bottom, the lights of the infirmary illuminated the room. A figure lay motionless on the cot, his chest raising and falling in gently breaths.

Melany was kneeling beside him, her fingers delicately pressing gently a cool cloth to the boy's fevered forehead. Her dark eyes met theirs as she looked up before turning her attention back to the boy.

"Emma isn't here?" Zane asked.

"Something urgent came up at Uden," Melany remarked.

Cindy carefully assisted Jason onto one of the cots, and took her time helping him lay down comfortably. Melany then turned her attention to Bella, gently guiding her onto another cot that had been prepared nearby.

"With Luke's arm?" Jason groaned.

Cindy nodded her head, "They sawed it off," she said grimly.

"He didn't die?" Zane questioned.

"Emma helped," Cindy replied. "They used some liquid to knock him out, apparently. I think it's Midazolam, because we're missing that from here."

Greyson and Luke were some of the main people this bubble had to deal with. Scarlett, who went along with her own ideas but followed Greyson's orders, such as when Mark ended up betraying Jason because of them. In addition, humiliating those two from Uden was childish in that situation. It's understandable if people neglect someone's eating habits, but that seemed overboard.

"His arm is fixed?" Jason murmured. "But why are they stealing medicine?"

"I'm not sure, and..." Cindy trailed off. "I saw the goddess!"

"We just did too," Zane implied.

"They were a body made of orange and brown leaves," Cindy said. "They had three orders: Protect ourselves; Greyson is getting closer; and don't let them vanish," Cindy said.

Zane stared skeptically at her. Protection and not letting them vanish seemed simple, but why was Greyson getting close? If this person broke into this bubble, did that mean they were someone close to him?

"Why is Greyson close?" Bella asked in a hoarse voice, groaning as Melany tended her wounds.

"I don't know. I don't understand that part either. I think the 'them' it addressed might be Jason and Greyson," Cindy explained.

Jason had one of the highest rank of power out of only two people in The Bubble. It made sense why it didn't want them to disappear. That could mean Divina, or the goddess, intends to stop Ashley with them.

"Ashley looked pretty wounded when I was there. Her face was red, but it also seemed almost scared," Cindy implied.

Whoever is inside Ashley definitely wants Divina gone. Either Ashley has more power than Divina, or they know how to stop her but can't yet.

"It said they don't have a body yet," Zane implied.

"Would they take someone as their own body or be an actual person?" Melany asked, still not looking at them.

Nobody knew the true intentions of everything, except that people couldn't vanish. If someone vanished, something was preventing them from coming back.

"It could turn out to be Ashley's situation or just an actual person. Then again, Divina said she could be a plant or a fish." Jason hissed in pain.

Basic logic says that Ashley and Divina hate each other. Divina must be on their own if they have been giving all the warnings. The fight is difficult, knowing Ashley is trying to kill people. How does one beat someone who uses murdered victims to do dirty work?

"We need to focus on how to stop Jason from disappearing first," Zane said, getting a groan from Jason.

Esme came rushing down the stairs, gritting her teeth. Beside her stood a quiet girl, glancing around. "What's taking so long?" she exclaimed, throwing her hands up, despite being injured herself. "Jade made me trip on ice again."

"Ice?" Melany asked.

"Jade can create ice, but not glaciers," Esme said.

Zane noticed that many of the Uden students possessed these supernatural abilities. Did that connect to anything that was happening around here?

The tall girl walked down the stairs and pressed the toe of her combat boot down, where ice spread around like an ice rink. "I can control it," she mumbled as it melted a few seconds later.

"An accident occurred where she tripped a teacher before." Esme laughed at her own statement.

"What rank are you?" Jason managed to sit up on the cot, despite Cindy pushing him down.

"Medium in the ranking system," Jade stated.

There weren't many medium ranks they knew. If anything, most didn't even seem aware of their own powers. That included himself, who didn't have any power. It wasn't something that he cared about, honestly, the worry portrayed in the town itself.

Scarlett narrowed her eyes. "Just let Emma get her own things."

"No," Greyson snapped.

Scarlett rolled her eyes from the passenger seat and turned to the window. The dull landscape blur past.

They were headed to Simcoe to inform Melany that Emma wouldn't be returning to the infirmary.

Unfortunately, Luke hadn't died when he lost his arm. Scarlett knew mocking could get her killed, but self-preservation had never been her string suit. She cast a sideways glance at Greyson, who kept his gaze forward, wind tugging at his dark hair.

As they pulled into Simcoe, there was a swarm of anxious kids surging toward the SUV, voices clashing in a storm of panic.

"Have the holes been covered?" someone shouted.

"Why are they everywhere?" another cried out.

The crowd almost quieted instantly when Greyson raised his hand.

"Ashley's the one creating them," he announced. "I'll answer more questions in a moment."

They stepped inside the infirmary, where a musty smell cutting through the air.

Scarlett's eyes immediately found Jason, sprawled across a cot, bruised and motionless. It was obvious Luke hadn't held back while torturing him.

"Greyson!" Melany called out, rising quickly. "We heard about Luke's arm."

"Yes," Greyson said evenly. "Quite the unfortunate accident." There was an icy coldness that Scarlett didn't miss. "With Luke injured, Emma will remain at Uden. I hope you understand."

Melany nodded solemnly and handed Scarlett a small bundle of Emma's clothes. Without a word, she and Greyson turned back to the SUV, the bundle landing in the backseat with a careless toss.

"Surprised you didn't throw your brother off that cot," Scarlett said with a smirk.

"Fighting someone in their sleep isn't even fighting," Greyson snapped. "It's cowardice. I'll prove I'm the strongest the right way."

Scarlett rolled her eyes as they stepped into the mayor's office. "You'd probably do it."

Greyson sank into the mayor's chair, eyes scanning the restless crowd outside. Axel and Cash, who were security guards, strained to the hold the line, trying to block people from pushing into the buildings.

"See? People come to me because I lead this town," Greyson said, spreading his arms. "And in three days, I vanish. What'll they do without their dauntless leader?" He leaned back, smirking. "There's no one else. And the goddess says I'm getting closer."

"I highly doubt there's any goddess hanging around this place," Scarlett said, strolling toward his desk with a smirk.

"There is," he snapped.

The door burst open, and Tumbles fell onto the floor, James stumbling in behind her.

"Ashley made more of those holes," Tumbles groaned, struggling to sit up.

Scarlett glided to the side of the desk with practiced ease, one eyebrow arched and a smirk  tugging at her lips.

Soon, James would challenge both Greyson and Luke's ideals by revealing how the vanishing could be stopped to Jason.

James tapped rapidly on his laptop screen, which lit the map he'd created.

"Look at this," he said, pointing. "Seven holes—mostly near Simcoe, some along the roads, and a few tucked behind buildings. A couple of them already killed people."

"Why is she making these?" Greyson demanded.

James hesitated, eyes flickering. "I don't know."

"Go ask Cindy," Greyson ordered as James rushed out.

Tumbles groaned as she pushed herself off the floor, her hands scraping along the wall to keep her balance. Blood streaked her face, her knees raw from repeated falls.

Scarlett often wondered how Tumbles had such terrible balance when she rarely used her powers.

"All the food things are filled," Tumbles groaned, her arms trembling as they pressed against the wall.

"Tell Preston to send some thugs after those two idiots," Greyson said coldly.

Tumbles nodded and slid her hands along the wall toward the door. When it clicked shut behind her, a dull thump echoed from the hallway.

"Has Devon delivered the food yet?" Greyson asked.

"I'm not his keeper. Maybe you should be asking Henry or one of his thugs," Scarlett said with a sigh.

Greyson pushed back from his desk, fixing his bright-blue eyes on her with sharp intensity.

"They should've reported to me by now," he hissed.

Just then, Henry burst into the office, panting heavily. Stick trembled at his side.

"You told Stick to kill us?" Henry roared.

"I did, but you took Luke's punishment instead. Emma healed you, so everything's fine. Did Devon get the food?" Greyson asked smoothly.

"Not exactly," Henry said, catching his breath. "But he went off to flex his powers."

Greyson didn't raise his voice.

"Bring him here."

Henry stormed off with a frustrated off to find Devon. Greyson's jaw tightened in irritation, while Scarlett raised a skeptical eyebrow.

"It's just some kid with enhanced strength in one arm. So what?" she said, but he stopped pacing and stared directly at her.

"That's a loss of power working in my favour," Greyson declared, pressing a hand to his chest.

"No, you just want to beat Jason," Scarlett said dryly.

"I will beat him," he replied defiantly.

Scarlett frowned, watching him. They'd always been conspirators, plotting schemes together, manipulating situations to use secrets against others.

Greyson's developing powers intrigued her. She made subtle advances—kissing him or offering simple praise when he showed new control. It began with throwing a book across the table to tripping people in the hallway, just so she could rank them.

She did like him before they slept together at reform camp. Guys always chased after because of her looks, but Greyson fascinated her; he never desperately sought her attention. He was undeniably charming, able to get away with anything.

Luke entered the room with a long-range gun tucked under his armpit. He waited until everyone was watching before he shoved the boy to the floor.

"Tell him everything you know," Luke snarled.

"That hole maker didn't move when I saw her. I pushed her, and she melted instantly." Greyson bit his pinky nail nervously.

"So, it just stands there in the middle of a place?" Greyson asked.

"Ashley is made entirely of acid," the boy Helix said, nodding through tears.

"I need to expand security," Greyson said sharply, dismissing Helix.

"If she's acid, why not burn her?" Luke asked, wearing a devious grin.

Greyson paused to think. "We need to set an ambush," he said, locking eyes with Luke. "That's what I'll do before the vanishing day. Gather the strongest fighters and freaks from Uden."

Luke glared at Scarlett, his eyebrows knitted together in cold fury. She could tell he hungered for revenge after she sawed off his arm.

"Get going!" Greyson snapped.

She and Greyson were cruel in their own ways, but Luke was sick in the head. As he left, Scarlett glanced over to see a smiling Greyson—not with genuine joy, but with the cold satisfaction of getting what he wanted.

"An ambush? You sure they won't miss?" she snickered.

"They won't miss. I want you watching James," Greyson said, striding toward his desk and settling into his chair.

James was a computer genius and keen observer, making him an invaluable asset for gathering information.

Scarlett sighed, turning to face Greyson as she leaned over on his wooden desk. Following James would give her the chance to learn when he planned to tell Jason.

She placed a hand on his cheek, smirking. "Of course, Dauntless Leader. Your rules must be obeyed," she mocked.

"Exactly. No one disobeys my orders," Greyson replied firmly.

Scarlett leaned in until she was just inches from his face. It wasn't just about a kiss but about reading orders.

"Report back to me afterwards," he implied.

Removing her hand, she placed both on her hips. Scarlett planned to keep an eye on James and send him to talk to Jason. This would give her access to information, especially since Preston and Tumbles were supposedly watching Jason. It wasn't the most logical plan, especially since Jason was becoming more skilled at using his powers.

"Let me if you rank any new mutants," Greyson said.

Scarlett knew Greyson probably wasn't the strongest, but she just bit her tongue. She had already mocked him enough in the past hour.

"Maybe I'll run into that cute brother of yours," she snickered.

"If you do, tell him Greyson's coming," he spat.

Despite the upcoming ambush, Greyson was already planning his next move—to overthrow Simcoe if he lost.

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-Lexi