Back in the Present Day — East University, Underground Gym
Silence lingered after Alias finished telling the story.
Axel: "…Well, that's a hell of a story."
Alias leaned back, arms crossed, the weight of years heavy on his shoulders.
Alias: "Yeah. We were kings for a second. Then Lucas handed the crown to Northbridge. We've been their puppets ever since."
Louise: (disappointed) "That's just… sad."
Alias: (nodding) "You think I don't know that? You think I like watching my school rot from the inside? Me and Warren, we stayed… but only because we hoped something would change."
Cy: "Then why not fight back?"
Alias: "You don't get it. Northbridge College isn't just another school. They have numbers. Money. Power. And their leaders? They're monsters."
Migs: "Lucas isn't even their real leader, and look how easily he took over East University."
A knock cut through the air.
Alias: "It's open."
The door creaked.
Emma and Luna stood at the entrance.
Emma: "Maeve wants to talk to you, Alias."
Alias: (groaning) "Ah, crap. What now?"
Luna: (grinning) "She wants Axel too."
Cy: (chuckling) "Dead men walking."
⸻
Student Council Room
Alias and Axel sat on the long leather couch across from Maeve, who tapped her pen on a folder like a ticking bomb.
Maeve: "I heard Lucas came by."
Alias: (sighing) "Yeah. He paid us a little visit."
Maeve: "How's Warren?"
Alias: "Still recovering. Took a hard hit from Lucas last time."
Maeve: (disappointed) "How long will you keep doing this? All this fighting? This isn't high school anymore—you're in college. Grow up."
Alias: "It's not that simple, Maeve. You know that."
Maeve: "Then make it simple. Find a way."
The tension in the room was cut by the sudden burst of a student barging in.
Random Student: "Alias—sorry to interrupt—but the other leaders… they're leaving."
Alias and Axel stood immediately and rushed out.
⸻
Courtyard — East University
A group of leaders were gathered near the front gates, bags in hand. Briggs, the towering head of the Engineering Department, stood at the front.
Alias: "What the hell's going on?!"
Briggs: "We're leaving. Heading back to our hometowns."
Alias: "Why?"
Briggs: "Lucas ordered us to stand down… or go home. He made it clear—either serve Northbridge, or disappear."
Alias: "And you're just listening to him?! After everything we've been through?"
Briggs: (calmly) "Alias… we've fought long enough. We're not strong enough to win this war. You know it."
Alias: "So you're just gonna run?"
Briggs: "I'm going to rebuild somewhere. Maybe start again. But not here."
Alias looked around. More leaders were turning their backs. Psychology, Engineering, Criminology—all abandoning ship.
Only he, Warren, and now Axel remained.
Alias: "So what now, huh? You all just leave and let East rot under Lucas' boot?"
Briggs: (quietly) "I'm sorry."
One by one, they walked away.
⸻
Back in the Gym
Axel, Alias, Louise, Cy, and Migs sat in silence.
What once was a wall of power—leaders united—was now crumbling.
Migs: "Well… so much for backup."
Louise: "We're on our own now."
Cy: (looking at Axel) "Guess you really did shake the whole damn system."
Alias: (eyes dark) "Lucas made his move. And now we make ours."
⸻
End of Chapter 16