"I'm not going to that party."
I shoved my books into my backpack, the locker door slamming with a loud clang. The sound echoed down the hallway, but I didn't care. If anything, I wanted it to match the storm in my chest.
Guy, my best friend since middle school, leaned on the locker beside mine with a teasing grin.
"Why not? It's not the party it's Connor Danny's party. Everyone's going."
"Exactly why I'm not."
I snapped the last zipper and swung the bag over my shoulder.
"The last time I went to one of his parties, I ended up drenched in punch, with half the school laughing. I'm not signing up for round two."
Guy raised his brows, clearly unconvinced. "Come on, Alan. That was freshman year. People forget."
I shot him a look. "Do you forget the guy who pantsed you in gym class? Yeah, neither does the internet."
"Touché," he muttered, falling into step beside me as we headed toward the courtyard. "But still... you're Clark Alan Mayor's son, most liked student, basically a school celebrity. What are you afraid of?"
I stopped, turned to him, and said, "It's not about fear. It's about self-respect. I don't care how rich or popular Danny is. I'm not letting him screw with my peace again."
Guy watched me walk away in silence. But something about the glint in his eye told me he wasn't done yet.
"...We'll see about that," I heard him mumble behind me.
SOMEWHERE ELSE – UNDERGROUND, MUTANT HIGH
A dim, bluish glow filled the underground facility's hallways. Hidden beneath the city, Mutant High pulsed with quiet energy home to those the world feared, and hunted.
Mr. Walter, the head of the facility, stood stiffly outside the infirmary, arms crossed, worry etched into every line on his face.
"She's been like that since dawn," he muttered. "She won't wake up."
His assistant offered a soft nod. "It's Cherry. Her visions come like that sometimes. Give her time."
Before he could respond, a sudden gust of wind and a blur of motion swept through the hallway. MK ,Matthew King stood before them, breathing hard from a sprint.
"She's awake," he said. "But... something's wrong. You should see this."
They rushed into Cherry's room. Her eyes were open but they glowed a pale, eerie white, her body trembling.
"Cherry!" Mr. Walter called, kneeling beside her.
She didn't look at him. Instead, her voice came out low, repetitive, distant.
"We have to find him... before they do..."
MK exchanged looks with the others in the room.
Mr. Walter's voice dropped to a whisper. "Who is "he"?"
But Cherry didn't answer. Her vision had begun and the clock had started ticking.