The heavy metal doors slammed shut behind them.
Luna, Kai, Mili, James, Lucas, and Zoey stood frozen.
Professor Nova smiled as the blue light of the Future Machine reflected in his eyes.
"You've grown smarter than I expected," Nova said.
Luna stepped forward.
"Where are the missing students and professors?"
Nova laughed.
A slow, cold laugh that echoed through the cave.
"What did you do to them?"
Luna demanded.
Nova tilted his head.
"You think I kidnapped them?"
He began walking in circles around the group.
"No... no... no."
"You are completely wrong."
The six friends exchanged nervous glances.
Nova stopped.
"They followed me willingly."
"What?" James asked.
"That's impossible," Mili replied.
Nova's smile widened.
"Is it?"
He snapped his fingers.
Suddenly, hidden doors opened throughout the chamber.
Footsteps echoed through the cave.
One after another, figures emerged from the darkness.
Professors.
Students.
Every missing person.
Luna's eyes widened.
"Professor Orion!"
"Professor Vega!"
"Those are the missing students!"
Zoey exclaimed.
For a brief moment, relief washed over them.
Then Luna noticed something.
Nobody was blinking.
Nobody was speaking.
Nobody showed any emotion.
Their eyes glowed faint blue.
Kai immediately understood.
"No..."
Lucas stepped backward.
"They're being controlled."
Nova clapped slowly.
"Very good."
The missing professors and students stood behind him like an army.
Silent.
Motionless.
Waiting.
Luna clenched her fists.
"Let them go!"
Nova chuckled.
"Why would I?"
"They finally understand me."
"They finally see my vision."
James whispered,
"Definitely mind control."
"I heard that," Nova replied.
Suddenly, a familiar hologram appeared beside Nova.
A small cat-shaped figure.
"Meow!" Zoey shouted.
The robot looked frightened.
Its digital ears drooped.
Luna's eyes widened.
"Meow, help us!"
Nova laughed again.
"You still don't understand?"
He placed his hand on the hologram projector.
"You think Meow helped you?"
The robot looked down.
"No... no... no."
Nova shook his head.
"This little robot belongs to me."
The group stared in shock.
"Impossible," Kai said.
Nova smirked.
"Meow was originally created as part of my research."
The robot suddenly spoke.
"That is not entirely correct."
Everyone turned toward it.
Nova's expression darkened.
Meow continued.
"I was created to assist all researchers."
"Not just Nova."
Nova glared at the robot.
The small AI immediately became quiet.
Almost scared.
Luna noticed it.
Meow wasn't evil.
It was afraid.
Afraid of Nova.
Nova walked toward the Future Machine.
Blue energy swirled around him.
"Everything is proceeding exactly as planned."
Luna's heart raced.
"What are you planning?"
Nova smiled.
"You'll find out soon enough."
Suddenly alarms began ringing throughout the cave.
The Future Machine activated by itself.
Massive holographic screens appeared around the room.
Strange symbols flashed everywhere.
Even Nova looked pleased.
"Perfect timing."
"Catch them."
The command echoed through the chamber.
Immediately, every controlled professor and student moved.
At once.
Toward Luna and her friends.
"Oh, that's bad," James said.
"That's very bad."
"RUN!" Kai shouted.
The six friends scattered.
Controlled students rushed after them.
Professor Orion blocked one exit.
Professor Vega blocked another.
Lucas grabbed a metal rod from the floor.
"I never thought I'd have to fight my teachers."
"Try not to hit them!" Luna shouted.
"They're victims too!"
The cave erupted into chaos.
Mili and Zoey ran toward one tunnel.
James and Lucas toward another.
Kai stayed beside Luna.
"We need to get out of here!"
Luna looked back.
Nova wasn't chasing them.
He was standing beside the Future Machine.
Watching.
Smiling.
As if this was all part of a test.
Then something caught Luna's attention.
Meow.
The little robot secretly flashed a message on a nearby screen.
Only for a second.
LUNA. TRUST NO ONE.
SAVE PROFESSOR LUCA.
Luna froze.
Professor Luca?
He was alive?
Before she could read more, Nova noticed.
The message disappeared instantly.
Meow lowered its head.
Nova smiled.
"Now that's interesting."
Luna's stomach dropped.
Because if Professor Luca was alive...
Then somewhere in Stairthaire, he was being held prisoner.
And Nova had just revealed more than he intended.
To Be Continued...