The day had finally come for all of the students to reunite with their families. It hadn't been as long as past semesters, where they had to wait a whole year to greet their families again. All of the students were gathered up in front of the school. The third and second years seemed crowded together, while the first years had a smaller group, yet even they were split apart into smaller groups.
"The day has finally come for you to see your families again," Darius yelled out for all to hear. But to everyone, it didn't feel like a man yelling. Instead, it felt like a huge speaker barking at them. "Now remember what was said. You are not to tell any of your friends or family what happened. Keep quiet and everything will be fine. But know this—we will know. We will always know." As he finished those words, portals appeared behind him, with dozens of teachers coming out, but also people in casual clothing. "We will have people tailing you wherever you go. You may not know it, but they will. They will blend in and watch all that you do, and they will report it to me. If that happens, you and the people you told will all be dealt with. Now, bye-bye." A portal suddenly opened directly behind Darius, and he walked through it.
"Huh, I guess even psychopaths have families," Harkel commented through the link, which still existed in the system even after its rework.
But the boy's smile disappeared when he saw Darius run back out of the portal, scanning the first years like he had heard Harkel's remark. After a tense moment, he walked back through, glancing over his shoulder with a look that said, I thought so.
Eighteen buses were parked in front of the portals evenly. Riven, Jordan, Joey, and Nico all went onto the same bus. They could see the others boarding their own individual buses.
"Wait—aren't Leo, Tessa, and Wren also in the Black Halo? Why are they going to a different buses?" Joey asked.
"It's probably because they live deeper in the outside city, Like here's an example I live closer to the wall which is why I'm going on the same bus as you," Nico replied.
"Hmm," was all Riven said as he noticed Emmett boarding a bus. He wondered how the boy was going to keep in contact with the Storm Guild if they were being watched. But his answer revealed itself when the same teacher who had collected the potion earlier boarded Emmett's bus. That same woman had also come to their bus beforehand, along with other teachers and casually dressed people. All she did was nod at them, before blending back into the crowd. That alone told Riven everything—these people were spies for the Storm Guild, or perhaps another guild in alliance with them.
As the bus prepared to leave, everyone on board felt a pit in their stomach—not because of the portal, but because of how few students there were. When they had first boarded, the bus was filled, but now only a handful remained. It felt like a punch to the gut.
When the bus passed through the portal, some students still felt sick. But being their third time by now, most had grown used to the sensation. The bus started its cruise toward the wall of Black Halo. After an hour had passed, Riven noticed many of the students had fallen asleep, and he felt himself drifting as well—until he felt and heard something.
It was like something slipped into his pocket. His system flickered, and Jordy's pixelated voice rang out:
"Riven—sleeping gas! There's sleep—"
But Riven was already gone, slumped asleep before Jordy could finish.
The students jolted awake when the bus screeched to a sudden halt. They had reached the first stop. Some students got off, and the bus rolled closer toward the wall. Riven peered out the window, seeing other buses heading in different directions.
The bus stopped again, this time to the sight of parents waiting outside with tears in their eyes. Confusion spread among the students. One teacher got off and walked to the back of the bus, the parents following closely. Nico, unable to contain her curiosity, stepped off as well. She watched as the back of the bus opened like a garage door. Then came the screams. Nico tried to push forward to see, but one of the casually dressed adults blocked her path. Every time a student exited, one of those adults trailed them, but this one went out of her way to stop Nico.
Nico glared at the woman with hatred, but froze when she saw regret in the woman's eyes. The woman looked away, dragging Nico back onto the bus. But before being pulled away, Nico caught a glimpse—a body, small and covered with a white cloth. From its size, it was clearly a child.
When Nico climbed back on, her face was pale.
"What's going on?" Joey asked.
"It's the other students," Nico whispered. "The parents are getting their bodies."
The words sucked the air out of the bus. The remaining students looked sick, while the teachers bowed their heads in shame. The staff member returned, the bus doors closed, and the ride continued in heavy silence.
Everywhere they looked, buses stopped and parents wept over lifeless children. Some didn't even receive whole bodies—only heads, or bodies without heads. Some were given nothing but small holograms of their children.
"That's… somewhat generous," Jordan muttered, noting how expensive holograms were.
"What's generous is them returning us alive," Nico said coldly.
After a few more stops, it was Nico's turn to get off. She waved at the trio, who waved back.
"Well, you ready to go home?" Jordan asked Joey, who smiled brightly and nodded.
As the dawn gates opened, the streets changed from the beyonders clean order to dirt and rot. Rats darted through yards. Lawns overflowed with trash. Some houses were better kept, their owners trying their best to resist the decay. But one house stood out.
"Uh, guys—you might want to see this," Riven said, pointing out the window.
The yard was spotless, grass trimmed, not a speck of trash. In the center of the lawn, sparklers spelled one word: Joey.
"Your mom went overboard, didn't she?" Riven chuckled. They saw a woman screaming Joey's name. It was the same woman who had cried for "Joey" when they first left for the academy—his mother. She looked healthier than before, and the house behind her gleamed compared to the others. The bus finally stopped, and the three got off. A staff member trailed them, heading to the back of the bus again.
Riven and Jordan shook Joey's hand before splitting off in the opposite direction.
As Joey walked, he heard the parents yelling behind him. He ignored it, quickening his pace until he reached his home. His mother ran to him, wrapping him in a bear hug so tight he nearly wheezed.
"Sorry, sorry! I got too excited. After everything, I couldn't sleep for days. But when I heard you survived, I was so happy. With the units you gave me, I redid the lawn and the house. I can't wait for you to see your new room!" Her smile shone bright, but quickly broke into tears.
"Mom, there's no point in crying. I'm here now. What's there to be sad about?"
"It's just… we could've gotten by without what you did to get the money."
"What I did?" Joey frowned, confused.
"I know you might not want to talk about it—I mean, you didn't even tell me first—but I hate that you went to such extremes just to support us. But maybe this can still be a good thing, especially with the Fallow's—"
She was cut off when Joey grabbed her shoulders.
"Mom. What did the Fallow's say I did?"
Meanwhile, Jordan and Riven reached their own home. They knocked, and before Jordan's hand left the door, it flew open. Their parents pulled them inside, wrapping them in tight embraces.
"Finally, you're home!" their mother cried.
"You have no idea how scared we were," their father said, eyes brimming with tears.
"Come in—we made cake and dug out some old family games," their mother beamed, ushering them inside.
An hour later, a half-eaten cake sat on the table while the Harlow family played a board game together.
"Oh, come on, you cheated!" Kaden shouted.
"How can you cheat in Sorry?" Riven laughed.
"Well, actually—"
"Oh, here your mother goes," their father shook his head.
"Oh, shut up," she shot back, then yawned. "I'm getting tired. I think I'll call it here for tonight. Make sure you all put the games up."
"Yes ma'am," they all said in unison.
A few moments later, Kaden stood up.
"Alright, time for my plan to go in motion. You boys clean up and meet me out back."
Before either of them could respond, their father was already out the door.
"What's up with him?" Jordan asked.
"No idea."
After cleaning up, the brothers heard a knock at the door. Riven opened it—and froze.
"Joey? It hasn't been that long, and you already miss us?" he joked, but his smile faded when he saw the fear and anger in Joey's eyes.
"You need to get me and Wren into the link. Now."