The ship creaked as it pushed through the dark waters, slow and steady. Ethan stood on deck, scanning every shadow, every face—but Flux was nowhere in sight. He'd asked around, but the language barrier was a brick wall, and frustration burned in his chest. With a growl, he slammed his hand against his forehead, then kicked a nearby crate.
"Ow! Watch it, man!"
Ethan froze. That voice—he knew it.
"Flux?" he called, stepping closer.
From behind the crate, Flux emerged, disheveled and pale, eyes sunken from a sleepless night inside the container. His voice was low. "Yeah. It's me."
Ethan stared in disbelief before pulling him into a tight hug. "Damn it, mushroom head… I really thought I'd lost you."
Flux winced and gently pushed him off. "Take it easy, redhead. You're crushing my spine."
Ethan pulled back with a grin that quickly shifted into a glare. "You idiot—I oughta toss you off this ship for disappearing like that!"
Flux lifted a brow, completely unfazed. "Relax. Now's not the time for that. I heard they're handing out canned food up ahead."
Ethan narrowed his eyes. "You were inside a crate. How the hell did you hear anything?"
But Flux was already walking away, hands in his pockets.
Ethan scoffed, smirk tugging at his lips. "Unbelievable. Wait up, you freak!" And with that, he followed him into the depths of the ship.
Back at the safehouse, the air was calm, a quiet contrast to the chaos from the night before. Malia sat casually at the edge of the couch, close to Liam as he ate his breakfast. She leaned in with a sly smile, curiosity in her eyes.
"You and that silver-haired guy… you two look alike. Are you related or something?"
Liam paused, spoon halfway to his mouth. He blinked, then chuckled softly. "Nah… not even close. I mean—I wish."
Malia raised an eyebrow, amused. "Interesting. What about your parents? How'd you end up with a crew like this anyway?"
Liam's smile dimmed slightly. "My parents… they're still around, somewhere. After the fire, Mr. Butler sent Jason and the others to look after me."
He leaned in suddenly, voice dropping like he was revealing something big. "Wanna know the best part?" He grinned. "We're on a secret mission—top secret, actually. So… I can't tell you much."
Malia leaned back, laughing under her breath. "Ah, I see. Classified business, huh?"
Liam nodded proudly, digging back into his food. But halfway through a bite, his eyes widened. Something clicked in his head.
"Wait…" he muttered. "What's today?"
Malia looked at him curiously. "The 26th. Why?"
Liam froze, his spoon dropping into the bowl.
"…Oh no." Liam suddenly froze mid-bite, his eyes widening. "Today's the opening of Douce Vyé Amusement Park! Mr. Butler promised he'd take me!" He shot up from his chair, practically knocking it over, and darted toward the hallway.
Just as if fate aligned, Jason stepped in, Brandon trailing behind him.
"Jason!" Liam called out, breathless. "I have to go home—today! Mr. Butler is waiting! He has to be!"
Brandon moved quickly, intercepting. "Whoa, whoa, slow down, kid. Why the rush? Can't this whole 'Butler' situation wait a day?"
Liam shook his head fiercely. "No, it can't! I've been counting down to this for weeks! It's the grand opening of Douce Vyé. I have to go. I promised."
Brandon glanced at Jason, pulling him to the side. "This is bad… if the enemy knows Liam's been looking forward to this, they'll probably have scouts posted at the park."
Jason nodded grimly. "Exactly. If they expect him to show, it'll be a trap."
But then, Liam's voice cut through their thoughts.
"No, it won't." His tone was sharper, more certain. They both turned to him.
"No one knows about this... except Mr. Butler. Not even my parents. I never told anyone else."
Jason and Brandon exchanged looks, thinking.
"If we don't take him," Brandon whispered, "he's going to complain all day. We'll never hear the end of it."
Jason smirked, already making his decision. "Then we take him."
"Yeah…Wait—we will?" Brandon blinked, thrown off.
Jason stepped forward, crouching in front of Liam. "How about a trade? The old guy's cool and all—but if we take you, you won't be stuck on the kiddie rides."
Liam paused, eyes lighting up.
Jason leaned in, lowering his voice. "We'll hit the biggest, wildest, most dangerous rides in the park. Think the old guy would let you near those?"
Liam's eyes practically sparkled. "Nope! He'd glue me to the carousel." His excitement bubbled up. "Okay! I'm going with you guys! Let's do this!"
Jason stood, raising his hand. "Atta boy."
Liam slapped his palm with a grin.
Brandon sighed in the background. "I can already feel the headache coming."
Liam stood at the center of the room, eyes blazing with determination.
"We leave now," he said firmly. "The Leviathan's the first ride—we hit that before the lines get crazy!" Without hesitation, he grabbed Jason and Brandon by the wrists, practically dragging them toward the exit.
They were halfway out the door when Daphne and Malia crossed paths with them.
"Whoa, where's the fire?" Malia asked, raising a brow. "Also, haven't seen Redhead and Shroom-Head since last night. They bail on us?"
Jason barely glanced at her.
"That's none of your concern."
Malia smirked, unbothered.
"At least drop a hint—where you guys sneaking off to now?"
Liam beamed. "We're going to Douce Vyé Amusement Park! It opens today—we can't miss it!"
"Ooh! Count us in."Malia nudged Daphne forward playfully.
Liam lit up even more. "Yes! The more the merrier! Daphne, you're coming too, right?"
Daphne hesitated, eyes darting from Jason to Liam.
"Huh? Oh… no, I'm not coming. Sorry, Liam."
Liam's face fell dramatically. "No fair… it's supposed to be all of us."
"Sorry but—"
"Just come along," Jason cut in coolly. "It won't kill you. And let's be real—he's not gonna shut up till you—"
"Alright," Daphne interrupted, her voice calm but firm. She crouched to Liam's level, eyes only on him, then she smiled softly,
"I'll tag along… but only because you asked."
She didn't even glance in Jason's direction—completely shutting him out like he wasn't even there.
Jason's jaw tightened subtly. Liam lit up with joy.
"Yay!" he cheered, grabbing her hand.
Jason looked away, muttering under his breath, "Tch…."
But his eyes lingered on her for just a second longer than they should've.
EXT. DOUCE VYÉ AMUSEMENT PARK –
The five stood before the massive gates of Douce Vyé—lights flickering wildly even under the daylight sun. Screams, laughter, and metallic music echoed from deep inside. The air buzzed with tension and joy—like a celebration teetering on the edge of chaos.
Jason adjusted his hoodie low over his eyes, scanning the crowd like a hawk. Brandon's hand lingered near the dagger hidden under his jacket. Liam stood in front of them, practically vibrating with excitement.
"We made it," Jason muttered, almost to himself. "Remember why we're really here. No distractions. No mistakes—."
"You always have to ruin the vibe, huh? Lighten up a bit will ya?." Malia said, playfully smacking his back. Jason looked at her sharply but said nothing.
Brandon smirked. "Still acting like this is a battlefield." He glanced at Liam, who was tugging eagerly at Jason's arm. "Meanwhile, sunshine over here thinks we're on a school trip."
"Can we ride the Leviathan now?! Please?!" Liam's eyes sparkled. "It loops three times!"
Jason sighed, but there was a flicker of a smirk.
"Three loops? That's it? Weak. You've been hyping this ride all day. Let's see if it lives up to it."
They merged into the crowd, slipping between people like shadows. Jason's gaze never stopped moving—watching every corner, every face.
They weren't here to relax.
They were bait.
And somewhere, someone was waiting to take it.
Before they could enter, Malia casually tossed out an idea, "How about we split up? Y'know—make it more interesting."
Jason's reply was sharp, no hesitation. "Out of the question."
"Oh, come on," she grinned. "I'll take Liam and Captain Comeback—" she jerked a thumb at Brandon, "—and you two," she pointed at Jason and Daphne, "can finally stop acting like ghosts at a funeral. Seriously, the tension is ruining the vibe."
Liam's eyes shifted between them. "Yeah… Daphne, you've been quiet all day. Did Jason say something?" His tone held mock suspicion, but his gaze stayed on Jason.
"I second that," Brandon chimed in, only to immediately regret it when Jason shot him a glare that could've frozen hell. Brandon instinctively shuffled a step away, throwing his hands up. "I mean—I'm just saying. Mood killers. Sort it out. Meet us back here by 1PM sharp."
Then, lowering his voice, Brandon leaned into Jason and muttered, "I got Liam. Nothing'll happen to him, I swear on it."
Jason held his gaze for a second, then gave a small nod. No words.
"Alright then," Malia declared, already walking off. "Let's go, boys. Don't do anything too emotional while we're gone," she teased, throwing a wink at Daphne.
Jason watched them walk away, eyes locked on Liam until he was out of view. He turned—and noticed Daphne already pacing ahead of him, not waiting.
He sighed, pulled his hoodie up, and followed without a word—like a shadow drawn to the storm.
Jason caught up to her pace, walking behind her—but the silence between them was thick, almost tangible. The sounds of laughter, rides, and chaos surrounded them, but in their bubble, it was dead quiet.
"You gonna ignore me the whole time it won't do you any good." Jason said, his voice low, casual—but there was an edge to it.
Daphne didn't look at him.
He scoffed. "Didn't think you'd be the type to sulk."
She stopped walking. Jason took two more steps before realizing she had stop walking. He turned slightly, hands in his pockets.
"I'm not sulking," she said quietly. "I just know where I stand."
Jason raised a brow. "And where's that?"
She met his gaze. "Somewhere behind your pride. And your ego. Far enough that my help becomes an insult."
Jason stared at her, expression unreadable. The sounds around them seemed to dull.
"You shouldn't have patched me up," he said eventually, his voice like ice. "It was reckless."
"No," she replied, "what's reckless is pretending like you're made of steel when you're bleeding out."
They held each other's gaze for a beat. Something sharp between them, something unresolved.
Jason stepped closer, voice even colder now. "I don't need pity. Especially not from someone playing soldier in a world she doesn't belong in."
Daphne's eyes didn't waver. "And I don't need respect from a guy who treats everyone like they're disposable."
The tension crackled. Jason looked at her for a long moment, then finally said, "We're wasting time."
He turned and walked ahead.
Daphne clenched her jaw, then followed—
Not friends. Not enemies.
Just fire and ice walking through a storm.
They walked in silence, the noise of the amusement park buzzing around them—screams from roller coasters, music from nearby speakers, children laughing—but between Jason and Daphne, there was nothing but tension.
Daphne suddenly broke the silence.
"Wait."
Jason halted, glancing back over his shoulder. "What now?"
She didn't meet his eyes. "I want to get something."
He narrowed his gaze but said nothing.
"That," she said, pointing toward a strange-looking stuffed bear displayed in the window of a souvenir shop.
Jason followed her line of sight, then scoffed. "What the hell are you gonna do with that creepy thing?"
Daphne crossed her arms, eyes still on the bear.
"None of your business ."
He looked at her sharply— then walked up to her slowly but she didn't flinch.
"Keep talking like that," he said, "and I might actually start to think you've got guts."
"Keep acting like that and I might start thinking you're human after all."
There was a beat of silence. Then—just barely—Jason's lips twitched, the faintest hint of a smirk.
"Tch. Come on," he said. "Let's get this over with before Liam drags us on some spinning death trap."
They walked on.
This time, together.
Not talking.
But not at war either.
EXT. AMUSEMENT PARK – ELSEWHERE
Liam skipped ahead of Brandon and Malia, practically vibrating with excitement. His eyes scanned everything—the towering rides, the cotton candy carts, the giant stuffed animals—like he'd just stepped into paradise.
"Brandon! Look! They've got the Leviathan running already!" he pointed to the roller coaster with wild eyes. "It's doing the triple loop!"
Malia laughed. "Kid's got more energy than all of Sector 7 combined."
Brandon gave her a dry look. "Don't encourage him."
Liam turned back. "You promised we'd ride that first!"
"I said maybe, not first—" Brandon started, but Liam was already dragging him toward the line.
Malia leaned in close as they walked. "So… are you actually gonna let him ride it?"
Brandon sighed. "Yeah. If I don't, he'll complain until next week. And Jason'll probably throw me off a roof."
"You guys are really protective of him," she noted.
Brandon glanced at Liam. "He's not just a kid. He's the kid. If anything happens to him…"
"You swear on your life, right?" she teased, nudging him.
He gave a small smile. "Something like that."
Ahead of them, Liam was already halfway up the stairs toward the ride entrance.
"Hurry up, old people!" he yelled.
Malia smirked. "Come on, Captain Comeback. Let's go scream our lungs out."
"You're on".
Back at Jason and Daphne, they wandered through the park in silence until Daphne suddenly stopped.
She spun in front of him, arms spread wide to block his path. "That haunted house," she said, nodding toward a dark, towering structure with flickering lights. "You didn't let me get the bear—at least let me do this."
Jason stared at her, then clicked his tongue. "No."
He tried to walk past her, but she blocked him again.
"Why not?" she asked, narrowing her eyes.
Jason sidestepped. She moved again, matching him. "No… don't tell me—" her voice took a sharp edge— "you're scared of ghosts?"
Jason scoffed, too fast. "What? Don't be ridiculous."
Daphne smirked. "Mhm. Then prove it."
Jason opened his mouth, closed it. "We're wasting time. We should be—"
"Oh, come on," she cut in, grabbing his arm. "We've done nothing since we got here. You owe me this one."
He resisted, but she was already dragging him toward the haunted house.
At the entrance, a man in a dusty top hat stood grinning eerily. "Byenvini Misyé é Madmwazèl," he said with a voice like creaking wood.
Daphne waved him off. "We speak English."
"Ah, my apologies," the man bowed slightly. "Welcome to the most terrifying haunted house to ever exist. If you're not careful… you might scream your heart out."
He laughed. It was long, dark, and wrong.
Daphne laughed too. Jason just frowned.
"Oh, we're gonna love this," she said.
"Go on then," the man gestured theatrically toward the blackened archway.
Just then, three people stumbled out of the haunted house. One of them was visibly shaking, while the other two teased him.
"Ou té sipozé wè jan figi'w té sanm!"
"Ou té sanm an zonbi laba, mwen kwè ou té kay fè anlè kò'w!"
The trembling guy spotted Jason, rushed over, and grabbed his hand.
His voice trembled. "Pa al anndan la, ou pé pa sòti vivan — sé move bagay ki andidan. Pa fè'y, pou sa fanm ou souflé!"
Jason yanked his hand back. The guy and his friends vanished into the crowd.
Daphne blinked. "What did he just say?"
The gatekeeper smiled wider. "He said: 'Don't go in there… you might not survive. Do it for your girlfriend.'"
Jason stepped forward. "She's not my—"
But they were gone.
Daphne gave him a long look. Then turned to the man. "Thanks," she said with a smile, before heading inside.
"Ah—one more thing," the man called out.
They both turned.
"If it becomes… too much, press any red button in front of you. If you can find one."
His smile lingered—wide, unnatural.
Jason's skin crawled. He muttered, "Let's get this over with."
Daphne waved at the man. Then they stepped into the darkness.