3:47 am. A little more than two hours before Kriz wakes up.

    Though shocked by Mabel’s attack, Shaira is relieved that her friend is out and won’t have to deal with Jeric’s show. But seeing that Ryan is vulnerable and incapable of fighting back makes her feel as if an invisible creature were sapping the remaining energy off her head. Breathing hard, she scans the place and marks the positions of every player:
                                                                         Torch                                    Torch

             Cristina Jeric

        


                                                                                                     
                                                         
Joriz
Shaira
                                                            Ryan
                                                                                                                                            

Torch  Joshua Vincent Jennifer Torch

             

Upon seeing Jeric’s army rushing to seize them, Shaira uses her power to make those in front line collide with one another and turn into puffs of smoke as if giant, strong magnets were freed to attract and smash other magnets. Then, one at a time, she makes enemies fly, ram against several others on the ground, and crash onto walls, finally creating more smoke. A meter from her, Joriz is busy plopping a thick worm of slime onto his feet, until it gets so thick it almost covers his knees.

“What are you doing?” Shaira asks Joriz, her focus almost breaking.

“They want to get us. And mark us,” Joriz says. “This will stop them.”

“Are you crazy? You think that’s a good idea?”

“Maybe.”

“Just help me! And don’t paste me with that… thing!”

“Wait.” Joriz floods with slime the area in front of him, then, the sides. “Now let’s see if he can drag me out of this.”

“You’re not helping! Just shoot them for God’s sake!”

Meanwhile, Jennifer frantically shoots torrential orange light orbs with her right hand, changing the directions of the attackers’ motions and forcing them to slam against one another. Her other hand grips her marker, trembling and fighting the urge to swing and mark Vincent. The best friends arm their right hands with long shards of glass while clutching their markers with their left hands. They hide behind Jennifer and prepare themselves to slash those who will get too close. Then, Joshua removes the lid of his marker with...