MAXINE

I sat up, heart pounding, straining to listen. The house was silent, but the uneasy feeling persisted.

I slipped out of bed, moving quietly towards the door. As I stepped into the hallway, a chill ran down my spine. Something was wrong.

The kids were all silent. I made my way toward the living room, where I found Cinder, Oz, Raine, and Zel deep in conversation. They all seemed to fumbling with one thing or the other, strapping things to their waist or their ankles.

Surprisingly, ...