---
Next chapter: Safe House
Henry and Zack were in school. They were both wondering why Kai and Lila weren't in school.
Zack held Henry and said, "I haven't heard from them since the break."
Henry bit his lip, "Now that you mention it, I saw Nathan entering his dormitory yesterday. Let's go ask him."
Stonebrook Boys Dormitory
Zack and Henry banged Nathan's door continuously, but Nathan refused to open. Henry folded his arms, "He may not be around."
Zack, still banging, turned and said, "Or he may be hiding." He kicked the door open and barged in.
Henry followed along.
To their surprise, Nathan was still badly injured and lay on the bed in pain. Zack called out Nathan's name, but he did not answer.
Henry placed his hand on Nathan's head and said, "He's burning up."
Zack pulled out his cellphone, "I'll call Stacy."
Minutes later
Stacy cast healing beams on Nathan and sighed, "That should do it. He will be fine in no time."
Zack and Henry focused on Nathan, "I think he's moving."
Stacy, at their back, sighed and thought, "No thank you, as always."
Nathan, in shock, stood up and screamed. Henry held him still, "Relax, Nathan. With so many wounds like that, why didn't you go to a doctor?"
Nathan sighed, "It's not that simple; the detectives were swarming there."
Zack held him and said, "Did you see or did you go out with Kai and Lila recently?"
Stacy cut in and said, "Uhmm, can I leave? I don't want to be a part of this."
Zack tilted his head slowly and faced her, "Yeah, but why the attitude?"
Stacy smiled, "Ha! Did I say anything wrong? It's just... since I'm a low class, you guys only used me for my healing abilities."
She stood up, moving towards the door, "I guess, since I later stopped trying to impress you guys, I could focus on my studies and my friends. Anyways... if you need me for anything, just make a call."
Shut!!
The door slammed against the wall and closed. She leaned on the door and cried before leaving.
Zack only froze for a while before rolling his eyes and continued, "I heard you guys went after VIREX yesterday. Are they okay? That's all we want to know."
Nathan, without facing Zack, replied, "They've been taken care of."
Zack continued, "So where are they?"
Nathan closed his eyes in disgust, "I don't know."
Zack got annoyed, "What's wrong with you, Nathan? Why aren't you giving us straight answers?"
Nathan opened his eyes and faced him, "As Stacy rightly said, you don't care about low classes. And I can remember very well how you insulted me when we were still younger, calling me a 'nerd', 'echoless'. You are only here just to get information out of me, and I don't want to be a part of it."
Zack, in annoyance, held Nathan's shirt, "Have you lost your mind, you dimwit? Being part of the detectives, I also share some important information. I can tell the principal to expel you... you know."
Nathan held his head and closed his eyes.
But Zack still continued, "Going after VIREX was a stupid plan. You will become their enemy. A horde of elite class will come after you and not stop until you are burnt to death."
Henry held Zack firmly, "Okay, shut up. I think Nathan here gets that clearly."
Zack pushed him off and said, "You too... you are not off the hook either. They already have photos of Kai, Lila, and Ryu, and you, Nathan... they suspect you as an accomplice."
Nathan opened his eyes and screamed, "What?!"
Nathan closed his eyes and remembered, "That girl... she's working for the government. She saw my face and Kai's.
We wounded one of their agents badly..."
Henry and Zack shouted, "You what!?"
Nathan held Zack's hand, "It wasn't supposed to end up like that. It was Lila who couldn't hold her anger when she saw the guy using lightning ability."
Zack folded his arms, "Wait, lightning..."
Zack thought for a while, "Conversion tech."
Henry crossed his arms and said sarcastically, "You work for them and you don't know that?"
Zack held Henry, "For the last time, I work for the authorities, not VIREX...
VIREX is a secret organization, and only elite and medium classes are in it."
Henry pushed off his hands and replied, "Then how do you know about conversion tech?"
Zack sighed, "When I encountered an agent one time, a guy told me...
Kelvin."
Henry and Nathan called out the name again, "Kelvin?"
Zack faced them, "Wait, you two know him?"
Nathan spoke up, "Yeah, he took both Kai and Lila to safety."
Henry froze and thought, "If they were taken by Kelvin, they're probably in good hands now."
He sighed in relief and said, "Don't worry, Zack. Kai and Lila are fine."
Zack scoffed, "And how are you sure about that?"
Henry sighed, "Trust me on this one... Kelvin took them to a doc... a friendly one." In his mind he corrected himself, "Bratty doc."
Nathan sighed, "At least Kai's safe. I'll take whatever punishment comes."
He looked at Zack, "So what's the punishment for assaulting a government agent—that VIREX guy?"
Zack took a deep breath, "Uhmm, I don't really know. I'm not assigned to that role yet. Only specific people can check such."
He continued, "I'll poke around and see what I can find."
Nathan sighed.
---
Later that day...
Stonebrook Hospital
Knock! Knock!
The ward room door opened and Nerya walked in. She was dressed nicely—as usual.
She dropped the flowers down and sat beside Vale.
"Good afternoon, handsome. How's the recovery going?"
Vale sighed, "Uhh, Nerya... nice to see..."
But he winced in pain. Nerya held his shoulder and put him to rest. She kissed his cheek and said, "Don't worry. Fury told me you were in a critical condition."
Vale smiled, "I'm doing much better now. Thanks for your concern."
She sat and opened the box of apples. She sliced them slowly and asked, "So did you take a look at the perpetrators?"
Vale sighed, "A dark-haired guy with shadow blades, a brown-haired girl with lightning abilities."
Nerya smiled, "I see... must be those pesky teens from Stonebrook, always sticking their noses in matters that don't concern them."
Vale seemed surprised, "Oh, so you know them? I was going to check if I can find CCTV footages from that day's incident."
Nerya frowned, "Yeah I do. A friend told me about them... Ava."
"Fruit?"
Vale stretched his hands, "Yes, please."
He munched in disgust and said, "What a troublesome school.
Still surprised why haven't they given us orders to take out the principal?."
Vale winced again in pain.
Nerya held him and said, "Take it easy."
Vale continued, "I'm not the only one here. That girl who tried to hack into the authorities' file is still on the loose... Gwen."
Nerya took a deep breath, Gwen huh ?"