We watched her convulse.
Her eyes bled red.
Her face twisted into something feral.
And then—
she was unleashed.
The camera jerked violently as the transformed girl blurred into motion, slamming into a doctor. A scream tore through the feed. The creature lunged—
—and the video cut off just as she reached a child.
The final frozen frame lingered:
blood smeared across her mouth.
Carrie Walker, the newscaster, reappeared on screen.
“This is the third attack of this nature in as many days. We have Council member Gideon Quinn with us now to explain what we just witnessed. Councillor?”
My father’s face filled the screen.
I automatically stepped back.
He was handsome—burnished-gold hair, gold eyes, thin studious glasses. Behind him, his lab buzzed with frantic movement.
“Hi, Carrie,” he said. “At the moment things are unclear, but from what we’ve seen, the Equinox appears to be using a type of virus on these people.”
“A virus? Does that mean it’s contagious?” Carrie asked, alarm sharpening her tone.
“Again, we’re taking every precaution to make sure it isn’t.”
“About a month ago,” she continued, “three Light users were found dead in the Trenton region with unexplained injuries. Does this virus have anything to do with that?”
My father paled.
I blinked.
“No,” he said tightly. “As far as I’m aware, this is completely unrelated. At this stage, we expect to see more attacks by the Equinox in Velithra, so please—be advised and stay away from anyone you don’t know well.”
Cutting back to Carrie, she stared through the screen. “Elliot Muir, the suspected leader of the Equinox Front, has yet to make a statement surrounding this attack, and police are asking anyone aware of his whereabouts to contact authorities immediately.”
Coach Radley strode in and turned off the TV. “Okay, that’s it. To classes, all of you!”
“But sir—” someone protested.
“Look, it’s just a bunch of scaremongering. Everyone needs to get on with their day—so chop chop!”
Dev looked through the crowds, meeting K’s gaze across the room. They exchanged a silent conversation. K’s eyes flicked to mine for a heartbeat, darkening—probably thinking of my father.
“I have to go,” Dev said suddenly, following a nod from K.
“Okay,” I said, blinking.
“Sorry, just—” He turned back, placing a hand on my arm. “Try and stay with Jess today, okay?”
“I’ll be fine, Dev.”
