"Why are they chasing after us?" Nikki asked, her voice tense as we sprinted through the security checkpoint.

  "They're undercover TSA agents posing as guards," September said, her tone even, but there was fire behind her eyes. "For all we know, every single person in this place could be one of them."

  We weaved through the bustling lobby, blending into the tide of travelers. People lounged on wide seats, lost in their phones, chatting in quiet clusters, or casually glancing up as we dashed past in a blur. The overhead lights beamed down in clinical white, reflecting off the sleek tile floors. Around us, the hum of announcements, rolling suitcases, and distant conversations melted into background noise, drowned out by the rhythm of our footsteps.

  “Restroom!” Tisiah called out, motioning toward a hallway tucked between gates. “We can split up in there.”

  We broke formation, cutting through the crowd like threads unraveling in opposite directions. My chest was tight with nerves, but I kept my pace with Malachi and Tisiah, ducking into the tiled corridor. The change in air hit immediately—cool, sterile, and almost too quiet.

  “Hold the door,” Malachi said as we reached the entrance, breath catching.

  But before he could finish, the door burst open. A wave of force knocked us off our feet, slamming us to the ground.

  The impact left me dazed. The cold tiles pressed against my cheek, the sharp scent of disinfectant clinging to every breath. A booming voice cut through the haze.

  "Give us Connor right now!" one of the guards barked, his tone sharp and commanding.

  Malachi, always too calm under pressure, chuckled as he rose to his feet. “You’re not catching him that easily. He’s got more fight in him than you think.”

  The room stilled for a heartbeat, like everyone was waiting for the next move. Then chaos erupted.

  I launched myself toward the guard on the far left, Perk charging every step. He swung at me—fast—but I ducked under his punch and grabbed his wrist, twisting his arm as I slammed him into one of the stall doors. The metal groaned before snapping off its hinges, and the guard crumpled into the broken stall with a thud.

  I didn’t give him a second chance. I drove my elbow into his gut, then followed with a strike to the cheek. His head snapped back, hitting the wall with a dull, final sound. He slumped to the ground, dazed.

  Malachi and Tisiah glanced my way, eyebrows raised. The restroom echoed with heavy footsteps as more guards swarmed in. They moved in formation, cutting off every path to the exit.

  Tisiah didn't hesitate. He whipped out his wand and sent a gust of energy that blasted across the room like a mini explosion. The new wave of guards was thrown backward, colliding with the walls in a clatter of limbs and uniforms. Without missing a beat, we slipped through the door and bolted into the hallway.

  We barely made it five steps before another guard lunged. Instinct kicked in. I activated my Perk—just a fraction of its power, as the crimson veins lit under my skin as the energy surged. My fist connected with the man’s chest, and he flew backward like a crash test dummy, landing in a heap against the wall.

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  I winced and clutched my back for him. Might've overdone that.

  But there wasn’t time to think. Another guard landed a punch to my stomach, knocking me flat. The floor came up fast, and I hit it hard, groaning.

  Before I could catch my breath, something heavy landed on top of me.

  “Relax, we’re here to help,” Malachi said, clearly amused by the fact that he'd landed squarely on my chest.

  “Hilarious,” I muttered, shoving him off.

  Through the open doorway, I could still see Tisiah unleashing arcs of energy from his wand. The sparks snapped and shimmered, slicing through the air, but the guards were quick—too quick.

  “You all alright?” Tisiah called out, keeping his aim steady.

  “We're fine,” I said, pulling myself up. Malachi and I exchanged a glance, both of us knowing we couldn’t hold back anymore.

  “This is out of control,” Tisiah said, wide-eyed. “There are way more than we expected.”

  “I noticed,” I replied, bracing myself.

  I focused inward, calling up my Perk again. But this time, I aimed for more than one target.

  With a deep breath, I clenched my fist and slammed it into the floor. The impact sent a pulse through the ground—a shockwave that cracked the tiles, shook the stalls, and sent vibrations echoing through the walls. The energy rippled out in a perfect circle.

  Everyone in the room stumbled. Guards scrambled to stay upright, tripping over each other in confusion. The air buzzed with static, the force of the blast leaving them dazed and overwhelmed. Within moments, they were either down or gone, retreating into the hall in a scattered panic.

  Malachi whistled. “Well, that worked.”

  We hurried out, regrouping with the others near the gate entrance. Security had cleared out, and those left behind looked shaken.

  Then, over the intercom, a clear announcement echoed through the terminal: “Flight 208 to England, please proceed to Gate F3.”

  September’s expression shifted immediately. She froze. “Oh… I forgot to check in.”

  The rest of us exchanged wide-eyed stares.

  “You forgot?” I asked, panic rising.

  “Is it too late?” Nikki asked, glancing toward the gate in the distance.

  I swallowed. “Can you handle getting us through? Just to be safe?”

  “I’ll try,” Nikki said, already moving.

  September sighed and gestured for us to follow. “Let’s just get in line and hope for the best.”

  We approached the counter with deliberate calm, doing our best not to look like we’d just fought our way through a bathroom ambush. The gate attendant looked up from his screen, his eyes narrowing as he studied our group.

  “Is someone in charge?” he asked, his tone polite but pointed.

  “Yes,” Nikki said quickly. “They’re already on board.”

  He raised an eyebrow but, after a pause, nodded. Her illusion charm quickly formed some fake passage tickets. I'm hoping she even knows the information supposed to be on them. We held our breath.

  Then, he motioned for us to proceed.

  One by one, we stepped through the corridor, nerves buzzing with every step.

  “Did you at least get us good seats?” Malachi asked Nikki, keeping his voice low.

  She shook her head.

  “Fantastic,” he muttered as we entered the plane.

  The seats were small and a little worn, but to me, they felt like luxury after the chaos we’d just survived. I dropped into the window seat, the warmth of it grounding me. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the hum of the cabin settle my nerves.

  When I opened them, someone was sitting beside me.

  September.

  She didn’t say anything at first. Just exhaled quietly and glanced out the window, then back at me, her eyes softening.

  “You okay?” she asked gently.

  I nodded. “Just thinking.”

  “You always think this hard?”

  I gave a quiet laugh. “Pretty much.”

  She smiled—subtle, but real. “Same.”

  For a moment, everything felt still.

  “I think about you sometimes,” I admitted, surprising even myself. “Among… other things.”

  Her gaze lingered, and her smile deepened. “I hope they’re good thoughts.”

  “They are,” I said softly.

  Outside, the plane’s wings caught the soft glow of the runway lights. I leaned back in my seat, thinking about how far we’d come—and how much farther we had to go. This wasn’t the end of the journey. Not even close. But it was a moment of quiet, a breath of air between storms.

  “You know,” I added, watching the wing tremble as the plane taxied, “I never imagined this would be my life.”

  September looked at me for a long moment. “Neither did I.”