Breakfast that morning felt like walking into a spotlight. Everyone whispered about the attack, stealing glances my way. I caught one kid leaning toward his friends: "That's the kid who was glowing. He's the one who took down those bigger guys and sprinted faster than anyone I've ever seen."

  "Ran super fast?" I asked Harper as we joined the line.

  "Yeah!" Michael blurted, louder than necessary. Heads turned. "You charged that guy so quick there was a dust trail in your wake—like a cartoon!"

  He pulled out his little robot and tinkered furiously. Gears whirred. He set it on the table. It zoomed forward, kicking up a tiny dust cloud.

  "Just like that," Michael said, grinning.

  Harper stared, wide-eyed. "How do you even do that?"

  "Easy." Michael snatched it back. "I loaded a dust compartment. Full power, timed release—bam, instant speed trail. Just like Wyatt."

  I clapped him on the back. Smart kid like him? We'd only won last night because of tricks like that.

  Michael beamed.

  The line dragged ten minutes. When we reached our assigned table, Maelus and his crew lounged there like they owned it.

  "Excuse me?" I said.

  The biggest one—Maelus—sneered and stuck out his hand. "I'm Maelus."

  I shook. He crushed my fingers. I yanked back; he held tight.

  "Stop!" Michael thrust a robot forward. "I'll send this one up your pants again if you don't let go!"

  Maelus released me fast. I cradled my throbbing hand.

  "You better not threaten me, punk," Maelus growled, teeth grinding.

  I gripped Michael's shoulder. "Now's not the time," I whispered. "Let's eat in the common room."

  I muttered an apology to Maelus. We retreated.

  Once inside, Harper planted hands on hips. "You're just going to let him push you around?"

  "Sometimes avoiding a fight is smarter than starting one." I met her eyes. "You okay eating here?"

  She shook her head, jaw tight. "It's fine. I don't mind eating here anyway."

  We ate in heavy silence. When we finished, Harper shoved her tray aside, stormed to her room, and slammed the door.

  Michael blinked. "What's up with her?"

  I jumped—I'd forgotten he was there. "No idea what I did."

  He shrugged. "She'll come around eventually."

  I nodded, then realized how little I knew about him. "What's your story, anyway? Parents? Where you're from?"

  "My dad was lead engineer on Titan," Michael said. "Kept the robots, auto-guns, everything running smooth. When my parents divorced, I came back to Earth on the condition that once I was eligible for the academy, I'd get to see him. After graduation, I choose which parent to live with. That's the deal."

  "Cool," I said quietly. Awkward silence stretched. He avoided my eyes, fingers hastily disassembling a robot. Something felt off—like he was holding back.

  "I should... uh... work on my robots. Coding stuff." He bolted for his room.

  I stared at the ceiling in mine for twenty minutes before the door creaked. Harper slipped in.

  "Sorry for being hard on you." She shut the door and sat on my bed's edge.

  "I forgive you." I sighed.

  She studied me. "I was going to ask about the glowing, but if you don't want—"

  You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

  "No, you're fine. I'm just tired."

  "That's okay. We're all tired sometimes." She hesitated. "What do you think caused it? Experimenting with Dark Matter?"

  "No. Dark Matter doesn't make people glow. Unless I subconsciously tapped it and have some weird gene that lights me up."

  "Hmm. It doesn't usually make you stronger or faster, does it?"

  "Not that I've heard. But no one's really tried pushing those limits."

  "Why not?"

  "Because Darklings manipulate it so fast, super speed wouldn't save you. You'd still get shredded."

  The door slammed open. Maelus filled the frame, grinning like a predator.

  "Looks like the lovebirds were making out, huh?"

  Heat flooded my face. Harper in my room looked bad enough without his smirk.

  "We were not—" Harper started.

  Maelus lunged. Pain exploded as he wrenched my arms behind my back.

  "Don't say a word, girl," he snarled at Harper. "Or I'll rip his arms off."

  She froze. He dragged me to the bathroom. "Ever had a swirlie?"

  I shook my head frantically as he forced my face toward the toilet. Yellow water—forgot to flush this morning. A tiny white speck floated on the surface.

  I inhaled on instinct. Strength surged through me again, but this time mixed with something deeper. Love. Warmth. My chest glowed bright. Power tingled at my fingertips.

  I channeled part of that glow into Maelus's chest. The effort drained me; I barely straightened before collapsing.

  Strong arms caught me—Harper.

  Toilet water sprayed. Maelus plunged his own head in, splashing wildly.

  "I love you. I love you. I love you," he babbled, drenching himself.

  Michael appeared in the doorway. "What in the world...?"

  Light drifted from Maelus's chest back into mine. Energy rushed in.

  "Run," I gasped.

  Maelus slumped. I wrenched free of Harper and bolted—through my room, the common room, into the hall. My friends pounded behind me.

  I paused to let them pass. Maelus charged after us, murder in his eyes.

  "Run!" I yelled.

  Ahead, Michael fumbled with his robot.

  "Now's not the time!" I shouted.

  The bot whirred to life, rocketed upward. Michael skidded to a stop and turned. So did I.

  Maelus reversed course, fleeing the flying robot trailing a sparking wire. It dove, zapped his head. He crumpled. Smoke curled up.

  "Back to the common room," Michael said, voice shaky. "And lock the door this time."

  We spent the day inside, playing poker with a found deck. Peaceful—until the handle rattled. The lock held. Whoever it was gave up.

  "Lunch time!" the voice announced in my head.

  I joined Harper and Michael in the common room.

  "Let's go." Harper tugged me toward the door. "No time to waste."

  "Geez, you're in a rush to escape."

  "Stop being sarcastic." She rolled her eyes.

  Michael tinkered with something bigger—arm-sized.

  "What's that?" I asked.

  "Part of a bigger project." He shrugged.

  I pried; he dodged. Secretive as ever.

  Ten minutes later we sat at our table, eating with everyone. Felt good—until Maelus and his goons loomed.

  "You took our table again?" he sneered.

  I stood, tried to push the light into him. Nothing happened.

  "You look constipated," Maelus said.

  Harper snorted, then caught my look and stopped.

  "Stop it and leave us alone." I spat the words.

  His face flushed crimson. Fists balled.

  "You asked for it, Wyatt."

  His punch landed. Blackout.

  I woke on my bed, Harper pressing a cool rag to my face. A knot throbbed above my left eye.

  "Ugh." I tried sitting. Vision swam; she eased me down.

  "Easy."

  "What happened?"

  "You stood up for us. Maelus punched you out. He left after that. Michael and I dragged you here."

  "Oh." Defeat stung. "Can't anyone get him in trouble?"

  "No teachers on board. They reset his points to zero—that's it."

  Slight satisfaction. At least he'd suffered.

  "Feel like competing tonight?" Harper brushed hair from my eyes.

  I nodded. No way I'd let Maelus win that way.

  "You don't have to. But if you do, it's in two hours. Marine battle."

  "Marine battle?"

  "Yep. No details yet." She stood. "Rest up."

  She left. I closed my eyes.

  "Wake up." Harper poked my side. "Battle starts soon."

  I yawned, changed into something comfortable. Ten minutes later we sat overlooking the arena.

  "Ladies and gentlemen!" the announcer boomed in my head. "Ready for an epic marine battle?"

  Animated swimmers demoed: one team guarded a rubber ball; keep it for a minute to win.

  "Team 300 starts with the ball against 194."

  We stood. Whispers followed us down.

  Robots handed swimsuits. Locker room oddly empty—no other boys. All girls. Great.

  We dove in. Buzzer.

  I lunged for the ball, swam hard. Three girls pursued. Harper tackled one. Michael hesitated.

  "Michael! Not the time to be a gentleman!"

  No time to check. Girls closed in.

  "Catch!" I spun, threw to Michael. He snagged it, streaked away. Girls crashed into me.

  "Where's the ball?"

  Buzzer. "Team 300 wins!"

  Rounds blurred—wins stacking—until Maelus's team.

  Crowd roared for blood. Buzzer.

  "Same as round two!" I shouted.

  Harper and I flanked Maelus. He juggled the ball, smirking. "Get close and I'll tear you apart."

  I charged head-on. He locked my neck, squeezing. Vision blurred.

  White speck on pool bottom. I grabbed it. Strength flooded back.

  Water obeyed. I shoved the glow into it. A wave slammed Maelus's face; ball flew. Harper snatched it.

  Thirty seconds left. Stupid impulse: I enveloped Maelus in a water sphere, lifted him like a hamster ball.

  Body shook—too much. He crashed down as buzzer sounded.

  Victory raised hand. Then blackout.

  I woke facing Bajer.

  "How did you do it?" he asked. "Steal Dark Matter from the stronghold and manipulate it in days?"

  I shook my head. "I didn't steal anything."

  "Your head shake isn't helpful." He smiled. "How'd you get in?"

  "I didn't. Austin gave me some to experiment with."

  "Interesting. And you just... know how to use it?" He leaned in. "Explains beating that Darkling. Explains why the Dark Lord wants you. Our scans must've glitched—you're powerful even here."

  "I guess," I mumbled, ashamed of the lie.

  "Impressive head start, kid. You can go."

  He patted my back. I fled, heart pounding. That could've ended worse.