Yesu was experiencing flashes again.

But this time, they flowed together. Like a dream.

Someone was running. Laughing in bliss.

Past tall trees dancing to the wind.

Leaves rustled underneath tiny bare feet.

And then emerged into green fields.

The sky was a clear blue.

The sun was bright. Warm.

Equally tiny hands raised up in an attempt to reach the sky.

To grab hold of the sun.

But then—

The sun darkened.

Red.

Flames engulfed everything around.

It was now in a building.

People were screaming, running helter scelter.

And Yesu was in the midst of it all.

The chaotic crowd trampled on her in the quest for survival.

Yesu pushed herself up from where she had fallen.

Running... running...

Dodging.

Something collapsed from above. Something covered in flames.

The people below were immediately crushed and burned.

The screams that followed sounded like it was coming directly from hell.

Yesu rolled desperately away from the terror.

There was an open window way above ground level.

She almost tripped on her feet, then ran.

A table was next to the wall.

Partly covered in fire.

She hurled herself on top nevertheless.

And let out a shout.

She threw herself upwards, grabbing hold of iron bars secured to the wall.

Burning hot.

She groaned and climbed.

The window was only a few inches away.

But as she reached for it—

She slipped.

Then fell towards the hell below.

Yesu jerked awake with a deep gasp, breathing heavily.

She scanned her surroundings.

Darkness.

"Coco..." Came a whine in the dark.

Yesu found him immediately.

Finch, who seemed to have woken a second after her, was rubbing his eyes sleepily.

Tiredly.

"Please." He continued, speech slurred. "Stop calling."

And he fell back asleep.

Snoring.

Yesu blinked.

Her eyes were starting to adjust to the darkness.

They were in a building with a large space.

The light from the moon outside enabled the perception of shadows.

There were other figures sleeping around on the floor.

Squad 11-D.

Yesu touched the back of her head.

Sure enough, the dent in her skull was almost gone.

The door was very far from where she sat, but she could tell it was wide open.

She got to her feet and tiptoed over sleeping bodies.

The night air was fresh.

The moon and stars illuminated the sky, making the dense forest around less depressing.

"Yesu?"

Isaiah, who was standing guard outside, looked shocked to see her.

"You’re awake?" He asked.

Soraya, who was standing next to him, turned curiously.

She wasn’t as shocked as her subordinate. She looked too downcast to be.

"Yes." Yesu said, glancing around.

She could see some squad members standing in the trees ahead.

On guard.

"What happened?" She asked. "Did we get the Scales back?"

Soraya looked away.

"No." Isaiah answered. "Class B caught up to Grover. He’s in really bad shape."

Yesu stared.

"How did we get here then?"

Isaiah beamed proudly. "I tracked you guys. Well, Soraya mostly."

Yesu was confused. "How?"

"You should rest some more." Soraya said before Isaiah could explain. "Day two begins in a few hours."

She sounded cold.

Yesu knew better than to argue.

"Okay." She said and went back inside.

Isaiah stared after her unbelievably.

"How come she’s already feeling better? She looked dead a while ago." He remarked.

Soraya was focused on the trees ahead.

"Lucky I guess."

However, she knew it was more than that.

She had only said it to make him quiet.

***

Back at Zone 25 facility, Miss Heaven sat in a control room watching the day’s highlights on a large monitor.

She kept replaying the faceoff between Class D and two of Echelon’s renowned Prep students.

A shadow of a smile flashed across her face as Reggie advanced towards Patricia.

Then she was back to looking permanently displeased.

She leaned in as Yesu broke out of Patricia’s hold without much effort and ran forward, moving past Reggie.

"Faster than the actual counter Ability." She noted.

The door opened and Mr Ryco walked in holding two cups of coffee.

"I see you’re still working." He remarked.

"I see you’ve finally decided to stop sleeping on the job."

She didn’t even glance back.

Mr Ryco smiled softly.

"It’s way past midnight. Rest is essential."

Miss Heaven smirked.

"Your Level two Prep students almost got knocked out."

Mr Ryco gave a smile to match, dropping a cup of coffee in front of her.

"They were outnumbered."

On the screen, Roshan had just cleared Yesu out of the way.

"That was a nice hit." Mr Ryco commented.

They watched as Yesu was slammed against a tree and slowly blanked out.

Mr Ryco seemed proud.

Miss Heaven adjusted her glasses.

"Wait till you see what happens next."

Mr Ryco almost laughed. "You never let up, do you?"

Miss Heaven shifted the coffee he had placed before her aside.

Mr Ryco stared at her, looking slightly hurt.

She ignored him.

"While you were dishonoring your paycheck, I carried out the actual task we were given." She said.

Mr Ryco was puzzled for a moment.

"What exactly?"

Miss Heaven was more displeased. She faced him.

"I wonder, how on earth were you chosen to Instruct Prep? You are a complete joke."

"And you," Mr Ryco said almost immediately. "Are a walking cloud of gloom."

He shook his head in pity.

"No one wants that."

Miss Heaven held his gaze.

Something that wasn’t displeasure flashed in her eyes.

Anger.

She returned to the monitor quickly.

"The documentary has been sent." She said, sounding flat.

Mr Ryco turned equally serious.

"Where?"

"To the VIP. As ordered."

***

High above Central City, in the penthouse that looked less like a home and more like a laboratory, the lights were still on during the late hours.

Doctor Heckman was wearing a lab coat, as always, with his glasses.

He stood before the long table where live animals were lined in cages.

The rat cages were open.

He infused the mammals one after the other with a bluish injection.

The metallic door slid open.

He swiftly shoved an unfinished injection into his pocket and dropped the rat he had been working on.

"What?" He asked, irritated.

Josephine could see the blue liquid staining his pocket.

She ignored it.

"You received a package, Doctor."

Doctor Heckman scowled. "I’m not going to some fancy party."

Josephine’s mouth twitched.

"It’s from Zone 25."

"25..." He brought a hand to his chin in thought. "I can’t recall having any business there..."

Josephine sighed tiredly.

"The State Anomaly."

Doctor Heckman lit up. "That’s it."

Josephine handed over the envelope she had come in with.

Doctor Heckman ripped it open impatiently.

"A tape?" He sounded delighted. "This is interesting."

Then he shouted at the top of his voice.

"Josie, the screen!"

As if she wasn’t standing right next to him.

Josephine mumbled something and set to work.

Doctor Heckman watched the documentary once.

His eyes widened in realization.

"Josie!" He yelled again.

"I’m right next to you."

"Get busy." He continued like she hadn’t spoken, springing up from his seat.

"I want to send a message."