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The basketball court was parked.
The students filled every edge of it. Standing on the painted lines, crowding the lower bleachers, clustering into uneven groups that kept shifting like no one could decide where to stand.
Voices still overlapped constantly, breaking and reforming into panic. The noise kept stacking on itself until it stopped sounding like conversation and started sounding like pressure.
Grayson sat a little apart from the others on the lower bleachers, his dark shades off and one hand pressed against his temples.
His head was down, jaw tight. Hungover and irritated, like the noise itself was physical.
Luke and Tommy pushed back into the court from the side entrance.
Luke exhaled sharply, while Tommy spoke first. "We checked everything…it's empty."
"The main building, offices, and even classrooms. No-one."
A ripple went through those in the crowd who had heard them. The group fell silent, but not long.
Grayson spoke without looking up. "I open the doors for you people to get in," he muttered, pressing harder into his head, "yet you still can't shut up."
A few who had picked up on his words turned.
Mason blinked. Nora simply stared.
Rain brows knitted slightly together.
Luke took a step towards him. "Dude, don't talk like that," he continued. "Everyone's worried."
Grayson finally lifted up his head, just enough to glance at him. "Yeah," he said flatly. "And they are about to make me sick."
The air tightened instantly. Nora's voice sliced through the air. "Hey, jerk." She called sharply. "People are missing."
Grayson looked at her. "Oh, really," he replied. "I hadn't noticed." Sarcasm faint in his tone.
The group went silent for a moment, even Mason stopped his constant shifting.
"Bro.." Luke called, his expression stunned as he stared at Grayson.
Nora didn't flinch, her hands were folded across her chest, her gaze sharp on him.
"This isn't a joke." Her voice slightly lowered.
"Everything's a joke until you all start screaming." Grayson said, leaning back against the bleachers. His expression, bored in a way that didn't match the situation.
Mason looked around slowly, taking it all in like it was now settling. His eyes narrowed.
"Hazel…she's not here"
Rain's attention sharpened immediately. Her eyes scanned the crowd, very focused. But he was right. "Yeah," she said quietly. "She isn't."
Nora noticed.
Her fingers tightened briefly at her sides, then she spoke. "Maybe she's missing too."
Rain snapped her head towards her. Their eyes met, and Nora only gave a slight shrug. Like she was tossing the thought into the air instead of stating it.
Grayson's gaze flickered to Nora and held there for a beat longer than necessary. Then gave a short dismissive snort and turned away.
Luke exhaled, "That's…really not helpfully." He said softly.
But no one responded, not even Nora.
Lily stood beside Rain, quiet. Watching everything without interrupting. Rain didn't look at her. But her hand moved slightly, tightening at wrist like a silent check: you're still here?
To which Lily responded, with the same action.
Luke stepped forward again. "Okay," he said, raising both hands, trying to regain control of the moment. "We need to do something.
Panicking here isn't going to fix anything."
Mason let out a short breath, "Yeah, okay… so what now?"
All eyes shifted, the question immediately changed the space around them.
Rain spoke first. "Let's split up." Her voice was steady, but tighter than usual.
The group blinked, confusion flickered across their faces.
"Why don't, a few of us go to the next town." She added. "It's about a thirty minute drive.
Let's see if they have an idea of what's going on."
Luke nodded slowly. "Information…good."
Mason nodded his head in agreement as well. "Yeah. Maybe at the end of the day…" he continued, "it's all some drill. Maybe a toxic chemical spill or something, and everyone just evacuated. Right?"
No one answered quickly enough to agree.
Dave, who had been standing too close, listening to their conversation cut in.
"I don't think it's a drill."
Mason glanced at him, his expression dropped. "Think positive, man."
David looked away, muttering words that were inaudible. The silence returned again, this time heavier.
Lily looked around, then her gentle voice broke through. "Who is going?"
There was another pause, as every one exchanged glances. No one moved forward, no hesitation disguised as confidence. There was only stillness.
Grayson, opened one eye taking a peek at them. Then he shut it back, with a slight head shake.
Nora scanned the group once, then spoke. "Rain and Luke would go."
Rain blinked. "What?"
Mason looked up, his expression surprised. "...wait, why them?"
But Nora didn't explain. She just watched the group like she was already arranging pieces in her head. "The rest of us stay here," she added.
Mason's brow furrowed. "And do what exactly?"
Nora turned to him. "Control the crowd," she answered with no hesitation. "They're getting worse by the minute."
Rain simply stared at her. This wasn't a suggestion, so there was no room for negotiation. The decision had already been made.
Rain's focus shifted to Lily. For a moment, she hesitated.
Nora caught a glimpse of her expression. Uncertainty glinting in her gaze.
"But…" Rain was about to say, as Nora quickly pulled her sister closer to herself.
"I'll take care of her." She said, her hands settling gently on Lily's shoulders.
Rain's eyes narrowed slightly. "You?"
But Nora didn't blink. "Yeah," she responded. "Who else?"
A beat passed, Rain didn't argue further. Not because she agreed, because there was no room for one.
Dave nodded slowly, his voice cutting through to them. "You both have to hurry."
He said. "The sooner you figure things out, the better for us."
Luke glanced at Rain. He exhaled, "Let's go." His voice was quiet, almost like a whisper.
Her lashes lifted towards him. In the moment, the noise around them blurred again. Distant.
Rain's chest rose unevenly. Her heart hammered against her ribs, and she couldn't tell if it was because of everything happening around them…..or because of him.
"Rain…" he called again, softer this time. "We have to hurry."
She blinked, forcing herself back to the present then gave a quick nod, as he carefully led the way.