Chapter 45: The Reckoning Before the Storm
A day after spending some time in the Rhemonic temple, Tessa stood at the edge of the cliffside, staring out at the endless horizon, her mind a whirl of conflict.
The wind whipped her hair back from her face, but she barely felt its cold touch. It had been days since she last saw Ms. Caldwell, Mr. Joel, or Mr. Thompson, and the weight of their absence pressed heavily on her chest.
Her decision was clear, yet fraught with tension. She had to go back, infiltrate the SSG headquarters, and rescue them from Andrew Marshall's cruel grasp. But even with her powers growing—slivers of strength awakening inside her, like fragments of forgotten light—she knew she wasn't ready. Not yet.
"I can't wait any longer," she whispered to herself, the wind carrying her words away. "I have to get them out of there."
A soft voice broke through her thoughts, as if responding to the intensity of her conviction. Nyala stood beside her, her presence quiet but steady. She didn't have Tessa's speed or strength, but her calm confidence had its own way of anchoring Tessa in moments like this.
"You've made up your mind," Nyala said, her voice gentle yet firm. "But going back alone is reckless."
Tessa turned to meet Nyala's gaze, seeing the concern written across her face. "I'm not going alone."
Adrian's voice cut through the conversation like a sharp blade. "Oh, you're not?" His tone was dry, his usual carefree charm slightly tainted with frustration. "Because it sure sounds like you're heading straight into a lion's den without a second thought. I thought we were done with that impulsive side of you, Tessa."
Tessa's jaw tightened, the frustration bubbling beneath her skin. "I don't have time for this, Adrian. Ms. Caldwell, Mr. Joel, Mr. Thompson—they need me. They're all I have left, and the SSG won't wait."
Adrian's expression softened, his brows furrowing as he stepped closer. "And what do you think is going to happen if you charge in there? You think they'll just hand them over? No. The SSG is a fortress. Marshall's been playing this game longer than you've even been alive."
A tense silence settled between them, the gravity of the situation palpable. Nyala stepped forward, her quiet voice steadying the tension.
"She's not planning to rush in. We'll plan this carefully, together. My people, though they lack powers, are experts in disguise, deception, and distraction. We can help create a diversion to draw attention away from the entrance, giving you both time to enter."
Tessa nodded slowly, trying to focus on the task at hand rather than the dread gnawing at her insides. "I've memorized the layout of the SSG facility. I saw it briefly during my personal research about them and also shortly before the last incident with Marshall. It's burned into my memory."
"Memorized?" Adrian raised an eyebrow, intrigued despite himself. "You sure?"
"I'm sure." Tessa inhaled deeply. "We'll infiltrate the facility, but we need time to prepare."
The wind howled in the distance, a lonely sound that mirrored the swirling emotions inside Tessa. She could feel the stakes mounting, the weight of every decision pressing down on her. There was no room for error. Ms. Caldwell had been her rock for so long, and the thought of her in the hands of the SSG made her stomach churn with anxiety.
"You're asking a lot," Adrian muttered, crossing his arms, his gaze flicking between Tessa and Nyala. "I don't like the idea of using non-powered people as distractions. It's too risky."
"They know the risks," Tessa shot back, her voice sharper than intended. "And they've agreed to help. Nyala's people have been hiding in plain sight for years, mastering the art of staying invisible. This is what they do."
Adrian let out a low breath, clearly torn. "And if Marshall knows you're coming? He's not exactly the type to be caught off guard, Tessa."
"That's why we plan," Nyala interjected softly. "Marshall may be calculating, but even the best strategist can't anticipate everything. Especially not when they're expecting an attack from the front and we come from the shadows."
Tessa's heart beat faster as the plan began to take shape, the fear of failure clawing at the edges of her resolve. She couldn't fail—not with so much at stake. But a nagging voice in the back of her mind reminded her that despite the awakening power coursing through her veins, she wasn't yet fully in control.
"What if I'm not ready?" Tessa asked quietly, her voice barely audible over the wind.
Adrian looked at her for a long moment, his piercing blue eyes searching hers. "You might not be," he said softly. "But that's the risk we take."
Tessa swallowed hard, the uncertainty gnawing at her, but she couldn't afford to let it take over. "Then we'll have to make sure we're ready."
---
Riverdale Academy:
Back at Riverdale, the school buzzed with hushed conversations about Tessa and Adrian.
"Have you heard anything from Tessa or Adrian?" Oxlade asked, spinning a basketball on his fingertip.
Karl adjusted his glasses, frowning. "Not a word. It's like they vanished."
A group of students gathered around them in the courtyard. "We really miss Tessa on the track team," one said wistfully. "Her speed was unmatched."
"And Adrian," another chimed in. "He had that... I don't know, charisma. The way he played on the field was mesmerizing."
Oxlade smirked. "Maybe they ran off to join the circus."
Karl chuckled. "With their talents? They'd be the main attraction."
Laughter rippled through the group, but underneath, there was genuine concern. Their absence left a void that was keenly felt.
Students gathered in small groups during lunch and between classes, speculating about what had really happened.
Nelly, a short year 3 student leaned against the lockers, arms crossed as a few students gathered around him. "I'm telling you, Tessa's speed was insane," he said, shaking his head. "No one could catch her on the track. She made all of us look like we were standing still."
"Yeah, but Adrian," Liam, his friend, chimed in, his eyes wide with awe. "That guy is something else. The way he moved—like he wasn't even trying. I've never seen anyone dominate a field like that."
Suzan, one of Bridget Mill's fan in Riverdale Academy, listening from nearby, couldn't help but smirk. "Well, turns out it wasn't even a fair race. Who knew we had an actual alien in our school?" She gave a mocking chuckle, but there was no denying the undercurrent of tension in her voice.
The students murmured amongst themselves, excitement and apprehension blending together. Despite the jokes and banter, there was a growing realization that things weren't as they seemed at Riverdale.
---
SSG Holding Facility:
Ms. Caldwell sat huddled against the cold metal wall of her cell, trying to keep her thoughts together. Mr. Joel sat beside her, his eyes closed in silent prayer, while Mr. Thompson paced back and forth, too restless to sit still.
"Do you think she's alright?" Ms. Caldwell asked quietly, her voice thick with worry.
"She'll come for us," Mr. Joel answered, though his tone betrayed his own uncertainty. "Tessa's strong—stronger than any of us ever realized. She'll find a way."
Mr. Thompson stopped pacing, his fists clenched. "We can't just sit here waiting. The SSG isn't going to let us go. They're using us as bait."
Ms. Caldwell's heart ached. She knew the truth of his words. Andrew Marshall was cunning, ruthless even. He was playing a long game, and they were merely pawns on his board.
Ms. Caldwell clasped her hands tightly, her knuckles white. "We have to stay hopeful," she whispered.
Mr. James nodded slowly. "If anyone could, it's her. She's special."
Ms. Caldwell managed a small smile. "She'll find a way. I just know it."
---
SSG Command Center:
Dressed in his immaculate uniform, every detail from his polished boots to his crisp collar exuded precision. His eyes scanned the scrolling data with an intensity that made the junior agents uneasy.
Andrew Marshall stood in an intensely focused mode before the wall of screens, each one showing different surveillance footage of the facility as his cold eyes scanned the images, calculating, then, one of his agents approached cautiously.
"Sir, what if you're wrong this time?" the agent dared to ask.
Andrew's gaze snapped to him, icy and unblinking, without missing a beat, Marshall turned and grabbed the man by the collar, slamming him hard against the wall. "I'm never wrong," he hissed, his voice low and venomous. "Tessa will come. And when she does, we'll be ready."
"Never question my assessments," Andrew hissed, his voice barely above a whisper yet filled with menace.
The room fell silent, the other agents averting their eyes. Andrew Marshall released the shaken man, and then began straightening his uniform as if nothing had happened.
Andrew Marshall adjusted his sleeves calmly. "Prepare all units. We must be ready for any contingency." He turned back to the screens, his mind already three steps ahead, envisioning the impending confrontation.
"The real question," Marshall murmured to himself, "is who's going to win this game of chess."
---
Back at the cliffside, Tessa looked out into the distance, her resolve slowly solidifying. She would go back. She would rescue them. But as much as she wanted to throw herself headlong into action, she knew better.
They needed a plan. A good one.
And above all, they needed to believe that they could outsmart one of the most cunning minds in the world.