Terror

Chapter Four

The two of them trudged across the frozen field just beyond the power plant. Thick silence hung in the air, broken only by the sharp crunch of snow underfoot beneath their feet and the occasional rustle of brittle branches.

Each of them carried a flashlight, their narrow beams slicing through the darkness ahead. As usual, Greyson took the lead, forcing Jason to pick up his pace just to keep up.

"Obviously your stupid stepsister can't see in the dark," Greyson sneered, not bothering to look back.

"It's dark like everything around here," Jason muttered.

Greyson stopped cold and whipped around, aiming his flashlight straight in Jason's eyes. "Whose fault is that?" he snapped.

Jason clenched his jaw, swallowing the bitterness that came with working alongside Greyson. They didn't choose to team up, but it was all they could do. Both of them held high ranks enough to challenge Ashley's growing power.

"Where the hell did that thing go?" Greyson snapped, sweeping his flashlight wildly across the empty field.

Jason narrowed his eyes. "Last I checked, you're the one who threw her with your mind," he said flatly. "And don't forgot the white light you blasted from your palm."

He was certain it had been the baby controlling Greyson. Scarlett had shown that same white glow from her hand before, though it had never caused any damage. He wondered if the child's power was tied between its parents, Greyson and Scarlett.

"Yes, because apparently my mutant child can puppeteer my body like a marionette," Greyson muttered, resting a hand on his hip. "Guess that makes it pretty damn intelligent."

Greyson resumed his pace, sweeping the flashlight across the field as they moved forward.

Jason glanced over his shoulder. "Do you think we should've brought those five with us?"

"No. I'm pretty sure you don't want to watch your housewife get burned to a crisp," Greyson snarled.

It had been months since he'd last seen Bella, and he wasn't sure how to react. Yes, she had been burned, but his mind stayed locked on chasing Ashley.

"They can find their own way back," Greyson said flatly.

Jason felt the crushing weight of his limits. No matter what he tried, he couldn't save everyone. The bitter truth gnawed at him: if he truly that power, Ilya would still be alive, and Bella would have stayed.

"Have you ever stopped to think this is Ashley's endgame?" Greyson provoked. "It wants Scarlett dead because of our mutant child, which means Ashley's willing to take out anyone in her way."

Jason had already considered that possibility. Everyone knew Ashley's powers were limited, but the baby acted as a barrier.

"By the time this is over, we'll probably end up crammed in a jail cell," Greyson muttered.

Jason's mind was so buried beneath the weight of responsibility that he barely registered the trail of laws they'd broken—mayhem, theft, breaking and entering, underage driving—the list kept growing.

"See? It's all starting to click," Greyson snapped, pulling Jason from his thoughts.

"They might hear us out..." Jason insisted.

"We're not getting off easy just because we're kids," Greyson sneered. "And don't count on Heather bailing you out."

"You don't seem to miss her," Jason remarked.

"That woman was never a mother to me. If we make it out of here, we won't find any open arms waiting. For some parents, news of our escape will bring shock and horror, with a small dash of relief. TMZ or CBC will be blasting the story, and the police will be right on our tails." Jason tried to block out Greyson's words, but he continued. "Unless that Highlighter covers all our charges, everything will trace back to us and that god."