The next morning, East Ridge High didn't feel like a school.
It felt like a crime scene pretending to be normal.
The missing posters were everywhere now.
Stapled to walls.
Taped to glass doors.
Held in shaking hands.
BRIANNA SHAW — 17 — MISSING.
Cypriana couldn't stop staring at the picture.
Brianna smiling.
Perfect hair.
Perfect teeth.
Like the world hadn't swallowed her whole.
Cypriana's stomach churned.
She hadn't slept.
Every time she closed her eyes, she saw Andrew lifting into the night.
It's already too late.
The hallway buzzed with voices.
Fear made people louder.
"She didn't run away, right?"
"My mom said it's kidnapping."
"Maybe she overdosed."
"No, she wouldn't—"
Cypriana flinched at every word.
Because none of them were saying the truth.
None of them could even imagine it.
Matt found her near her locker.
His face was pale.
His voice was low.
"Cypri."
She looked up sharply.
Matt's eyes searched hers.
"You know something."
Cypriana froze.
Matt stepped closer.
"You've been weird since yesterday."
Cypriana's throat tightened.
"I'm fine."
Matt's jaw clenched.
"No, you're not."
He lowered his voice further.
"…Did you talk to Andrew?"
Cypriana's heart stopped.
Matt's eyes sharpened.
"You did."
Cypriana whispered—
"Matt…"
Matt's voice trembled with anger and fear.
"What is he doing?"
Cypriana swallowed hard.
"I don't know."
That was a lie.
But the truth felt too heavy to speak in a hallway full of normal teenagers.
Matt's hands curled into fists.
"We have to find him."
Cypriana whispered—
"He's not…listening anymore."
Matt stared at her.
Then his voice broke slightly.
"…Is he scaring you?"
Cypriana didn't answer fast enough.
Matt's face hardened.
"God."
He looked away like he was trying not to explode.
"Steve was right."
Cypriana's voice was shaky.
"This is getting out of control."
Matt snapped back—
"It's BEEN out of control!"
A few heads turned.
Matt lowered his voice again.
"We need to stop him."
Cypriana's breath caught.
Stop him.
Like Andrew was already an enemy.
Maybe he was.
The first police car arrived before lunch.
Then another.
Then another.
By third period, officers were walking through the halls.
The principal's voice crackled over the intercom, too calm.
"Students, please remain in your classrooms…"
Nobody remained calm.
Phones were out.
Rumors spread faster than oxygen.
Cypriana sat in English class with her hands trembling under her desk.
The door opened.
A police officer stepped in.
The teacher froze.
"Can I help you?"
The officer's eyes scanned the room.
Then—
"Cypriana Vance?"
Cypriana's blood turned to ice.
Every head turned.
Her mouth went dry.
"Yes…?"
"Please come with me."
The room erupted into whispers instantly.
Cypriana stood slowly, legs unsteady.
She could feel the eyes.
The judgment.
The hunger for drama.
She stepped into the hallway.
The officer's voice was polite.
"Just a few questions."
Cypriana's throat tightened.
"About Brianna?"
The officer nodded.
"We're speaking to everyone she interacted with recently."
Cypriana forced herself not to flinch.
Because if she flinched—
She'd shatter.
They questioned her in a small office.
Two officers.
A tape recorder.
The air smelled like stale coffee.
Officer Ramirez leaned forward.
"Cypriana, we understand you and Brianna had…some tension."
Cypriana's fingers clenched.
"She bullied me."
Officer Ramirez nodded.
"And did you threaten her?"
Cypriana's breath caught.
"No."
The other officer spoke.
"Witnesses say there was an altercation. That she was…lifted."
Cypriana's heart slammed.
"What?"
Officer Ramirez's gaze sharpened.
"Cypriana."
His voice softened.
"Did someone hurt her?"
Cypriana swallowed hard.
Images flashed—
Andrew's eyes.
Andrew's voice.
I did it for you.
Cypriana whispered—
"No."
Officer Ramirez sighed.
"If you know anything—anything at all—you need to tell us."
Cypriana's voice cracked.
"I don't."
And she hated herself for it.
Outside, Steve was pacing like a caged animal.
Matt stood rigid beside him.
When Cypriana emerged, Matt grabbed her immediately.
"What did they ask?"
Cypriana whispered—
"About Brianna."
Steve's face twisted.
"This is insane."
Matt's voice was low.
"Andrew did something."
Cypriana flinched.
Steve snapped—
"You don't KNOW that!"
Matt turned sharply.
"Yes, I do!"
Steve froze.
Matt's voice was shaking now.
"He's not the same."
Cypriana whispered—
"He said he did something…for me."
Steve's face went white.
"…Oh my god."
Matt's jaw clenched hard.
"We're finding him. Now."
They found him that night.
Not hiding.
Not running.
Andrew was standing on the roof of an abandoned building near downtown.
Like he wanted to be seen.
The city lights flickered below him.
He looked like a silhouette against the sky.
Cypriana's breath caught.
Matt's voice was sharp.
"Andrew!"
Andrew turned slowly.
His expression was calm.
Too calm.
Steve shouted—
"Dude, what the hell is happening?!"
Andrew tilted his head.
"The world is happening."
Matt stepped forward.
"Where is Brianna?"
Andrew's eyes flickered.
Cypriana's voice cracked.
"Andrew…please."
Andrew's gaze softened at her voice.
Just for a second.
Then—
"She's safe."
Matt snapped.
"Safe WHERE?"
Andrew's voice was flat.
"Somewhere she can't hurt anyone."
Steve's voice rose in panic.
"You kidnapped her?!"
Andrew's jaw tightened.
"She's alive."
Cypriana whispered—
"You have to let her go."
Andrew stared at her.
Then quietly—
"Why?"
Cypriana's breath shook.
"Because this isn't you."
Andrew's eyes darkened.
"You don't know me."
Matt's voice exploded—
"Yes, we do!"
Andrew's gaze snapped to him.
Matt stepped closer, furious.
"You're not a hero. You're not protecting her."
Andrew's voice was deadly quiet.
"I'm protecting what matters."
Matt's fists clenched.
"You're destroying everything!"
Andrew's power flared—
The air vibrated.
The roof beneath them trembled.
Steve stumbled back.
"Guys—stop—"
Andrew lifted slightly off the ground.
Hovering.
Weightless.
Unreal.
His voice echoed in the night.
"They took everything from me."
Cypriana's eyes filled with tears.
Andrew's gaze locked on her.
"They won't take you too."
Matt stepped between them.
"Don't."
Andrew's eyes sharpened.
"You're in the way."
Matt's voice was shaking.
"Then go through me."
Silence.
The city held its breath.
Andrew's hand lifted.
The air screamed.
Matt's body jerked upward violently—
"Matt!" Cypriana screamed.
Steve shouted—
"ANDREW!"
Matt struggled, choking in midair.
Cypriana's power surged instinctively—
She lifted her hands—
The force between Andrew and Matt trembled.
A tug of war with invisible gods.
Andrew's eyes widened slightly.
Cypriana's voice broke—
"Stop!"
Andrew's breathing was ragged.
For one second…
He hesitated.
Then his face hardened.
And the world finally understood—
This wasn't a game.
This wasn't a prank.
This was war.