Chapter 2,part 1
The private parking lot of the academy looked more like a luxury car showroom than a school. At the center of it all was Ethan Parker's sleek black sedan, parked exactly where the principal had told him not to.
Ethan leaned against the hood, looking effortlessly hot while scrolling through his phone. A group of freshmen girls walked by, giggling and tripping over their own feet just to get a look at him. He didn't even look up. He was too busy scrolling on Instagram.
"If you stare at that phone any harder, you're going to set it on fire," Sara Parker said, swinging her bag over her shoulder as she hopped out of the passenger seat. She'd spent the morning at the stables, and the faint scent of horses still clung to her leather jacket.
"And if you keep spending more time with horses than humans, you'll forget how to talk," Ethan shot back with a smirk.
"Hey! At least horses don't have main character complexes," Sara joked, dodging a playful shove from her brother.
"Did someone say main character?" Leo Brooks also appeared from the car's back seat,he had come with them as he lived nearby,slinging a massive arm around both Parker siblings. As the 'older brother' of the group, he was the only one who could get away with disrupting Ethan's cool aesthetic. "Because the iconic trio has arrived, and by iconic, I mean I'm hungry and Sky says the signal is glitching again so we don't exactly know where the training is today."
Behind them, Sky Rodger was already hunched over a tablet, his fingers moving so fast they were a blur. "It's not just glitching, Leo. It's screaming. We need the Boss."
As if on cue, a silver SUV pulled up. Adrian Voss stepped out, looking every bit the Mayor's son—composed, mature, and intimidatingly sharp. Beside him was Chloe Bennett. She stepped out with a grace that made the hallway gossipers go silent. She was the only one who could stand next to Adrian and not look overshadowed; they were the definition of a power duo.
"Report," Adrian said, his voice level but commanding.
"The Squad signal is pulsing near the old gym," Sky muttered, not looking up.
"Then we move," Adrian decided.
The group started toward the back entrance, but the path was suddenly blocked. David—the DSP's son and the school's resident headache—was standing there with a group of his lackeys. He looked devastatingly handsome in a way that made everyone hate him even more.
"Voss," David drawled, his eyes flickering to Sara for a split second before returning to Adrian. "I heard your dad is worried about the 'security' of this district. Maybe he should hire someone who actually knows how to handle a situation."
"Back off, David," Noah Carter snapped. He had been humming a tune from her dance practice, but her face went from 'musical' to 'murderous' in three seconds flat. His dressing sense was, as always, immaculate, but his temper was famously short. "We don't have time for your daddy-issues today."
David let out a dry laugh, stepping closer to the group. He moved toward Sara, leaning in just enough to be annoying. "You should watch who your friends are, Parker. Some people are just playing hero."
The tension was thick enough to cut with a knife. David's eyes locked with Sara's, and for a moment, the 'bully' act slipped, replaced by a challenge that felt way too personal.
"I can handle myself, David. Maybe go find a car to drive in circles of show off ur new iPhone?" Sara countered, her voice steady despite the weird spark in the air.
"Alright, enough," Adrian stepped between them, his presence instantly cooling the room. "We have work to do. David, if you want to play, do it on your own time."
"Whatever," David smirked, shoving his hands in his pockets and whistling as he walked away. "See you around, so-called cool people."
Once he was out of earshot, Chloe placed a hand on Adrian's arm. "Ignore him. He's just looking for a reaction." Adrian nodded, but his jaw stayed tight.
"Okay, can we go now?" Noah groaned, checking her watch. "I have dance at four, and I'd like to save the world before my choreography gets ruined."
Leo laughed, clapping his hands together. "You heard the guy! Ethan, you're driving. Sky, keep hacking. Let's show this signal why you don't mess with the Eight Saviours Squad."
As they headed toward the hidden tech-lab, Sara felt a gaze on her. She turned back to see David watching them from the end of the hall. He wasn't smirking anymore. He just looked... complicated.
But there was no time for that. The signal was calling, and the squad was ready.
To be continued....