Chapter 257

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*- Evie sensing an incoming evie-sceration*

This is the 257th chapter of *unORDINARY*.

#### 9:17 AM

The mission is now at risk of going pear-shaped. Seraphina gets a telepathic warning from the Communicator to get out of there IMMEDIATELY. She grabs the sample and makes for the door. It's locked, but Seraphina isn't out of juice just yet. She breaks the door down and sees that there's no response team in sight yet. So she decides to run back to Stacey and warn her. But to her surprise, the senior agent is gone. She gets another warning to head to the emergency exit on the east side. She heads there, but security is already on its way down. Thankfully, Seraphina is able to continue moving faster than the eye can see through sheer force of will. She runs up the stairs past the descending guards and out through the emergency exit at the top. The van pulls up to her and she jumps in. *Rowden* demands to know how she could have run out of power, but Seraphina retorts that she's the one who should be asking him that. The Communicator brings them back on the important topic: whether Seraphina completed her mission objectives. She hands over both the drive and the sample tube.

### Freeway

#### 9:30 AM

Seraphina requests to be dropped off downtown so she could rejoin her group. Rowden says that they will, as soon as they drop off their acquisitions at a specific location. Seraphina doesn't think it's necessary, but Rowden insists that standard procedure must be adhered to if she prefers for her efforts to be recognized. The process would take another 20 minutes, after which she would be able to rejoin her friends. This is not welcome news to Seraphina, but she doesn't protest. She *does* ask for the return of her phone. Tech obliges, but instructs her to keep it off. She explains that they had to avoid being tracked while the mission was still ongoing.

### Rowden Hill

#### 9:40 AM

The hiking group takes a rest stop on the trail. Blyke hands out water bottles to the weary students. He gives one to John, who tries to turn it down so somebody else could have it. Blyke shoves the drink into his arms and says there's plenty to go around.

Evie decides that she should take some pictures while they're there. She takes out her phone and invites Roland, Dylan, and Terrence to join her in her selfie. Evie tries sending it to Remi but discovers that she's got no reception. Blyke explains that it's likely because of the altitude of the secluded area. Upon hearing this, John looks at Terrence and begins to understand the sinister purpose of this trip.

### Downtown Rowden

#### 9:45 AM

At the boutique, Elaine models a dress Aurielle finds absolutely gorgeous. They turn towards Arlo and ask what he thinks. But he's glued to his phone, as he has been since before they arrived. Aurielle wonders if he's in contact with another girl, but Elaine suspects the opposite is true. Indeed, Arlo is attempting to call John, but the call just isn't going through, as is the case with Seraphina's phone. Remi approaches him and asks if he's even going to bother window-shopping. Arlo replies that the fashion isn't for him, which prompts Remi to tell him that he's always been free to leave. When he asks if she had been able to get in touch with Blyke or Isen, an exasperated Remi tells him that the mountain they traveled to likely had bad coverage. It then dawns on Arlo that this was Spectre's plan from the start. Send Seraphina away, split up the group, and lead them to where they wouldn't be able to call for help. Their target was Blyke! Remi asks if Arlo's feeling like himself, and gets her answer when he grabs her arm and drags her away to discuss urgent matters. The others asks what's the matter, but Arlo only tells Elaine that she's in charge of the Safe House if they don't return. Elaine knows this can't be good, while Aurielle is just offended at being blown off.

### Rendevous Point

#### 9:50 AM

The Spectre infiltration squad park their car at a gas station, where Rowden hands over a briefcase containing their Arcwood goods to another agent. After their contact drives away in his car, Seraphina tells the others to hold up their end of the deal. Rowden urges her to relax for a minute.

#### 10:00 AM

One minute becomes ten, and the van remains motionless. An impatient Serapina turns on her phone, earning her a reprimand from the Communicator. She begins to list her reasons for why she should disregard him when a whole lot of notifications come at her phone all at once. She looks and sees several calls and texts from Arlo and John. Unnerved, she checks Arlo's messages. She learns of the plan to go after Blyke in the mountains, and realizes that John must be there too. Despite risking her life, Spectre went back on their word and targeted her friends. Deathly afraid that her nightmare is liable to come true, Seraphina is unable to contain her anger.

### Rowden Hill

#### 10:00 AM

Tensions are also escalating with the hiking group. John causes a panic when he grabs Terrence by the collar. Even as Blyke demands an explanation, John presses the spy to divulge his endgame.

## Appearing Characters

* Seraphina
* NXGen Arcwood Security
* *Agent Rowden*
* *Communicator*
* *Tech*
* Blyke
* Roland
* John
* Evie
* Dylan
* Elaine
* Aurielle
* Arlo
* Remi
* Lavender-haired Spectre Agent

## Appearing Abilities

* Telepathy
* Time Manipulation