CHAPTER 219: CH 219

The trio of teenage boys continued their pursuit, each step filled with determination as they trailed after Dave’s group. Their conversation buzzed with an underlying tension, their plans shifting with every new idea that surfaced.

Felix, walking just ahead, spoke up first. "We should ask him to tell us the secrets of his powers. I mean, if he’s really able to do all those stuffs, like the one hit, we can ask him to tell us how he’s doing it. Maybewe could learn from him."

Fin, walking alongside him, scoffed and cut in quickly. "Ask? Are you serious? No, we’ll threaten him. We’ll tell him to reveal the secrets of his powers, or we’ll expose him. We’ll tell everyone his powers are fake and that all the matches he won were rigged." His voice was low, but sharp, like the hiss of a snake ready to strike.

Gab, who had been quietly listening, finally chimed in, his voice calm but determined. "No, no. We don’t threaten him just yet. First, we fight him. If his powers are real, we’ll know right away. If they’re fake, we’ll expose him for the fraud he is. Then, we can make our move."

The other two glanced at each other, and after a brief moment of pause, they nodded in agreement. Gab’s plan was the one they’d settle on for now. Once they were able to do so, they’d find out whether his abilities were legitimate or just smoke and mirrors.

Their pace quickened, a shared eagerness pushing them forward as they worked themselves up for the encounter ahead. They were determined to catch up with Dave’s group soon, ready to execute their plan and uncover the truth.

As the trio walked along the road, their attention was drawn to a familiar face in the distance. There, just ahead, was Tasha, casually walking in their direction. Instinctively, they ducked behind a nearby corner, trying to stay out of sight, not wanting to be noticed by her.

But then something unexpected happened. A sleek black jeep pulled up beside her, its engine humming quietly. The door swung open, and a man stepped out. He wore a crisp white lab coat, his appearance almost clinical.

The moment he stepped out, he and Tasha exchanged a brief but intimate kiss. The teenage boys stood frozen, watching the scene unfold before them. Their expressions twisted in disgust.

"Ugh, gross," muttered Fin, his voice barely audible. "Why do people always have to kiss in public? Eww."

The other two boys, Gab and Felix, exchanged uncomfortable glances but remained silent, unable to look away. They watched, still half-hidden, as Tasha got into the jeep, and without a word, the vehicle drove off, disappearing down the road, heading toward Willow’s street, the same place Dave and his group had just left for.

As the jeep faded into the distance, they turned to leave, ready to get out of sight before anyone noticed them. But before they could make it far, a sudden movement in front of them startled them to the core. Their hearts nearly jumped out of their chests as they stumbled back in shock.

"Whoa!" Gab gasped, his eyes wide with surprise. But a sense of relief washed over them when they saw who it was. Standing right in front of them was none other than Chris.

"What are you guys doing here?" Chris asked, his tone casual but with an underlying suspicion.

Gab, still trying to regain his composure, fumbled for words. "Ac... actually, we were visiting Felix’s house. It’s around here somewhere," he stammered, his voice shaky.

Chris raised an eyebrow. "Felix’s house? Which lane? Are you kidding me? I know every corner of this street like the back of my hand, and I’m pretty sure Felix is not from around here."

Gab tried to argue, but before he could say anything further, Chris had spoken up instead.

"You know what, let’s talk about that later. Follow me now. We have somewhere else to be."

***

Simbi walked down the empty streets, her boots tapping against the pavement as she kept pace with the two adults from her group. They were all senior executives, but it often felt like they treated her more like an inexperienced kid rather than an equal. They were constantly giving her advice, directing her movements, and speaking in a tone that felt more patronizing than helpful.

But Simbi didn’t mind. Not really. She had learned long ago not to let their attitudes bother her. She had a goal in mind: complete the expedition, get it done, and do it as efficiently as possible. That was all that mattered.

Though her thoughts were interrupted when she realized something odd, Tasha was nowhere to be seen. She had told them she needed to visit the toilet, but that had been over ten minutes ago. Simbi glanced around, noting the emptiness of the street. The silence only seemed to make her more aware of Tasha’s absence.

Something didn’t feel right. A strange unease settled in Simbi’s stomach as she glanced back, but there was still no sign of Tasha. She told herself not to worry about Tasha. But still, the nagging feeling didn’t go away. Something was definitely off.

***

Meanwhile, Dave and his two companions, Eric and Ella, had reached Willow’s street after a long walk from the TT Junction. The signpost welcoming them into the area came into view, and Eric let out a relieved breath.

"Finally," Eric muttered as he pointed to the sign, a slight grin on his face. "We made it."

But as they continued down the road, a black jeep suddenly pulled up behind them, the engine’s hum cutting through the otherwise still air. It wasn’t the only vehicle on the scene. From all directions, other cars began to emerge, encircling them, blocking off any possible escape. The vehicles moved in sync, trapping them in the middle of the street.

Dave’s heart skipped a beat as the black jeep came to a halt directly behind them. His instincts screamed at him to act, to get ready for whatever was coming.

The doors of the jeep swung open in unison, and a group of men stepped out, surrounding the trio. Their expressions were hard, calculating, as they closed in.

Then, from the jeep, Tasha stepped out, followed by a man in white lab coat. Her gaze locked onto Dave’s, and for a moment, everything seemed to freeze.

As Tasha stepped forward, the trio couldn’t help but exchange surprised glances. Their eyes widened, and confusion filled their faces. How was it possible for Tasha to be here? They had all seen her leave with Simbi and the rest of her group. In fact, Dave had caught one last glimpse of her as Simbi and the others had moved away from the group.

"Tasha?" Dave asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.

****

End of Wednesday mass Release, next up Thursday mass release!

The warm sun hung high in the sky, casting long shadows over the barren landscape as Dave’s group slowly made their way down the road. Their figures grew smaller as they moved farther away, the sound of their footsteps gradually fading.

The atmosphere around the remaining group was thick with the silence of waiting. And while the others had already split off to head in their respective directions, Chris’s group was still remaining. Gunther had already left, heading off with Kim and Silas, it will be after two days before everyone could gather up to meet again.

And by then, it was expected that everyone should have completed their expedition. Everyone else had gone their way, leaving only Chris’s group as the only group left behind.

Chris had excused himself earlier, muttering something about nature calling, and the three boys were left alone, standing in a loose circle, their eyes following after Dave’s group as they disappeared slowly from view. They hadn’t said much since the others had left, each of them lost in their own thoughts.

Fin was the first to break the silence. His dark curly hair, already matted with sweat from the day’s heat, bounced slightly as he shook his head in frustration. He clenched his fists, his eyes narrowing as they lingered on Dave’s retreating figure.

"I told you Eric was just trying to get on Dave’s good side," he muttered, voice dripping with venom. His gaze never left the group ahead, his anger simmering just beneath the surface. "He must think of him like some sort of hero or something. That crazy jerk."

Gab, the blonde teenager who had been humiliated by Eric early ago this morning, crossed his arms over his chest and let out a snort of derision. His eyes were still fixed on the horizon, though the frown on his face deepened as he thought back to their recent interactions with Eric.

"Yeah, it’s expected," Gab said with a roll of his eyes. "He’s always clinging to the hotshot. That’s how he became class rep in the first place. Now look at him, trying to get some kind of validation from Dave this time around."

He shrugged, a careless motion that seemed to dismiss the issue entirely. "But honestly, I couldn’t care less about that class rep stuff anymore. Who needs a stupid position like that anyway?" His voice was laced with bitterness, as though the idea of a position of power no longer held any allure for him. At least not in the current state of the world.