The face was that of a man wearing a leather vest. He leaped from the roof and landed in a handstand. He had spiked purple hair and was still on his hands. Zane lifted himself onto the balcony. "Don't shoot! I'm upside-down, Hunter." The man said

"Or DO, I need the entertainment." Zane said

"Sorry about that." she shielded her gun "Tony, you guys shouldn't be here."

"Yes, well it's Info Time, and Zane's been whining about the Junior Gala. What do you have for me?" He said as he stood on his feet.

"And can you guys hook me up with--uh!" Zane grunted from the blow to his gut by Tony.

"Ignore him, please--now what news?"

"Alot's happened! CJ Dixon's a constituent and is tied to my boy Peter. Cassidy Arellus is safe, but crazy! She pulled out a gun."

"What happened to your nose, Sutton?"

"Mind control, man it's a headache, and a nose bleed." He expressed, Elise looked at him skeptically

"Um, the tragedy done to CJ Dixon? We know it was Byron Cortelli and Abigail Forrest. Informers found proof and DNA at CJ's school."

"Interesting....and Charles?"

"Nothin' new yet, man."

"Right, any eavesdroppers?"

"Everybody's sleepin' 'cept us."

"Good, and nice work you two."

"She'll be happy about your news, but remember no telling anyone about well--anything really." He leaped onto the ledge and disappeared into the shadows.

They couldn't see him but managed to hear him say. "As far as they know, you're just two Veers. Don't fall behind Zane."

Zane stood up and went down the balcony, he waved and dangled on the ledge.

Devin saw the sadness all over her face, and he patted her head. "No worries, we'll see them again." He said

"I know, it's just--I HATE lying, Dev."

"It's not lyin', we're doin' good things here."

"By keepin' secrets from our friends and family? Working for somebody we never met?"

"Uh yeah, precisely." He rested his arm around her neck. "Come on, we need some kinda sleep."

"Okay." She replied, together they went inside

[They're gonna figure it out, you KNOW you suck at lying.] She released from his arm, and glared.

"That's a mean thing to say! Even if it is true, Devin!" She shouted, he was taken aback from this

"Uh--I didn't say anything. Elise come on, you're sleepy." He grasped her shoulders and guided her to the room where her sisters lay.

"But--"

"Go to sleep, shorty." He closed the door for her.

    The boys were assigned to protect Cassidy. Everyone slept in their clothes but, they looked comfortable as they slept, so he grabbed a spare pillow and rested by her kitchen floor. [In case I get hungry.] He thought.

Elise tossed around on the upholstery. She moaned and soon became angry, she absentmindedly flung her body onto the floor. She was slightly delirious, but soon became more alert.

ABOUT TIME YOU WOKE UP!

"Wha--?"

It's been said that people sometimes hear things, but voices? She couldn't believe it to be possible, except for the fact that she wasn't like other people.

NOT THE POINT, SOMETHING'S GOING ON. GO DO SOMETHIN'!

"This is impossible--I need a nap."

She relaxed on the love seat and yawned. She was instantly thrown against the door, her friends didn't even budge from the loud booming sound. The impact brought her to the floor. She struggled for balance by reaching for the door's handle.

     Her legs were shaking and in pain, she gritted her teeth and attempted a run into the hallway. She limped and walked along the wall as her guide. She she walked, she heard it again.

SORRY 'BOUT THE WHOLE 'DOOR' THING. A voice said

"What are you--? This is ridiculous! I'm talking to myself--"

SHH! YOU HEAR THAT? IT'S LIKE A GIANT SNAKE, RIGHT? The voice said referring to a hissing sound.

Elise shook her head, she couldn't fathom the lunacy of the conversation.

"This is weird." She said

LISTEN! SEE, IT IS A GIANT SNAKE.

"Sorry, but you're mistaken, the vents aren't of capacity to harbor anything so larg--" She understood now, there was a hissing sound inside, and it DID sound snake-like.

She continued further to investigate, and walked pass the boys and Cassidy.

"They're all still asleep, even Nate? But he has AMAZING listening skills."

WELL, THEY SUCK RIGHT ABOUT NOW.

"That's mean! I refuse to talk with someone so impolite. Even if that SOMEONE is--me?"

KINDA CRAZY, HUH? WELL, GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR 'SILENT TREATMENT'. 'CAUSE I NEVER SHUT UP.

Elise came across a sleeping Devin. He was obviously dreaming of something nice, given his euphoric expression.

TAKE HIS WEAPON.

"No! Wait, why?"

YOU NEVER KNOW. PLUS, YOU AREN'T EXACTLY ARMED WITH PROTECTION AT THE MOMENT.

"I DO have powers, you know."

 THE ONES YOU NEED TO TAKE A SHOWER FOR? She chuckled. YOU'D BE DEAD ON SITE.

"I'm ignoring you now."

She walked passed him, but stopped suddenly. Her body was walking backwards, to retrieve Devin's gun. She held it face down at her side and kept walking. The hissing was growing louder, along with OTHER noises. She walked around the corner into the library. She gasped at the mysterious shadow.

The intruder starting firing, but Elise dove under a nearby desk and missed.

NICE DIVE! YOU'RE A FAST ONE. NOW SHOOT ALREADY!

"Can't. I don't have a g--"

YOU MEAN THE ONE YOU'RE ALREADY HOLDING?

"But--did I REALLY take his gun?"

YEAH WITH MY HELP, SHE'S GETTIN' CLOSER--SHOOT NOW!

Elise peered around at her attacker, only to be choked by a tight squeeze of her neck. The intruder pulled her out of her hiding place, and took her weapon. She was lifted off the ground, and she was pulled toward the window, where she could clearly see that her assailant was Jillian. She gasped and tried to remove her hands by pulling on them.

WHOA! Y-YOU'RE SWEATING ON YOUR HEAD. YOU’RE STRONG ENOUGH TO TAKE HER.

Elise responded with a choking sound, and gripped her attacker's arm. She closed her eyes and easily slipped through the woman's hands, she knocked her down with a roundhouse kick to her face and ran back into the hall. She ran into an empty room and stood ready behind the door. Exhausted, she checked the chamber of her gun and pushed her hair back in anger.

"Two. Bullets. Gotta make them. Count." She panted

TOO BAD. HOPE YOU'RE A GOOD SHOT.

"Actually. I abhor. Violence. How is. Everyone still. Asleep?"

MUST BE THE MAGIC SNAKE IN THE VENT.

"Then. Why am I. Awake?"

BEATS ME.

Elise could hear footsteps coming closer, so she closed the door slowly and sat on a bed close by. She was angry at her situation, and the pressure was starting to get to her. She jerked when she felt a strange draft, coming from the room. She rubbed her knees and then her forearms.

"Is it c-cold in here?"

YEAH, A LITTLE.

"S-so c-c-cold." She fell on her side and shivered in the fetal position. She could see her breath with each exhale.

OPEN YOUR EYES...SLOWLY.

    She could hear the sound of ice cracking. She tried to look around, but her vision was blurred. Elise's eyes were becoming a milky pigment, and they soon rolled to the back of her head. She gasped at something in her throat. She started choking on the air around her. The air gathered into snow and encased her body. The frost soon found its way into the ventilation systems, and silenced the Snake-like noise. Inside the vents, was the sound like a softball being bounced against metal. The banging alerted someone. Nate was drowsy and suddenly chilly, he heard someone in the hallway and went to investigate. Jillian rubbed her hands together in an effort to warm-up. She slowly turned the doorknob, ready for assassination. She opened and was pushed out against the wall.

She could've sworn that Elise ran into that room, but with the force winds and reduction in temperature, it felt as if she was in the middle of a blizzard. The air slammed the door closed. She grunted when she was tackled. She and Nate tumbled around on the ground.

"Get off me, traitor!" She yelled in her Southern accent.

Nate screamed when he felt her hand go through his stomach, she let go and didn't watch him writhe in pain. She ran to find a quick exit. She was stopped abruptly by a surprise punch to her face and passed out on the ground. Nate was relieved as he attempted to run after her.

"You're lookin' exhausted there, mate." Liam observed

"Liam. Good. Job. She. Was. Freezing. Cold." Nate panted

"Thanks I've got a GOOD left hook." He rubbed his arms. "Brrr! I get why SHE was cold." He said, someone was awake

"What's with all the noise you guy--?" Tense felt a body against her foot. "Um, who's the passed out girl?" She asked and rubbed her arms

"Looks like a party crasher." Liam answered

"She. Called. Me. A traitor, and was trying--"he pointed toward the hallway "To. Get. In THAT room." Nate stated.

They heard the sound of scuffling feet. They were relieved when they heard a friendly voice.

"Mm, you guys have late-night cravings? Your hanging around Devin too much." Elise said with a yawn. She was soaking wet, and her feet created a puddle.

"Um, we had an intruder--" he looked down at her hands. "Elise, WHAT happened to you!?" Nate asked.

"Huh? What do you mean?" She asked, Tense grabbed at her wrists. "Look at your HANDS, chica!" Tense yelled

     Her outburst alerted everyone else. Elise gasped at what she saw. Her hands felt numb. Her fingers were red and covered in white sores. She started to cry, and the temperature began to warm-up.

"First aid, stat!" Liam said and zoomed into the building's Nursing Station.

"Elise, were you in that room?" Nate asked

"Y-yeah, I must have fell asleep or somethin'. M-my hands hurt."

"Looks like you might have frostbite from the cold." Nate explained

"Is it cold? I c-can't tell." She stated.

Everyone gathered around her in shock. They all had a look of concern, except Peter.

"No big, I get frostbite in my sleep." He said and placed his hands on top of hers. "Here."

A dim dark light began to resonate from both of his hands. Her pigment was returning, along with the softness of her skin; Cassidy was speechless. Liam showed up in time to smile at what he saw.

"Aww--that's nice of you, mate." Liam observed

"Grr! I'm NOT that nice! I'm just bein' a good friend." Peter explained

"Which is a NICE thing to do." Elise stated and hugged him.

"Off with you, Elemental!" He squirmed, but she just squeezed him tighter.

"Why, Arturo? Someone like you could use a hug."Bailey stated

"Bite me, BB!" He disciplined and continued to struggle with Elise.

Everyone started to laugh at the touching family moment. They were ready to fight at the moaning sound of their prisoner.

"Yo, she's waking up! She must've been here for Cassidy, which means--" Devin said

"That it's time to go. Everyone get ready." Nate ordered, and everybody went into their designated areas.

"I've got some spare clothes so you can change," Cassidy said, Elise smiled and they walked together.

Some gathered medical supplies, and others retrieved food supplies and most of Cassidy's research papers.