She clutched at her stomach, stopping the healing she was doing on Mulan when suddenly the world exploded. 

Glass rained down like hail. 

“Eyes up!” Marco yelled and for a heart stopping moment Keeya had forgotten what the glass was protecting them from. 

She looked around and focused on the cage closest to her. 

The snake inside was writhing like it was in pain, it hissed and sputtered as part if its body grew and shrank before ultimately becoming a huge snake. 

They weren’t nearly as large as the snake they fought a few nights ago but they were as long and thick as Keeya’s legs. But this turned into their saving grace. The cages varied in size and some had multiple snakes. So when they all turned the same size many of them got stuck.

The ones that got out first though were hungry and charged at the party like ravenous beasts.

Moon moon and mulan stood frozen. Keeya grabbed their jackets and pulled them back just in time to avoid them getting their heads bit off. Marco slashed at their heads and killing the snakes instantly. Marco didn’t get even a moment to celebrate before he had to attack again. 

“Guys we need to purge! Keep playing!” Keeya said then recklessly shoving Dawns Light at them. 

Moon moon looked slightly green but he furiously began playing. 

But unlike the small snakes they could snuff out in a second, the larger ones took way too long. 

The band played and the sound of the drums inspired everyone. Marco took the front instinctively with Joyce acting as his backup.

Keeya amped up her healing, but she kept loosing her focus and just ended up spilling Dawns Light everywhere, clumsily killing some of the snakes and healing the band at the same time.

Keeya was alarmed to notice that if the larger snakes weren’t cut down quickly the Dawns Light they got from the idols actually, temporarily, strengthened them. 

However if the party managed to pump them with even more light while the snakes went through their growing phase then they could be snuffed out. 

Meg noticed too and yelled orders like a conductor 

“Keep the beat!” Meg yelled

Marcella lashed onto her team as Marco and Joyce used up their light at an alarming rate. 

But the snakes just kept coming.

What should i do? Keeya wanted to yell but the situation was too dire for that. 

She looked around and made a decision.

She summoned all the Dawns Light she could and pictured a flood in her mind. 

She had seen weather reports of homes floating down the roads and the powerful water lashing cars with people stuck on the roofs. 

What if she could be the flood. After all, the snakes were down in her flood zone now. 

She opened her eyes and could almost feel them glow from the intense energy. Then like a gate she opened herself up and literally flooded the warehouse with light. 

Taken by surprise her party let out cries as they were forced to shut their eyes. 

After a few minutes the light dimmed till ash and sparkles snowed on the dazed group. The abrupt silence filling the warehouse was even louder than the hissing had been.

Keeya felt her legs and arms turn to jello and she clutched her knees panting. 

“What was that? What-“ Marco said but then an alarming creak cut through the quiet. Keeya had just enough time to look up and see the shelves fall forward and on top of them before everything went dark. 

*

Keeya dreamed of a huge field full of golden wheat dancing in a playful breeze. At least she thought it was wheat, she’d never seen it in person, but it looked like the plant from the cover of her biology textbook.

A dirt unkept dirt road, led to a small house made of gray stone and lots of plaster smeared on it. 

Keeya had never been here but for some reason she felt safe and warm here. She could hear the faint sound of children, a man laughing, a woman humming a gentle tune and animal noises all as soft as a breeze. But despite the sounds the farmhouse looked hollow and void of life. 

The contrast really bothered Keeya and she tore her gaze away to look around. 

Off in the far distance was a thick golden arch that cut through the blue sky. As she continued to swivel around she saw more arches, all joining together at the top. 

Like a cage. 

Keeya

*

“Keeya?” Someone said. It sounded familiar but her brain felt like it was in two different worlds. Everything was so fuzzy. 

She willed herself to open her eyes and half expected to see the farm and wheat. 

But instead it was,

“Daddy!” Keeya said happily and she rushed up and gave him a hug

“Oh goodness you’re so good at those hugs baby bear,” he said and hugged her back.

Keeya felt his arms shake a bit as he held her close. While cocooned in his bulky frame her muffled hearing picked up on someone coming into the room and then rushing back out again, yelling something incoherent.

Keeya let go first and looked around. It was a hospital room, with beeping monitors and that pungent smell of disinfectant. The room also seemed rather large and fancy. There were even flowers by her bed and couches for lounging.

“What happened?” Keeya asked and her dad wrinkled his brow with concern.

“Keeya?” A familiar voice said her name from the door. 

“Meg!” Keeya exclaimed feeling relieved. 

“I’m so happy you’re okay,” Meg said coming in. She looked at Keeya’s dad and grabbed her arm nervously. 

“Meg, this is my dad,” Keeya said introducing him.

He got up from his seat and reached over the bed offering his hand. 

“Lamar Greenwood, nice to meet you.”

Meg smiled shyly and took his hand. 

“Meg Starrel, I came by to thank Keeya for saving us at the warehouse.”

Keeya cocked her head puzzled. 

“I did what now?”

Keeyas dad chuckled. 

“Who knew my baby bear would be so powerful.” 

“No dad seriously! I did what?” Keeya sked again.

“Yeah remember how the snakes grew huge and got out of their cages. Thanks to Marco and Joyce for taking the front we managed to avoid becoming statues but they just kept coming, I thought we were toast but then you suddenly shined super bright and I felt Dawns Light everywhere. Next thing I knew the warehouse had been cleared but then the empty cages fell on top of us. Maybe one of the snakes knocked them over.”

Keeya tried to remember. She thought she saw something or someone standing up in the rafters. But the more she thought about it the more scared she became. 

What why did she feel that way?

“Anyway, thanks for helping us back there. You and your team are awesome. Plus now that all the warehouses are cleared out in my jurisdiction me and the team get a few weeks off. I’m going to head back home and visit my family.”

Meg got up and made her way to the door. She paused and turned back looking at Keeya.

“I’m glad i got to say goodbye in person. I have a feeling you are going to be busy. Best of luck,” Meg said and smiled sadly. 

Keeya’s eyes widened when she thought she saw a tear go down Megs freckled face.

Before Keeya could get her mental footing a new person came to the door.

“Hey there’s our shining star!” A booming voice said. Keeya jumped and looked over at a blonde man with short styled hair in a perfectly tailored blue suit. He had a pink flower patterned tie that was so perfectly placed it looked fake. He had a stuffed pink bear in his hands with a heart that said “get well soon” like one you find at hospital gift shops. 

He walked in the room and Keeya’s dad frowned. 

“I’m sorry who are you?” He asked and his arm ever so slightly rose like he was trying to shield Keeya. 

The man laughed good naturally and then offered his free hand to her dad.

“Chet Wilson, CEO of Dawns Light Inc.” the man said. 

Keeya felt like the hospital bed had folded underneath her. Wasn’t the CEO like the big boss?! And thus technically her boss now? 

Keeyas dad shook his hand and assessed him further. Mr Wilson didn’t seem to mind and smiled like a politician.

He offered Keeya the bear and she took it awkwardly mumbling her thanks.

“After hearing about your amazing heroism I just had to come by and check on you myself young lady. After all we value all of our employees young and old, especially if they empty out three warehouses in a single afternoon!” He said and offered his hand to Keeya. 

Keeya hesitated for a second and then shook it. It was huge but dry and cold. 

“I’m here to help,” she said. 

“Ha! That’s the spirit! So happy to have you here, champ. Say we have some more warehouses you could do.”

“Now hold on, my daughter just woke up ans surviving a warehouse raid she shouldn’t have even been a part of,” her dad said his voice dangerously deep. 

Keeya gulped. She didn’t hear that tone too often but when she did she knew it was best to either apologize or run. 

Mr Wilson though, again, seemed unaffected. 

“Yes, we did send an apology and compensation when my company notified you of her condition. You’ll find that many companies won’t even give that much.”

Now it was Mr Wilsons turn to appraise her dad. 

He narrowed his eyes and rubbed his chin thoughtfully. 

“Pardon me, but are you the Lamare Greenwood from Endosphere Enfineering?”

Keeya’s dad looked taken aback. 

“Uh… yeah, I am.”

Mr Wilsons beamed. 

“Excellent! You know I’ve had my eye on that resource drone you and your team have been cooking up.”

“What… how? Only a handful of people were even at that presentation. They said it was impractical.” 

“On the contrary, I could use a man heck even your whole team here. Come, let’s go to my office- oh sorry champ. Mind if I borrow your dad for a bit?” Mr Wilson added redirecting his focus on Keeya.

Keeya’s dad looked to her and it looked like he wouldn’t want to leave her side any time soon. 

“Dad, go!” Keeya said shooing him. 

He still hesitated and Keeya did the best impression of her mom’s ‘you better do what I tell you’ looks and he smiled. 

“I’ll be right back,” he said and kissed her brow. 

Keeya fwomped back on the thin pillows breathing out a huge sigh or relief. She held up her hand to the fluorescent light. 

“I did it, I finally got to be a hero.” 

She squealed and kicked the blanket, unable to contain her excitement.

“I can’t wait to go out again!”