Eliza paces with a tinge of restlessness before the Dining Hall, her steps harmonizing with each tick of the enormous cartel clock above her. Her patience grows thinner by the minute as troops of mice bombarded the impenetrable borders of her stomach. The rich aromas from the Dining Hall waft through her nose but fail its usual mission of toying with her mind: her best friend Jenny has missed her last two meals, as she was preoccupied with last-minute prep for tonight's event.

"Where is she?" Eliza says, as the clock strikes nine. The last message Eliza received from Jenny plays in her head: 'I found your copy of King Lear in my room. I'll bring the book when it's time for dinner.'

This was code for, 'Something bad happened while I was prepping for tonight's party. Meet you in the Dining Hall at eight.'

Eliza and Jenny were throwing a party tonight for Adam, to celebrate his resolute willpower of not using his powers for the last ninety-nine days...

Buzz!

Eliza taps her earpiece. "Jessie, is Jen-"

"You have a scheduled meeting with Fred in an hour," an automated voice named Jessie speaks in Eliza's earpiece.

"N-n-no-no." Eliza's pacing escalates. "I told you to reschedule it to Friday afternoon."

"He said he will be tutoring Jenny on Friday afternoon."

"Okay. Um" Eliza rubs her forehead. "How about Saturday morning?"

"You have a meeting with your father," Jessie replies.

"Then reschedule it to a time when we both are available. Inform Fred that I won't be able to make it tonight."

"Okay. I will check and confirm the date and time with you as soon as possible."

"Thanks, can you-" Jessie disconnects the call. Eliza taps her earpiece, but there's no response.

"Eliza?" a voice from behind her calls.

Eliza turns to face a young, pale boy, "Yeah, Justin?"

Justin clears his throat before speaking. "Um, I wanted to ask you something..."

Eliza completely trails off from the conversation, nodding at whatever Justin speaks. What taking her so long to come? She hasn't even picked up my calls...

"Thank you!" Eliza flinches while Justin skips past her with a broad grin.

Eliza resumes her pacing, now ruffling through her hair. "That's it!" Eliza taps into her earpiece while storming out of the atrium. "Jessie-"

Ping!

Eliza halts at the atrium's exit and hurriedly taps her black wristband, anticipating an update about Jenny. A holographic screen emerges from it and appears before her. She sighs with relief upon reading the notification. "She's finally here."

Eliza confirms the notification of Jenny's arrival on the screen. She then heads toward the foyer to unlock the front door for Jenny.

Buzz!

"I have scheduled your meeting with Fred at 11 am this Sunday," Jessie says.

"Thanks, Jessie." Eliza strides past the portraits across the hallway.

"Also, I recovered some information about the case."

Eliza slowly comes to a halt. "Send it to my computer."

She steps closer to her family's portrait, playing with her mother's ring on her left index finger. I will finally know what happened, Mom.

Bang!

Bang!

Bang!

The frantic knocking on the front door makes Eliza return to the present. She hurtles past the portraits and taps her earpiece. "Jessie, tell Jenny I'm coming."

"Jenny's already inside." Jessie says when Eliza reaches the front door. "She's headed toward the Dining Hall."

"Wait. I got the mess-" Her gaze falls on the 6-by-6 inch screen beside the door, showing a young man with several bruises on his face. She also notices the several claw marks on his clothes.

"How?" Eliza whispers, greatly astonished by what she's witnessing. The last time a newcomer came to Pearl Manor was more than fourteen years ago...

"Please open." She hears the anxious voice from the other side of the door. He knocks again, turning back every minute or so.

What should I do? Eliza stares down at her faded red sneakers.

A foreigner is a threat to all of us, no matter what condition he's in. Her dad's voice says, making Eliza step back from the main door.

Always help those in need during tough times, but after you've taken care of yourself and your loved ones. Her mom's voice says.

Eliza raises her head to face the door and then smiles while she taps into her earpiece. "Jessie, scan him," she whispers.

On the screen, she watches a small camera like device attached to the pillar behind the man flash a green light, scanning the man from head to toe.

Buzz!

"A card titled 'Frighton University Identification Card' hanging out from his pocket says he is Jason Smith. " Jessie says. "I found no devices on him. He has several injuries - his right shoulder and ankle being the major ones and..." This time a yellow light scans Jason. "...he is a Class D."

Minor magical ability - not aware. The information flashes through Eliza's mind. That means he's unstable or...

"He's harmless." Jessie replies, as if she read Eliza mind.

"Okay." Eliza pauses, taking a deep breath. "Jessie", she steps closer to the front door. "Inform Dad that I'm bringing in a patient."

"A message has been sent." Jessie says, after a few moments.

Eliza hears a thud outside and looks at the screen. Eliza swipes her card immediately on the card lock on the door.

"ACCESS GRANTED", the automated voice says from the card lock.

The door unlocks after a few clicks. Eliza steps back as the door opens wide to reveal Jason fallen on the doorstep. Eliza kneels and checks his pulse.

He's alive. She sighs with relief and then carefully pulls him inside. She lays Jason flat on the floor, examining his wounds.

"How did he-" Eliza flinches when the front door slams shut. She hears the nearby windows and doors slam shut.

But I didn't do anything. Only the Owner of Pearl Manor could authorize a Lock Mode. Eliza swipes her card in the card lock of the Main Door.

"ACCESS DENIED."

Eliza taps her earpiece. "Jessie?"

"The house is under Lock Mode. I don't know who did it and I can't unlock it."

Eliza thinks for a moment, staring at Jason. "Arrange a video call with everyone."

...

A wristband lays on the couch in the lobby, along with a huge pile of books. The owner of the wristband enters Hybrid Room No.2, wearing a surgical isolation gown. A patient lies on the bed, attached to a few monitors.

A holographic screen appears on the wall in front of the bed, showing a man in his late thirties. He checks a few records. "Her health has been steadily improving since we removed her from the ventilator three weeks ago."

"Thanks for checking on her, Mark." Anthony replies, examining the charts on the heart monitor. He replaces the empty IV bag with a new one.

"Have you told Eliza yet?" Mark asks.

"No." Anthony checks the feeding tube.

"If you don't tell her now, she'll find out eventually."

"That will not happen." Anthony checks the dialysis equipment.

Mark sighs, "You are not the Owner of Pearl Manor anymore. How-"

"I had already taken care of this earlier." Anthony faces Mark. "I know what's at stake here."

Before Mark could reply, a notification appears on his computer. "I have to go now. Fred's asking for blueberries."

"I thought he hated them." Anthony checks the patient's amputated left arm.

"Well I gave him some a few days ago and he liked it." Mark gets up from his chair.

"He's changed."

Mark smiles. "I'll check on her tomorrow." The call gets disconnected.

Anthony walks out of the hybrid room after recording his patient's vital signs. He removes his gown and throws it in the disposal bin nearby. He collects his wristband and walks out of the desolated lobby. He climbs up the stairs and closes the door behind it. He walks across the hallway, the doors behind him fading into the concrete wall. Anthony wears his wristband and finds an elevator.

Ping!

Anthony checks the notification he received, the holographic screen emerging before him.

"CODE BLUE. Patient incoming in fifteen."

Who's injured?

The elevator doors close after Anthony enters the elevator. He presses the button for the second floor. The elevator doesn't move. Suddenly, he hears multiple clicks and beeps across the hallway. Anthony presses the button to get out but the doors don't open. He then takes his card out and swipes it on the emergency card lock.

"ACCESS DENIED."

Anthony swipes his card again but nothing happens. He leans against the wall, staring at the doors for a moment and then taps a few buttons on his wristband. A screen appears in front of him, displaying CALLING...

Slowly, windows of faces pop up on the screen and arrange themselves in two rows. Eliza is the last to join.

"Is everyone okay?" Anthony asks.

"Yes. Everyone's fine, Tony. " An old man named Fred responds. "Eliza told us this was just a small check-up."

"Where are you, Tony?" Amelia, a lady in her early fifties asks. "We weren't able to reach you."

"I am stuck in the elevator, Amelia." Anthony replies. "I was on my way to the clinic."

"The house will be unlocked in ten minutes. Please wait till then." Eliza says. "Sorry for the inconvenience."

Everyone else nods and then logs out of the chat. Only Eliza's window is present on the screen.

"Who's injured?" Anthony asks, remembering the notification. "Are you injured?"

"No, Dad." Eliza walks to the foyer. "He is." Eliza directs the screen to reveal a wounded stranger on the floor.

Anthony's eyes widen in shock. How on Earth did that person find this place?

"His name's Jason Smith. Class D" Eliza looks at Jason. "He collapsed ten minutes ago. His right shoulder's bleeding so I-" Eliza looks at the screen. "Dad?"

How did he see Pearl Manor?

"Dad?" Eliza tries to bring Anthony back to the conversation.

I checked the force fields and invisibility shield yesterday. It can't be-

"Dad!"

Anthony comes back to his senses. "I was thinking about the solution." He looks at an angry Eliza.

"Right." Eliza says, feeling her dad's anxiety and insecurity. "Now what should I do about this? I can't unlock it." She points to the locked front door.

Anthony composes himself. "Okay. You have to..."

...

Eliza takes out a band from her coat's inner pocket and ties it around Jason's right arm. Jason looks a bit better after Eliza tended to his wounds and attached an IV drip on him. He lays on a raised platform at the corner of the foyer.

Ping!

A holographic screen projects in front of her, showing Jason's vitals. After the screen vanishes, Eliza gets up and walks away with the emergency medical kit, leaving Jason alone.

She places the kit on a hallway bench and walks toward the Control Room. She reaches the door, taking out a small pouch from her coat. She empties the contents on the floor, finding a small device from the pile of tools. She sticks it on top of the card lock and then searches for a small screwdriver. Within minutes, the card lock falls out from where it was bolted. Eliza then pushes away the wires in her way and finds the small keypad. She uses a screwdriver to dial in the numbers.

3012.

ACCESS GRANTED is displayed on the keypad screen after she entered it.

"Why would he do this to himself?" Eliza says.

30th December was one of the dates Eliza considered as important, for it was both her dad's birthday and her mom's death anniversary.

The doors open and Eliza enters the Control Room. She sits in front of the main computer and enters a few codes. Moments later, she hears the pings and beeps from across the hallway. Eliza smiles, patting her wet face with a tissue. She then exits the Control Room and walks to the main entrance.

She stops when she sees Jason missing.

She taps a few buttons on her band and Jason's charts appear in front of her. She searches for his location.

"Eliza," she turns back to see Jenny approaching her. The holographic screen vanishes.

"I brought shellfish today." Jenny pauses to see Eliza's state. "Are you okay? You don't look good."

"I'm fine. Just hungry." Eliza says.

"Then come-"

Several buzzes ring from Eliza's band and earpiece.

"Please wait for a moment." Eliza says, tapping into her earpiece.

"Anthony says he has taken care of the package." Jessie says. Eliza sighs with relief.

"There is this." Jessie says and shows a visual. Eliza's eyes widen upon seeing the vegetables destroy the greenhouse inside.

"I have locked Greenhouse 5." Jessie says. "Also, Adam wants to meet you in private." Jessie says as Eliza walks across the hallway.

"Tell him to wait for twenty minutes."

"Okay. And," Jessie shows another visual - the Grand Hall has turned into an ice rink. Eliza then realizes what Justin said earlier.

"Morgan and I want to ice skate in the Grand Hall, can we do that?"

Eliza hits her forehead. "What have I done?" she groans.

"You got Pearl Manor out of Lock Mode ten minutes ago." Jessie responds.

"Oh-oh-Thanks for telling me that, Jessie." Eliza says, bringing herself back to the actual conversation. "Okay." Eliza says. "First, I'll deal with the greenhouse, then the Grand Hall."

"Jen," Eliza walks to her and shows her the visual of Greenhouse 5.

"Woah!" Jenny says, looking at the civil war amongst the cabbages.

"I need your help." Eliza says.

...

Eliza and Jenny look through the window of Greenhouse 5. The carrots and cabbages try to get out of the locked greenhouse, while the tomatoes are cornered by the onions.

"Does anyone know about this?" Jenny asks.

"Not yet." Eliza replies.

They look at the radishes trying to get out of the soil they were dug into.

"Thanks for taking care of this. I need to go." Eliza says and walks hurriedly to the staircase.

Jenny takes in a deep breath and opens the door. The vegetables freeze in their steps upon seeing their master.

"I told you to do one job." Jenny sighs. "I wanted you all to get out of the soil, not-" She rubs her forehead in frustration.

...

"Jenny has completed the job." Jessie notifies Eliza, who walks to her room. "Now you have to go to the Grand Hall."

"Thanks, Jessie." She says, entering her room. She opens her cabinet, takes out a small bag and places it on her bed. She opens it and takes out a pair of gloves and shoes, and earmuffs.

...

Eliza swipes her card on the card lock of the Grand Hall. The huge frozen doors open, releasing a cold, biting wind. Eliza bends down and presses a button present at the ankle of each shoe. The next moment the sole of the shoe breaks into several parts, revealing the hidden roller blades. Eliza skates on the new ice rink.

"Justin?" she says, calmly. "Morgan?"

"Psst.. Eliza," Justin hides behind a snow hill as tall as him. "Come here quickly."

Eliza, baffled by this, skates to Justin's hiding place. "Where's Morgan?"

"Oh, you'll see." He says, excitedly.

Eliza then realizes what is going to happen next. An eight-foot tall snowman lies a few yards away from them. The next moment, the snowman bursts into pieces, fragments flying everywhere.

A young girl stands in the snowman's place, "HOW LONG DID I TAKE?" Morgan extinguishes her fiery fists in the nearby snow pit and dusts the snow from her coat. "Oh hi, Eliza!"

Eliza walks toward Morgan, Justin following her.

"You did it in four minutes." Justin says. "That's a new record!" He says it to Eliza who then shuts his mouth. They went far, too far. Although Eliza looked calm, Justin could sense the anger boiling inside her.

"Both of you clean this and go to your rooms." Eliza dusts the snow from her coat. "Jessie will notify you of your punishments."

"For what?" Morgan asks. "I thought you agreed to this." She ignores her brother's signals.

"I agreed to the ice rink. Not to the Snowman Tomb." Eliza responds, sternly. "So clean this up and go to your room." She stares at Justin, "Now."

Justin laughs nervously, rubbing the back of his neck. "The thing is...I can't ..."

"He can't thaw all of this." Morgan completed the sentence.

"That's why you are th-" Eliza stops. The last time Morgan thawed snow and ice, it was a heated experience.

"I'll clean this."

Eliza turns to see a man in his early fifties enter the room. With every step he takes, the Grand Hall defrosts.

"Thank you, Eliza, for permitting them to play in the Grand Hall." The man approaches her, the Grand Hall now back to its original state. "I saw the snowman incident earlier." He whispers to her. "I'll talk to them."

"Thanks, Nathan." Eliza says.

"Come on kids, let's go," Nathan says.

Justin and Morgan follow their dad walk out of the Hall.

"Ah," Nathan remembers the reason he came in the first place and turns back to face Eliza. "Adam wants to talk to you. He says that it's urgent."

"Where is he?" Eliza realizes.

"His room."

"Thanks." Eliza says and leaves the Grand Hall after the Brooke family leaves. Eliza climbs the staircase and walks across the hallway. She knocks on Adam's door.

"It's me, Eliza." She finds the door open. Eliza enters the room.

"Adam?" She turns to see a one-year-old on Adam's bed, playing with an inflated doughnut.

No way!

Eliza approaches the bed. She looks at the clothes the baby wears - a miniature version of what Adam wore during the video call earlier.

"Adam?"

The baby giggles at her.

"What did you do?" Eliza sits on his bed. "You spent almost a hundred days without using your powers." Eliza couldn't hold back her anger anymore." You remember why you did this? The last time you used your powers, you grew to be older than your grandfather and it took three days for you to return-"

The baby starts to whimper. Eliza snaps out of it.

He's a baby now. Stay calm. Eliza smiles after a moment.

"A-Amelia did a good job with your clothes." Eliza says, while she plays with another inflated doughnut that was there on the bed.

"Oh, this doughnut is-"

Pop!

Adam starts crying.

"I'm- I'm sorry for scaring you, Adam." She looks at what remained of the doughnut. "I don't know how-"

The baby cries louder, extending its hands toward Eliza.

Eliza, unable to understand his behavior, taps into her earpiece. "Jessie, what do-. Never mind, Jessie." She gets up and opens his closet. She takes out a rubber duckie and squeezes it.

"Do you want it?" She squeezes it in front of Adam. The baby slowly stops crying, distracted by the new toy. Eliza hands him the duckie.

"Don't move from here." She goes back to his closet and gets a foldable crib out. After a few minutes, she places Adam in the cot and hands him a few more soft toys to play with.

Eliza sits on his bed, watching Adam playing with his old toys. I hope he comes back soon.

She turns back to see the view of the night sky. She notices something in the night sky - a red scar.

"What?" She rubs her eyes. The red scar is still there.

"Is that Adam?" Eliza finches and turns to see a lady in her late forties standing at the doorway.

"Oh, it's you, Alexa." She smiles. "Yes, it's him." She looks again at the night sky, the red scar still visible. "Can you come here for a second?"

Alexa nods and walks towards the window, observing Eliza's tenseness.

"What?" She looks out at the window. "Oh, the sky looks great tonight."

What? Eliza looks at the red scar. "Do you not see that?" She points to the red scar's position.

"That bright star there?" She points at the same location.

She can't see it. Eliza panics inside.

"Are you okay?" Alexa asks her.

"Yeah." Eliza gathers her thoughts. "Um, can you take care of Adam right now for me? I want to check something."

"Will be glad to."

"Thanks, Alexa." Eliza walks out of the room. She then looks everywhere, nobody's there. That's when she breaks into a run.

...

Eliza reaches the front door panting, her card firmly gripped in her left hand. A loud shriek echoes in the hall the following second, making Eliza flinch.

"Who was that!" Eliza said, while turning back ad keeping her card in her coat pocket. She tapped into her earpiece, "Jess-."

A screeching sound played in response, Eliza's left ear ringing in pain. She removed her earpiece and rubbed her ear, not noticing the the small, flickering orange light on the earpiece. The next moment, the lights go out.

"What-" The ground underneath her feet began to tremble, the surrounding display objects and portraits trying to hold their designated places.

Eliza frantically tapped her wristband while she treads cautiously toward the corner of the Hall. She pressed herself to the corner, taking out a small flashlight from her coat. She switched it on and saw a chandelier above where she previously stood rattle. She then pointed the flashlight toward the hallway, noticing a silhouette approaching the main door, fast.

"Stop!" Eliza screamed, but the person didn't hear her.

She squints her eyes to recognize the person.

Jason?

Jason trips on a fallen vase and collapses forward. At the same time, the earthquake stops. Eliza looks up at the unstable chandelier above Jason.

"Damn it!" Eliza says and rushes toward him.