Elena trudged down the stairs the next morning. She covered her ears to drown out the loud blaring sound coming from the TV.

"Emergency report." the old TV droned, "Emergency report."

The TV screen flashed to a new scene, crackling as it did so, as the reception wasn't great up in the mountains. The scene was of a reporter, standing next to a pile of ashes.

This could be interesting.

Elena settled down on the warm, brown couch, cuddling up in her pastel yellow blanket that she had had since she was a baby. The worn yarn, hand-spun by her grandmother, who had died when she was five, was a comfort, a safe place to go to, no matter the situation.

"We have some urgent news for all citizens of Highest Peak, the highest settlement in the world." Elena gasped. She lived in Highest Peak. Her eyes widened, and she pulled her blanket tighter around her.

"What's this?" her mother, Perennia asked.

"I don't know." Elena replied.

The reporter had a strange appearance to Elena. She had long, straight blonde hair, and stormy gray eyes. She was wearing a tight, red tank top dress, and tall, black heeled boots. Elena shivered. It was winter. No one should have been wearing tank tops.

The reporter looked smug. Her expression was superior, and very familiar to Elena. And then it hit her. This was London's mom, Kristine McClure. She was snobby and entitled, but also a famous reporter.

"This is Kristine McClure, reporting for NEW News. Breaking news, we have had a report of a person breaking into homes and trying to tag people. This person was evaded for hours until they tagged young Jolon Burkhalm. After tagging, Jolon reported that the person 'turned into ashes' and was blown away by the night wind. Adara Hatyrov has been reported missing as of this morning. Police wonder if Marva could have been the one tagging. Jolon's parents are now taking care of him, but everyone else is advised to stay away until we can figure out Adara's motivations. I'm Kristine McClure, and that is all for this emergency new report, on NEW news." The report shut off and returned to the adult show 'Dark Side.'

Elena gasped.

"Tag? Is it, like, some sort of virus or something?"

"I don't know, honey. The police are investigating it."

Elena slumped to the kitchen table and dug out a box of Cheerios from the pantry after grabbing a white bowl and iron-silver spoon so shiny it could have been a mirror. She smeared peanut butter all over the cheerios once she had poured them in her bowl, shoved the bowl in the microwave - without the spoon of course - and pressed thirty seconds. She slammed the microwave door shut and hit the start button, eager for some food. Elena stood there in her yellow blanket and yellow pajamas with smiley emojis all over, and waited.

Beep, beep, beep! Beep, beep, beep! Beep, beep, beep!

Elena tugged the old door open, trying to get it through the sticky spot where it always stuck, and snatched her meal out. She slowly carried it over to the table, and eagerly thrust her spoon into the peanut butter coated Cheerios, and started to eat.

As Elena finished her breakfast, she thought, Why not earn London's approval for once?

Elena hiked upstairs to her overflowing closet. Elena wasn't the most organized person. She searched through her closet, throwing clothes aside that she knew London wouldn't possibly like. Finally she settled on a blue shirt with no hem that said SOUL in large black letters, plus some black full length athletic leggings.

Elena pulled the blue shirt down over her head, and stepped over to the mirror.

Now for my hair.

Elena raked a brush through her unruly hair, to no avail. She glared at the brush in disgust. It was supposed to be for thick hair, but even this one didn't work. She furiously shoved the brush into her tangles of thick, black hair. She knew she should have braided it the night before, but she didn't feel like it. Slowly, Elena worked through each tangle, yanking the harder knots out as quick as she could.

Elena walked to the bathroom, her brush in her hand, and plugged in her leafy green hair straightener that she used every day to tame her wild hair. She brushed her teeth, foaming up her mouth as she waited for the straightener to heat up. The minty taste of toothpaste filled Elena's mouth, and she almost choked.

The red light on the bottom of the straightener turned green while Elena finished up brushing her teeth, but then blinked back to red. Elena flashed back to only a few minutes prior, where London's mom had announced the disturbing news

What could it mean? I wonder if I can get Yamilia and Evan to help me investigate.

Elena was curious. She thought about how the strange Tag thing had come about. She spiraled deeper and deeper, and got more and more distracted.

"OW!" Elena yowled, pulling her straightener away from her hair. She had clipped her finger with the hot device, and steam was spiraling upward from her hair. Elena glanced at herself in the mirror. She shrugged.

"Good enough."