Marella's P.O.V

Everything had happened so fast. Both search groups had been together waiting for Keefe to come back and he never did until the next day.

He had rushed them with a very confusing explanation that drove everyone mad.

Apparently, he had gone behind everyone's back by secretly joining the Neverseen disguised as some person named Carter and this whole time he had been with them and knew where Sophie was.

Of course, everyone went ballistic and there was so much yelling about how he could have told everyone and there could have been a way to get Sophie back sooner.

But Keefe said there was no time, they had to propose a fight against the Neverseen in order to get Sophie back. And if that somehow didn't work, he had some plan B that had to do with some mystery kid.

It was too much— Marella's mind was already piled with too many things.

But now she had to clear her head more than ever.

Currently, Mr. Forkle was driving both search groups to the location where they would fight the Neverseen. Keefe instructed Mr. Forkle to propose it as part of the plan and now they just had to hope it worked.

Something told Marella that plan B wasn't too solid given that Keefe was being very vague about it.

The only people that weren't heading to the location were Grady and Edaline. Currently, they were headed to get the Deadly Night Monkeys as reinforcements.

She just hoped they came in time in case things got out of hand.

They rode in silence. Marella watched everyone, wishing she could just try to pry out whatever secrets anyone else was still hiding.

If she had to be honest, it was getting harder and harder to trust anyone.

And she couldn't even talk to Dex after the fight they had. She couldn't even look him in the eye.

She had never seen Dex ever blow up like the way he did. He had never spoken to her that way and it scared her.

She did feel a bit guilty for what she had done but it's not like Dex was right either. He shouldn't have been so careless by letting Linda act that way towards him.

It wasn't fair for Marella. She had the right to question what she saw.

She realized she was getting worked up just thinking about it. She tried real hard to put it aside for now.

She also noticed Keefe had been glancing at Biana strangely. It just rose Marella's suspicion that there was more truth to everything that Keefe still hadn't shared.

But he had been in a rush so it could wait.

After a long bumpy ride, the van came to a stop.

"Alright, you kids wait in here while I grab the weapons," Mr. Forkle instructed. "Wylie can help me out," he added.

"Hey! We aren't kids anymore," Fitz exclaimed.

"Yeah, we're adults," Keefe said, pointing to himself and Fitz.

"Fine, you two also," Mr. Forkle said.

"Hey! We're practically adults! We aren't little anymore!" Biana exclaimed, hopping up.

"Ugh you kids make this difficult— just come!" Mr. Forkle grumbled.

Everyone then hopped out, quickly grabbing their own weapons.

Dex was also distributing back up gadgets that they could hide in their pockets.

"Take it easy, Dex," Mr. Forkle said, looking down at his prosthetic leg.

"Don't worry, I'm fine," Dex assured. Marella made eye contact with him but she quickly looked away.

"Alright, let's get Sophie back," Keefe said, leading the group with Mr. Forkle.

Marella took a deep breath as they walked into the opening in some woods, making a stop.

Of course it had to be in the woods.

"Uhhh where are they?" Biana asked, throwing her hands up impatiently.

"Why are you in such a rush?" Marella asked, scanning around.

"Uh...you know, I just can't wait to see Sophie," Biana said, making a strange face.

Before Marella could question it, something was making noise in the trees across from them.

Everyone then got in a stance position as they watched. A few seconds later, seven figures came out.

"Yes, we outnumber them by a lot," Linh whispered, coming up behind Marella and Biana.

"But look," Marella whispered back. She pointed at some humongous dude that was extremely muscular with two machine guns.

"That's Hunter," Keefe told the group, pointing at the one Marella was just looking at. "Watch out for him— he's aggressive."

"Where's their nasty son? What's his name— Zach right?" Tam asked.

"I killed him," Keefe said, side eyeing Tam.

"Oh," Tam replied, everyone slowly turning their heads towards Keefe.

Marella eyed the others and already spotted Mai and Quan who were in the front of the group. Then there was some other older dude with dark hair that had a very creepy vibe to him.

Then there was some chocolate colored hair girl who wore two buns on the top of her head. She had several pockets and many gadgets in her hands. Right beside her was a blonde haired girl with dark streaks in her hair...wait..

"Is that Sophie?!" Marella hissed.

"Yup," Keefe said.

Marella's jaw dropped. She could barely even recognize her. Now she looked way different...more dangerous.

"I see she's moved on," Biana mumbled.

Before Marella could question what that meant, the Neverseen started to approach the center and the Blackswan moved forward too.

"This is really unnecessary," Mai spoke first. "We leave you alone and yet you still can't let it go."

"Alone?! You took Sophie from us!" Keefe argued, stepping forward.

"C'mon, I'm sure you all managed fine without her. She's with us now," Mai replied.

God Marella forgot how much she hated this lady.

"Yeah, under your force!" Wylie yelled.

"Force? She wants to be with us. The last place she would want to be is with you guys," Mai said, smirking.

Marella exchanged glances with the others, confused.

"Why don't you shut up and let Sophie speak for herself!" Marella yelled out.

Everyone then looked at Sophie who was looking away. She then slowly looked up, her eyes locking with Marella.

"Mai's right," Sophie said.

"What?!" Linh whispered.

"Don't worry, she's just playing along," Keefe whispered.

"She's not playing along!" The girl with the two buns exclaimed. "She's my friend and she would never want to be with traitors like you!" She exclaimed, grabbing Sophie's arm.

"What does that mean?" Fitz asked.

"Oh my, it seems as if the little traitor of yours has kept it a secret," Mai said.

"What are you talking about?!" Marella demanded.

"Biana, would you care to share?" Mai asked.

Everyone gasped.

Biana took a step forward, "I was waiting for the right moment."

"To tell them you've been working with us?" Mai said.

"HUH?!" Everyone exclaimed.

"Explain the meaning of this!" Mr. Forkle exclaimed.

"I don't work with them, I work for myself!" Biana exclaimed.

"What does that mean?!" Marella asked.

"It means, this whole search was a mistake. Saving Sophie is not worth our time," Biana said, crossing her arms.

"Biana, how could you say that?" Keefe asked.

"You won't believe the things she did while we were gone," Biana said.

"She was forced to do it— to protect us!" Dex said.

"Really? Are you sure about that?! Because the minute she got the chance to come home to us, she refused," Biana said.

"What?!" Keefe exclaimed.

"NO!" Sophie yelled out.

"It was all part of the plan," Biana said, ignoring Sophie. "The Neverseen contacted me a few times, telling me that Sophie was getting too comfortable with them. Of course, I kept refusing to believe them but then they told me we could test her. They gave me those mind controlling crystals."

"WHAT?!" Mr. Forkle yelled out. "THOSE ARE TOO DANGEROUS!"

"I knew what I was doing! I used the crystals to control Keefe into kissing me. I recorded it and sent it to the Neverseen. They would then show it to Sophie and give her the option to come back to us or not. And she chose to stay with them when she had a free ticket to be back with us," Biana explained.

"Oh my gosh...it makes sense," Dex whispered, locking eyes with Keefe.

"What— you guys knew about this?!" Marella exclaimed, pointing at Keefe and Dex.

"Not all of it— not the part where Biana was a traitor and helping the Neverseen," Keefe said, glaring at Biana.

"Am I really a traitor? Call me what you want but I did you all a favor," Biana replied.

"She saw her true love kiss another girl! Of course she wouldn't want to come back! It's not her fault that Keefe was controlled and it was all a set up!" Marella exclaimed.

"But that's the thing. She refused not to come back to us, only because of me and Keefe," Biana replied.

"What does that mean?" Tam asked.

"What about the rest of you?! You know, we have risked our lives for such a long time for Sophie! We left our lives behind to go on this long journey to search for her— almost dying so many times! We went through so much and how does it feel to know that she didn't want to come back for any of you?! All because of me and Keefe," Biana yelled out, her face now filled with rage.

"Think about everyone she could have come back to! What about her
parents— Grady and Edaline?! She didn't care enough about them I guess and for any of you. She could have figured out whatever Keefe and I did or worked it out with us. Either way, she chose one act that I did over all of you. Something stupid!" Biana exclaimed.

Everyone then went silent.

Marella's first instinct was to find a way to defend Sophie but for the first time...she couldn't.

"But that's still a dirty trick you pulled. What if Sophie had decided to come back instead of stay?" Linh asked.

"But she didn't. And I knew she would choose to stay with them because everything is always about herself. It's not fair how she gets away with so much when everyone is always risking our lives for her! She's our friend but how can she think of us as the same if she'd rather choose a murderous group over all of you?" Biana questioned.

Once again, everyone had no words as they watched Sophie shake her head with tears falling down her cheeks.

"STOP!" Sophie exclaimed.

"Stop what?! Telling the truth?" Biana asked, now only looking at Sophie.

"I..." Sophie mumbled, looking away.

"This can't be true— that's not the Sophie we know!" Mr. Forkle exclaimed.

But by the way Sophie couldn't even look at them just revealed it was true.

Marella felt betrayed. Sophie had betrayed her whole family and friends, Biana had gone behind everyone's back and pulled a nasty trick, Tam had his secrets and so did Mr. Forkle and Keefe and Dex.

She realized that she had done a betrayal herself— to Dex.

At this point, everyone had a part in this and it tore Marella apart.

She then came to the realization that this was exactly what the fortune teller had told her about.

How there would be many betrayals and it would tear them apart.

And a lot of them did involve love.

Marella hated herself for not seeing this coming— for being a fool.

Mai then started to laugh. "This is going way better than I had imagined."

"Be quiet! You had a betrayal of your own," Keefe exclaimed.

"What are you..." Mai mumbled.

"I see you are missing someone," Keefe said, in some strange deep voice.

Mai's eyes widened, but only for a second. "Well hello Carter."

Keefe then smirked, "didn't see that one coming huh?"

"Doesn't matter, you left and we don't need you. It's not like you did much," Mai said, but Marella could tell she was surprised.

"Zach couldn't say the same," Keefe replied.

Mai then gasped and narrowed her eyes. "Okay, I'm done chatting now," raising her gun.

"We are too!" Keefe exclaimed. Suddenly, him and Dex threw a bag of some strange gadgets right at them causing smoke the fill the air.

"Where did they go?! Find them!" Mai exclaimed.

"We have to go now!" Keefe exclaimed, running towards the van with the others following.

"Wait! What about Sophie?! We can't leave her behind!" Marella exclaimed.

She didn't care what Sophie had done. Marella knew now that leaving her would only make Marella just as bad.

"Don't worry— I have plan B! Now let's go!" Keefe exclaimed, grabbing Marella's arm and yanking her.

Marella started to choke on the smoke as he let Keefe guide her. There was a bunch of yelling and noise and she caught a glimpse of Biana escaping in the opposite direction.

Marella's eyes widened but she couldn't form words with the smoke. Tam noticed Biana run away too. He then ran after her.

There was no time to go back for them. Marella just hoped Tam would get Biana and bring her back.

The van then came into view and Mr. Forkle started grabbing everyone and throwing them into the van.

As they started to make their way in, their was a chanting that began in the distance.

"DNM! DNM! DNM! DNM! DNM!"

"OH NO!" Marella exclaimed, jumping out of the van.

She then saw an army of the Deadly Night Monkeys coming their way with torches and weapons as they chanted.

"WE HAVE COME WITH REINFORCEMENTS!" Grady yelled out, in the front with Edaline.

"NOOOOOOO! GET OUT OF HERE!" Mr. Forkle bellowed, hacking up a bunch of smoke.

"WRONG TIMING! GOOOOOO!" Marella yelled.

"RETREAT!" Fitz yelled, jumping up and waving his arms.

But they must have not heard them as they continued to approach them.

"I THINK I SEE THEM!" Grady yelled pointing right at them.

"NOOOO WE ARE THE BLACKSWAN!" Mr. Forkle yelled out.

"ATTACKKKKKKK!" Grady bellowed.

The Deadly Night Monkeys then came charging towards them with their flaming torches raised. Many of them came riding in motorcycles right towards them with spears.

"AAAAAAA YOU KIDS GET IN THE VAN!" Mr. Forkle yelled out shoving everyone in.

Marella jumped back in as fast as she could and Mr. Forkle hit the gas right away.

The van then started to speed right towards the army of them.

"YOU KIDS NEED TO LET THEM KNOW ITS US AND THAT THEY NEED TO RETREAT!" Mr. Forkle yelled out from the front.

The whole gang then stuck their heads out the windows and started to scream and wave their arms.

But the army was still a little too far away to know it was them.

"SOMEONE JUMP ON TOP OF THE VAN!" Fitz yelled out.

"NO ARE YOU CRAZY?!" Wylie exclaimed.

"MAKE TAM DO IT!" Keefe exclaimed. "Wait— WHERE'S TAM?!"

"Biana's gone too!" Linh exclaimed.

"Biana ran away and Tam went after her," Marella explained.

"Guys we don't have time for this! We are about to charge right into the army!" Dex exclaimed.

Marella then gasped when she realized that they were almost about the meet them.

"STOP!" Marella tried again, sticking her head out the window.

But suddenly, a bunch of arrows came flying at her head, causing her the fall back.

Their yells and chants became louder and Marella freaked when she saw they reached them.

"YOU KIDS HANG TIGHT!" Mr. Forkle yelled out.

Mr. Forkle then came charging at the army and the van started to fly up and down like it was hitting things.

"ARE YOU SQUASHING THE DNM?!" Marella shrieked.

"I HAVE NO CHOICE! THE CHEEKY MONKEYS AREN'T GETTING OUT OF THE WAYYYYYY!" Mr. Forkle yelled out.

"AHHHHHHH!" Everyone screamed as the van started to toss them around.

"THEY'RE CLIMBING ON TOP OF THE VAN!" Linh shrieked.

Suddenly, one of the Deadly Night Monkeys popped their head into the van from the window and shrieked, "DNM!"

"AHHHHHH!" They all screamed as the ninja started throwing a bunch of objects at them.

"IT'S US! THE BLACKSWANNNN!" Wylie yelled out.

But before the ninja could hear it, Marella had taken a broom and shoved him out of the van.

"REALLY MARELLA?!" Everyone exclaimed.

"SORRY!" She apologized.

The van then began to swerve and Mr. Forkle said, "OKAY THEY ARE CHANGING DIRECTION TO FOLLOW US! LETS LET THEM KEEP FOLLOWING US SO THEY GET AWAY FROM THE NEVERSEEN!"

It only got chaotic from their as fireballs started to fly into the van.

"MY HAIRRRR!" Keefe exclaimed, shrieking as one of the fireballs almost hit him.

Dex was quick with the fire extinguisher as he tried his best to blow out all the fire.

It went on like that for what felt like forever and Marella was sure her voice was gone by the time the van screeched to a stop.

"QUICKLY! GET OUT SO THEY CAN SEE IT'S US!" Mr. Forkle instructed.

The all then jumped out and prepared to be attacked.

Luckily, the DNM had been right on their tail so they were right there.

So before they could pull any more of their monkey tricks, they realized it was them.

"Oh my gosh! It's you guys! Did you see where the Neverseen went?!" Grady exclaimed, in his ridiculous ninja outfit.

"It was US THE WHOLE TIME!" Marella yelled out.

"Oh," Grady mumbled. "Then where are the Neverseen?"

"We left them, this is not the day to fight them," Mr. Forkle said.

"BOOOOOOOOO!" The DNM exclaimed, throwing more fireballs.

"ENOUGH WITH THE FIREBALLS!" Wylie yelled out as everyone ducked.

"What even happened then?" Edaline asked.

Everyone then exchanged glances. "There's a lot to explain."