In an instant, Mr. Nick disappeared. Before he vanished, he was handing over the list of topics for an essay. Just like any normal cloud of dust, it all seemed like a magic trick. It was so sudden that all the students looked at each other.

Greyson Newman could only smirk, glancing behind at Scarlett Russell, who was staring down at her phone. The black screen was only present, as she had been charging it beforehand. One student named William Conley opened the class door, looking down the hall. There had been other students running and jumping around.

"No teachers! It's time to party!" Will shouted as the students began to cheer. Some hopped onto the desks, jumping around on them. People were raiding Mr. Nick's desk, stuffing his chocolate bars into their pockets. Scarlett glanced up at Greyson with her dark blue eyes.

"Well, isn't this an unfortunate situation? All the teachers happen to disappear," Scarlett remarked. "Is the Dauntless Leader going to say his moving speech?"

"You know me well," Greyson said, rubbing his thumb on her cheek.

She stood and watched Greyson walk to the front of the class with his hands at his sides. It is something she has gotten used to ever since the two went to Uden Academy. It wasn't just any academy, but one for the troubled and rich.

Basically, if your parents couldn't handle you, they'd send you here. Most wealthy families sent their children here, even when they didn't have a problem. Her mother sent her here since sleeping with random men was important to her.

"Scarlett, let's check the halls. I want to see what else is going on," he said.

The two entered the long halls with maroon lockers on each side and walls painted maroon and black—the academy's colours. There were some peeking out of their classroom doors, wandering around, or huddling with a group of classmates.

"Greyson!" Preston Ellis waved a hand, holding a bunch of magazines. He walked toward the two as he placed one of the magazines in Greyson's hand. "Victoria Secret magazines!" Greyson hit him hard with the magazine.

Scarlett laughed, her eyebrows raised. "I'm not a pervert like you," Greyson spat as Preston gathered the magazines from the ground. "Did your teacher disappear?"

"Apparently, everyone's teachers disappeared. I haven't checked downstairs. Mia told me that nobody was in her class," Preston explained.

"So, people over the age of fifteen vanished?" Greyson asked.

None of it made any sense. The basic fact is that people aged fifteen and over magically disappeared. Nobody knew why it happened, but it brought a sense of joy. If it were people fifteen and older, that would mean no adults. There were no teachers to seduce into getting what she wanted.

Scarlett watched as Greyson walked into the classroom again, this time bringing out the desk chair. It was wooden, without a cushioned seat. He stood, and Scarlett watched as he grabbed a shoe from the ground with his mind, throwing it at a locker. Conversations stopped in the hallways as all eyes turned toward Greyson.

"I know we are all worried. The reality seems to be that everyone aged fifteen and over has disappeared. I'll get the information we need. We may be going to Simcoe since this could be their fault. Group together, and make sure a few of you bring the children to Simcoe. I'm sure some of you know how to hijack cars," Greyson said.

He wore his charming smile as all the students nodded. They all rushed into groups as Greyson jumped down from his chair.

"What an excellent speech, so moving," Scarlett mocked, putting a hand on her chest.

"We need to find Luke and Emma. They will have information," Greyson groaned, looking at the two of them.

Greyson wasn't exactly someone who would beat you up, but someone powerful. He had the supernatural ability of telekinesis. Many students had gained powers as well before their magical disappearance.

Scarlett could rank the level of people's power. Her power was a low rank, while Greyson's was a high rank.

Preston had the ability to turn invisible, which was a medium rank. Preston couldn't do anything special but spy on people. That was why Greyson kept him close, which Scarlett hated.

"I assume you have a plan," Scarlett said, raising an eyebrow.

Greyson nodded, walking down the maroon hall as the two followed behind him. There were some kids in classrooms drawing on the chalkboard or rushing outside to gather the younger children into the school's CRVs.

"I need information; then we're going to Simcoe," he muttered.

"Oh, you're going to confront him, I assume?" Scarlett slyly asked.

"People usually refer to him as a hero. We are going to find Luke and Emma, then leave for Simcoe," Greyson said, glancing back at her.

Jason Harp looked around at his other classmates. Their science teacher was gone from the class. Magical illusions were never taught as a subject. How did this happen? What caused their teacher to disappear?

"The teacher was in the class, correct?" Vicki asked, looking at everyone.

Jason quickly stood and looked down the halls of Simcoe High. There were children wandering around, with the majority either asking questions about where their teacher went or looking in all the lockers.

He saw Bella Foster approaching him from one of the end classes for grade ten students. She was known as the prettiest girl in their year.

"Everyone in the tenth-grade fashion class has vanished, including the teachers," she implied.

Jason followed Bella back into the fashion classroom. The room was medium-sized, with circular tables instead of desks, each with a sewing machine. There were different fabrics on a back table, but the entire classroom was empty of people.

"Our teacher disappeared also," another student said, coming near the brown door.

They rushed back into the dark green and white hall, with more students filing out of their classrooms slowly, looking around at each other. There was no answer to what happened or why the teachers and older classmates had randomly disappeared.

"That means no teachers!" someone shouted, as most of the students ran out of the classes.

"Does that mean it's not just the teachers?" Bella asked.

Jason looked out one of the wide windows in the hallway. From outside, he could see some students playing around in the schoolyard, while others remained inside the school.

He went up to the black double doors near the washrooms, which revealed a car crash with the stoplights flashing red. The streets were empty on the sidewalks, along with a small park across from them.

"Jason..." He turned and saw his stepsister, Ashley, looking up at him with tears in her eyes.

Ashley was only in the fifth grade, since his mom had her with his stepfather, John Iverson. He was one that she had for years after she got divorced from his father, who died in a car crash a week after his birth. Would their parents still be at their house? Or was it empty?

"It's okay, Ashley. We are going to search," he said, patting her head.

"Yo, Jason!" he heard a call from Mark Riggs.

Mark had been his best friend since the third grade, when he moved from Ohio. He tried to go around people who were crowded together by asking each other numerous questions. He was dressed in a green t-shirt and jeans with red sunglasses and a black bucket hat, holding his cellphone up.

"You got any clue what's going on? I can't call anyone on my cell," Mark said.

"Nah, don't got a clue. Do you have any siblings?" Jason questioned Bella, as she shook her head.

"I feel like people fifteen and older have disappeared. Some have vanished in class, and some of them were already fifteen, so it's definitely that age," she stated, glancing back at the students.

"Excuse me!" Jason shouted as some students stopped talking. "I know this is a difficult time. I'm as confused as all of you. What we should do is focus on different aspects of the town. Some need to check the daycare, while others have to make sure everyone is found. Stay in groups and stay together."

Jason was known for performing CPR when his teacher passed out suddenly in the sixth grade. Everyone panicked, but he was the only one who knew CPR. The only reason he knew was because of his mother.

"Hey, there's an Uden Academy car!" someone called.

Students gathered toward the long windows. There was a girl, maybe in the eighth grade, who stepped out with short amber hair, wearing dark eyeshadow and eyeliner, leaning against the black car door. There were younger kids by her side that began to wander away, all with backpacks.

There was another boy who stepped out with blond, frizzy hair, who looked to be in the fifth grade, holding different chocolate bars while they were all dressed in their matching maroon uniforms.

"No fair! Why do they have chocolate bars?" someone complained.

"It's probably to control their behaviour," Matthew Fields, known as Stick, said. "Right, Bella?"

"Everyone knows how crazy that school is," Bella said coolly.

Uden Academy was a well-known academy for troubled and rich youth. Everyone has heard about incidents of bullying or people breaking the law with theft. People do say some go to the school for the education system, but a lot of those students end up transferring.

The girl walked over with five children at her side, ages three to six, wearing an annoyed expression on her face. The boy pointed to the door, where Jason went, opening it as the girl walked toward him.

"We don't exactly know what to do with these children. They are our youngest and need people to watch over them. Put them in daycare, I guess. I'm Lucy from Uden Academy, as you assume." Her tone seemed like she was annoyed with being here with the children.

The children didn't seem like they were any different from normal children. It did make sense that Uden had no clue what to do with the few young children that went to that school.

"Yes, we had the exact same thing happen," Jason confirmed.

Lucy glanced over at the boy with three children, all dressed in the same maroon blazers and black dress pants. The difference between the uniforms was that the girls had black skirts and tights instead of dress pants like the boys.

"This is Oscar, and we don't exactly know much. We were sent here because, as I said, we don't exactly know what to do with them," Lucy said, turning and walking back toward the car.

Oscar put all eight children in front of them. "Put them somewhere," he said in a monotonous tone, turning and walking back to the black car.

They drove off smoothly, as Jason could only widen his eyes. What did you do with eight children who cried or wandered off already? It wasn't that they were their parents.

Everyone needed someone to step up and be a leader. Jason knew being the leader was the last commitment he'd want to make. It was too much of a commitment, and he had Ashley to handle.

"I think we should start by checking our houses," Bella remarked, looking at Jason. He nodded, looking down at Ashley, who was twisting her ginger hair.

The three of them pushed the heavy doors open. Some children followed, and they began wandering around the large area. The chaos was about to begin.

Greyson walked back and forth in the ruby-painted headmistress' office. All he could do was pace as he waited for Lucy and Oscar. It wasn't that long of a drive from the town, but they built Uden Academy on the outskirts for a reason alone.

"Stop pacing," Scarlett snapped, looking up from her phone.

All the phones had gone out and wouldn't charge, which put them out of social connections. Not even the regular landline phones would work if you tried calling someone from Simcoe.

Greyson narrowed his eyes at Scarlett as she crossed her legs in her seat. "It helps," he snapped.

Greyson would consider Scarlett someone who was always there for him. She would never truly upset him, other than mock him. It was one of her specialties, being in Uden, due to her personality. Plus, telling him people's rank in power compared to his helped. It showed the difference in balance between him and the others.

The door opened to Emma, Luke, Lucy, and Oscar. "Well, it's about time," Greyson spat as he sat down in the black office chair.

"Children have been dropped off. The two of them were there, along with that slut Bella," Lucy stated.

"Luke hijacked the dean's convertible. We can go down if you'd like to investigate," Emma murmured.

"I think that's a great idea. Emma, Lucy, and Oscar hang back. We don't need everyone attending like it's a world war," Greyson stated. "Get the convertible started; we're going early. We need to get the rankings of some children there."

Greyson walked ahead as Scarlett, Preston, and Luke followed behind. They walked down the black-painted halls, with maroon lockers surrounding them. Most of the students were in the building, while some were outside.

Greyson spotted the red convertible and hopped into the driver's seat. "Scarlett take shotgun. Luke, make sure the pervert doesn't do anything stupid," he said.

Luke deviously grinned, pulling the pocket knife from his pocket and holding it close to Preston. He widened his eyes, throwing the magazines on the ground, and sat up straight.

"Do you even know where to go?" Scarlett questioned.

Greyson tried to figure out how to drive, but there were a lot of things about cars he didn't know. He has driven golf carts when he's gone on vacation, but nothing complex. The whole seat was leather, with the sunroof open.

"There are signs, of course, I know," he snapped.

Greyson shifted the gear forward as he sped down the paved road to Simcoe. The fields were empty, with the odd tractor in the deserted fields and the odd crops growing. There were some car alarms that kept going off, or trucks flipped into the ditches nearby. There was a green sign pointing ahead to Simcoe as he tapped his hands on the wheel.

This whole situation was puzzling considering why the adults randomly vanished away, despite them being used to being without their parents.

"There are so many cars that crashed. Guess you were right about all this," Preston remarked.

"I don't know the cause of this, but it's something abnormal," Greyson said, casting a backward glance ahead.

He spotted the large park with the water fountain in the centre surrounded by a stone pathway. There were red and pink tulips blooming with two benches on either side of the water fountain. Some children were playing tag near the oak trees and someone was kicking a soccer ball around.

"No, really?" Scarlett mocked, looking out the window.

They drove towards the LCBO, where lawn chairs were set up around the beige wall of the building. There were three guys in front, all sitting in the red lawn chairs. One slowly stood from their chair as Greyson slammed the brakes.

"Asshole," Preston muttered as they parked on the road. They all hopped out as they crowded together in a group, walking toward the random boy.

"Day drinking already," Scarlett said.

"You know what to do," Greyson whispered.

The pudgy boy approached them; he held a plastic cup in his hand. He was short for a guy, considering Scarlett was taller than him.

"Can I help you?" His voice was rough.

"I'm looking for your leader," Greyson remarked, narrowing his eyebrows. "We're from Uden Academy, if you can't tell."

Greyson watched the intimidation grow on the boy's face. "I'm the leader of our group," the boy hissed.

Greyson was getting annoyed with this boy's tone of speech. Can people not give a straight answer around here?

"What's your name?" Greyson asked, glancing toward Luke at the corner of his eye.

"Henry Moore," he said, taking a drink of his vodka.

"Scarlett," Greyson said, while she walked closer toward the boy with a soft smile.

Greyson watched her grab his wrist without breaking eye contact. Henry was beginning to blush as another boy came marching over.

"Nice to meet you," she said, faking a smile and dropping his wrist. "None."

"What's going on, Henry?" Another boy, who was tall and lean, walked over without a cup, his walking uneven.

"Just wondering if you have any information about what's going on," Scarlett explained, grabbing the other boy's wrist.

"Nothing," he trailed off, taking a step closer to her. "I'm just Simcoe High's golden boy."

"Seriously? Nothing at all?" Scarlett urged, leaning in closer.

Greyson kept a straight face as Luke went to his left side. He flipped his pocket knife in his hand, a devious smile visible. Scarlett stepped back with a smirk.

"We're going to stick around for a bit," Greyson stated.

Henry and the other boy still stared over at Scarlett. Greyson narrowed his eyebrows and tilted his chin up. Henry automatically fell on his back with a thump on the grass.

"See you around," Greyson muttered as they walked off.

"Looks like someone got jealous," Luke mocked.

"I'll throw you into that building," Greyson spat, glaring back at Luke.

"Don't worry, I wasn't going to hit on them," Scarlett commented. "The other guy was low rank. It seems he has enhanced hunger."

They went walking toward the park where many people were gathered around the large fountain. Most were trying to use their cellphones or iPads to try and contact someone, but from what he observed, it didn't seem any of them were working.

"Hey, isn't that him?" Preston asked as he pointed toward Jason. He was walking toward a group, looking down at his hands.

"That's him." Greyson's voice went cold.

They walked past people, while many took a step back as they walked through, knowing Uden from their black and maroon uniforms. They may not have known them personally, but they all know the school.

"Are you Jason Harp?" Greyson called out as he watched him jump. Jason glanced up with widened eyes, his caramel hair a mess.

"Yes." His voice wavered as they stopped in front of them. The children huddled behind him, shaking in fear.

"I'm Greyson Newman, from Uden Academy," he introduced himself, smiling.

Scarlett took a step toward him, grabbing his hand. She placed a hand on his chest with a smile. "No need to worry," she purred.

"Scarlett is just ranking your powers. It's an ability she has," Greyson implied.

He watched as Jason widened his eyes. The conflicted feelings in his eyes made him raise an eyebrow. Scarlett grabbed Ashley's wrist and dropped it. Bella put her wrists behind her back as she shook her head.

"It's a quick process; there's no need to worry," Scarlett said.

Bella stood her ground by shaking her head, wrists still behind her back.

"Luke," Greyson ordered.

Luke walked toward her and opened his pocket knife. He placed it against her neck with a devious smile.

"Give the wrist, or he'll stab you. I'd recommend giving your wrist," Greyson taunted as Jason dashed toward Bella. He threw him back with a thought before he could reach her.

Bella trembled with her wrist out as Scarlett grabbed it. "Thank you. We'll be heading back, but we'll see you soon," Greyson stated. Scarlett winked with a smirk, and Luke took the knife away from her throat.

"Wait!" Jason called, slowly standing as Ashley rushed to his side. "What was that?"

"I can control matter with my mind. I'm sure you've heard of it in movies," Greyson explained, walking toward him. "You have a high rank like me. Nobody we have encountered has a high rank, which makes things different."

Scarlett had told him that someone named Jason may have been a high rank. Even a person present allowed her to figure out their power.

He knew most were ranked at medium, like Emma, who has healing. It allows her to heal wounds quickly. The downside is that it can't heal mental wounds.

"Bella is none, and Ashley is very low. None, meaning she doesn't have any ability. Very low, meaning the power isn't powerful and isn't useful," Greyson spat as he coldly smiled.

He didn't have to worry about those two when it came to abilities. If other people in Simcoe were just as low, the only person he'd have to deal with would be Jason.

"Ashley has the ability to make tissues. You have... I don't even know... We'll be coming back soon," he growled, dropping his hands to his sides.

"Oh," Scarlett started as she looked back toward Bella. "I wasn't going to hit on him," she smirked at the girl. Bella narrowed her eyebrows as she travelled away from them.

Knowing Jason was a high rank was trouble. Someone was powerful like himself, but his ability was controlled. He had no idea if Jason's abilities were controlled.

Maybe his power just came out in a panic. There were still many intentions as they walked down the sidewalk. There were large streetlights with oak trees behind them. There was a Burger King and a variety store nearby, where kids were rushing out with candy and soda.

Many children and teenagers played or sat in the street, delighted or sobbing. It seemed like nobody in this place had a leadership role. This is where his time to shine came.

"Back to Uden?" Preston asked.

Greyson saw a couple sitting on a bench, sharing candies. It was something he had rarely seen at Uden, since they prevented relationships at the academy. The reason for this is that some students get enrolled for sex or sexuality purposes.

"No, we need to know what's going on," Greyson spat, walking straight to the Burger King.

He wanted to see what other types of people could be used. Better yet, take away Jason's chances of leadership, since there isn't going to be an easy way to have two different sides.

The building was small, with black and beige on the outside. The Burger King logo was planted up top, bare of people and workers up front.

Luke opened the aluminum door, and they all walked toward the front. The dining room was dark brown, with booths and tables surrounding it. You could smell the burning burgers still cooking in the back.

"Seems empty," Luke remarked with a smirk, jumping over the black counter.

They all jumped it, walking into the back. There were incomplete sandwiches and beeping fryers. Preston pulled the crispy fries up in a silver basket and drained the cooking oil. There was another basket of fries next to it, but when he pulled them up, they were all black.

"It looks like we can take whatever we desire!" Preston cheered.

Scarlett grabbed the chicken nuggets that were already bagged and placed them into paper bags. Luke began making sandwiches of all sorts with various condiments, mainly ketchup. Preston poured soda and iced tea and took drinks from the mini fridge under the black counter, placing them on drink trays. Greyson loaded up all the food together as they grabbed all the cooked food they could get.

"Thank gosh, they have food because I literally haven't eaten since those nasty eggs this morning," Scarlett irked.

"Pack as much food as we can," Greyson ordered.

They kept filling large bags with chicken nuggets, mozzarella sticks, fries, and onion rings until there were none left. They stuffed in different sauces for the chicken nuggets and ketchup for the fries.

Preston's arms trembled with all the drinks he placed on the trays. "What's your suggestion, Greyson?" he questioned.

"Luke and I will give the food to you and Scarlett. If you do perverted actions, I'll throw you into the fryer," Greyson snapped.

Preston shook at the thought as Luke laughed. Preston tensed at those words as he took some trays to the convertible.

The two hopped over the counter, where Luke and Greyson gave them the food. They walked toward the convertible, which was still parked close by.

As they waited for them to come back, Greyson leaned on the counter. This could take a while, considering they had about fifteen large bags filled.

"Your flirting is disgusting," Luke said, rolling his eyes.

"What the hell?" he snapped, almost dropping the food.

"Please don't act oblivious. It's annoying as hell the way you two flirt," Luke groaned as the glass door opened again. He began carrying a large bag to the car as Greyson handed a tray of drinks to Scarlett.

"What's got you looking sour?" she asked with a smirk.

"Nothing," he spat, turning his back away from her.

There were many ideas floating in his mind, but flirting? It was important that he focused on getting Simcoe from under his fingers.

The adults have vanished, but where to? Who knows, but keep reading to find out.
-Lexi

Cover done by _chanceuxx_