Dorian felt uneasy.
It wasn't fear exactly, at least not yet. It was more like the sense that something was being hidden from them, something just out of reach. As if the room itself had already shown them what it wanted, and the rest was waiting for the right moment. He couldn't explain it, and that made it worse. The feeling settled deep in his chest, quiet but persistent.
Kade, on the other hand, let out a short laugh.
"So that's it," he said, running a hand through his hair, trying to sound amused. "Guess we're the heroes now. Saving the world and all that."
No one reacted.
Liam finally spoke, his voice low and serious. "I don't like this either. Something about all of it feels wrong." He looked at the others, one by one. "Listen… we should stay together from now on. Whatever's happening, it's safer if we don't split up."
Serena hesitated.
"I'd like that," she said softly. "But… I need to check on my parents. They must be worried sick. I miss them." Her voice wavered slightly. "I'm sorry, guys. I really need to go see them. I'll come back here as soon as I can."
Liam nodded, though his expression tightened. "Okay. Just be careful. Please."
Dorian agreed, though the uneasy feeling in his chest only grew stronger. "If anything feels off," he added, "don't ignore it."
The others decided the same. No one liked the idea of leaving, but they needed to see for themselves what the world looked like now, what had changed, and what hadn't. They agreed to meet back in the same place after checking on their families and surroundings.
One by one, they left the room.
As they stepped out of the government building and went their separate ways, the silence followed them, heavy, patient, and far too calm.
Whatever was coming hadn't finished with them yet.
Because their homes were far from where they had been taken, the police arranged drivers to return them. No one questioned it. After everything that had happened, they were considered too important to be left alone.
Serena sat quietly in the back seat of the car, staring out the window.
The world outside looked wrong.
Buildings were damaged everywhere, some cracked, some partially collapsed, others reduced to piles of concrete and twisted metal. Streets she remembered as lively were now filled with people standing still, crying openly, holding one another, or sitting on the pavement with empty expressions. Grief seemed to hang in the air like smoke, heavy and impossible to escape.
She felt her chest tighten.
Her thoughts kept returning to her parents. Were they okay? Had they disappeared too? Were they waiting for her, or had they already given up hope? The longer the car drove, the worse the fear became. Every minute stretched painfully, her imagination filling the silence with terrible possibilities.
After hours of exhaustion and anxious waiting, the car finally stopped in front of her house.
Serena stepped out slowly. The building looked intact, but something about it felt hollow. She walked up to the door and knocked.
No answer.
She knocked again, harder this time. Still nothing.
Her heart began to race.
"Mom?" she called, her voice trembling. "Dad?"
Silence.
She raised her hand to knock once more, her breath shallow. "Please… open the door."
Then she heard it.
A voice from inside, soft, cautious, unfamiliar at first.
"Who's making that noise?"
The door opened.
A woman stood there, frozen in place, her eyes wide with disbelief. For a heartbeat, neither of them moved. Then recognition hit, and the woman broke down, her face crumpling as tears spilled freely.
"Serena…"
Her mother pulled her into an embrace so tight it hurt. Serena didn't resist. She buried her face against her, finally letting herself cry, deep, shaking sobs she had been holding back for far too long.
Her father appeared behind them, his expression collapsing the moment he saw her. He crossed the room without a word and wrapped his arms around them both.
For a while, there were no words. Just crying. Just proof that they were real, alive, together.
Eventually, they went inside, the door closing softly behind them. The world outside, broken and grieving, felt distant for a moment. Within those walls, there was warmth, relief, and the fragile comfort of reunion.
For now, at least, things felt better.
But somewhere deep inside, Serena knew this peace wouldn't last.