Third-person POV: Basement. Luke sat in the corner, fingers flying over his laptop keyboard. The steady clacking sounded like tiny needles, pricking at Harvey's already frayed nerves and making him even more irritable. "Luke, what's the situation now?" Ashton asked quietly. He knew everyone was close to breaking down. The moment he spoke, all eyes turned toward Luke. Luke had never liked being the center of attention. Having everyone stare at him felt awkward. He pushed up his glasses. "How would I know? But someone else does." The words had barely left his mouth when the basement door swung open.Everyone jolted in shock, bodies tensing as they prepared for a fight. Harvey stepped to the front, muscles tight, wolf energy surging, ready to shift at any moment. Ashton pressed in behind him, gripping a sharp dagger. When they saw who had entered, everyone let out a breath of relief. Harvey and Ashton's faces lit up. Even poker-faced Luke allowed himself a faint smile. Thora stood tall at the door, a bag slung over her shoulder. Her school uniform was stained with dirt and blood. Her calm, cold expression made her look like she had just walked off a battlefield. "Thora!" Harvey shouted, overjoyed. If not for her icy demeanor, he would have gone in for a bear hug. "Shirley?" Ashton blinked at the fierce girl beside her. The wildness and danger in her eyes were nothing like the sweet, playful act she'd shown before. A sniper rifle rested on her shoulder. That sight made several people stumble back in fear. "Hi everyone!" She smiled again, her face all sweet and harmless. It was as if the ruthless girl from a second ago had never existed. Thora stepped forward, scanning the students and teachers hiding in the basement. They were all from the general studies department. Among them sat a middle-aged man in a tailored suit, sitting with perfect posture and polished manners. His face was tight with worry, while his secretary beside him kept whispering reassurances. Thora frowned. That was the principal of Astralis College, Malcolm Grant. "Thora, are you okay? Where did you go? What's happening out there?" Harvey asked, voicing everyone's questions at once.Thora swung the bag off her shoulder and dropped it to the floor with a heavy thud. Everyone's gaze followed the sound. When the bag fell open, they saw it was filled with guns and ammunition. Her voice rang out firm and clear through the room. "Astralis College has been invaded by mercenaries. All the security systems are down. Their goal is to destroy this place and kill every student on campus." As soon as Thora spoke, panic swept through the basement. All the students fell into chaos. But when Thora's cold eyes swept over them, the noise died away. She nudged the pile of weapons toward them with her boot and said slowly, every word sharp and clear. "If you don't want to be cowards—if you want to live, to protect your school and your friends—pick them up."