The next day as he went back to school, Richard noticed that none of the girls came. He didn't see them at all throughout school. Thinking that they might have been sick, he decided to ask the next day. Weeks passed and not a single girl was there in sight. It did seem weird as to why they didn't come. One day, as he went to class as normal, Richard then noticed Erica sitting there as class was about to start. He wanted to know what happened from the past several days, but he didn't seem to ask the question. As he prepared his notes for class as before, he heard a voice.

"Hello."

He looked and noticed that Erica was talking to him.

"I'm sorry if I didn't introduce myself when we last met. My name's Erica. You are Richard, I presume?"
"Yes."

Before they had the chance to talk as normal, the teacher started to teach. Unlike last time, she grabbed the items the teacher mentioned and started to work on what he was discussing. While the teacher was writing an item on the board, Richard noticed her arm again, but instead of the mark he saw the other day, the mark was disappeared.

"What are you staring at, Mr. Richard?" Erica replied.

He stopped looking at her arm and looked at her eyes.

"Sorry. It's just that...I thought I saw something on your arm the last time I saw you."
"What do you mean?"
"Never mind."

He then started to listen to the teaching and still felt a bit puzzled.

"Are you puzzled on something, Mr. Richard?"

Richard looked at her with a confused look.

"I could tell by your appearance that you seem lost on something."
"I just don't understand."
"Of my arm or the subject?"
"What?"
"Do you not understand my arm that you saw or the subject the teacher is talking about?"

Richard couldn't decide what to say, but was saved by the teacher when she interrupted the conversation.

"Ms. Erica."
"Yes, ma'am."
"Since you are quite a talker of this matter, would you mind answering this problem?"

The problem that was placed before her was: x2+24=8490

"X equals 4233, ma'am."
"That is correct. Could you explain to the entire class as to how you were able to receive the answer?"

She then explained all throughout class hour. Richard then noticed that the answer for her would have been difficult, however, since she was reading the last time they met, she could have figured the answer when she was gone. As class ended, Richard walked towards his car with questions in his mind as normal, but couldn't figure out what it was. As he was about to open the door, he turned around to see Erica with the other Cole sisters. She was talking to Willow and glanced at his direction. With joy, she waved lightly as he waved to her as well and turned away.

"I need to know some answers." he stated to himself as he grabbed his keys.

While looking for his keys downward, a tree started to fall towards his direction.

"LOOK OUT!" one student yelled.

He looked up and noticed that the tree was about to crush him. In just a few moments, he covered his body as he fell towards the ground to duck for cover. As he tried to feel the pines on his body, he surprisingly didn't feel anything. As he looked up, Richard was in complete shock. Olseia stood there with her hands touching the tree and pushing it towards the side away from the car as if the tree was actually made of rubber. As she looked at Richard, he then noticed the same mark Erica had, but on her right eye. For a few seconds the mark shined and disappeared, allowing Olseia to leave her direction away from the crowd. The entire student body started to run towards Richard to see if he was okay and called for help. The other sisters started to drive away from the area where Richard laid at and did not turn back.

A few moments later, Uncle K walked towards the local hospital to see if Richard was okay. As he came in, there sat Richard with only dirt from the top of his shirt downward and a few leaves on his hair.

"What happened to you?"
"A tree fell towards me."
"Oh, that pine tree. The tree that we mentioned "it never gets old" now finally took its last branch."

He started to laugh as Richard looked at him sternly. Uncle K then cleared his throat.

"Sorry to hear about it."
"I would have been completely injured if it weren't for Olseia."
"Who?"
"Olseia. One of the Cole sisters."
"Her? Nah. She might have pushed you to the ground to duck or something. No girl in America is that strong enough to hold a 3 ton tree."

Richard, after getting a checkup from the local hospital, spotted the girls by the side. He was about to turn as he felt another tug and towards the wall as before. Richard then felt a grab by the shoulder. It was Delia, one whom people thought that she couldn't talk. She glared at him at the eyes to read something inside, but nothing. She let him go and started to walk away.

"Wait."

She stopped and looked at his direction.

"Would you be kind enough to explain how Olseia saved me? I mean, that mark I saw her was different than Erica's, but I-"

Before he could finish his story, her hand was placed on his lips. Delia just looked at him as he noticed a mark on her neck. It seem like she was about to speak when she heard a voice behind her.

"There you are, Delia. We've been looking eve-"

As Richard looked, it was Willow who had came close behind. She looked at him and started to feel scared and hid behind Delia. Not knowing what to do, Willow started to pull Delia away without talking to Richard and never turned back. Richard then started to feel a bit concerned. If the rumors about each of them were true, then why haven't any of them see the marks on both Erica and Olseia? Was it something not worth telling about, or was he the only one that noticed this change of event? The night had passed and he started to fall asleep, however, he felt like he was being watched. When he woke up suddenly, he saw Willow with the mark on her forehead. In fear, he turned on the lights, but she was gone.

"What was that all about?" he asked himself.

Not knowing why, he seemed puzzled more and more. The next day, as he was preparing for a field trip, Richard then glanced at his car and had a few streaks. Then, he had remembered that particular day in a few moments. When he looked up, the girls were walking towards his direction, but there were a lot of questions that could not be answered. Before he had the opportunity to ask, a young girl walked towards him.

"I'm glad that you're okay, Richard."
"Thank you, Miss..."
"I'm Ashley. I actually was wondering if you had plans this weekend and see if you wanted to hang out."
"Hang out as in a date?"
"Yeah."
"Well, I hate to say this, but I would have to pass."
"Why?"
"I'm currently not looking for a relationship. Plus, I believe my father would be back from his trip."
"I see."
"I'm sure you could ask William. He would be honored to take you to anywhere you please."
"William? Well, you see, I don't actually want to be around him."
"Why is that?"
"Well, I've heard that he sells drugs for a living."
"Do you believe everything you hear?"
"Well, yeah."
"If I told you that from those rumors, he actually doesn't. I know him well enough that he doesn't sell drugs."
"Okay then. I'll ask him."

After Ashley left, Richard looked up and noticed that the girls were nowhere to be seen. The field trip to the museum went through successfully, however, as they glanced at the pictures, Richard felt a whisper behind his ear.

"What's your dad like?" a voice replied.

He turned around and noticed Erica with Olseia with her.

"What are you talking about?"
"We overheard you talk about your dad. I want to know what he does for a living."
"Are you going to tell me how Olseia was able to save me?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Olseia saved me."
"No, she didn't."
"Yes, she did. Why are you lying to me?"

Olseia pulled Erica's sleeve and whispered to her ear. Erica then glanced at Richard for a moment.

"Excuse us."

They started to walk away for a moment. Richard then never had the chance to talk to her until they both met each other at the bus pick-up later on.

"I think it's best that you stay away from us."
"You should've thought of that before sending Olseia to save me."
"What she did to save you is none of your concern. Just be thankful and let it go."
"Fine. Then if you want me to do so, then tell me about the hidden marks you girls have."
"Hidden marks?"
"Yeah. I've noticed all of you contain a single mark on your body like a tattoo, but they seem different for some reason."

Erica then didn't know what to do. It seemed like he knew most of her secrets. If he continues to know more and tells everyone else, then her family will have to find a new home.

"What you know of us is not something you should be meddling with. I suggest you should stop while you are ahead."
"What do you mean?"

Erica then said nothing and entered in the bus, sitting in her seat with the other group. What Richard never understood what she meant: "something he shouldn't be meddling with"? Was it something that he said to her that made it seem like he knew something? The more question that was placed on his head, the more he try to figure out about them and why they separate from each other. However, the more he tried to figure out who they are, he seemed to be clueless more and more each day. When he came home, he expected his father to take him home, but received a letter saying that he was going to stay at Europe a while longer. He was not pleased.