"My name is Isabella Garcia-Shapiro. Could you please tell me exactly what's going on here?" I asked. The man looked up at me, a tired look on his hopeless face.
"You're new around here, aren't you?" He asked.
"Yes, yes I am." I replied. "Why?"
"The entire United States has been taken over by the World Division. Danville is under the jurisdiction of Carter Henele. Our only hope is Destiny's Children and the other rebels." He sighed and turned away slowly. "I don't know how you got here, but your best bet is to go back there immediately."
"Who are Destiny's Children?" I asked.
"They're a group of rebels who formerly belonged to the World Division. They all have a price on their heads. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get back to work." His figure was hunched over and he looked around eighty. Making people like him work was a crime in itself.
"Wait." I stopped him. "Do you know anyone named Phineas Flynn?" The man's eyes widened and he backed away, staring at me in horror.
"Stay-stay away from me!" He yelled, running off with surprising speed for someone of his age.
"Wait! What are you running from?" I called, but he was already gone.
"He's running from you." I turned to see a shadowy figure coming towards me. I backed up a step. "Who are you?" I asked.
"It's me, Isabella. Beovulph." The teenager stepped into the light.
"you haven't changed a bit." I gasped. He was still sixteen, even though the last time I'd seen him at that age was two years ago, one year after my family had left Danville. He laughed.
"No. I haven't. But you have, and so has Danville. So has Phineas. If you want to survive, follow me and don't let anyone know you knew him." Beovulph turned and beckoned for me to follow him. I hurried to catch up.
"Why not? What happened here? And why can' t I tell anyone that I know Ph-" Beovulph put a finger to my lips.
"Remember what I said. Don't even say his name."
"But why not?"
"Because he's the one Carter and the others want the most. He's the leader of Destiny's Children."
The Shadow Chronicles: The Return