Hands.

Hands running all over his body.

Smoothly but roughly.

There may have also been a scalpel mixed in there.

Two of those hands grabbed a bucket and splashed water onto his face.

"Wh-" Cubz kept his eyes closed, ready for another splash.

It didn't come.

He opened his eyes.

"What?"

That girl from last night was standing in the corner, donning a lab coat with sone blodd on it. In front of him was a kid about his age. "Hi," the kid said as he lifted his fedora. "My name is really long and confusing so for the time being just call me Lad." Cubz was really confused.

He raised his hand.

Lad stared. "Yes?"

"Umm, how did I melt into the ground?"

"Oh, that's because one of our team has that power."

Cubz stared back."Power? Wait, does that girl over there have a power too?"

"You're catching on quick, buddy."

"So if I'm here... do I have a power?"

"That's what we're figuring out. Here, take this police report. It might help you remember."

"'Sound of crunching coming from 38 Cord Road.' Oh, I had another one of those- fits."

"Can you explain to me what happens during these fits?"

Cubz thought hard for a second or two.

"Nothing much, really. If I drink too much juice I start seeing my own body. My gramps tells me that it's fine, and just part of puberty. I learned in Health class thst periods are painful. Maybe I'm having periods."

Lad looked fustrated. He then closed his eyes and fell to the ground.

The girl stepped over Lad's unmoving body. She put out her hand. Cubz highfived her.

"You- You're supposed to shak-" She went back to her planned sentence. "Nice to meet you, I'm an idiot."

"What?"

"Well, most people call me Firechan."

"Hi, Firechan."

"Do you wanna know why they call me that?"

"no"

She raised her palm and a flame came bursting out.

"This is why."

"ok"

She looked around the room, and put her hand out again.

"Hey, since you're awake, wanna meet thr rest of our crew?"

"Sure, I would."

Cubz inserted his hand into hers and followed behind her. Damn, he thought to himself. She really does smell like passionfruit Mountain Dew.