'Finally free!' Phoebe called as Sophie led us into the barn.

All of us sighed in agreement. To any random listeners, this would seem like a casual way for a schoolgirl to express her relief after finishing classes, but the five of us knew there was a lot more to it – it actually meant we were free to talk. Abiona sat down on a crate and stared straight at me.

'Come on, tell us everything.'

Seeing as I looked embarrassed all of a sudden, Lynn came to my rescue.

'Easy, now!' she gently scolded. 'We've barely just arrived!'

'Sorry. Got carried away.'

'Of course we're all curious to hear Annabel's story – but on the other hand, I'm pretty sure she's curious about ours as well.'

I nodded.

'Well nothing much to tell,' Abiona offered. 'We basically waited for you to drag everyone out of the courtyard and got away safely.'

'Weren't you followed?'

'Actually that's quite the short version of it – some of them did go after us.' Phoebe pointed out.

'We split up and lost them eventually.' Lynn explained.

'They quit too easily to my taste. Looks like they were much more interested in you. That's why I'm so eager to hear what you have to say.'

Abiona gave me quite an intense stare. I wasn't at ease, but on the other hand she was right – I actually had something interesting to share. So I told them everything I remembered, in the best way I could.

'I can't believe you did it!' a fascinated Sophie exclaimed.

'It pretty much did itself, actually.'

'Mercury Power, Make-Up?' Abiona chuckled. 'Seriously?'

'Yeah, I know... I haven't given it another try yet-'

'Well, you'd better start practicing a lot, because you're the only one who's got it so far – should we run into any trouble you're the only one who can save the day!'

'Let's not get all worked up about those powers just yet – I've barely awakened them anyways.'

'Yeah, but you actually have, and real quick too!'

'I believe that's just because my life was threatened.'

I had a chill run through my spine as I recalled Prince Erlan's words from my dream – fly, or die. Had I actually flown?

'Oh yeah, I get it,' Abiona sneered. 'So, wanna try and shoot me down with daddy's rifle, anyone?'

'This is not funny,' Phoebe scowled.

'Come on, relax, princess. Poor taste humor might very well be our only remaining luxury soon.'

'There was so much pressure involved,' I insisted, ignoring the two of them. 'With the Pegasian cube to protect and all-'

Sophie suddenly gasped.

'The cube! Where is it?'

'Err – I stashed it into my secret box. Couldn't quite think of a better place in the rush...'

'Bring it here,' Sophie urged me. 'It'll be safe – we could lock it up in a special box and bury it, like, some place known only to the five of us. This way, no one can possibly find it.'

We all nodded enthusiastically.

'Good thinking,' I praised Sophie, genuinely impressed.

'Umm – thanks,' she said with a blush. 'Been reading a lot, you know – The Treasure Island.'

'Just hope your mom or sister aren't snooping around your room as we speak,' Abiona thoughtfully observed.

'Oh, they wouldn't, don't worry about that.'

'They wouldn't, in their right state of mind...'

'What are you trying to imply?'

'As far as we know, those Shadows can infest anyone. Anyone can be the enemy.'

'But not our own family!' Phoebe exclaimed. 'I mean – we would know, right?'

I realized how futile her words were just as she spoke. The bitter truth slapped me in the face and I couldn't help but shake my head.

'No – no, we wouldn't. As much as I hate to admit it, Abiona's right. Who could've told the Infested people we saw yesterday apart from normal people? They're monsters in a perfect disguise. And they can be anyone. Even our own family. We cannot take any chances.'

We fell silent and reflected on the extent of that tough realization for a while. Then Lynn extended her arm in the middle of our small group.

'We should make a pact out of it. Let's swear that there will be no talking of Shadows or Infested people or Saurians or Myriapods whatsoever, unless it's among the five of us-'

'- or Prince Erlan and the Pegasian cube-' Sophie pointed out.

'- or Pegasian technology and our super-powers-' Phoebe added.

'- even to our own beloved and trusted ones-' I insisted.

'- until we see it all to the end.' Abiona solemnly concluded.

As each of us spoke, we would extend our arm too, and join our hand with that of the others, just like we'd done when getting instant genetic engineering from Prince Erlan through the Pegasian cube. This was an intense moment – we all exchanged serious looks and nodded to each other before parting. That was the first time I told myself that we could make quite an awesome team after all.

'So, I guess I should go get the cube right away, shouldn't I?'

'It's already late,' Sophie shrugged, 'Maybe this can wait until tomorrow.'

'Unless you can transform into Super Annabel and get all the way to your place and back faster than the bus would,' Abiona challenged.

'I'm not even sure I can do it again, you know.'

'Why don't you give it a try?'

I bit my lip, pondering whether this was a good idea at all. I didn't want to look stupid in front of the other girls. On the other hand, I would have to try out the Pegasian technology again sooner or later, and it seemed like the perfect place to practice – plus, I was really curious and excited at the idea of transforming a second time. So I raised my arm above my head, and yelled 'Mercury Power, Make-Up!' and waited for something to happen. My four schoolmates were staring intensely, looking for the slightest change to occur. But as seconds were flying by, I still couldn't feel anything.

'It doesn't work,' I said in embarrassment.

'Perhaps you should try harder,' Phoebe suggested, 'You've done it once, you can do it again.'

'Don't push yourself,' Lynn recommended, 'Let it come to you.'

I took a deep breath and closed my eyes. I tried to remember how it felt to fall down the school's roof, to reconnect with that sensation of losing my grip. I pictured Prince Erlan flying around me in the emptiness of space, repeating his relentless word of advice over and over – fly or die. I recalled the planet Mercury showing through the clouds as I was swimming in the endless sky. At some point it even felt like my feet weren't on the ground anymore. It was weird, because my sharp sense of balance wouldn't report anything unusual. And yet, my legs strangely felt relieved of my weight.

The girls suddenly started to gasp and to call my name, disturbing my concentration. I knew something was happening but I didn't feel quite ready to open my eyes yet – I had come this far, I knew I was on the right track. Then curiosity took over and made me look at what was going on – and my jaw dropped in utter surprise. All around me, objects, people, everything was floating a few feet above the ground, as if weightless. Of course, everything included my startled classmates, with their eyes wide opened, and expressions of mixed amazement and fear on their faces – and myself, too. It all took me by surprise so much that I completely lost it and we instantly all fell to the ground. I was the only one who kept control and landed on my feet.

'Guys!' I exclaimed, my heart pounding in excitement, 'I think I know how I fell off the school's roof unharmed – I think I can bend gravity!'

Abiona sneered at me while massaging her bruised shoulder.

'You don't say!'