With a little this, and a little that, the tone of the story has changed. This has gotten serious, and the reality of the situation has been brought down upon the group when one of the most beloved people died in front of their eyes. It is now a struggle for survival, and fate will have its way with everyone.

Aztec 13: I wonder how you feel about the tone shift.

2007, 5 Years Ago; During Total Drama Island…

"Lindsay!" Heather called out.

"Yes Heather?" Lindsay stuck her head into the cabin.

"Why is my pouch sitting on your bed? I thought I told you that my stuff is off limits!" Heather berated.

"Well I accidentaly drank a lot of lakewater while swimming. I didn't feel as clogged as I did since the first grade." Lindsay explained. "So I grabbed lex-tives from your pouch and ran for the bathrooms."

"Ugh, you mean laxatives?" Heather scoffed. "So you took MY laxatives from MY pouch? That is still a violation of the alliance rule."

"I was freaking out, okay? It's been so long since I've been constrated that I didn't think properly." Lindsay stated.

"It's constipated, you dumbass blonde." Heather was getting annoyed by this.

"Look, I know you're the leader and all, but I feel like you don't think of us as teammates like me and Beth think of you." Lindsay commented. "We are in an alliance, right? We should be watching each other's back."

"Ugh, don't get me started with that." Heather scoffed.

"Please, Heather. Me and Beth are also trying helping you win. Let's think for each other, not just yourself. Okay?" Lindsay smiled.

"Ugh. Fine." Heather rolled her eyes at this.

Hearing this answer from her friend, Lindsay lets out a warm smile. Seeing this smile from the bubbly blonde, Heather almost felt like smiling with her.

The memory of the blonde's innocent smile flashed in Heather's mind as the group gasped at what happened before them. Lindsay has been crushed by debris, and her blood was seen spreading out of the rubble pile.

"L-Lindsay…" Heather still processed the tragedy.

"N-No…" Gwen mourned the loss of Lindsay. "Agh!"

As Gwen covered her slashed right eye, she stood up and saw the frightened expressions on her friends' faces. She couldn't help but feel guilt in bringing them into this dangerous situation.

"I… I'm sorry…" Gwen's voice trembled with guilt.

Her ears were still ringing due to being close to the destructive swing by the Chariot, and she saw Duncan yelling something at her, but she couldn't make it out.

"W-What?" Gwen asked.

Suddenly, Duncan's hand motion issued her to move. At first, she didn't understand what this meant. But the answer came to her as she felt shaking under her feet.

"Oh… shit." Gwen's eyes lit up in realization.

Gwen turned around to see Chariot looming above her. Seeing the exposed part on the creature's chest, she felt resolve bolstered into something like a wildfire.

"So this armor isn't impenetrable, huh?" Gwen asked. "We can actually beat this thing. But first we have to get everyone out."

Gwen grabs a piece of rebar from the pile of rubble and holds it like a pike.

"Come at me, bitch!" Gwen yelled out.

Arc 1 Chapter 4: Disarray

"Hah!" Gwen charged forth.

To everyone's surprise, Gwen plunges the rebar into the exposed flesh of Chariot. The armored creature recoils in pain as Gwen steps back to avoid its rampage.

"It's recoiling!" Kate yelled as she moved to the front of the creature. "Everyone! Get to a safe place!"

This needed no explanation for a lot of them, and they were quick to leave the conference room. But Tyler and Beth were still in utter disbelief. And Gwen could tell what they were going through.

"Look, we have to go." Gwen softly told the two.

"I… we… we can't just leave her…" Beth breathed out.

Suddenly, Tyler's head jerked towards Chariot, as it was getting sprayed with bullets by Kate. Gwen could notice his angered face, a face of guilt, frustration and anguish.

"I… I can't allow myself! I can't allow someone like Lindsay to fall like this!" Tyler yelled out. "Take me on you ugly bastard!"

Tyler tries to charge at Chariot, but then Gwen interferes and throws him towards the exit of the conference room.

"Get him away from here. We can't lose another one." Gwen told Beth. "I know you're in pain. I am as well. But don't let this situation get any worse than it is."

Beth just nodded her head, and led Tyler out of danger. But before Gwen could leave, she noticed Heather staring at the rubble that had buried the blonde.

"What?" Gwen said out loud, that was how stunned she was.

Heather was a very memorable contestant for all the wrong reasons. Her terrible actions are burnt into a lot of her companion's minds, especially her goth rival. But Gwen didn't know what to think when she saw the mean girl in shock, especially since the girl that had died was the same girl she used as a lackey and was manipulated and abused to force her into her bidding.

Despite this troubling thought, Gwen was quick to decide and grabbed Heather by her hand, leading the girl away from the danger zone.

"Let go of me!" Heather exclaimed.

But Gwen just ignored these objections as the two headed into the hotel's halls. Immediately, they see that the group has stopped because Alejandro was still fending off the clawed creatures.

"Ayayay, they just keep coming!" Alejandro yelled out.

Alejandro eventually hosed down most of the creatures coming at them, but a single one managed to avoid the water blast just enough to close the distance and pounce on the Spaniard.

"Gah! Get off me you foul creature!" Alejandro exclaimed.

Just as the creature was about to dig its claws in, Gwen grabs its arm and throws it over her shoulder. The force of this throw proceeds to break the creature's shoulder.

"Graaaagh!" Heather was seen preparing a kick.

Gwen quickly moves out of the way, surprised, as Heather angrily kicks the creature out of the windows, causing it to fall away from them.

"Thanks." Alejandro said. "These things are more vicious than I expected."

But Heather didn't seem to react to this comment. Gwen was surprised that Heather actually took the initiative in combat, but she also noticed that the mean girl was acting volatile. Heather's muscles were tense, and she was breathing heavily. The goth girl didn't know what to make of her increase in anger.

"Guys! We better get going!" Mike exclaimed as he went to the windows. "Many more of these things are coming in!"

Gwen quickly meets Mike at the windows to see that he was right. Many of the clawed creatures were on their way up the building, and they were still filled with eager bloodthirst.

"Shit. You're right." Gwen stated.

"But Courtney's still injured. We'll get slowed down like this." Bridgette said in worry.

"Guys! Over here!" Geoff's voice yelled out.

The group turns to Geoff who has just opened a nearby room.

"I found the staff quarters, and it doesn't have windows! We can hole up here for the time being!" Geoff exclaimed.

"Alright." Duncan nodded. "Anyone who wants to help the injured, follow us in the room. Everyone else, head to the roof."

"Those who are heading to the roof, follow me!" Leshawna quickly took charge.

Leshawna and Harold quickly took off to lead all the Gen 2 away from the sight of danger. Meanwhile, the rest help Gwen and Courtney into the staff quarters, closing the door shut before the clawed creatures reach the floor.

"Geoff. Help me set up a barricade just in case something happens." Duncan says as he begins to move a small locker.

"I think I should help-Gah!" Gwen finally succumbed to the pain in her sliced eye. "Ack… shit…"

"Gwen! I don't think you should move yet." Bridgette came to her aid. "You should rest. I'll treat your eye later. I gotta tend to Courtney first."

"Of course." Gwen sighed. "I'll sit down."

"Don't worry, brah. We'll keep the door secure. You've already done enough." Geoff stated, noting the effort Gwen has put.

"I don't think so." Gwen sat down on a bed, stressed out. "I wish… I wish I could've done more. If… if I was a moment quicker. Then Lindsay… Lindsay…"

As Gwen looked down in frustration, the others went silent as they mourned the loss of their friend, someone who had no reason to die in such a way. Someone who has brightened the lives of everyone in this room at least once.

Suddenly, Tyler stood up from a bed and began angrily stomping across the room. Then, to the surprise of the others, he grabs Heather and forcefully slams her against the wall.

"Wha-huh?!" Heather was stunned by this.

"Why… why did you have to shove her? Why did you shove her?!" Tyler was on the verge of tears at this point. "She was trying to stop you from doing something wrong! She was trying to make you see past your selfishness!"

Heather was still in shock during this, and couldn't respond. Seeing the conflict beginning to escalate, Duncan stood up to approach the two.

"But no… you let your pride and ego get the best of you!" Tyler yelled. "You didn't want to admit that you were wrong! And… and now… Lindsay, oh no…"

Duncan went to comfort Tyler as he began to break down sobbing. Beth also went to comfort her friend. After all, they were very fond of the blonde. Both were in a lot of pain.

"She didn't deserve this… why is this happening to us?" Beth asked.

"I don't know. I think we all want to know the answer." Duncan says. "Can you take him to a corner? I think he needs some time alone."

"Of course." Beth says.

As Beth led the sobbing Tyler back to rest, Duncan took an angry glare at the shocked Heather. All she could respond with was a deep sigh. Duncan decided not to press on and moved back to the doors.

Despite the confrontation ending as quickly as it did, Gwen couldn't shake the feeling that something was off with Heather. Normally, if this was any other incident, she would've either brushed off the accusation or taken it in stride. But now, she seems to be having trouble accepting this situation, let alone coping with it.

"Are you okay, Heather?" Alejandro asked.

Heather just ignored the Spaniard and went off to a different part of the room, where she began scouring the other lockers for supplies.

"So, you think the others are holding on?" Noah asked.

"I hope so. But I also can't relax with Kate handling things on her own." Gwen stated. "I have to know what's going on. Why this is happening. And I guess… I've been really wanting to find out if my dad was connected to all this."

"Well at least you're handling it better than I am. My head is starting to hurt trying to connect the dots to all this." Noah stated. "And I have other people to worry about. So there's that."

"Well, we need to keep our head in the game if we want to make it out of here alive." Gwen says before going deep into thought.

As the group sat silently once more, some notification pings were heard. The group grew confused as the pinging continued. But then Courtney realized that she still had her PDA in her pocket.

"Wait. The dish that Cameron made." Courtney questioned. "It's detecting a signal?"

"Excuse me?" Noah raised an eyebrow.

"No, seriously." Courtney took out her PDA and began to check the radio signals. "Someone's trying to radio us. We got communication, guys!"

"Can you tell who's on the other end?" Duncan asked.

"No. But I guess it's better than not getting anything at all." Courtney stated. "I'll begin communication. Listen up."

The group surrounds Courtney as she activates the receiver. A voice was then heard from the PDA.

"Hello? Survivors of Cecil's Hotel?" A young male voice called out. "If anyone can hear this from a radio, that means AMS recovery operatives are on the way!"

Gwen perked up upon recognising the voice. She quickly made her way to Courtney to speak.

"Uncle Ryan?! Is that you?!" Gwen called out.

"Gwen?! Oh, man. Thank goodness you're okay." Ryan mellowed down over the radio. "Now, can I get a read on the situation at the hotel?"

Now the rest of the group was perplexed to hear that Gwen's uncle was on the other side of the line. Duncan silently mouthed out a "what the fuck", causing Gwen to react with a confused shrug.

"Hello?" Ryan called out again.

"Oh, um. Yeah. We're currently held up in a room on the fourth floor. Most of the patrons of the hotel were moved to the roof for the time being." Bridgette stated.

"But there's also a giant armored fucker attacking the place. It's trying to tear down the building as well." Duncan stated.

"Ah, Type-27. Codenamed 'Chariot'." Ryan recognised the description.

"Wait. You're associated with Kate Green, right?" Noah asked.

"Yes. A close partner. If I were to guess, she's taking that creature on." Ryan explained.

"Should we be worried about her?" Gwen asked.

"No. It's not necessary. You need to focus on your safety and the safety of others." Ryan stated. "How many of you guys are in the room?"

"Well… there are only nine of us here. And to be honest, we're closer to that thing you call Chariot than we would like." Gwen stated.

"Okay. Hang tight. I'm bringing a convoy to the hotel." Ryan explained. "Can you promise me that, Gwen?"

"Of course. I'll make sure to get everyone to safety." Gwen said with determination.

"Stay strong. All of you." Ryan reassured over the radio.

The radio connection is then terminated, leaving the group to their own devices.

"Alright. What is even going on?" Duncan broke the silence once again. "First you tell us your father was a part of the AMS, then we find out that your uncle is as well?"

"And even stranger is the fact that your uncle seems to be acquainted with the bullshit that's happening outside." Noah stated.

"This… this doesn't make any sense." Gwen sighed. "If my uncle is operating in situations like this, what about my father?"

Suddenly, sounds of cracking and shaking were heard nearby. The group almost jumped at the surprise of this.

"Don't worry. It sounds too shallow for it to be the hotel collapsing." Heather moved to the door and looked out the peephole. "That thing called Chariot seems to be causing the floor of the hall outside to crack."

Hearing this, Geoff goes to feel the nearby part of the foundation with his hand.

"Heather's right, nothing too extreme on the building." Geoff notified the others.

"And I've got a plan." Heather says before tossing a couple utensils at the ground along with some extension wire.

"And what's that?" Gwen asked.

"Just shut it and listen. This is going to need some agility on your part, gothy." Heather snarked.

Back at the lobby, the police have managed to clear out the first floor for the second time, and managed to recover MacArthur and Sanders from their hiding place.

"Well, for a 'first assignment', this day feels like a scramble for survival." MacArthur groaned. "You okay, Sands?"

"Feeling better, but I still got a couple sprains." Sanders groaned. "And I feel something broken in my ribs."

"We're going nowhere with this." MacArthur groaned. "Even if we manage to finish the rescue, and that is a very big if, mind you, how in the world are we gonna head to safety in the middle of this mess?!"

Suddenly, a loud honking sound was heard nearby. The two turn to see a large heavyweight truck that weaved around the chaos, followed by a few more transport trucks that piled in front of the hotel. On the side of the main heavyweight truck that led the convoy, the word "AMS" was plastered to the side.

"Who is that?" MacArthur asked.

From the door of the leading truck, a male in his late twenties exits the driver's seat with a shotgun in hand. With his brown combed hair and blue eyes, this was Kate's partner, Ryan Taylor. And now he has arrived for backup.

"Alright, everyone. Get in the convoy. There are a lot of survivors we need to transport." Ryan says as he cocked his shotgun.

Ryan then saw MacArthur and Sanders, noticing the latter's injuries. He approaches them as he helps Sanders walk.

"Head to the convoy. Our team of medics are already on standby." Ryan points to the main truck.

"Wait! You're one of those AMS people!" MacArthur exclaimed as she recognized the organization.

"I take it that you've met Kate Green already?" Ryan asked.

"Yep. She's upstairs fighting some armored freak of a zombie." Sanders groaned.

"Alright. Thanks for the info." Ryan says as Sanders was helped up the truck. "I'll be back in a while. Make sure to keep the convoy safe."

"On it." MacArthur nodded at this.

As Ryan ran into the hotel with his shotgun, MacArthur took the time to head inside the main truck of the convoy. What she didn't expect to see was someone she recognized.

"Oh. Whoa. Not expecting you here." MacArthur was dumbfounded by the sight.

"Sanders? MacArthur?"

The two rookie partners were dumbfounded as they saw Carrie, a fellow competitor in the Ridonculous Race, as one of the nurses that were assisting the two partners.

"Well… hi?" Carrie awkwardly waved at the partners.

"What are you doing here? You work for the AMS?" Sanders asked.

"Well, it's a long story…" Carrie sheepishly rubbed the back of her head. "I wanted to pursue a medical field, and I figured being a nurse of a government agency would help me save other people."

"Well then. Do you have a clue of the bullshit that's happening around us?" MacArthur was quick to ask questions.

"Agent Taylor only briefed our group on the situation. I don't remember if he mentioned anything about the origins of these things." Carrie stated. "Luckily he and Agent Green are experienced in these situations, but I'm still slightly nervous."

"Well, did you think to ask them about it?" MacArthur asked.

"I didn't think I should. This is something the AMS are used to handling. But because of the nature of what they're getting themselves into, I decided to volunteer to help survivors." Carrie explained. "Now hold still. I think one of your ribs is broken."

"Wow. Gotta say, you've been doing well for yourself." MacArthur commented. "So, how's you and Devin?"

"Is this really the time to ask that?" Sanders asked.

"No, it's fine." Carrie says as she begins to treat the injured cop. "It helps not to get stressed from this. And we've been doing well. I just hope he doesn't know I'm here."

"Where do you guys live anyway?" Sanders asked.

"We moved to New Hampshire just recently, where I signed up here. Hopefully the danger here doesn't spread outside the city." Carrie frowned.

Back at the fight against Chariot, Kate was currently knocked backwards as the Chariot was winning this battle of attrition.

"Gah!" Kate crashed into the wall at high speed. "Great, I'm out of ammo. I need to find some way to break through its armor, and fast."

As Kate weakly stands up, a door behind her opens up, and Gwen walks out to see the agent running out of energy.

"Hey! Are you okay?!" Gwen yelled out.

"I'm still standing, that's for sure." Kate stated. "Just don't know how long I'll hold up. Do you have a plan?"

Hearing this, Gwen charged at the Chariot to the surprise of Kate. The goth dodges an incoming attack from the creature, before ending up behind it.

"I'll try to get its attention. Can you find the place where the floor is weakest?" Gwen stated.

"I'll see what I can do." Kate reassured her. "Be careful!"

"I'll try." Gwen nervously said as the armored creature turned towards her. "Alright, big and ugly! Let's do this!"

As Gwen pulls out a kitchen knife, a loud blast echoed next to her. Chariot began to take damage as the blasts were concentrated into its exposed chest.

"What?" Gwen turned to find someone surprising.

"Guess I was late to the party, eh?" Ryan was seen holding his shotgun after firing at Chariot. "How are you doing, Gwen?"

"Uncle Ryan!" Gwen sighed in relief upon seeing her uncle.

"Well, I guess it's about time you've arrived." Kate smiled. "Now, are you gonna help us or what?"

"Let's get to it." Ryan cocked his shotgun.

As Ryan began to fight the Chariot, Kate used her PDA to scan the floor in order to find a weak point. After a bit of searching, the device manages to find a spot.

"Over there! Lead it there!" Kate pointed.

Seeing the spot where the floor was weakest, Ryan was quick to begin warding off the creature into the spot.

"Come on, come on." Gwen nervously watched.

But as the Chariot moved back from the damage it was taking, it began to walk over the spot and pass it.

"Something's wrong." Gwen's eyes grew in worry. "The floor's not breaking yet!"

"Great, we need to find some way to make it stay still." Kate stated.

Just as she says this, Ryan's shotgun ran out of ammo then and there. Chariot then roared as it began to move at Ryan with its bardiche.

"Shit! Just what we needed." Ryan yelled out in frustration. "We need this thing to stay still. Got any plans?"

"I'll try something." Gwen says as she pulls out her knife.

Gwen charges at the Chariot before rolling under its legs to get behind it. She then uses the knife to stab the creature in the back of the knee; a place where it should be unarmored for joint control.

The Chariot let out a pained roar as it turned to swing its bardiche at Gwen. She dodges this attack and jumps out of the way as the creature's mobility weakens significantly.

"Good job!" Ryan yelled out.

"Thanks." Gwen says out loud between strained breaths.

The Chariot's knees hit the floor' and then the floor began to crack. Seeing this opportunity, Ryan uses his shotgun to blast at the floor under the creature, causing the floor to give way under it.

"Yes!" Gwen celebrates as the Chariot drops into the hole, leaving its upper body above the hole.

Luckily for the group, the Chariot dropped its bardiche during this, leaving it without any weapons. Gwen then turns back to see her friends watching this from the sidelines.

"Over here! The cord!" Gwen called her teammates.

"On it!" Duncan yelled as he was swinging something around his hand.

Duncan sent out the extension cord at Gwen, and when she caught it, a metal knife and fork were set up inside the outlet which would normally blow up because of static electricity. Luckily, the cord isn't plugged into anything at the moment.

"Now it's time to finish this." Gwen held her end of the extension cord with determination.

Turning to the immobilized Chariot, Gwen charged at the creature willing to end this fight. The armored creature tries to take a swing, but Gwen manages to dodge under it. Now reaching the torso of the Chariot, Gwen uses the knife and fork on the extension cord to stab at the torso's exposed flesh.

"Guys! Now!" Gwen yelled out.

Back with the group, Tyler was seen holding the other end of the extension cord; the plug. The anguished jock made his way to a nearby outlet ready to fry Chariot to a crisp.

"Now… Lindsay will be avenged." Tyler silently said.

Tyler plugs in the extension cord, and the volatile electricity makes its way to the other end of the cord. Sparks were seen from Gwen's end of the cord, and Chariot suddenly became erratic as the electricity was killing it from the inside.

"Here… we… go!" Gwen yelled out as she pushed the rigged cord deeper into the creature.

The Chariot shook for a solid minute before going limp, with smoke coming out of its joints. Gwen sighs in relief as she releases the cord from the now dead creature.

"It's done. The thing's dead." Gwen told the group.

"We should head back to the barricade now." Ryan says as he sighed in relief. "We should definitely get someone to treat your eye, Gwen."

"I already got that." Gwen says as she covers her sliced eye that was slightly swelling. "Thanks for coming, Uncle Ryan."

"I'm just glad you're safe." Ryan smiled at this.

As the group began walking to the fire exit, Gwen couldn't help but notice Heather stopping with Beth and Tyler to look at where Lindsay was buried in the rubble. She just couldn't help but be sad over the loss of their friend, but seeing Heather shaken by this event came as a shock to her. She then continues walking, contemplating this entire event.

Outside Of Cecil's Hotel…

Once the battle against Chariot was over, Kate and Ryan managed to get everyone on the hotel rooftop to safety. Everyone was piled into the trucks of the convoy as Gwen was seen watching the evacuation play out. Her eye was treated with some iodine to prevent infection as it was covered with a gauze.

Currently, a lot of her group was with her in the main truck of the convoy that Ryan had driven. Along with MacArthur and Sanders, she was with Courtney, Heather, Alejandro, Bridgette, Geoff, Duncan, Beth and Tyler. It was uncomfortably silent within the group, even if they were surprised to see the cadets in this situation.

"Okay, are we gonna talk or what? I remember one of you guys mentioning the AMS being acquainted with this bullshit!" Courtney spoke up.

"Yeah. I'm sure I heard you talk about that." Geoff added.

"And what's with your uncle being part of this?! He and Kate Seem to be used to this!" Courtney yelled out in frustration.

"Look, I know you're confused. We all are." Gwen turned. "But let's just focus on saving our strength and getting out of this city. We can't afford to argue."

"As much as I hate to say it, she's right. We're still inside the danger zone." Heather stated.

"And look who's talking. What? Getting paranoid for your own safety?!" Duncan replied bitterly. "You have no right to talk like you're in charge!"

Heather was shocked from the way the delinquent was talking to her. Almost everyone in the room was surprised about this. They waited for a backhanded reply from the girl, but nothing came out of her.

"Duncan, calm down." Geoff puts a comforting hand on his friend's shoulder.

"Dude, you don't have to do this." Tyler pleaded.

"Calm down, guys. At least she helped formulate a plan to defeat the Chariot." Gwen stood up upon seeing this conflict.

"Oh, I'm sorry, you think that's enough?! She got our friend killed, and you think that will be enough atonement?!" Duncan yelled out.

"Duncan! Stop that!" Courtney raised her voice at this.

"This is getting unnecessary, dude." Geoff says in worry.

"You better control yourself, Duncan." Alejandro warned.

"I don't want to hear it!" Duncan yelled before turning to Heather. "Whatever mask you try to put on won't help you escape your selfishness, you hear me?"

"I-I… ugh…" Heather began to sweat under the pressure.

"Yeah. Just as I thought." Duncan crossed his arms. "If you truly want to help, why don't you get buried under a pile of rubble? Make the punishment fit the crime."

Everyone gasped at this cruel remark. By now, Heather's breathing became labored and intense while her fists were clenched in seething anger.

"Whoa. Was not expecting that." MacArthur says in worry.

"Duncan.. dude…" Tyler gasped at this remark.

"Save your strength, Tyler. I'll talk some sense into her." Duncan told the anguished jock.

"Talk some sense?! Duncan, that was so uncalled for!" Courtney exclaimed.

"What? It's not like she had it coming." Duncan commented.

This was the last straw for Heather. Tensing her muscles, she tried to go and charge at Duncan with a punch. Luckily, she was immediately stopped by Alejandro.

"Whoa! Calma! Calma, mi amor!" Alejandro exclaimed.

"Can't you get it through your thick fucking skull that I didn't mean to get her killed?!" Heather yelled in anger as she tried to break free from Alejandro's embrace.

"Oh, well here comes your defensive side. Where have you been the past minute?" Duncan raised his eyebrow at this.

"Okay, that's enough." Gwen stood up to diffuse the situation.

Gwen moved to the group as she helped pull Heather away from Duncan. Heather turns to Gwen expecting a deadpanned and annoyed face, but she is met with a soft and sympathetic expression from the goth. Almost like she understood what she was going through.

"Calm down. You've had enough for today." Gwen told her.

Hearing this, even from someone who was considered her worst rival, was something Heather needed. After taking a couple deep breaths, Heather manages to calm down from her anger outburst. After this, Gwen then turned to Duncan with an annoyed anger.

"And what were you thinking? We already lost Lindsay and we almost got killed in the process. Now our only chance of escape is here and the first thing you do is start a fight?!" Gwen walked up to Duncan.

"What?! You're taking her side?!" Duncan's jaw dropped at this.

"This has nothing to do with taking sides, jerkass. This is about survival, and we can't be put at risk just because you felt like taking fights." Gwen said sternly.

"Oh, un-fucking-believable. Fine. I'll shut up." Duncan rolled his eyes at this. "Just so you know, I'm still pissed off at her for this."

"Fine. Glad we can come to an agreement." Gwen snarked.

After the fight was over, Carrie was seen entering the back of the truck with a med kit in hand.

"I heard someone else was injured here. Courtney, right?" Carrie announced.

"Over here." Courtney groaned as she raised her hand.

"Good, we're about to leave." Carrie says as she shuts the back door.

"Whoo! Glad to be getting out of that fuckfest." MacArthur eased up.

"Yeah. I definitely agree with you there, buddy." Sanders stated.

The truck began to move, and the slot to the driver's seat opened up, showing Ryan and Kate at the front seat.

"Hold tight, everyone. It's gonna be a long ride." Kate told the group.

"Wait, where are we going exactly?" Beth asked.

"We're heading out of these things' territory. Basically most of the area around the CN Tower." Kate explained.

"What about most of the downtown residential areas? Are they safe?" Courtney asked.

"Don't worry. This thing hasn't spread to the residential areas. AMS squadrons are already initiating an evacuation for civilians near the area." Ryan reassured the group.

Hearing this put a lot of them at ease. With most of their families either at the residential areas or out of the city entirely, they weren't worried about them anymore.

As Gwen went on to watch the windows, Bridgette slowly approached her, meaning to ask something.

"You want something, Bridgette?" Gwen asked.

"Are you going to ask them?" Bridgette asked.

"What are you talking about?" Gwen raised an eyebrow at this.

"Ask the two agents about this situation. I'm sure they're okay to answer with you, especially your uncle." Bridgette pleaded. "We all want to know what's going on here, where these things came from."

"I'll think about it. But I don't think now is the time." Gwen stated. "I'll be sure to ask them once this is over."

"Okay, understood." Bridgette smiled.

Suddenly, something small flies by the window, with only Gwen catching a glimpse of it.

"Um… what was that?" Gwen asked worriedly.

Then the truck began to shake and skid, losing control as something went wrong outside.

"What's going on?!" Beth yelled in panic.

The scene outside shows the truck the group were inside of currently swerving to a halt as something moved in its way.

"Whoa. What was that?" Ryan exclaimed.

Some high pitched laughter was heard nearby. The two agents turn to see Zeal approaching the vehicle in its flight.

"Well well well. You've survived the Chariot." Zeal applauds the two.

"Doesn't help that we've defeated it before." Kate comments.

"Whatever. But orders have changed. Now it's time to eliminate the Taylors from the face of existence." Zeal stated. "You're about to meet your brother again, so will your niece."

"Leave Gwen out of this. It's only us you want, right?" Ryan negotiated with the creature.

"Dudes, what's going on?" Geoff asked from the back.

"Oh shit, it's that thing again!" Alejandro yelled upon recognising the winged creature.

"I'm sorry. But orders are orders, after all." Zeal says.

Suddenly, the ground below the truck began to give way, causing a sinkhole underneath it.

"Whoa! What's going on?!" Sanders exclaimed.

"Hold on to something, everybody!" Kate yelled to the people at the back. "This might be quite the fall."

"What did she say?!" MacArthur asked.

"Agent Green, can you elaborate?!" Carrie asked.

"It means there's a sinkhole directly beneath us! Better hold on!" Ryan ordered.

More and more of the street began to give way, causing the truck to fall inside the sinkhole and disappearing from sight. Zeal then flew away laughing upon deeming his job finished.

Sorry for the delay on this one, fellas. I don't have much of an outro here, but expect more chapters for this in the future.