Chapter 101: The Awakening of Shadows  

The next days brought an uncomfortable stillness to Blackthorn. Avery should experience it—the suspense, the calm before the storm. Every day, she trained on her own, attempting to control the lightning that raced through her. She sensed that something dark was building, and the sensation spread to the rest of us at Blackthorn.

But then, without warning, the world descended into chaos.

The hidden town—the secret society hiding beneath the surface, wrapped in shadow and myth—had made its way to the arena in a single terrible, unambiguous action. What began as whispers and rumors spread rapidly throughout the information. Reviews rushed in of blackclad persons performing in little towns, mysterious gadgets shutting down structures all across the world, and announcements cut short by a scary, bizarre symbol.