HEROES II

BACK TO STARHAVEN

The black convoy of Heroes Academy vehicles sped through the long roads leading into Starhaven. Tires crushed gravel beneath them as the evening wind swept across the quiet town.

Inside the main armored car sat Schizzel, Merson, and Kaiden.

No one spoke for a while.

Kaiden tapped his fingers against his knee impatiently while Merson stared ahead with a hard expression. But Schizzel…

She only looked out the window.

Worried.

Silent.

The convoy finally turned into the familiar orphanage grounds.

Outside, Mrs. Rose had already stepped out after hearing the engines approaching.

Near the entrance, Billy and Derek were struggling over a toy blaster.

“Give it back!” Billy shouted, pulling one side.

Derek pulled harder. “Why do you even want this one? You already have two!”

“Because you want it!” Billy snapped.

Mrs. Rose folded her arms. “Boys…”

The two ignored her and kept dragging the toy.

Then the convoy stopped.

The doors opened one after another.

Armed guards stepped out first, surrounding the area carefully before Schizzel, Kaiden, and Merson emerged from the main vehicle.

Mrs. Rose’s eyes widened slightly.

“The Heroes…”

Billy and Derek immediately stopped fighting.

Derek slowly held the toy close while both boys grinned excitedly.

Merson motioned toward the guards. “Stay behind.”

The armed men obeyed instantly.

Merson, Schizzel, and Kaiden walked briskly toward Mrs. Rose.

Mrs. Rose smiled politely. “What do we owe this visit?”

Before anyone could answer—

“What about Ava and James?” Derek suddenly asked excitedly.

Billy nodded quickly. “Yeah! And T.L?”

The moment the name left his mouth—

Schizzel stiffened.

Kaiden’s expression changed instantly.

Even Merson’s calm face hardened slightly.

Billy continued innocently, “She still has her pinky promise on… to come visit us sometime.”

A heavy silence followed.

Mrs. Rose slowly noticed the strange expressions on their faces.

Merson spoke first.

“Wait… T.L isn’t here?”

Mrs. Rose blinked in confusion. “I don’t understand the question, sir. Was she not one of the teenagers taken to Heroes Academy?”

Schizzel immediately forced a smile.

“No— no, she is.”

Kaiden gave a sarcastic laugh beside her.

“Very safe.”

Merson nodded slowly. “Extremely safe.”

Mrs. Rose frowned slightly.

“…Is T.L missing?”

Merson smirked faintly. “Missing? No.”

But even he knew the answer sounded weak.

Schizzel quickly stepped forward before more questions came.

“She’s perfectly fine at the academy. We just thought she might’ve returned here briefly.”

Mrs. Rose still looked unconvinced.

Kaiden suddenly spoke after a moment of thought.

“Mrs. Rose… the orphanage register. The records of people who brought children here.”

Mrs. Rose narrowed her eyes slightly. “What for?”

Kaiden answered smoothly.

“We’re updating future student retrieval records from Heroes Academy. It’s standard procedure.”

Mrs. Rose relaxed a little. “I see.”

She pulled out her phone.

“I’ll send the database.”

A moment later Kaiden’s phone vibrated.

He checked it.

Received.

“Thank you,” he said calmly.

Then he immediately turned toward the others.

“Now we leave… before we answer more questions about T.L.”

Merson agreed instantly.

Schizzel gave one last glance at the orphanage building before turning away.

The three entered the main vehicle again while the guards returned to theirs.

Soon—

The convoy began moving once more.

Inside the car, Merson leaned back.

“Alright,” he said, looking at Kaiden. “What is it? I know you didn’t ask for that database for nothing.”

Kaiden opened the file on his phone.

Rows upon rows of names appeared.

“This,” he said quietly, “is every parent or guardian that ever dropped a child at that orphanage.”

Merson listened carefully.

Kaiden continued,

“We keep searching for T.L… yes. But we also figure out who she really is.”

Schizzel slowly looked away from the window toward him.

Kaiden sighed.

“I mean… what if her mother dropped her there? What if whoever she is… is connected to whatever power T.L has?”

Merson rubbed his jaw thoughtfully.

“Yeah… maybe.”

He nodded slowly.

“Her parents aren’t registered anywhere in Heroes Academy records either. So it’s worth trying.”

Kaiden locked the phone.

“When we get back, we’ll run every single name through the technical department.”

Silence returned afterward.

The sound of the engines filled the vehicle.

Outside, the city lights blurred past the windows.

But Schizzel remained staring outside quietly.

Still worried.

Still thinking about T.L.

About where she could possibly be.

Finally, she whispered softly—

“She wasn’t there…”

Merson’s expression softened slightly.

“No matter what,” he said firmly, “we’ll find her.”

Schizzel looked at him for a moment.

Then slowly…

She nodded.

Satisfied.

But deep down—

The fear still remained.