Cloud Dream Mountain was home to a collection of villa estates so exclusive that even Leo Bailey, the wealthiest man in the city, couldn't secure a property here. It was a silent testament to the status of those who resided within—people who stood at the apex of the social and power pyramids.
As the Mercedes van wound its way up the mountain, halfway to the summit, the driver suddenly slammed on the brakes.
Screech!
The heavy vehicle shuddered to a halt. Inertia threw everyone forward, but the plush leather seats cushioned the impact.
"What's wrong?" Yvonne Hood asked, steadying herself.
"Roadblock," Shadow Ford—the woman in leather driving the van—replied curtly.
Through the windshield, they saw a massive pine tree trunk lying across the asphalt, completely blocking the road. It had
