Iris was running.

Run, run, run. That was all she ever did.

Away from her over-imposing parents, the stupid "elite" athletic group of Eclipse City named the Wonderbolts who always teased her (not that she idolized them), that girl with the purple hair - Tina Hawk, her name was? - who was her (very enthusiastic) fangirl.

Running was her escape. When she ran, she could take all her problems and shove them into her legs, to run and run and run. That was why she had set the record for the track team; it was her secret technique. She had come to the field the first time her parents had had an argument - a really, really big one. She ran so fast, people swore that they could see a rainbow-colored streak behind her, an aftereffect of her hair.

Iris was sure it was an illusion, but sometimes she couldn't help but wonder . . .

She ran faster. A small crowd had gathered now, witnessing Eclipse High's latest legend, not that there was any shortage of them.

Faster, faster, faster, faster.

Your father is a dick!

Faster.

Your mother is a bitch!

Faster.

Hey, Crash! You think you'll get into the Wonderbolts? Nah. That spot's mine!

Faster.

Yo, Dash, why'd you drop outta the Griffin Gang?

Dunno. Maybe I'll rejoin.

Faster.

Uneasy murmuring broke out amongst the crowd. That was when Iris noticed the mach cone.

Of course, that had had to be when her phone. Slowing, Iris came to a stop by the benches and chugged down all the water she could before checking her texts. She'd come to dread texts - or any type of notification, really. This one was no different. It was from Jackie.

Girls, there's been a development. Meet me @ the horse statue outside school.

On my way.

I'll be there!

I'll be there 2

Me 2

Iris sprinted to the showers and took the quickest one she could. Wrestling on her 20% Cooler shirt - her favorite one, she felt she would need it - she ran to the statue.

The mascot was legendary. A lot of questionable things had happened around the statue, and every year, graduating seniors graffitied it with farewell messages. It was possibly the only mascot in the history of ever that was fully condoned by the students.

"So, what did you want to talk about?" she asked Jackie, who was sitting on the statue. She jumped down and faced Iris with a serious expression.

"I'll talk about it when everyone else gets here."

Fidgeting, Iris fell silent as she waited impatiently for everyone else to get here.

"So, what did you call us for?" Mina asked cheerfully, rolling back and forth on the balls of her toes.

"I don't know if y'all alread know this," Jackie said reluctantly, "but Mayor King's been kidnapped."

Everyone gasped. "Well, that's certainly not good. My mother tells me stories about how Eclipse City used to be before Mayor King took office, and it certainly doesn't sound good," Sophia said worriedly. "Our last mayor was a madman! He liked to be called Discord!"

"This is bad," Iris admitted, "but how does this relate to us again?"

Jackie narrowed her eyes. "When Ah talked to Mel 'bout the whole thing, she turned and ran away - and Ah'm talking full-out sprint here, guys. She wouldn't stop grabbing her bacelet, too."

Angelina gasped. "You think that Melissa has something to do with the kidnapping?"

Jackie shrugged helplessly. "Ah can't confirm anything, but mah whole life Ah've been able ta tell right away when someone's lying. Mah instincts have always been spot-on, and when Ah talked to Mel, all the alarm bells in mah head went off."

"Do you think we should do something?" Iris spoke up. "I dunno about you girls, but I'm not gonna sit by while someone I know may have kidnapped my mayor!"

Iris trusted Jackie. They may just be acquaintences, but Jackie'd always stood up for her whenever she got pushed around for being so short or any other aspect of her that seemed to fall short in other's eyes.

"I'm hesitant to get too involved," Sophia said, "but I certainly think we should do something about Mel, at least."

Everyone agreed, and everyone huddled around Jackie's phone as she texted Mel.

Hey, Mel. Can u meet us @ the horse statue?

Why?

Pls?

Fine

A few minutes later, Mel came out of a SUV and jogged up to the statue. "What's up?" she asked.

"Mel . . ." Jackie hesitated. "Do ya have anythin' ta do with Mayor King'd kidnapping?"

Mel choked on air. "I-I need to go," she said, turning around.

Jackie grabbed her shoulder with an iron grip. "Mel," she said seriously, "you seem nice enough, but if you have anything to do with her kidnapping, I-no, we need to know about it."

We.

Iris felt a surge of warmth in her chest, but ignored it. This was not the time to get mushy. She kept her eyes trained on Mel. "Surround her."

Hesitantly, the girls circled Mel, closing off all chance of escape. Mel swallowed. "I can't!"

"Do you have anything to do with Mayor King's kidnapping?" Jackie asked, deadly calm. She stared Mel straight in the eye. Iris knew from experience that no one could lie to those eyes.

"Y-yes," Mel stuttered.

Jackie took out her phone and began to dial a number.

"WAIT!" Mel cried desperately. "I'll tell you everything - just don't call the police."

The six of them sat down on the stone steps leading to the front doors of the school. "Spill," Mina ordered.

Mel took a deep breath. "When I was young - like, five or six - Aunt Celeste pulled me aside for a private talk, and she gave me this charm bracelet." She held the silver thing up to the light, and everyone leaned in for a closer look. "She said that it would help me in my time of need, and I would have to find the charms in case she ever went missing. She knew this would happen. And, ever since she went missing . . . it's been burning against my finger."

Mina carefully touched the tip of her finger to the chain and yelped. "HOT!"

Mel nodded. "She also said something about the others . . . and that I should tell only them," she confessed. "And ever since I've met you guys, I felt this warm feeling - like, like a spark, and whenever I'm with you the bracelet gets hotter. She said . . . she said, 'my most educated analysis, with all means of science and technology in mind, is that it's magic.'"

Everyone was at a loss for words, but not Iris. She didn't have great grades, she may not have the best life, but when it really came down to it, she knew what to do. It came from her heart, which isn't something many people follow, especially in a high school, especially in a school like Eclipse, where they redifined the word 'competitive'."

"Well? Let's find those charms!"

Author's Note

And here we have another chapter! Sorry for the break, but I recently had a whole plethora of tests, and life was messing with me.

Next chap, the metaphorical 'trek through the Everfree' begins . . .