Four Empty Seats
“Elena, get into this bus right this instant,” Professor Ryan growled from the back of his throat, voice low and fraying with irritation.
Elena sprinted toward one of the dorm buildings, ponytail bouncing, then spun around without slowing.
“I’m coming, Prof! I’ll be right there, I just need to grab this!”
She disappeared inside.
Ryan pinched the bridge of his nose. “No, no, no.... I really don’t need this right now,” he muttered under his breath.
A few students snickered. Scarlett, standing a few spots ahead in the line, hid a smile behind her hand.
Ryan turned to the rest of them, expression flat.
“Okay, the rest of you, get into your seats. Sit at your numbered seat. Do not exchange seats. Sit exactly where your ID card number matches the chair number. I’m looking at you especially, Norman Brooks.”
Norman, lounging at the back of the line with his arms crossed, smirked.
“Yeah, yeah, but what does it really matter? It’s just a seat.”
Ryan’s glare sharpened.
“It’s not just a seat, and you’re seated at number three…” He paused, glanced at the seating chart on his tablet, then groaned. “No. Next to me.”
The entire line burst out laughing.
Norman’s smirk turned into a full grin. He sauntered forward, slung an arm around the tall professor’s shoulders like they were old friends.
“See? We’re bonding already, Prof.”
Ryan shoved him off with zero gentleness.
“Get on the bus, Brooks. Before I assign you to luggage duty.”
More laughter. Norman saluted lazily and jogged up the steps.
Ryan exhaled through his nose. “All of you, inside. Now.”
They filed in, single line, checking ID cards against seat numbers like it was a military operation. Scarlett kept her head down, heart still unsteady from the week that refused to fade. The Purge was supposed to be “over,” but the bruises on her wrists and the nightmares weren’t listening.
Lily turned from the seat ahead of her, glancing back at Scarlett and Milo.
“Wow,” she whispered. “I still can’t believe we got Blackthorn Ridge.”
Milo, right behind Scarlett, leaned over the seat. “Right? But too bad Emma’s in Silvermist Falls. Though the bus is mostly filled with Omegas, so she’ll be fine. Well… better than Obsidian hollow. Almost all Alphas.”
He shuddered dramatically.
Lily and Scarlett both laughed.
They reached their row.
Lily and Milo slid into the middle seats. Scarlett kept walking toward the back, eyes scanning numbers.
The very last row was five seats wide, pressed against the rear wall of the bus. She found her number, seat 47—on the far right, window side.
She sighed.
Only her seat was occupied in the row.
The other four placards sat empty.
Lily called over her shoulder. “Damn. Only you get the whole back row to yourself. We’re complete up here.”
Scarlett dropped into the seat, backpack at her feet.
“But… these other four have numbers too,” she said, confused.
Milo twisted around. “Yeah, the school always does that. Leaves buffers in case of last-minute changes or… whatever. But we’re full. Look…”
Elena burst onto the bus right then, breathless, clutching a small duffel.
“Sorry, sorry!”
She scanned her ID, spotted the empty seat next to Milo, and slid in with a grin.
“Saved you a spot,” Milo teased.
Elena elbowed him. “You’re lucky I like you.”
Scarlett managed a small smile and leaned her head against the cool window glass.
Alone again.
The row felt too big and exposed.
She watched everyone else settle in, talking, laughing, sharing snacks, leaning on partners. Lily and her partner Grace were already whispering about something. Elena pulled out earbuds and offered one to Milo.
Scarlett stared at the empty seats beside her.
Half an hour dragged by.
People started shifting, murmuring.
Norman called from the front. “Professor Ryan! Who are we waiting for? We’re complete. The other buses already left.”
Ryan glanced at his watch, frowning.
Before he could answer, the unmistakable thump-thump-thump of rotor blades filled the air.
Everyone rushed to the windows.
A black helicopter descended onto the open field beside the parking area, kicking up dust and grass. The side door slid open.
Three tall, unmistakable figures stepped out.
Rhys first, golden eyes scanning the area, like he was scanning for threat.
Kane next, grinning wide, shirt half-unbuttoned.
Saint last, his ice-blue eyes landing on the bus immediately.
Scarlett’s stomach dropped.
Whispers exploded around her.
“Oh my God, I thought they were expelled or something.”
“Are they seriously going with us?”
“They’re getting on this bus?”
The helicopter lifted off again, rotors fading into the distance.
Scarlett’s gaze drifted to the four empty seats beside her.
And then movement outside.
A fourth figure stepped from the shadow of the helicopter landing zone.
Sunglasses. Backpack slung over one shoulder. Dark hair ruffled by the dying wind.
Kaiden.
He adjusted his shades, looked straight at the bus and Scarlett’s breath caught.
She looked back at the four empty seats.
The placards.
The numbers.
Her number on the right.
The other four… still blank.
She muttered under her breath, voice barely audible over the rising chatter.
“You’ve gotta be kidding me.”
The bus door hissed open.
And the Triumvirate started walking toward it.
Kaiden right behind them.