A teenage girl, probably no more than 15, crashes into my side, making me spill my orange juice. I can smell alcohol on her breath when she bursts out laughing.

  “What’re you looking at? It wasn’t my fault!” She says in an annoying, high-pitched voice.

  I want to hit her, but, instead, I just clutch my orange juice bottle a little tighter.

  It seems like she wants to say more, she lingers, assessing me with an angry stare, her eyes tell me she’s looking for trouble. Something stirs inside me, I feel the power push against my shoulder blades.

  Thankfully, her friend grabs her arm, asking her to leave and she finally staggers away with her equally drunk friends.

  We are at Baia’s concert. She’s one of the most famous pop stars of the planet right now, she suddenly got famous three years ago, rising to stardom at lightning speed with her single “Lick Me.”

  The stadium is slowly filling up. They are playing Baia’s hit songs through the speakers to keep the crowd entertained before the show. Any minute now, she will come out on stage.

  The situation isn’t ideal, people are already getting drunk at high speed. Something is off. I don’t know if it’s the music or just the overall dark energy in the venue.

  You might ask, why are we even here…

  Well, Father Ilarion, the white-haired Atlantean I saw at the headquarters and also in my dream, tipped Father Seraphim off that there is going to be a Reptilian activity at Baia’s concert - a possible terrorist attack, to stir up trouble and cause a disruption in society, because, apparently, that’s what Reptilians always do. Since they feed on our negative emotions, they don’t want us to advance spiritually, they prefer us in our dumb and feeble state.

  On the way to the concert, Beso told me more stories about Reptilians that made my skin crawl.

  We are basically in the middle of an active war and don’t even know it.

  Beso, the self-proclaimed “mission leader” and “the voice of reason” in our little group, is chugging his fifth beer. Yes, I counted. He sways dangerously from side to side, laughing hysterically at some redhead’s jokes, whom he met five minutes ago and is already dancing with her, more like, grinding onto her from behind.

  I shake my head and sigh.

  At first I thought that he was undercover, just acting drunk to get some intel. But no, he is really drunk and is dancing with some unknown girl instead of thinking about the mission.

  In the library he preached about living like a monk, prohibiting me from pursuing romantic relationships since it stands in the way of ranking up but he, himself, is acting completely opposite of that. I don’t know what to think.

  What’s more, Manuchar is missing, he disappeared from my sight at one point and never reappeared.

  The only person who is getting any work done here is Beso’s sister, Salome. She is trying to find a Reptilian antenna and disable it.

  They explained to me that Reptilians sometimes use these huge-ass, heavy antennas that they wheel around, blocking out the powers of gifted people, those who can see through the veil, in this case me.

  This means, if they have brought the antenna into the concert venue and are using it to block my vision, I won’t be able to spot an undercover Reptilian in the crowd. They might kill someone and we won’t be able to stop them.

  We need that antenna disabled ASAP.

  Father Seraphim has an alarming theory that they are going to shoot Baia right on stage, in front of everyone. She has such a huge fanbase and is such a distinctive figure in pop culture that it would cause an uproar, which means more negative energy released by humans for the Reptilians to feed upon.

  Well, this is what Beso told me, but at this moment he doesn’t seem too reliable.

  I look at him again and nearly choke on air, he and the redhead are passionately making out, Beso’s hand is inching dangerously close to her butt.

  I rub my face in frustration.

  Chastity, my ass. Beso is the biggest hypocrite in the universe.

  Suddenly the lights dim and the big screens turn on. Giant Baia is peering down on us, mere mortals, with her famous seductive smile. It is a little promo clip for her tour.

  “I guess she is coming out soon.” I say to myself, since Beso isn’t listening.

  Even Manuchar, who is completely ignorant of modern pop culture, has heard of Baia. We talked about her a bit before he disappeared from the face of the Earth. He said he didn’t like her music much, but she still has that star quality that draws people to her.

  I agree with him.

  Where the hell is he, anyway?! It would be nice to hang out with him, I don’t like being alone in this weird crowd. In the library I did wish for him to back away a bit, because his constant closeness was making me nervous, but this is too much.

  I get on tiptoes and scan the venue again, there’s some tall guy in front of me that kind of resembles him, but he doesn’t have curly hair.

  I sigh and return to my seat.

  Well, at least Salome is getting the job done… I think.

  Has she even found the antenna, or is she just aimlessly walking around?

  Well, one thing is certain, the antenna is still working, because I still can’t see any Reptilians in the crowd. My seer ability is blocked and my head is starting to hurt. I guess my sight is clashing with the antenna's power and I get a splitting headache and a blurry vision as a result.

  Amazing…

  Beso comes back from the bar clutching his sixth beer. He’s annoyingly cheerful, not realizing that half of his team has disappeared.

  The redheaded girl whispers something in his ear and walks off. Beso looks around, his eyes land on me and he finally remembers why we are here.

  He rushes over to me with a big smile.

  I hate the alcohol smell on him. I crunch up my nose and scoot farther, but he doesn’t get the hint. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and exhales his beer breath into my face.

  “Nia, kiddo! The moment my sister disables the antenna, we swoop in and stop the villains with these baddies!” He opens his coat again, showing the white spheres, “the Revelation Bombs” as he refers to them.

  “You still haven’t explained to me how they work, Beso.” I try to get myself free from his heavy arm but he, again, doesn’t get the hint.

  “It’s not rocket science. You just throw the Revelation Bombs at the reptilian and it will disable their camouflage for a looong time. All humans will see them for who they really are!”

  “Do we need that? I thought we were operating in secret.”

  “Yes, we are, that’s why, when you reveal their identity, they will flee without showing their face to anyone. We destroy the part of their energy field where the camouflage is applied, so they won’t be able to get a new one for a long time. These bombs are the invention of the genius Father Konstantine! He made them in the 19th century! Amazing dude!”

  “I see.” I guess I sound disappointed because Beso immediately protests.

  “Well, what else are we supposed to do? We are not allowed to kill them!”

  “Whatever,” I mumble to myself.

  Suddenly Baia screams into the mic. I jump from fright.

  “What’s up my babies?!”

  The crowd roars. I immediately cover my ears.

  Baia waltzes onto the stage in underwear, her asscheeks hanging out, her curly, blonde hair bouncing with every step she takes.

  She blows kisses to the fans, says a small greeting and starts the first song.

  Her live singing isn’t top notch, but her songs are catchy and she definitely knows how to work the audience.

  I am not enjoying it one bit though. My vision starts to blur again, followed by a new wave of headache.

  “Let me lick you, lick you, lick you baby

  No luck, no luck, no luck won't fail me…”

  What are these stupid lyrics?

  “You good? The party has just started!” Beso shouts at me. I want to step on his foot.

  “Aren’t we on a mission here?!” I yell back.

  “Shh, someone might hear you. We are blending in, Nia, acting as if we’re normal.”

  “... But the beer is real.” I point at his drink.

  “Method acting!” He says with a smile. “Relaaaax, I have it under control. Until Salome finds the antenna which is blocking our powers, there’s nothing we can do, anyway! She’s the best at these kinds of things, so we might as well enjoy the concert! What else can we do?”

  “What powers do you have exactly, remind me?” I ask him. He doesn’t hear me. The crowd roars again - Baia has switched her outfit mid-performance.

  Beso claps like a seal, smiling from ear to ear.

  I’ll definitely report his drunk ass to Father Seraphim later, after/if we finally finish the stupid mission.

  Baia screams into the mic again and my headache intensifies. The sound is coming in a distorted way, scraping my brain.

  Something’s off. I try to focus on Baia, but her silhouette glitches a little, as if it’s blurred. Wait, is it part of the show?!

  On the big screens, she’s still her beautiful self, smiling at the vast crowd. But when I look at her real form, she looks odd.

  I shift my gaze to the screens and then to the real Baia again. Wait… I squint harder. She has a greenish-grey skin, elongated skull and a creepy face.

  Definitely not human. Baia is a Reptilian! Salome probably disabled the antenna and I can see her real face!

  I dart my eyes around. No one seems bothered by their favorite singer’s total transformation from a beauty to a deformed lizard.

  They’re all living a lie! No, scratch that, WE’RE living a lie. Just because I saw her true face this one time, doesn’t mean I’m still not duped on a daily basis by the media I consume.

  I immediately turn to Beso to share the crazy news.

  “Baia is a Reptilian! I saw her true face!”

  Beso hiccups like a cartoon character who’s had too much to drink, his smile slowly morphing into a frown.

  “Do you understand what I’m saying?! Baia is a Reptilian!”

  “I need to sit down a little, I don’t feel so good,” he backs up and slides down, sitting on the steps.

  “I said, Baia is a Reptilian, idiot!”

  He shakes his head. Her singing is still affecting him and everyone else around us.

  “Fuck this…” I clench and unclench my fists, “have you seen Manuchar?” I shout at him, trying to make myself be heard over the loud music.

  “Good question. No.” He mumbles with his head hung low.

  “Where could he be?”

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  Beso doesn’t answer.

  “I’m leaving!”

  I turn my back on him and move towards the exit.

  Why isn’t Salome returning? What if she’s been caught? I need to take the matters into my own hands or the mission is going to fail.

  Great, I’ve just been accepted to the order and already have to fight Reptilians.

  I am making my way to the end of our row, when my foot catches on something, nearly making me fall. I look back, not believing my eyes, Manuchar is slumped on the floor, his long legs half-blocking the way. His face is in his hands. He seems to be unwell, eerily similar to the state I left Beso in.

  “I simply can’t believe you got drunk on our first mission!” I bend down and pinch his shoulder.

  He opens his eyes and looks up at me.

  “Nia? Is that you? I’m not drunk! I’m sick!” He closes his eyes again and sways from side to side.

  “Something evil is brewing here. I feel nauseous. The music is making it worse. The more she sings the worse I feel. It must be the voice amplifier, or maybe the antenna. Why hasn’t Salome disabled it yet?”

  “It’s Baia, she’s a Reptilian!” I hiss in his ear.

  He shakes his head.

  “Wha… what?!”

  I grab his arms and pull him up, he doesn’t budge. I try again, this time he manages to get up halfway.

  “I can’t, I feel too nauseous.” He groans and sinks back down to the floor. People are crowding him from both sides and he nearly gets stomped on by a heavy man who’s carrying his little daughter on his shoulders.

  I grab him and try to lift him up again.

  I can’t.

  “Manuchar, in case you forgot, this is my first day on the job, FIRST!”

  “And you’re doing great. Keep going.” He mutters, his eyes still closed.

  “What I mean is, I need someone who knows what they’re doing. Some kind of an adult! Beso is drunk out of his mind! We need help, where’s Father Seraphim?!”

  Finally, he opens his eyes again.

  “Okay, let’s go. Help me up, please.” I pull him up and this time he stays upright, leaning on my shoulder for support. My knees buckle under his weight.

  “So Father Seraphim is still not back from the Torch Mountain? Wait, Baia is a Reptilian? Ahh, I’m so dizzy…” He finally starts to move. We slowly make our way to the exit. “Did you also say Beso is drunk? That prick...”

  “Yes, he is! I can’t believe this is happening, I thought you guys knew what you were doing!”

  I somehow get him to the exit. As soon as the door to the venue swings shut and the music gets quieter, Manuchar’s eyes fly open and he takes a deep, loud breath, as if he’s just emerged from the deep waters.

  “You good?”

  “I feel much better. That terrible music really fucked me up…”

  We are standing in a huge, deserted hall, illuminated with cold, white light. He leans on the wall and closes his eyes.

  The door to the concert venue bangs open again and two boys walk out. One of them, a short, blonde boy, is massaging his temples.

  “She’s hot but something is off about her voice. It’s so… painful to listen to.” Says the boy.

  “I need to lay down. Hope you remember where you parked the car.” The other boy says, putting on his coat.

  I turn my head and observe the two until they disappear around the corner.

  “These stupid Reptilians… Did you know that half of the music you hear is made by them? They’ve mastered frequencies and how it affects humans. A lot of famous songs are written and broadcasted in a way that lowers our Energolight, that’s why I don’t listen to them! Of course Baia is a Reptilian, how couldn’t I think of it sooner?”

  “Wait, didn’t Salome mention that Baia is embarking on a world tour? This is her first stop. Millions will attend her concerts!” I gasp.

  “And live-singing is way more powerful than listening to a recording. She must be a very powerful Reptilian if she can affect us so much. And people don’t even realize they’re being brainwashed.”

  “Damn. Father Ilarion was wrong! We don’t have to protect Baia, we have to protect FROM Baia.”

  “Well, thankfully, some people do realize.” He points to where the boys disappeared. “We need to call for backup. We can’t take down a powerful Reptilian on our own, she will have accomplices and a ton of security."

  I suddenly hear an inhuman hiss behind us. We turn around and are met with a glitching man. One second it’s a big man in his fifties, the other second a colossal Reptilian is standing in his place. He looks like an angry, grey gorilla in a fancy suit.

  Manuchar can’t see his true form, but can definitely feel his presence with his Sensitivity, because he grows pale and backs away a few steps, motioning for me to do the same.

  The Reptilian smirks and takes out a circular device out of a holster.

  “Nia, get down!!!” Manuchar grabs me and falls to the ground, bringing me with him.

  I hear something whistle past my ear and as if in slow motion, I see a lightning bolt strike the ground a little away from us. There’s a buzzing sound and the one meter radius area around the strike becomes an active electric field, visible, bright currents start whooshing around inside the circle, reminding me of slithering snakes.

  “Ouch!” I feel the energy travel to us, making my hair rise up. The tip of my shoe accidentally gets caught at the border of the electric circle, leaving an ugly burn on it, “oh no, my new Chelsea boots!” I whimper.

  I hear the electric weapon charge up again.

  “No time for boots! Come on!” Manuchar grabs my hand and takes off like a bullet, dragging me with him.

  I want to tell him that I can’t keep up but I can’t utter the words.

  Since my powers have opened up, I’ve become a little stronger, more athletic. I can feel the change in my muscles. I don’t get tired as much, I have more stamina, more drive. I feel lighter and happier in my body than ever before.

  But we are running so fast that even with my new-found strength, I am barely breathing.

  We get to the end of the corridor and run up the stairs. Manuchar is skipping two at a time, dragging me along like a rag doll.

  I hear the Reptilian man thundering behind us. His heavy footsteps are shaking the ground.

  But he’s not as fast as Manuchar.

  “Have you… uh… considered track running?” I choke out the words.

  “Funny that you ask, I actually did run track in high school.” He shouts back at me.

  “That makes so much sense.”

  We hit a dead end at an abandoned, dark corner of the corridor.

  “SHIT!” Manuchar looks around frantically.

  “Maybe we should hold our ground and fight?” I suggest.

  “Are you kidding me? He will electrocute us. That weapon is no joke, it obliterates everything around it.

  “So they’re trying to kill us?!”

  “All I know is that we will be seriously harmed if we’re hit with that.”

  “What are we supposed to do?!”

  We hear heavy footsteps. The Reptilian is gaining on us.

  “There! He can’t fit in that!” He points at a small window cut out into the wall.

  “Are you insane? We don’t know where it leads…” I protest.

  Manuchar picks me up and unceremoniously shoves me through the small window.

  “Don’t you dare, I will…” My sentence gets cut in the middle as I painfully land on my back in another corridor. Air explodes from my lungs and for a long moment I’m convinced that I’m dead.

  Then Manuchar lands dangerously close to my head and grabs my arm again. I cry out in pain.

  “Come on!” He slides me towards the stairs, wiping the floor with my body, not even bothering to lift me up.

  Well, in his defence, we’re in a hurry. The Reptilian’s ugly head might peek in the window any second now.

  “My favorite jacket… never mind.” I don’t even have energy left to protest. He has made me speechless.

  I make a mental note to start wearing cheaper clothes on dangerous missions from now on.

  Well, that is, if I survive this one…

  We finally get to the staircase at the end of the corridor and duck behind it.

  As we feared, the Reptilian man’s head appears into the window, scanning the area.

  Why is there a random window between two corridors, by the way? Who the hell designed this concert venue?

  Finally, what seems like a million years, the ugly head disappears and he walks away.

  We let out a sigh of relief.

  “I think you ripped my hand off…” I massage my poor right shoulder. It’s on fire.

  “I’m really sorry, Nia! I didn’t even realize what I was doing, I was focused on keeping us alive. God, that was crazy, but I think we finally lost him.” He leans against the stair railing, rubbing his forehead.

  I slump down to the floor and continue massaging my hand.

  “What are we supposed to do now? He will bring backup. Maybe we should have run towards the exit.” I ask him.

  “Well, he was blocking it. Give me your hand.” He suddenly steps toward me and crouches down at my eye level.

  “Uhh, what are you gonna do?”

  “Don’t worry, I won’t bite.”

  I wearily hold out my hand to him, he takes it and presses a kiss to it.

  I jerk my hand away.

  “Are you insane?! What the fuck was that? Never do that again!” I tell him, feeling my face heat up in embarrassment.

  “Sorry.” He doesn’t look sorry at all. He casually takes out the phone and calls Beso. I can hear the faraway beeps. I’m trying to calm my breathing and return to the world of living.

  What the hell was that?! Why would he do it?

  “He’s not picking up…” Manuchar sighs. “Wait, I have a message from Salome! She says she’s disabled the antenna but security found her lurking and kicked her out of the venue. She’s put on a wig now and is trying to get back inside. Beso isn’t answering her calls either. Hmm… Do you think Baia’s singing affected him? It nearly killed me.” Manuchar slides the phone back in his pocket and nervously runs fingers through his hair. “I wish we had the revelation bombs to take Baia and her gang down!”

  “Oh, that reminds me…” I open my backpack and show him what’s inside.

  There are two Revelation Bombs sitting there. Manuchar’s mouth falls open.

  “No way! How the hell?..”

  “Took it from Beso. He didn’t even notice. Don’t worry, he still has four left, in case he needs them.”

  Manuchar looks at me in awe.

  “Wow, you’re really amazing.” He takes one out, examining it closely. “Did you know, the recipe for making these bombs had been lost for half a century! Father Seraphim accidentally rediscovered it last year, while we were doing spring cleaning at the headquarters. Reptilians don’t even know what’s coming for them.”

  “But what’s the plan? We can’t just stroll on the stage and shoot the Revelation Bombs at her… Maybe we can ambush her in her dressing room when the concert is over?”

  “We don’t even know where her dressing room is…”

  “Well, we need to find it then. We can’t attack her in front of the huge crowd while their phones are recording everything.”

  “Okay, let’s find her dressing room and wait for her there… But help me find the toilet first, I need to splash cold water on my face.” Says Manuchar.

  We find a toilet at the end of the corridor. I follow him inside and lean onto the wall, observing Manuchar through the mirror.

  “This mission is a mess. Father Ilarion gave us wrong information.” He opens the tap and slaps cold water on his face.

  “Do you think he did it on purpose?” I ask him.

  “Why do you say that?”

  I shrug.

  “Well, he’s not human, is he? He’s Atlantean. Who knows what his agenda is?”

  “But they’re the ones who established our Order. They’re the ones helping us. Why would they betray us suddenly?”

  “No idea. They just seem suspicious to me, I don’t know why.”

  “You know, sometimes I also feel that…” Suddenly, someone aggressively shakes the door handle.

  We exchange worried looks. Manuchar puts his finger to his lips. I take out the Revelation Bomb from my bag.

  “Who’s there?! Two people aren’t allowed inside!” A woman’s clear voice rings out.

  “Oh, I think it’s the cleaning lady.” Says Manuchar.

  I unlock the door and, indeed, come face to face with a cleaning lady, a middle aged woman holding a blue mop. When her gaze moves from me to Manuchar, her eyes bulge out of her skull.

  “I knew it! How dare you make out in the toilets! What a disgusting new generation! Get out!” She shouts at us.

  Manuchar grows alarmingly pale.

  “We? Us?! We were NOT making out! How can you say that?! We were just…” He stammers out.

  “I don’t care what disgusting things you were doing in there! Two people aren’t allowed to enter at the same time!”

  “Oh my god, come on!” I grab Manuchar’s arm and drag him away.

  A giant wave of embarrassment hits me like a truck. Why did she have to say those things?!

  A palpable silence falls between us while we are walking in the empty corridor, our footsteps echo loudly against the linoleum floor.

  And then something crazy happens. We pass by a door with a huge star drawn on it. I stop and go back to look at it. It says “Dressing Room.”

  “Manuchar!.. Come here!”

  He comes back and we both stare at the door.

  “Do you reckon?..”

  “Let’s find out.”

  ____

  The lights turn on with a buzz. The dressing room is cluttered. A wide variety of chocolate boxes and flowers are piled up on the large, black table, several sad-looking balloons are scattered on the floor together with some confetti. I kick one away and grab the nearest chocolate box.

  “What are you doing?”

  “Waiting for Baia to finish her concert, duh… And I’m hungry, we haven’t eaten much since those pesto sandwiches in the morning.”

  Manuchar walks up to the table, grabs a pink box, peels the paper off the chocolate ball and bites into it.

  “Strawberry.” He tells me happily and stuffs his face with it, closing his eyes in pleasure.

  We hear the dressing room door bang shut behind us… the lock twists slowly.

  Startled, I drop the chocolate on the floor and turn around.

  Baia is standing by the door, her heavy makeup is chilling under the fluorescent light. Her wide smile looks fake and soulless. She has a tiny towel around her neck and a plastic water bottle in her hand. I realize the concert must be over and we’re just standing in her dressing room, eating her chocolate and being stupid instead of ambushing her.

  My eyes dart around the room, looking for my bag. It’s discarded in a faraway corner, the Revelation Bombs are inside…

  Shit.

  “Now, tell me, are you kids suicidal? Why would you willingly walk in here?” Baia’s laughter is chilling.

  Her face starts to slowly morph into a grey, big-eyed Reptilian. Her neck is covered in scales and her thin fingers end in sharp claws.

  I feel sick.

  “So the Order of the Crux is really here. I gave you guys too much credit, I thought you would never come here voluntarily.” She stares us up and down, her gaze stopping at the discarded chocolate on the ground.

  “Don’t tell me you ate my chocolate. You kids are just asking to be punished!” The female Reptilian elongates her neck and lets out a peculiar sound from her throat, somewhere between a bark and a whistle.

  The closet doors behind us swing open and two giant, navy blue colored wolves step out of it.

  “We’re fucked.” Says Manuchar.