Madie Beartri

Madie trudged through the bustling market plaza, her eyes scanning the rows of tables in search of a new pair of shoes. Her current ones were on their last legs, the soles worn thin and the seams threatening to give way with each step.

But finding a replacement pair proved to be more difficult than she had anticipated. None of the shoes she tried on seemed to fit quite right, and the ones that did were in even worse condition than her own.

With a frustrated sigh, Madie resigned herself to the fact that she would have to make do with her worn-out shoes for a little while longer. As she made her way through the crowd, she couldn’t help but overhear snippets of conversation about the Central Bobcats—the notorious gang of troublemakers who ruled the Central High School campus with an iron fist.

Her heart sank as she listened to tales of their latest exploits, their reign of terror spreading far beyond the confines of the school grounds. Madie had never been one to back down from a challenge, but the thought of crossing paths with the infamous Hulk sent a shiver down her spine.

“He’s so evil,” one voice whispered, sending a chill down Madie’s spine. “They say it’s because of his father, always beating on him whenever he lost a tournament.”

Madie frowned, her mind racing with questions. Was it true that the Hulk’s cruelty stemmed from a lifetime of abuse? Or was it simply a rumor spread by frightened townsfolk desperate to make sense of his reign of terror?

One thing was for certain—there was no denying the darkness that lurked within the Hulk’s heart. His actions spoke louder than any words, his enjoyment of others’ pain a chilling testament to his ruthless nature.

As Madie continued her search for shoes, a sense of unease settled over her. The Central Bobcats may have ruled the school with fear and intimidation, but Madie refused to let their reign go unchallenged. She may not have been afraid of much, but the Hulk was a force to be reckoned with—one that she wasn’t sure she was ready to face.

Tony, Matt, Jonas, and Madie huddled together behind the rusted remains of a forgotten playground, their voices hushed as they discussed their plan.

“We need to find a spot where we can pass messages without anyone noticing,” Tony said, his brow furrowed in concentration.

Jonas nodded in agreement. “Somewhere easily accessible but out of sight.”

Central High School Campus sprawled before them, a maze of crumbling buildings and overgrown pathways. It was a stark contrast to their familiar Bear Country High School.

“Definitely not as cozy as our old school,” Madie remarked, her eyes scanning the desolate landscape.

Tony chuckled. “No kidding. But we’ll make do.”

They set off, weaving their way through the deserted corridors of Central. Despite its size, they soon discovered that there were pockets of emptiness scattered throughout the campus, hidden from prying eyes.

“Looks like the guards stick to the main areas,” Matt observed, ducking behind a row of abandoned lockers.

Jonas nodded. “That works in our favor.”

After what felt like hours of exploration, they stumbled upon the perfect spot—a secluded courtyard tucked away behind the art building. It was overgrown with ivy and littered with fallen leaves, but it offered the privacy they desperately needed.

“This is it,” Tony declared, a triumphant grin spreading across his face.

Madie nodded in agreement. “It’s perfect.”

With their secret spot secured, they set to work devising a system for passing messages back and forth. They agreed on a series of signals and codes, ensuring that their communications would remain undetected by the watchful eyes of the guards.

As they finalized their plans, a sense of determination washed over them. Despite the challenges ahead, they knew that as long as they had each other, they could face anything Central High School threw their way.