The sun was setting and Lucy and Agatha had been sitting in the coffee shop for most of the day. Across the street was the Bruegel Building, which held the offices to the prestigious law firm that handled all of the Scarlet Council’s legal affairs and the offices for Babble Industries.

Of all the Council candidates in a rush to prove themselves, Miles was at the very top. He had been waiting so long to reach the position he was destined for—and if there was one thing he hated more than everything, it was waiting.

When Ashton finished his first day at Babble Industries, he and Marcus grabbed a bite at a nearby restaurant. During dinner, his mind was distracted, still reflecting on how much Brandy Nebula looked like Mercy, not at all concerned about the supposed “group exercise” he would be participating in upon his return to the Chapter Nine compound.

Tyler frowned at his phone after realizing Ashton had hung up on him. He had no idea that his former BFF was currently undergoing his initiation to join the Scarlet Council—this was the first time they had spoken since parting ways. All he knew was that Leon’s death suggested that anyone who came into contact with the Council’s seal was a target, which meant they were sitting ducks.

In the morning, Ashton woke up with his mind still on Ada, their interaction from the night before putting him in a foul mood he couldn’t shake. To his relief, his roommate wasn’t pressing him further on the details of his temporary love affair, and a hundred rounds of push-ups and sit-ups before breakfast helped him channel the bad energy into something positive and refreshing.

Tyler wasn’t the only one who felt like he never left Little Salem. Morgan’s encounter in the woods remained just as traumatic and life-changing as a brush with the Mysterious Ones. A visit to the woods had granted Ada unbelievable powers and helped secure the Ghost Bros a shot at celebrity. But for Morgan, there was nothing to be gained other than years of self-loathing and mental anguish.

The crowd was on their feet, showering Ada with applause. Even Marcus was clapping and laughing gregariously—but his smile faded as he caught sight of Ashton glowering at the slinky songstress leaving the stage.

Ashton zipped his black duffle and took one last look at his apartment. The place was almost completely bare; he’d already thrown out or given away everything that couldn’t fit into a single suitcase and dropped off his orange tabby to live temporarily with his mom. At this point in his life, he wanted to disconnect from his former living space and all the painful memories associated with it—especially the ones involving his girlfriend, Mercy, who disappeared while she was cat-sitting over spring break.

Tyler stared anxiously at the TV, the noisy bar surrounding him almost deafening. Everything he’d been up to since graduation had been leading to this: the night when the first trailer would air for Ghost Bros: the TV series.

Under a silver moon, Nancy Truegood stared despondently at the empty storefront. The interior was cloaked in gloomy darkness, and a “For Lease” sign was hanging in the front window.