Episode: Kaitlins Front Page

I should’ve known something was off the second I got that tip. Anonymous source, late night, barely enough light to see my own notepad… but I went anyway. Because that’s what I do, right? Chase the lead, get the truth.

The place was worse than I expected. Rusted metal walls, old oil drums stacked in corners like they hadn’t been touched in years. I kept telling myself to turn back — but my feet wouldn’t listen.

Then I heard them. Metal footsteps behind me, then a low mechanical growl. Before I could even shout, they were on me — Cobrot and a couple of Skugs. One had me by the arm, another grabbed my camera and smashed it to the ground. My heart sank; all that evidence, gone in a second.

They dragged me deeper inside, where Metalbot was waiting. Cold, hulking, no hint of mercy in that mask. I struggled, twisted, tried to kick free, but the Skugs were too strong. My wrists slammed against cold steel, and suddenly I was strapped to a barrel — explosives, wired and ready. My pulse thundered in my ears. For a second, I thought about Ryan and J.B., and whether they’d even know where to look.

Funny thing is… even tied up with a bomb ticking under me, part of me was still thinking like a reporter: “Who set this up? Who benefits?” Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned: monsters don’t just appear out of nowhere. Someone always points them at you.

And now, all I could do was hope my friends would get here before that countdown reached zero… and that this wouldn’t be my last front page.