The morning air carried the crisp scent of autumn as Jessica adjusted the strap of her backpack, grateful to be back in her regular clothes after a week of recovery. The science fair incident that had nearly turned Moon Valley into a robotic battleground still haunted her dreams, but today marked her return to normalcy—or whatever passed for normal when you were secretly a werewolf trying to maintain a typical teenage life.

  She paused at the edge of the school grounds, taking a moment to appreciate the familiar scene. Students milled about the parking lot, their conversations a comforting backdrop of ordinary high school drama. For once, none of it involved malfunctioning robots or secret supernatural strengths, and Jessica allowed herself a small smile of relief.

  "Jessica! Wait up!"

  The familiar voice made her turn. Kevin was racing toward her, his backpack bouncing wildly against his back, glasses slightly askew as always. Something in his expression—a mixture of excitement and concern—made Jessica's werewolf senses tingle with alarm.

  "You're not going to believe this," Kevin said, breathless as he skidded to a stop beside her. He fumbled with his phone, his fingers trembling slightly as he pulled up a video. "Henry's back at it again."

  Jessica's stomach dropped. "Back at what, exactly?" she asked, though she already suspected the answer.

  Kevin turned his phone screen toward her, and Jessica's fears were confirmed. There, performing an impossibly perfect aerial flip in Henry's backyard, was an all-too-familiar silver humanoid figure. Trampolina—or rather, a version of her—executed a flawless landing, her metallic frame catching the sunlight as she transitioned smoothly into a series of cartwheels.

  "Is that...?" Jessica couldn't finish the sentence, memories of destruction and chaos flooding back.

  "Trampolina 2.0," Kevin confirmed, his tone a mixture of awe and apprehension. "Henry uploaded this video last night. Apparently, his uncle sent him another model."

  Jessica stared at the screen, watching the robot perform with inhuman precision. This new version looked sleeker, her movements more fluid than the jerky, aggressive motions of the original. Instead of the menacing red glow, her eyes shone with a calm blue light. Despite these improvements, Jessica couldn't shake the unease crawling beneath her skin.

  "How could he bring her back after everything that happened?" Jessica whispered, taking the phone from Kevin to inspect the video closely.

  In the footage, Henry appeared at the edge of the frame, his face alight with pride as he explained the new safety features. "Trampolina 2.0 has completely redesigned security protocols," his voice announced confidently. "Only I can access her programming, and I've installed multiple fail-safes. She's perfectly safe, I promise."

  "Because his promises worked out so well last time," Jessica muttered, returning the phone to Kevin. The memory of battling the first Trampolina—of nearly revealing her werewolf nature to save her classmates—was still raw. "Does he not remember the destruction? The injuries?"

  Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

  Kevin shrugged, pocketing his phone. "He claims his uncle sent this replacement model specifically designed to be tamper-proof. Apparently, the first one had security vulnerabilities that Tiffany and Mark exploited." He adjusted his glasses, looking uncomfortable. "Henry seems convinced this one is different."

  "They always think the sequel will be better," Jessica said dryly, resuming her walk toward the school entrance. "But history suggests otherwise."

  As they approached the main doors, Jessica noticed the subtle changes around campus. Maintenance crews were still repairing damage from the first Trampolina's rampage. A section of the gymnasium wall had been patched but not yet repainted, standing out like a scar against the school's facade. Near the science wing, a display case that had been shattered remained empty, its replacement glass on back order.

  "I can't believe the school board is even allowing this," Jessica said, nodding toward a poster announcing the rescheduled science showcase. "After what happened last time, you'd think they'd ban robots entirely."

  "Principal Matthew classified it as an 'unfortunate technical malfunction,'" Kevin explained, complete with air quotes. "And since Tiffany and Mark confessed to tampering with the original design, Henry was absolved of responsibility."

  Jessica sighed, pushing open the door to the main hallway. The fluorescent lights hummed overhead, casting everything in a slightly too-bright glow that made her sensitive eyes ache. "Technical malfunction or not, bringing back Trampolina seems like tempting fate."

  They paused at Jessica's locker, where she spun the combination with practiced ease. The normal routine felt reassuring after a week spent recovering—both physically and mentally—from the ordeal.

  "So what do we do?" Kevin asked, leaning against the adjacent locker. "Henry's already showcasing her abilities online. It's only a matter of time before he brings her to school."

  Jessica grabbed her history textbook, considering their options. Her werewolf instincts urged caution—perhaps even intervention—but the rational part of her brain reminded her they had no concrete reason to suspect this new model would malfunction. Not yet, anyway.

  "We watch," she decided finally, closing her locker with a decisive click. "We keep an eye on Henry and his new toy. If Trampolina 2.0 shows any signs of going rogue..."

  "You'll wolf out and save the day again?" Kevin whispered, glancing around to ensure no one was eavesdropping.

  Jessica shot him a warning look. "I'll handle it," she said firmly. "But let's hope it doesn't come to that. I've had enough excitement for one semester."

  The first warning bell rang, sending students scurrying toward their classrooms. As Jessica and Kevin joined the flow of traffic, she couldn't shake the feeling that their return to normalcy would be short-lived. Moon Valley had a way of attracting trouble, and Jessica's supernatural secret meant she would always be on the front lines when that trouble arrived.

  "Promise me something," she whispered as they prepared to part ways for first period. "If you notice anything strange about Trampolina 2.0—anything at all—you'll tell me immediately."

  Kevin nodded solemnly. "Promise. We learned our lesson last time."

  As Jessica slipped into her seat in English class, she tried to focus on the discussion of Macbeth rather than the potential robot threat looming on the horizon. For now, at least, she could pretend to be a normal teenager with normal concerns—grades, friendships, and the upcoming fall dance.

  But beneath that facade, her werewolf senses remained on high alert. Trampolina 2.0 might seem harmless in Henry's backyard demonstrations, but Jessica knew better than most how quickly things could change. The battle with the first Trampolina had endangered everyone she cared about.

  This time, she would be ready. This time, there would be no surprises.

  As Ms. Elliott launched into a lecture about tragic flaws, Jessica allowed herself a small, determined smile. Let Henry have his new robot. Let him believe in its safety features and improved programming. Jessica would continue what she had always done—protecting Moon Valley from threats, both human and mechanical, all while maintaining her carefully constructed normal life.

  After all, being a teenage werewolf cheerleader had taught her one valuable lesson: expect the unexpected, and always be prepared to fight for those you care about—even if they never know the truth about who, or what, is protecting them.