Shattered Bastions

Dylan's life was coming to an end.

As the sun streamed in through the classroom window, the June heat was barely held at bay by the school's aging air conditioning, which gave the building a distinctive wet, cloying, weirdly sweet scent that everyone at Miskatonic High had long since gotten used to. The feeling in the room was anticipatory, almost nervous, but mostly relieved.

Classes were over, the last tests were finished, college admissions had been filed and accepted, and now the only reason anyone was even present was that they, legally, had to be here a certain number of days before they graduated, today being the very last one. Even the teachers weren't taking it seriously, Mrs. Whately sitting at her desk, reading a book, while the rest of them just killed time, his Honors BioChem class now just another Study Hall.

Grabbing his own book from his bag, to have something to do, it didn't really help, as his eyes just slid off the page, his own nerves seemingly turning the words into an incomprehensible mess of symbols. He put it away with a sigh, running his fingers through, as his girlfriend called them, his 'chestnut locks', looking around. He didn't really have any friends in this class, though he was friend-ly with a lot of the kids in his grade, not that they were kids anymore, but friends and friendly weren't the same thing at all. The closest thing he had to the former would be Robbie, who he was on the football team with, but that guy was taking a nap, a folder on his head to block out light, and Dylan wasn't gonna disturb him.

Which just left him to be idly philosophical.

… I think… therefore I'm bored.

Technically not wrong, but not terribly helpful.

Looking around again, everyone talking to their friends, or doing their own thing, one of his classmates, Malik, was looking at his own book and frowning, so lacking anything to do, Dylan walked over, asking, "What's up, Mal?"

"Huh?" the black guy questioned, "Oh, hey Dyl…" there was an awkward pause between them at that, before Malik winced, "Yeah, that doesn't work. Um, hi, Dylan. Uh, does… this look weird to you?"

Showing the book to him, Dylan looked at what turned out to be a comic book, or 'Manga' as he distantly remembering the other guy insisting it be called. No one else was really into that stuff, something that'd made the guy a bit of an outcast, even among the nerds, but the pages seemed… strange. There were pictures, some blonde girl saying something while shooting beams at a monster, but, as he tried to read what was said, the words… weren't, causing him to blink, even as the image seemed to shift, in a way that what he remembered seeing happening was what was happening, but he could've sworn the girl hadn't had dark hair a moment ago.

"Weird, right?" Malik questioned, seemingly excited, even as, a headache starting to form, Dylan shook his head.

"Yeah, guess I didn't get enough sleep last night," he responded absently. "Nerves. You too?"

"Huh?" the other guy replied, before chuckling, "Oh, yeah, I, uh, might've pulled an all-nighter finishing up HuntressXHuntress! Wanna hear about it?" he grinned, before hesitating, "Unless, uh, it's fine if you don't care."

More out of looking for anything to do than any real interest, Dylan sighed, grabbing a chair, before motioning Malik to continue, prompting him, "Lay it on me."

Only half listening to the guy talk, it was kind of interesting, though, "Wait, so the entire world is a lake?"

The other boy nodded, "Nah, just the world on the map. The actual world's, like, waaaay bigger than it seems, but you don't find that out until chapter three-hundred and twenty-eight!"

"If it takes that long to find out," Dylan argued, "how come it never came up before? Do people not know? How?"

Malik shrugged, "There's a lot going on, and, I guess, if you're worried about what's going on next to you, you don't worry about what's happening further away. Unless you have to, like a super-powered termite shows up or something. Anyways-"

Before he could continue, the bell rang, ending class, and over the loudspeakers came the announcement, "This is Principal West. Would all seniors please kindly report to the gymnasium for the leaving assembly. I repeat, seniors, would you kindly all report to the gymnasium."

"Already?" the other boy questioned, though to Dylan it couldn't've come soon enough. Not as a dig at the other boy, but he'd been here for twelve years, metaphorically speaking, and couldn't wait to leave. Turning to Robbie, the guy was already out the door, and so, shaking his head, Dylan grabbed his backpack and followed the others down the winding halls of the school, having to cross most of it to get to his destination, the AC working overtime there as the smell intensified.

Technically, the graduation ceremony wouldn't be for another couple weeks, where they'd get their diplomas, shake hands with Mr. West in front of their parents, all that stuff, but they'd been told this was a 'personal sendoff', and was mandatory. He didn't really see the point, but, hey, it gave him something to do, so he wasn't going to complain. Stepping inside, however, the setup wasn't the normal rows of chairs, like they had in the auditorium, which they weren't using because the drama club still had the set up from the last play they did, from what he'd heard, but something… else.

The folding seats were instead set up in circles of thirteen, each around a large metal crate, one that was wide, and so tall that whoever was sitting behind it would have trouble seeing the stage, except maybe the podium that'd been put up at the back of the space, the basketball hoop lifted up and out of the way.

"Hey, Dylan!" a familiar voice called, and, smiling, he turned, as Annabeth was waiting for him. His girlfriend practically pranced up to him, grabbing his arm and starting to drag him off towards a group of her friends, except as she did so the last two seats in that circle were taken. "Oh, damn it."

Not super upset at not having to spend the entire time sitting around the cheerleaders hinting at things he didn't get, and spotting his friends, mostly from their football team, Dylan moved to take her that way, as there were two chairs free, except Robbie grabbed one of them, spotting Dylan and giving him a mocking salute, the jerk. Glancing around, the spots in the circles were filling up fast, and while he was friendly with a good bit of the school, there was 'remember their name and nod to them in the hall' friendly, and there was 'hang out during an assembly' friendly, and while he felt like he was probably the second one with a lot of them, he knew Annabeth wasn't.

"Please, everyone," the Principal stated, up on the stage, their teachers all standing behind him, even Mrs. Whately who he could've sworn had a class of freshmen right now, "take your seats."

Looking around again, Malik gave him a friendly wave, and that circle was only half-full, so, sure, why not. Pulling his girlfriend with him, he didn't exactly miss the look of distaste on her face, which he knew wasn't a race thing for her, it was probably a social status thing, which he didn't care about, but he knew she did, and while she'd probably complain later, they'd be fine for now. Either way, he made sure to be the one sitting next to the nerdy guy, preemptively telling him, "Hey, let's focus on the assembly, we can talk later," to stop any other issues.

Though, given he'd probably never see the boy again, that was kind of a lie.

Eh, there were going to be 'rehearsals' for the ceremony, so he'd find the guy then, if only for a few minutes.

Thankfully, Malik nodded, while Anna sat on his other side, the girl nodding to Ivy, who Dylan had Physics with, his girlfriend having a sour look on her face, and he realized it might not've been the nerd she didn't like.

Sure enough, way meaner than she'd ever been with him, the Asian girl remarking acidly, "Didn't expect you here, Beth."

"Didn't have a choice," his girlfriend responded with equal hostility. "Think you can keep from trying to sleep with my boyfriend for an hour?"

Ivy flicked the blonde off, while Dylan was left confused, Ivy never having even flirted with him, and he'd never cheat on Anna anyways. Malik glancing between the two girls, while Sophie, on his other side, looked uncomfortable, and the last girl, who he didn't know, physically leaned away from the pair. Then there was Logan, who'd put the box between himself and the stage, almost like he was hiding, who didn't really react, and just looked high, but that guy always looked high.

"Hey Anna," another voice said, as Kyle took a seat on the other side of the blonde, smiling at her, who Dylan knew from Football, not any shared classes. The big, dark-haired boy wanted to be quarterback, the shot caller, but like Dylan he was an End, who'd either tackle or catch as needed when they played. "How you doin'?"

"Could be better," Dylan's girlfriend responded, glancing to Ivy. "What do you think."

The other girl scoffed, "I have taste," which didn't make a ton of sense, and, looking to Kyle, the other guy was confused too, but, meeting his eye, Kyle sent Dylan an annoyed look, the two of them never having gotten along for some reason.

The rest of the chairs were filled. Kristen, who Dylan remembered from some of his honors classes, before she'd started taking advanced placement ones, next to Kyle, along with Bart, sorry, Bartholomew, who was the same. Scott, who lived on the same street as Dylan, and Val, who'd been in a couple of his more physical electives, were next, with Samantha taking the last seat, though, from how she was glaring at a different group, she'd rather be with the other theater kids, that circle full as well.

Quiet whispering, the kind that always happened in assemblies, filled the hall, the fact that they were holding it here instead of in the auditorium just making it that much louder, as sound bounced off the basketball court and the folded up bleachers. Looking at the crate between them all, it was made up of pentagonal metal tiles, without any rivets or fasteners, the edges irregular. Curious, he leaned forward and putting a cautious hand on it, the dark blue metal strangely warm to the touch.

"Good," Mr. West stated, making Dylan jump, the doors into the space closing with a slam, everyone going quiet, as the teachers all stood behind the Principal in a row, expressions nearly identical as they watched on, seemingly calmly disinterested. It was as Dylan turned to look at the stage that he realized he had to turn to look at it, the seats around each box facing it, instead of the stage that'd been set up. He wasn't the only one to realize that, from the sound of scraping chairs as most people shifted themselves to face the Principal, rather than have to look over their shoulders, or, for the person in front, completely behind themselves to do so, Dylan picking up his own seat and shifting it along with the others, the folding chair heavier than it looked.

"I'm glad you're all here," the man stated, once things quieted back down, the administrator about as average looking as it was possible for a man to be. Not tall, or short, skinny, or fat, and from what the girls said, he wasn't good or bad looking either. Mr. West was the very definition of 'Mid', but when he talked, people listened, and anyone who got sent to the Principal's Office usually didn't need to go a second time. "I'm sure it's felt like not long enough, and far too long, but you've all done well here, in this institution of learning, and now it is time for all of you to leave these hallowed halls, time for you to enter the wider world."

It was all the same sort of thing they'd heard before, as the man continued talking about their time here, their accomplishments, just vague aspirational statements that did nothing to hold anyone's interest. While Dylan wanted to say something, either to Malik or Anna, a feeling at the back of his neck stopped him, everyone else also unusually quiet too.

"And, while not all of you will survive, we have done what we can."

Wait, What?

Suddenly focused, Dylan looked towards Mr. West, who continued, unabated, "I'm sure your travels will take you far and wide, but the lessons you've learned here will help you greatly wherever you go. The path forward will not be paved, will likely lack signage, and may need to be forged entirely, but what you are girded with is not just facts and formulas, but methodologies and mindsets that, if you can adapt, will carry you far. For those of you who cannot, I only hope it is swift."

"The heck?" Sam questioned. "What's 'swift'?"

Others had started to whisper, though the sounds were oddly muted, the Principal continuing without pause, heard clearly, "You are unformed, one and all, having not found your place in this world, but you will need to, as all must, for it is only in finding one's role that one can truly find oneself, though, as I hope you will understand, while one can be defined by such a thing, to be truly great one must step beyond one's [Job]."

The last word resonated outwards, making Dylan flinch, and he wasn't the only one, as it seemed to ripple through the air with physical force.

It was only in that ensuing silence that he realized there was another noise, a faint, subtle whine, like that of the old televisions the school used when they first turned on, though, unlike that sound, which quickly faded away the second you noticed it, this one kept going.

"The greater world is a chaotic place," the man stated, and Dylan, looking around, had the oddest feeling like the gym was getting darker, even though he knew these lights didn't dim at all, "and I'm sure you may wish to return to the safety, the security, of the halcyon days you spent in my establishment, but one must strive forward, into the known unknown, the unknown known, and everything in between, with one's shoulders back, one's head held high, and one's phalanges straight."

"What?" Val questioned, beside him, her voice not a whisper, yet still seemingly muffled.

"Fingers," Kristen clarified absently, though she sounded just as uneasy as he felt. "Specifically, finger bones."

The room continued to darken, only, at the same time it didn't, everything as bright as it was before, but there were shadows in the corners of the room now that didn't seem to make sense. To his side, Malik nudged him, and, looking at the other boy, Dylan followed his pointed finger to the frosted windows, high up to avoid stray balls, which were now pitch black.

"You may believe yourselves without purpose, but nothing could be further from the truth," the man on stage informed them all, seemingly unconcerned by the strangeness, smiling in the fatherly way he usually did when he walked the halls. "What purposes you may find for yourself are, indeed, up to you, but the very act of finding purpose, of taking the world as it is, and seeing what it could be, is, in of itself, a glorious purpose, and one that will now be entrusted unto you all, as it has countless graduates before."

The faint whine had gotten stronger, the shadows at the corners of the room seeming to subtly twist, and, while Dylan glanced at the others, everyone was now uneasy, but it was Logan's horrified whisper that caught his attention.

"Why don't they have faces?"

"What?" Sophie asked, voicing his thought, and, wondering what bad trip the stoner was on, while also wondering if it was contagious, Dylan glanced at the skinny boy, then followed his gaze up at Mr. West-

No, at the teachers behind him, who, trying to look at them, Dylan's eyes slid off, knowing what they looked like, remembering, a quick glance telling him they were who they were, but as soon as he tried to look at them, he… couldn't.

Meanwhile, Mr. West continued, unabated, "There will be times you will feel small underneath the weight of the world, feel as if it will crush you with its uncaring, unthinking, unending vastness, and in those times remember that you are small, for now, but you are young. Seeds, from which great things may grow." The whine was now a drone, that should've filled the space, but, at the same time, the auditorium seemed smothered in silence, except for their Principal's slow, ceaseless speech. "From a small sapling a mighty oak may grow, or a vast banyan, or even something far more unique, though what you all will grow into, should you be able to, will be a flora entirely of your own making. For your future will be what you make of it, whether you want it to be or not."

The shadows at the edge of the room suddenly flowed outwards, Anna giving out a shriek as she grabbed tightly onto his arm, not that he blamed her, other screams and shouts ringing out, but only the ones from their group sounded close, sounded loud, sounded real. However, the shadows didn't sweep over them, like a dark tide, but broke before they did so, splashing to the side. In an instant it flowed throughout the room, diverted into a hundred inky rivers, each circle of chairs becoming an island of light in the ever-darkening gymnasium.

His eye caught by the next circle over, Dylan watched as Kim, the girl he sat next to in his Literature class, tried to run, into the shadows, only to bounce off the air and be sent sprawling back, hitting her chair as she did so in a way that looked painful.

"You may be tempted to let the tide of fate carry you, but that is the one thing you must not do," The Principal stated, with calm grandiosity, as if nothing had happened, even as more people panicked, Jon, Dylan's best friend, now pounding on thin air at the edge of his circle. Beside him Tom, one of their linebackers, grabbed a chair and slammed it as hard as he could into that invisible barrier, four circles away, only to be thrown backwards, not a scratch on the metal and fabric seat. "You are not animals," Mr. West stated firmly, "following your instincts, but bear the shape of man, and carry within you that spark of greatness that no beast doth possess. You hath been granted the gift of choice, great and terrible, and to sacrifice that is akin to a living death, one from which you will never recover."

"What's going on!?" Bart demanded.

"You think I know!?" Ivy shot back.

Dylan could hear other arguments, the shadows between each circle now so thick they were solid black, yet, at the same time, glimmers of color seemed to flicker within them. However, he stared, transfixed, at Mr. West, who seemed to shimmer, the lines of the pinstripe suit he wore almost writhing, and, from behind the podium, long streaks of darkness extended out to the rest of the staff, who still stood… probably, Dylan unable to focus on them at all now.

"I have safeguarded you all until the hour came for you to step forward, not merely to guard your own fragile flames of life, but to be bastions of strength for others," the Principal stated, voice becoming oddly fluid. "While, one day, you may have the capability to stand alone, that day is not today, so stand together, younglings, for until you have found your true fate, you will have need of each other, or else be consumed separately."

The yelling, the crying, all sounds faded, at once, as if the world was muted except for that single, overriding, near-deafening drone. As one, everyone present all turned to watch the speaker, unable to stop themselves, Mr. West now a teeming mass of tentacles that looked fondly upon them with a thousand eyes, and smiled wistfully from twice as many mouths.

"The Day Is Long, And Full Of Terrors. I Have Given You What I Can. Goodnight, Goodbye, And Good Luck."

With those final words, the shadows shattered, impossible colors streaming out, as each circle fell into the churning rainbow abyss, and the Light took them all.





AN: And thus begins a new original story! As always, the next four chapters can be found on Patreon and Subscribestar. I look forward to your feedback as I write this, with the caveat that, when this is published, Book 1 will be stubbed (everything past chapter 3 removed) to comply with publishing requirements.

Dylan came to with a groan, still in his chair, a cool wind on his face helping him to wake up, the smell of greenery thick in the air, along with just a hint of metallic ozone, like from a lightning strike, even though it didn't feel humid at all.

"Anyone got the number of the truck," Scott groaned, from a bit away, as Dylan blinked, rubbing his eyes, finding them oddly crusty. Beside him, Anna yawned, as he sat up straight in his chair, back feeling a little sore, thoughts sluggish, wanting a coffee or something, before his brain finally came online, and-

"Where the fuck are we!?"

It wasn't him, that was Kyle, but, as Dylan looked around, he agreed.

Because they were in a forest.

Deep in a forest.

Deep in a very dark forest.

He could see everyone else clearly, and their chairs, like the lights were on, but only for them as the grass around them was faint, and the trees were barely there, huge and towering over them, tops only visible as they screened the overcast sky, the clouds thick but faintly glowing from the moon somewhere behind them.

In the distance an owl hooted, though something about the noise seemed… off, like there was a subtle hiss to it that put his teeth on edge, prompting him to stand. Taking in his surroundings a bit more closely, slipping his phone out of his pocket and hitting the flashlight app, others followed his lead.

It was only as he turned, and his sneakers squeaked on the court floor, that he realized what he was standing on wasn't grass.

Looking down, it was the polished wood of the gym floor, with the basketball court lines and everything, though, as he followed them, and they hit the edge of the circle, the ground suddenly became grass, bits of it seemingly cut sharply so none of it hung over the floor. Taking a cautious step to the side, he waved a hand where the barrier had been, but now there was nothing but air, and taking a step onto the soft grass he turned and saw several others doing the same.

"The hell?" Ivy muttered, the girl having squatted down next to a sapling. No, as she shone her phone's light on it, it wasn't a sapling, it was a root, and a bit of tree that, like the grass, seemed to have been sliced cleanly to make way for them.

"I'm not getting any service!" Anna stated, holding her phone up high.

The girl he didn't know frowned, stating softly, "We're in a forest. Why did you think you would?"

"Shut up, Amelia," his girlfriend snapped. "It could!"

"Hey, guys, let's be nice," Dylan stated, holding up a forestalling hand. "None of us know what's going on, it might've worked," he nodded to Anna, who smiled back, "and we're all a little weirded out."

Malik, looking around, offered, "This is kind of like one of my Isekeis!"

"Your what?" Dylan questioned.

"Uh, my Anime," the black guy stated. "Only, normally you're hit by a truck first. Oh, and usually you also get a cheat item, and, like, maybe a girl to help."

Kristen scoffed, "That's the only way you're getting a girl, that's for sure."

"Not helping," Dylan stressed, still trying to keep an eye out.

"Who died and put you in charge?" the nerdy girl demanded.

"Hey, don't talk to him that way!" Anna shot back, stepping between him and Kristen.

Kyle cut the other girl off before she could continue, "Not now. Let's… figure out where we are. Amy, you like plants. Can you…" he waved towards the trees.

On the spot, the girl's eyes widened, "Uh, I like to garden. Not, uh…" she trailed off, before shrugging, and walked over to one, using her phone to get a better look at it.

"Hey," Logan called, looking at Malik. "You said they'd get something?"

"Yeah," the other guy nodded. "Like a helmet that turns you invisible, or a sword that wins every fight, or a cloak that lets you fly, or something! But, we didn't get one of those."

The stoner slowly nodded, before pointing at the box in the center of the circle. "Ya mean like that?"

That got everyone's attention, as they all turned towards the large crate, at least ten feet long and wide, almost half that high, and, really looking at it, there seemed to be a faint light coming from it, from the seams of the tiles that made its roughly cubical form.

"Is it supposed to be glowing?" Sophie questioned.

Val shrugged, walking up to it. "Does it have a latch or some-" she started to ask, putting a hand on top of it, the box breaking, falling apart in a wave of metal tiles, the girl leaping back out of the way, while they bounced harmlessly off Logan's legs, revealing racks of all sorts of things that swung out on their own, unfolding automatically, barely missing the stoner as they did so.

It was full of what Dylan could only call 'gear'. There were sets of clothing, armor, and robes. There were even medieval weapons, from swords to maces to bows. But there were also thin rods that seemed to shimmer, as well as a couple racks of glass vials full of glowing liquid, labelled with different symbols.

And, in the center, were thirteen backpacks, arranged in a circle, hanging off a metal post topped with a crystal that was the source of the light, shining in a way that you could practically see the rays coming off of it, but, at the same time, it cast no shadows.

"That works," Sam shrugged, walking up to the racks of clothing, picking up one of the robes, and nodding as she ran her hand over it. "Not into cosplay, but this isn't half-bad."

Ivy walked up next to her, grabbing a leather top, examining the stitching. "More than not bad, this is hand-made. And the materials… But, why is it here?"

"For us, duh," Bart scoffed, looking over the vials. "It's all from our school. See, even has its crest."

And, stepping forward, turning off the flashlight on his phone and grabbing a shield, the omnipresent lighting making it easy to see, on the front of it was Miskatonic High's symbol.

Slipping the shield onto his arm, though, it didn't really feel right, and he put it back, as the others made their way over. Kristen leaned down and grabbed one of the tiles that were scattered at their feet, and, flipping it over, showed it to Kyle, Dylan glancing over to see the inside had been inscribed with the symbol as well. Grabbing one for himself he saw they all had the same symbol, the pentagons lighter than they looked, he noticed the metal of the weapons were all made of the same blue-tinted material.

Ivy shook her head. "No, I get that, dumbass. I mean why is it here?"

"For us," Malik offered, grabbing a sword, unsheathing it, and waving it a bit and frowning, as, next to him, Val grabbed a stick with a spiked ball on a chain. Trying to swing it, though, she almost hit herself and glanced around. Seeing Dylan seeing her, the tanned girl cringed, and put it back, grabbing what looked like a baseball bat with a hammer on the end, which, since he was pretty sure she was on the softball team, was probably a better choice for her. Meanwhile, the black guy perked up, grabbing a long, curved sword. "Huh," he said, unsheathing it, their school's symbol stamped on the bluish metal, "it's not a katana, but this works!"

Annoyed now, the Asian girl sneered, "Freaking weeb. No, I mean-"

Tschrak!

Everyone froze, as the grove momentarily brightened, and turned to Sam, who was staring at the end of the metal rod she was holding, a bright yellow crystal at the end, which was sparking, after having thrown a lightning bolt.

Suddenly realizing everyone was staring, she looked panicked, stating, "I meant to do that!" as she turned around, waving the wand at them, as they all ducked, Dylan grabbing Anna and pulling her down with him.

"Don't point that at us!" Kristen yelled.

"Sorry!" Sam yelped, pointing it straight up. "But, like, what? Is it a taser or something?"

Bartholomew, who'd taken cover behind the clothing racks, argued, "What, are you stupid? Electricity needs a thousand volts per inch of arc length, and that was over a dozen feet! That's enough to kill someone!"

"But," the theater girl stated slowly. "It didn't arc. It kinda just… went."

"Also, Bart," Kristen corrected, "It's not the volts that kill, it's the amps. Are you stupid?"

For a moment, the boy glared at her, before he glanced away, muttering, "Well it still is enough to hurt. And it's Bartholomew."

"Whatever, Bart," the nerdy girl dismissed, turning back to Sam. "How'd you do that?"

"I, um," the other girl responded, reddening, "I waved it, and pretended it was a magic wand. And… it was?"

Pulling her hand back, everyone flinched, before she froze, then turned her back to them, and waved it again, only for nothing to happen.

"No, it worked," Samantha muttered, centering herself before murmuring something under her breath as-

Tschrak!

Another mini bolt of lightning sprung from the end of the wand, shooting forward, before petering out into the air.

"That's…" Bartholomew stated, at a loss, "That's not how electricity works."

Sending the boy a smug look, Sam waved the wand again.

Tschrak!

And then she staggered, suddenly breathing hard, having broken out into a cold sweat out of nowhere.

Everyone else just stared, so Dylan moved forward, asking, "Sam, are you okay?"

"Y-Yeah," she answered, getting her breathing under control. "Just… just tired. That… what?"

"Ran out of mana," Malik nodded sagely. As everyone turned to look at him, he added, "Well, it's magic."

"Magic isn't real," Kristen scoffed.

The black boy blinked, then gestured to the glowing crystal in the center of their gear, then where the circle of gym floor seemed merged with the ground, then at Sam.

"Holy shit magic's real," Kristen declared.

Walking over to the remaining wands, a green, a blue, and a red one still on the rack, Bartholomew grabbed the last one, and looked at it skeptically, turning and waving it away from everyone else.

Nothing happened.

"What did you say?" he demanded of Sam.

"What?" the girl responded, getting her breathing under control.

"When you cast, what did you say?" he pressed.

She hesitated, before smoothing her shirt, declaring, "I don't know what you're talking about."

Amy, on her other side, offered, "She said 'Bippity Boppity Boo'."

"No, I didn't!" the theater girl fumed with a stamp of her foot and a glare at the redhead who'd sold her out, before wilting. "Yes, I did."

"I'm not saying that," Bartholomew replied flatly.

Kristen, meanwhile, rolled her eyes, and grabbed the blue wand, taunting, "What's wrong, scared of a few words? Fine, then let me. 'Bippity Boppity Boo!'" she sang out.

And nothing happened.

Bartholomew gave a crowing laugh, as Kristen turned a sour look Sam's way.

"You have to pretend you're going to do magic," the theater girl explained. "And then… you do?"

With a sigh, the nerd girl once again tried to cast with a "I swear. 'Bippity Boppity Boo'."

KRSSSH!

A hand size spike of ice formed from the rod's glowing blue tip, and flew off, before burying itself into a nearby tree with a heavy thunk, leaving the girl staring at the wand in disbelief. "I… did magic."

FWOOM!

A fireball flew out, before hitting a tree, detonating with an explosion that scorched it, tearing bark off, but thankfully not setting it on fire.

"Said I wouldn't say it," Bartholomew announced smugly, a few embers dropping from his own wand.

For a moment, it looked like Kristen was going to cast at him, before she turned away, and, show over, everyone else turned to look back at the gear laid out before them, Logan having grabbed one of the backpacks and, having unpacked it, surrounding by all sorts of things, was now reaching into it up to the shoulder, despite the bag not nearly being that deep.

Noticing people staring, he shrugged, "Magic stuff is magic."

"I'm dreaming," Sophie stated, with a nervous laugh, not having moved from her chair. "I have to be."

"If you are, the rest of us are too," Logan offered, pulling out a cylinder, which, pressing a button, created a small deep red flame. "Sweet, a lighter. Oh, if ya are, Soph, could you dream up some weed? I left mine in my locker and, uh, I don't think I'm getting it back."

That got some scattered laughs from the others, though the girl didn't seem to find it that funny, Ivy clearing her throat loudly, dragging everyone's attention back to her. "Anyways! If we've got armor, and weapons, and, and magic wands, and those are probably potions," she stated, pointing to the glowing glass vials, "doesn't that worry anyone!?"

"Why would it worry anyone?" Kyle questioned, getting a cross look from the girl.

However… "I think what she's saying," Dylan put forward, "is that if… whatever brought us here gave us all this, it's 'cause we might need it."

"Yes!" the Asian girl shouted. "At least one of you isn't an absolute moron!"

"Excuse me," Kristen snapped. "Who's the one who took all Advanced Placement classes? Because it wasn't you!"

"Says little Ms. 'Magic isn't real'," Ivy sneered. "Oi, Nerd boy."

"What?" Bartholomew responded.

But Ivy shook her head, "No, the one that actually has ideas," Giving Malik a significant look.

"Uh… me?" the boy in questioned replied, pointing an unsure finger at himself, even as Bartholomew sent her an offended look.

"No, the other one," she told him mockingly. "Potions, we got a baker's dozen of each, what do they do?"

Malik blinked, before moving over to them, picking up the red one. "Uh, well, not sure, but red is usually health potions, and it's got the first aid symbol too, which, actually, the red cross sued video game makers over because-"

"Don't care," she interrupted. "The blue one?"

"…Mana?" he shrugged. "It's got a lightning bolt on it, though that could also mean it might give you speed, or electrical resistance, or maybe it gives you electrical attacks, or-"

"Give it to lightning girl," Ivy ordered.

Sam looked over, "What? No. I'm not drinking that. What if it, like, electrocutes me or something?"

"Eh, I'll try anything once," Logan offered instead, walking over and taking the vial from Malik, looking it over, and removing the stopper. "Bottoms up," he offered tossing it back, before stiffening, twitchy slightly.

"You okay?" Dylan asked, even as Anna turned on Ivy, arguing, "Look what you did!"

The Stoner replied before the Asian girl did, yelling, "WOOO! That's a rush! Like if you concentrated down a half dozen energy drinks!" He looked back to Dylan, moving fast, eyes jerking a little. "Don't do that, by the way. Doesn't work. You don't get twenty hour energy, just pain."

"Fine," Sam admitted, walking over, and drinking one too, going stiff herself, eyes widening, as she twitched a little. "Oh. Oh. Okay, I feel better!"

Ivy folded her arms, giving a very 'I told you' look to everyone else, while Dylan nodded. "Okay," he sighed, taking in everything, "so they give back whatever the, uh, the wands take. Everyone with one should take two. And, I guess we should all grab weapons and stuff? Oh and a backpack."

"HOW ARE YOU ALL SO CALM!?"

Everyone turned to Scott, who had backed away from the others, and was staring at them like they were crazy.

"I'm… not?" Dylan responded honestly. "Kinda freaked out, really. But, like, focus on the now?"

But, if anything, that seemed to make the guy's panic worse. "Now? Now!? We're lost in the woods! That was magic! Our principal turned into tentacles!" he shouted, looking around. "And, what, are, are we gonna fight each other or something?"

Everyone else was confused by that, though it was Kyle that spoke for all of them when he responded, "What."

"I've seen The Starving Trials! I know how this works!" Scott declared. "Thirteen of us! Weapons in the middle! We're gonna be forced to fight to survive! Well, well you won't get me!"

"Pretty sure the books didn't have magic," Sam corrected.

Val shrugged, "I only watched the movies."

Dylan grabbed an axe, and held it out to the guy by the head. "We're not going to do that, dude. Here, take this if it makes you feel better."

However, that just made things worse, as Scott declared, "I'm onto your games!" before taking off and running into the forest.

"… Don't remember him being that touchy," Kyle commented into the ensuing silence.

"Are we just going to let him go?" Amy questioned concernedly.

Ivy rolled her eyes, "Yeah, let's run into the strange forest after the guy who thinks we're going to kill him. I'm sure that'll go well."

"Could you try not being a bitch?" Anna questioned scornfully.

"Why, you aren't," the Asian girl shot back.

"Guys," Dylan stated, stepping over and gently grabbing his girlfriend's shoulder, putting himself between them. "Or, girls, I guess. In a forest. Weapons and stuff. Focus on that? Maybe everyone should grab one, and a, er, health potion?"

Annabeth turned to him, "Don't' tell me you're-"

In the distance, faint, but distinct, sounded a howl, like a wolf's, but deeper.

"Having a great idea," she nodded, everyone quickly moving over to the weapons, and grabbing some.

Kyle picked a longsword, one big enough he could swing it with both hands, while Logan grabbed a spear, looking at the flared bits behind the pointy end that swept forward as he chuckled, "It's like a pokey plane on a stick!"

Amy grabbed the shield Dylan had put away, Ivy grabbing a pair of short swords on a belt, sliding it on, before grabbing a bow and slinging the bag of arrows over her back. Meanwhile Annabeth picked up a mace, giving it a few swings, muttering to herself, "Kinda like a baton, I guess?"

Looking at the axe in his hands, it wasn't really what he would've chosen, but it'd be okay for chopping up firewood, at least. As the others moved to the potions, Dylan looked at the leftover weapons, seeing a bunch of daggers. Calling out to Sam, Bartholomew, and Kristen, he tossed them to the three wand-ers. As the nerdy guy moved to throw it back Dylan called out, "Using your stuff tires you out, right? You should have something else!"

That caused the other guy to pause, before nodding, awkwardly trying to fit the sheath in his pocket, Sam just putting hers in between her boobs, which at least would make it easy to draw?

However, as he was poking through the leftover weapons, Dylan found a box, which, taking it out, and opening the top, a revolver sat inside, made of the same blue metal as everything else. Picking it up, he turned it over. Remembering the gun safety course from PE, he checked it, and it was unloaded, but looking in the box, there weren't any bullets, nor was there any extra box of ammo around either.

"Mine!" A voice next to him called, and Kyle grabbed it out of his hands.

"Dude, the hell?" Dylan called back, the others turning.

With a smug grin, the other football player declared, "Finders keepers!"

"And I found it," Dylan shot back.

"Possession is nine-tenths of the law!" Kyle smirked. "Or are you gonna try and take it back?"

"What are you doing?" Anna demanded, coming up to the pair of them,

Turning to her, the guy smiled, "Taking what I want."

"You want an unloaded gun?" Dylan questioned.

"What?" Kyle frowned, checking the weapon. "Where's the ammo?"

Sighing, Dylan gestured to the mostly empty weapon rack, only a couple things still left hanging up. "There isn't any."

"Like I'd believe that," the other guy stated, shoving Dylan aside. "Lemme see."

Dylan gave his girlfriend a disbelieving look. She rolled her eyes and held out a red potion for him, as well as a green one that had an arrow going to the right on it.

"Ugh, take it," Kyle spat from behind him, throwing the gun at Dylan, who caught it, the other guy stomping over to the armor. Dylan walked back over to the weapons, looking over bits and pieces in a bin at the bottom, finding a holster for the gun hidden among all sorts of belts and sheathes. He threaded his own belt through it, so the empty revolver could sit on his hip.

In the distance, there was another howl, which was joined by several more, causing everyone to freeze.

Then there was a scream.

A distinctive scream.

Which was cut short.

"That," Sophie stated, breaking the sudden silence. "Was that Scott?"

"That was Scott," Bartholomew stated, most of the girls turning glares his way. "What? Everyone was thinking it!"

Dylan took a deep breath, as he found his heart had started racing, only now noticing it, "I think we need-"

Tschrak!

The lash of lighting whipped out, cutting him off, but it was the low, animalistic squeal of pain that dragged his attention, something large retreating through the underbrush, the momentary flash of the lightning only showing dark, furred, with gleaming claws and deep yellow eyes.

"W-Wolf," Sam stuttered, staring, where whatever it was had retreated. "Big wolf."

No one moved, so Dylan forced himself to, looking around. "We need armor. Now. And move the chairs, and the tiles, so we can make a barrier, and not slip on them. Ranged people on the inside, and, uh, Logan, since you can poke stuff over the racks. Other than that, get some stuff on, and circle up."

"You're not in charge," Kyle scoffed.

"Now's not the time, Kyle!" Anna snapped, and he winced, before nodding, heading over to the clothing racks, while she turned to Dylan. "I'll, uh, grab the last wand."

"And blue potions," he nodded, a little relieved that she'd be behind him, where he could protect her, even if it was a little sexist.

Everyone rushed, almost frantic, but they remembered what they'd learned in Life Skills, that Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast. Grabbing what they could, Ivy took off her shirt to grab the long-sleeved leather top she'd picked up before, sending an acid look at Malik and snapping, "Eyes off!" The boy having frozen, staring at her bra.

"Sorry!" he yelped, grabbing a shirt made of a bunch of thin metal plates, tossing off his hoody, and putting it on.

FWOOM!

Another fireball shot out, another yelp, as a dark shape that'd tried to come out from the trees fled, Bartholomew looking a little panicked, one arm in a robe, wand extended, taking a deep breath before putting the rest over his head.

In seconds, everyone had something, and while some stuff looked like it might be good, like the armored pants, ain't nobody had time for that, as, circling up, glancing around, a dozen pair of deep yellow slits, lacking any kind of pupil, stared at them from the treeline, far too high to be dogs.

Something round was tossed out towards them, bouncing and rolling, before it stopped, and Dylan felt his gut clench.

Because, almost unrecognizable, Scott's dead, sightless eyes stared back at him.

"Oh," Malik whispered from his right, Val to his left, and Anna behind him. "We're in trouble."





AN: They, indeed, are! As always, the next four chapters can be found on Patreon and Subscribestar. Once again, I look forward to your feedback as I write this, with the caveat that, when this is published, Book 1 will be stubbed (everything past chapter 3 removed) to comply with publishing requirements.