When Evelyn called Tyler, he took all of one minute to freak out before ordering her to download a ‘track my device’ app onto her phone and to give it to Milo. Evelyn thought it was a stroke of genius. Evelyn downloaded it and handed it over to the mana fusor before jumping into her car and returning home for her laptop. They met up at Rafael’s house.

Mr. Anderson and Señora Florez were already there when Evelyn pulled into the driveway. It was comforting to have more people join. She walked inside to see them all gathered at the table as Rafael tried to link Tyler to a video call on his family’s desktop computer. She searched the room, but Milo was still there, pacing back and forth. Evelyn opened her own laptop and pulled up the device tracking website and waited. Trying to will Derek to teleport Milo to him. Maybe he was unconscious. Maybe he was somewhere extremely unsafe. Or by Pippa. Or…

Evelyn refused to go down that road.

Tyler’s face appeared on Rafael’s computer, tapping on his own laptop, his brows furrowed and the wrinkles in his forehead aging him ten years.

“I’m linking Neal to this call, too. He’s getting on as quickly as possible. Where’s Milo?” Tyler asked.

“Still here.” The mana fusor held up a hand and stepped closer to the screen.

Tyler squinted and waved, then spoke again. “Ezekiel, cast protection of evil and good on him. Keep it going for as long as he’s here.”

Ezekiel nodded, then touched Milo and closed his eyes, muttering a prayer.

“What else can we do?” Señora Florez asked.

Tyler shrugged, looking like it physically pained him to do that. “We wait. Wait for Derek to teleport Milo. Be ready to run after him the second he’s gone.” Tyler stopped tapping on the laptop and buried his head in his hands. Evelyn’s tears pricked her eyes as she instinctively looked at Nick. Nick stared at nothing, slumped on the couch, his back to Rafael’s computer.

A second window popped up on Rafael’s laptop screen, and Neal appeared, his hair a mess as he searched through some papers.

“Hello,” Neal said.

The questions started immediately.

“How do we know Derek’s okay?” Mr. Anderson asked.

“Has this happened before?” Rafael asked.

Hazel squeezed Rafael’s hand. “He’s not dead, right?”

“Can we track mythical creatures?” Señora Florez asked.

On the screen, Neal raised both hands. “Okay, okay, let’s all take a deep breath. Let me explain the best I can. Your friend isn’t dead. I’ve seen it before. If Derek was dead, his character would fade from existence.”

Everyone glanced at Milo to be certain he was there. Milo gave a halfhearted wave.

“Kidnapping isn’t nearly as dangerous as death, but by midnight tonight, people who have only seen Derek in passing will forget him. In a month, his family will forget him. And in six months you will forget him. I have already hired some trusted private investigators from Phoenix, and they are flying to Elmwood now. I am throwing every resource I can in this, and we will get him back. You have my word, and my checkbook. I’m confident we’ll get him back before he goes to school on Monday.”

Evelyn tried not to panic, but it got harder to stay calm. Her gaze kept bouncing between Neal and Milo, waiting for what she hoped would be Derek teleporting Milo to him.

“What can we do to keep us all safe from this happening again?” Mr. Anderson asked.

“Stay in pairs when you can. All of you,” Neal said.

Tyler leaned forward, talking loud. “Everyone download the tracking app! We’ve got to keep tabs on where everyone is, and we’ve got to check in with each other every night.”

“What about those of us who don’t have a cell phone?” Nick’s voice was quiet, but it carried, causing everyone to freeze in terror.

Tyler again covered his face in his hands. “God, I hate your father so much.”

“We can get you a cellphone to hide in your room,” Neal suggested.

Evelyn shook her head. “That won’t work.”

Tyler continued to rub his face as Neal’s eyebrows raised. “I’ll figure something out. For now, do what you can to permanently kill this succubus. I’ve been keeping in touch with the other groups, and the instant one of them has a strong enough sorcerer or wizard with the wish spell, I will send them your way to deal with Akshi.”

Mr. Anderson leaned over in order to be seen. “How are the others not already strong enough? Haven’t they been here for decades?”

“Decades, yes. But this is the first time that over two thousand creatures have entered earth. The ones who came here either came as a group or had the occasional monster come with them. They could not level up in their powers like you all have. We’re growing stronger together, and it unfortunately takes time.”

“How much longer until we get a wish spell?” Señora Florez asked.

“With the current rate of leveling everyone’s reporting to me…” Neal lifted up a page, scanning it. “Four more months.”

Mr. Anderson groaned. “We can’t have Akshi wandering around for four months.”

Neal seemed to crumble. “I know.” He covered his face. “This shouldn’t have happened.”

Mr. Anderson leaned against the table. “Why? Why is this time so different?”

“I don’t know.” Neal had his hands in his hair. “No children. It was the stipulation I felt in my bones would never happen. She wouldn’t allow children to create a portal for their characters, and certainly not put them in danger.”

You might be reading a pirated copy. Look for the official release to support the author.

Rafael frowned. “We’re not children. We’re teenagers.”

Mr. Anderson grunted. “Same difference.”

“And then to have this happen? With over two thousand creatures?” Neal massaged his head, then his cellphone started ringing. He muted the call to answer his phone.

Evelyn swallowed, once again checking that Milo was in the room before seeing the blinking light on the website. Milo sat down on the ground, carving his cannon, ready for battle.

“Come on, Derek,” Evelyn whispered. “Milo’s ready.”

Neal hung up the phone and turned the call back on. “The private investigators should be there in another half hour. They’re some of the best. I just need you to all be prepared to fight whatever army is guarding Derek.”

“Has anyone called Emma to see if she’s okay?” Hazel asked.

There was a pause as everyone glanced at each other.

Rafael pulled out his phone. “Shit.”

***

Derek was an idiot. He assumed Emma knew where he lived. He was afraid she’d stalk him at his house the multiple times he broke up with her. But arriving at his house? Asking to talk? Being… not dramatic? The more he remembered, the more he realized Pippa had headed toward the passenger side of the car. Why didn’t he think it was odd that she headed toward the passenger side? Pippa didn’t know how to drive. He had been tricked, and he was glad for the dark room so no one could see his burning cheeks.

“Ugh, god,” Emma said in way too loud a voice.

Derek flinched. “Emma?”

“That gag was hastily done, that’s for sure.”

“Shh. Not too loud. These people could really hurt us,” Derek whispered.

“Fine,” Emma whispered.

“Are you okay?”

“No, obviously not.” Emma didn’t sound scared at all. In fact, she sounded angry about the situation. “You weren’t lying when you said Asher and Pippa were no good. This is completely inappropriate, and the authorities will be after them.”

“Shh,” he said again for good measure.

Derek closed his eyes, trying to calm his terrified heart. Despite getting kidnapped, Emma didn’t realize the full extent of the situation. She didn’t realize their lives were in danger. That the crime lord of Osvoroth could not be reasoned with. Or that no one else could see them, including these authorities.

“Emma…” Derek said.

“Shut up, Derek. My mom will notice I’m gone, and she’ll contact the police. I’m sure the same goes for your parents?”

Derek remembered the odd feeling of seeing his doppelgänger standing over him, stealing his phone from his pocket. “Yeah. Of course.” The words squeaked out of him.

“I’m sorry, is the ridiculously optimistic Derek becoming pessimistic?”

“A little.” Derek closed his eyes, reviewing what was happening. They didn’t know where they were being held. Emma was here with him. People could forget. Akshi and Pippa were here.

“Derek? Are you sure you’re alright?” Emma asked.

He tried to ease his breathing. “I’m sorry, Emma. God, I’m so sorry. I’m sorry I kissed you, I’m sorry I dated you. I’m sorry I didn’t communicate with you before about all this. Sorry I couldn’t warn you before. Sorry. God, I’m such an asshole.”

“Hey, no one could predict that Asher and Pippa were actually psychopaths who wanted to kidnap teenagers.”

“I did.” Derek’s voice was pitched higher. “I absolutely knew, and I didn’t do enough.”

“There is… no way you could have known.”

Derek let out another breath, realizing he was crying softly. He was glad for the dark.

“Besides… I feel like… I should apologize as well,” Emma said.

It was so odd that Derek felt himself searching the darkness for her. “What?”

“I mean… you’re not completely to blame. I did… agree with Pippa's suggestions. And I see now that it was not… entirely what a decent person should do.”

Derek again stayed still. Emma was apologizing. Or at least her version of an apology. Derek closed his eyes, trying to listen. They needed to figure out where they were.

“Where are you?” Derek asked.

“On this grimy floor. Tied to the leg of some sort of heavy desk.”

Derek raised an eyebrow. “Really?”

“Why would I lie right now?” Emma asked.

They were both silent again. Derek couldn’t see, and even after hours in the darkness, there was no light. He had no idea what time it was. Or where he was. He couldn’t hear Pippa or Akshi, but that was far more frightening to him than anything.

“You said you’re tied to a heavy desk?” Derek asked.

“Yeah.”

“Are your legs free? Can you… reach out and get some sort of clue where we are?” Derek asked.

“Uh, yeah. Sure, let’s try it.”

Derek waited, then felt movement against the chair he was sitting on. “That’s me,” Derek said.

“Right.” He heard her shoes against the floor, and Derek held his breath, hearing her legs bump against a wall. “We’re in a tiny closet.”

This confused Derek. “Really?”

“Yeah.”

“What about…” Derek tried again to glance around, trying to listen for Pippa and Akshi.

It was quiet. Should he at least hear breathing? If they were in as small a place as Emma mentioned, he should hear their breathing. But there was nothing. Unless it was all a trap.

Derek closed his eyes, heart pounding. If he teleported Milo here and it was nothing more than a trap, Milo could die, and they’d still be in the same situation they were before. Except he’d lose Milo. The very thought tore at his heart. Milo had too many close calls already. If he tore his mana fusor from the main group, it was practically a death sentence.

Unless Milo didn’t get caught and could help them escape. Derek had to admit that having another person here not tied to something would be valuable.

But if Pippa was waiting for him. If Milo got caught up again. If Milo died…

Derek’s breath shuddered. He was scared. He was possibly putting Milo in some unknown danger.

Tears warmed his eyes. Derek knew, deep down, that Milo would willingly sacrifice his life for Derek. The thought of it still made him sick. When Derek created Milo, he thought the mana fusor’s twenty-three years was so old. Now that Derek was almost eighteen, Milo wasn’t much older than him.

But they needed another person here. Someone not tied up.

“Emma,” Derek whispered. “I need you to… not scream.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Whatever you see, we need to stay quiet. If we’re in a small closet, I… might have a way to escape, but we have to be quiet.”

Emma said nothing for a few seconds, and Derek didn’t dare teleport Milo until he had her assurance.

“Okay,” Emma said.

Derek closed his eyes, feeling the link between him and his character.

“Say nothing. Say nothing. Say nothing,” Derek repeated quietly. He said it as he felt the link, then the dull stumbling of feet on the ground. Milo was here. Derek kept whispering what he said to make sure Milo kept quiet. “I don’t know what traps are here. Be careful.”

“I can’t see,” Milo whispered.

“I know. Sorry,” Derek said.

“Derek? What’s going on?” Emma asked.

“I’m trying to get us out.”

Milo stumbled around, and he waited for Emma to comment on it. Perhaps Emma couldn’t see him. He honestly didn’t know.

A light emanated from Milo, and Derek’s stomach lurched. “Don’t cast a spell. You might need your…”

He was familiar with that kind of light. It was a light from a cellphone, illuminating the small room. Derek had been in darkness for so long that the small light from the phone blinded him. He blinked, his vision coming back. Pippa and Akshi were nowhere in sight, because they really were in a small room. There was a door, but something covered the cracks to keep them in complete darkness.

Derek glanced around, a trickle of familiarity coming to him. “Wait… I know where we are. This is—”

***

“-my goddamn office!” Mr. Anderson shouted.

Evelyn’s eyebrows rose in surprise as she realized Mr. Anderson was right. She had zoomed in to the marker and saw Elmwood High. She turned to ask Mr. Anderson another question, but all she saw was him headed for the front door.

“I’ll head straight for my office. If anything changes, let me know,” he grumbled, pulling out his keys.

Hraktar stumbled forward. “I’ll come with you. Just in case.”

“Can you fit four more?” Ezekiel asked as the other characters moved forward.

Mr. Anderson gestured toward his car. “Stuff yourselves in there. We’ve got a kid to save.”

“Go. Everyone go! Keep me posted!” Tyler said from Rafael’s laptop.

They ran outside, with Mr. Anderson and the characters already in his car and backing out of the driveway. Evelyn knew they needed to move. They didn’t know what trap Milo might have stumbled on, but if Derek was there, then they had to give Milo some backup. Fast.