“AAH—AAAAH!!!”

The pavement rapidly approached.

Alexander threw up his arms over his eyes.

He didn’t want to see death coming so fast.

A soft wind swept around him.

His eyes shot open just in time for a black cloud to engulf him, blocking out his vision.

He slowed.

Stopped.

Hovered.

Shakily, he pushed himself up. The cloud underneath him was soft and cool to the touch. It felt like a strange combination of silk and a down-filled pillow. It roiled visually beneath his fingertips without actually moving.

Alexander sucked in a sharp breath of shock and the cloud vanished, dropping him six feet to the ground. He landed roughly, the wind leaving his already strained lungs as he slammed into the asphalt.

“What the hell was that!?” Blue Machine roared. “Star Catcher!” he shouted again, flying down to land near Alexander.

Alexander rolled to his knees, gasping and coughing.

“Star Catcher, you come out right now, I’ll kill you, you bastard!” Blue Machine continued to yell.

Other witches landed, circling around Alexander and Blue Machine, whispering to one another and glancing around, looking for the culprit.

Citrus Sunset landed with his struggling sister, who was repeatedly smacking at him. “Is he—ow—even here?” he asked wincing as the girl swatted his face.

“How couldn’t he be here!?” Blue Machine snarled. “You saw his cloud!”

Alexander remained on his knees, trembling like a leaf in a tornado, hoping that if he made no more noise, they would forget about him and focus on this Star Catcher they were looking for.

“Lemon Sunrise,” Citrus Sunset said, holding his sister’s wrists tightly. “You always know where he is. Tell us.”

“Hmph!” Lemon Sunrise huffed and then kicked her brother’s shin as hard as she could. “JERK!”

Citrus Sunset let go with a yelp and she jumped away. With a flourish and a flash of golden light, Lemon Sunrise’s broom appeared out of thin air, landing lightly in her hand. “I’m telling mom!” she cried, hopping on and flying off into the night.

Citrus Sunset let out a stream of curses under his breath and took off after her.

Blue Machine clicked his tongue in frustration and walked over to Alexander, grabbing him by his hair and wrenching him up to his knees. “You got lucky just now—at least you might think so,” he said dangerously, waving his arm. The lights in the school garden ripped themselves apart at his unspoken command, building themselves into miniature mechanical monstrosities.

“W-why are you doing this!?” Alexander choked, tears streaming down his cheeks. The pain was unbelievable.

Blue Machine wrenched on Alexander’s loose hair with a vicious snarl, “Because you want to be a hunter. We’re not going to let you even get there—dealing with you now is better!” He shoved Alexander to the ground and stepped back with a sweep of his arm, his little machines racing forward.

Wires shot out with sharp metal bits, aiming for Alexander’s face and neck, intending to strangle him and slice his throat to ribbons.

Fear took over and Alexander swept his arm out.

More fire, white and blue, blazing hot with a purple glow arced from his wave. The air snapped and the witches encircling him were all blasted off their feet—the machines disintegrating under the flames.

Alexander didn’t wait.

He took off running, forcing his aching lungs to take in deep gasps, willing his screaming muscles to move as he launched off into the street.

Alexander dodged a black sedan that came out of nowhere. Tires screeched and a horn blared in his ears, but he didn’t stop, leaping up and over the stone wall surrounding Willow Park.

Erik had just crested the hill and came around the bend to pull into the dorm’s driveway when a figure dashed out in front of him. “SHIT!” he roared, slamming on the brakes and pulling on the wheel, the car spun into drift before halting.

“What the shit!?” Sonia also roared as she was shocked awake.

Leon slammed his head into the back of Erik’s headrest despite his seatbelt, leaving him hissing a groan as the car stopped suddenly. “What the hell, Commander!?”

“Don’t move,” Erik said darkly, staring through the windshield.

The other two looked up to see thirty or more witches staring them down dangerously.

Leon shrank back, “What the hell are the kids doing out here?” he whispered, knowing they couldn’t see him from there.

“Alexander,” Erik said. “He just went into Willow Park.”

Sonia stiffened. “At this time of night!? Does he have a death wish!?” she exclaimed, turning to Erik in disbelief.

Her movement stirred the witches and they all scattered into the sky like a flock of colourful birds.

“Fuck!” Erik cursed, shifting and pulling off the road into the parking area. “They’re going after him,” he tore off his seat belt, “I’ll head them off. Tech, call Mother and Eagle, have them take the south end—I’m sure he’s heading for HQ. Dose—.”

“Yes, I’ll fucking drive. GO!” she shooed him, already peeling off her belt.

Erik didn’t wait any longer and tore off after Alexander, hopping the fence in the same place he did.