Heh, you think I'm going to explain what happened after the last chapter?

...

You think I actually PLANNED what happened after the last chapter? 

The first sign of something terribly wrong going on comes impressively early.

I mean, nothing seems amiss at first. Jimmy's still asleep, so I wake him up, laughing about it as we walk to the kitchen. Jimmy volunteers to make breakfast. I kindly decline as it's never ended well. And then, while we eat, I realise that Cub and Jevin aren't here. Cub's normally up quite early. Besides, it's not even a bad lesson this morning - Elytra, one of his favourites. 

Time passes. He still doesn't come. Neither does Jevin, even when we're about to go.

I decide to do something.

'Cub? Jevin? It's time for lessons!' I hammer on their door, tact be damned. No reply. 'If this is a joke it's not funny.' 

Silence. 

Something's going on. 

'If you don't come out, I'm going in.' One last chance for anything and... they still don't make a sound. Every instinct tells me to go or I'll get shouted at, but the itching suspicion leads me on.

I open the door. 

Neither of them are inside. 

'Scott? Isn't it time to go?' Jimmy's voice makes me jump, and I quickly shut the door if Cub and Jevin's room, turning to face him.

'Yeah. Cub and Jevin aren't there. I'm sure there's a good explanation.' Ignoring my growing unease, I leave our dormitory, followed by Jimmy, hoping I can forget my worries. 

We're late to class, but it seems like half of it is missing... I know Skizz ended up in the medical ward, and Grian should also be there, but they're not the only people missing. Cub and Jevin, Scar, but he's always late, Doc, Etho, Cleo... 

'Good morning class. Today it's going to be a harder lesson so... I want full attention.' Xisuma's cheerful voice fades as he realises.

Ok.

Something's definitely wrong.

'Get inside, get an elytra, and line up. We'll practice some skills you already know, because the lesson I had planned is too important for this many people to miss.' I notice his switch back to a good attitude. I can't see his emotions under his helmet, but I know they must be showing more than we can see. 'Think of it as an informal exam of what you should know by this point... Scott, can you fly through a few of those hoops over there? Any, it's just showing that you can do it.'

I nod, startled, but climb the ladder up quickly. My mind flashes back to Grian. Falling.

No.

He was pushed. 

No one's up here with me, but I still feel paranoid as I reach the edge, jumping and flying.

After so much practice, it's easy to change direction and shoot through the closest hoop, turn tightly, and go through the one next to it... lower down, I catch one more before landing. A polite applause as I return to the line. Martyn runs over to me.

'Scott, do you know what's going on?' He hisses. 'Where is everyone? Doc and Etho weren't anywhere this morning, and I didn't hear any kind of commotion...'

'Weren't you asleep?'

'I've got good hearing. I would've heard something.' 

'Cub and Jevin are gone too. No explanation. Something must've happened...'

'Mass-magic-death-taking? But why would it be that obvious?' 

I look back at Xisuma, checking that he isn't listening. But Jimmy's got him distracted with a broken elytra and a nasty graze running up his leg. 

'I'm convinced that Jevin was hiding something. And probably Cub too. He's too good at covering up what definitely seems to be magic with the newspapers.'

'Yeah... and if Scar didn't have magic, I don't know who does.' 

'Alright class, I have to go somewhere, so just stay around here and be sensible. No flying, and no leaving the area.' Xisuma suddenly says, checking some kind of communicator on his wrist and running off, out of the flight area and away. 

'Ok, that's very suspicious.' Martyn says the moment he's out of sight. BigB and Bdubs run over to us. Grian and Scar's dorm-mates.

'Do you know where Cub and Jevin are?' Bdubs asks.

'Or Doc and Etho.' Adds BigB. Me and Martyn exchange a worried glance.

'No. Do you?'

The two look at each other, then back at us.

'Do you know what's going on?' Instantly picking up on their apparent knowledge, Martyn steps towards them.

'I think so... but I can't tell you.' BigB explains hastily. 'How much do you... know?' 

'That they're not here, and we think it's something to do with magic.' 

'Ok I can't tell you anything. But... you wouldn't tell anyone? But I still can't tell you!' I cross my arms at BigB's conflicted nature. 'I'm sorry, I've said too much. But don't go nosing into anything, it'll just get you in trouble. It got Impulse into trouble.' 

'Impulse.'

'Oh no... I've said too much. Uhh... I need to... talk to... False.' He runs off before he can give us any important information. Bdubs follows. 

'Well that was weird.' I state. A nod of agreement from Martyn.

'Ok, it's definitely magic.' He decides. 'So... all of them had magic?'

'I don't know. But Cub and Scar had a weird hideout above our dormitory. I never checked what was actually up there, because it was their own secret. But... now they're gone...' as much as I hate the idea, I feel like it's our only option. Get up there, find out what they've been hiding and... what? Where would this even lead me?

'We look for evidence, see if we can get anyone else involved, and then use it to get back our friends.' Almost psychically, Martyn answers my questions. 'If they've even been taken.' 

'It's related to Impulse. Of course they've been taken!'

'Impulse isn't even here... maybe he had magic too.'

'What?!' 

'It makes sense!' Protests Martyn. 'If Impulse had magic, but used it to spy on people too, and then the Principal found out and took everyone.'

'I think Impulse is just scared we'll find him and kill him ourselves for what he's clearly done...' the bell goes, interrupting my planning. 'Anyway, step one is to find out who's been taken.'

'And step two?' Asks Martyn, keeping in step with me as I walk towards the exit.

'Get them back.' 

It's the second great chapter stockpile of 2022! 

'Great' as in I've only written this chapter. 

:D

Y'all are gonna have to wait for updates...