The Last Dragon

by James Riley

  READY, Jia said, shuddering with excitement.

  READY, Rachel said.

  READY, BUT IT’S NOT TOO LATE TO RETHINK THIS, Sierra said, and Fort let her feel his annoyance. OKAY, OKAY, FINE, YES, READY.

  UM, FORT? Cyrus said in their heads. WE MIGHT HAVE A—

  “Now!” Jia shouted, and leaped around the corner. Whatever Cyrus had been about to say would have to wait as Fort ran out behind her, ready for anything.

  Dr. Opps’s eyes widened in shock as Jia hit him with her Paralyze spell, freezing his body in place. Before the two guards could make a move, she hit them as well, and they stopped dead in their tracks.

  Only, none of them were carrying books.

  Um, Cyrus? Fort thought, panic beginning to take over his mind. Where are the books of magic?!

  THAT’S WHAT I WAS GOING TO SAY, Cyrus said, guilt coming in waves from his mind. SOMETHING CHANGED SINCE I LAST LOOKED, BUT I COULDN’T GET A SOLID VIEWING OF THE FUTURE BECAUSE THE BOOKS WERE TOO CLOSE TO EVERYTHING. I THINK… I THINK SOMEONE SURPRISED THEM AND TOOK THE BOOKS ALREADY.

  You think?! Fort shouted in his head, unable to stop his frustration from boiling over

  STICK WITH THE PLAN, Rachel said. GET THEIR AMULETS OFF SO SIERRA CAN WIPE THEIR MEMORIES. CYRUS, YOU KEEP TRYING TO FIND THE BOOKS!

  ON IT! Sierra said, while they could all sense Cyrus nodding.

  Fort grabbed the amulet from around Dr. Opps’s neck as Jia handled the guards. He caught Dr. Opps’s eyes and winced, giving the doctor an apologetic shrug. “Sorry,” he whispered. “We didn’t have a choice.”

  Dr. Opps just glared at him, and Fort was happy that the paralysis spell kept the doctor from speaking.

  OKAY, I’M IN THEIR HEADS, Sierra said, and Jia canceled her spells. All three men instantly relaxed, but didn’t otherwise move.

  I FOUND THEM! Cyrus said. I FOUND THE BOOKS. THEY’RE… UM, UH-OH.

  Don’t say “uh-oh,” Fort told him. Just tell us where they are.

  YES, RIGHT. WELL, LIKE I SAID, I COULD BE WRONG ABOUT THIS, BUT AS FAR AS I CAN TELL… COLONEL CHARLES HAS THEM IN HIS PRIVATE OFFICE.

  - NINE -

  FORT WANTED TO DROP TO his knees and punch the floor, he was so frustrated. How could such a simple plan go so wrong? It was all down to Cyrus’s magic not working on the books. He knew they should have been more careful because of that. They should have confirmed that Dr. Opps had them, and—

  FORT, IT’S TOO LATE TO SECOND-GUESS, AND THIS ISN’T CYRUS’S FAULT, Rachel said in his mind. WE CAN STILL GET THE BOOKS!

  He nodded, hoping she was right. Cyrus, is Colonel Charles alone at least? Fort said in his mind, trying to keep his panic from passing to the others.

  HE IS, AND THERE AREN’T ANY CAMERAS IN THERE, Cyrus said. SO IF YOU CAN GET IN THERE AND SURPRISE HIM, YOU CAN STILL GET AWAY WITHOUT ANYONE KNOWING.

  Right, okay. This was all terrible news, but they could work with it. Fort knew where the colonel’s office was, though only because it was close to the cafeteria, and there was always a bunch of guards nearby, not to mention cameras in the hallways, even if the cameras weren’t in the office itself. That meant they couldn’t just walk out with the books, if they even made it in.

  Does anyone have any ideas? Fort shouted, but the others were starting to feel hopeless too.

  A hand settled on Fort’s shoulder, and he turned to find a fully awake Dr. Opps staring at him. “I think I might know what to do,” the doctor said, and Fort’s heart stopped dead in his chest.

  “Dr. Opps, you’re… I mean…” Fort couldn’t make his brain work correctly, with words deciding to float out of his reach all of a sudden. But just as he was sure he was going to be thrown in jail for the rest of his life, the doctor smiled and slowly poked his finger into Fort’s ear.

  “Hey!” Fort shouted, and the doctor laughed.

  “You should see your face,” Dr. Opps said. “Do you really not know who this is?”

  Fort’s eyes widened. “Sierra?”

  “C’mon,” Sierra said in Dr. Opps’s voice, then gave Fort a firm push down the hallway.

  “Um, what do I do with the guards?” Jia asked, still standing next to the two soldiers.

  “They’re fine!” Sierra said, looking back over Dr. Opps’s shoulder. “Just shove them down some hall and run. You’ve got, like, two minutes until reality clicks back in for them.”

  Jia’s eyes widened, and she began pushing the guards toward the next hall as Fort and Sierra/Dr. Opps reached the end of theirs. Fort paused, waiting for the doctor to lead, but Sierra just stared at him. “Do you think I know where to go?” she said. “I’ve never been here, not outside your mind.”

  “Oh, right,” Fort said, looking both ways at the intersection, having no better idea where they were than Sierra did. Fortunately, a sign pointed to the elevator, so he grabbed the doctor’s hand and pulled him in that direction. “I think we go this way.”

  “You’re not really inspiring a lot of confidence, Forsythe,” Sierra said, mimicking Dr. Opps’s tone. She giggled, which sounded even odder coming out of the doctor’s mouth. “Forsythe. I can’t even say it without laughing.”

  “It was my grandfather’s name,” Fort whispered as a guard turned the corner. The soldier gave them an odd look and it took Fort a second to realize he was still pulling someone who looked like the headmaster of the school down the hall by the man’s hand. He immediately dropped it, and Sierra laughed again.

  The guard passed them with a few more looks, but didn’t say anything, and Fort pushed the elevator down button so hard he nearly broke it. “Can you please take this seriously?” he hissed at Sierra as the doors finally opened, and they moved inside.

  “I’m in the body of a grown man, and all I want to do is make him pick his nose,” Sierra told him, slowly raising a hand toward her face. “So, no, I’m not sure I can.” Seeing Fort’s expression, she put up her hands in surrender. “Okay, okay! I get it. I’ll play nice. Lead on, Forsythe.” She covered her mouth to stifle a giggle, but Fort just shook his head as the elevator descended.

  Two floors down and four guards later, Fort turned a corner toward what he was sure had to be the way to Colonel Charles’s office… and almost collided with the colonel himself, carrying a duffel bag over his shoulder. Colonel Charles looked from Fort to Dr. Opps in surprise, then narrowed his eyes. “Forsythe, why are you out after curfew?” he asked.

  Cyrus, Fort hissed in his head. He’s not in his office yet!

  DON’T WORRY, Cyrus told him, entirely not helping. I THINK HE’S HEADING THERE NOW.

  “Ah, I was just bringing him to see you,” Sierra said, using her Dr. Opps tone again. “We’ve, um, got something to speak to you about, ah… Charles?”

  Fort bit his lip hard. You don’t know his first name?!

  NO, DO YOU? I’M NOT EVEN SURE HE HAS ONE!

  Charles was clearly not the right answer, as the colonel clenched his jaw tightly. “I know you don’t agree with the committee granting me control over the school, Oppenheimer, but I’d appreciate it if you respected my rank.”

  “Right, I apologize, Colonel,” Sierra said, then did a little bow. Fort rolled his eyes.

  Colonel Charles just stared for a moment before speaking. “Now, what is so urgent?” he asked finally. “If this is about… the matter we just went over, then I have nothing more to say.”

  Sierra’s mouth opened, but no words came out, and Fort’s eyes widened as he realized she had no idea what to say. “It’s not that,” he said, then noticed the cameras above. “But it’s sensitive, and it has to be discussed in secret.”

  “Yeah,” Sierra said. “We should go to your office so we have some privacy. Can’t have anyone overhearing, Colonel.”

  Colonel Charles nodded. “I was heading that way now, to secure the… items. It’s just down the hall.”

  “Oh, that’s great news,” Fort said, relieved that the books were in the duffel bag. At Colonel Charles’s odd look, though,
he quickly added, “I mean, about your office. Being close. To talk in. For privacy.”

  Sierra slapped him on the back of the head, and he closed his mouth.

  “And this can’t wait?” Colonel Charles asked, hefting the bag with the books.

  “It’s very urgent,” Sierra said. “It involves Sierra, the little genius who wiped your mind. Fort thinks he knows where she is.”

  What? Fort said. You want me to tell him where you are?

  OF COURSE NOT! she said in his head. WE’RE GOING TO LIE. TELL HIM DAMIAN AND I WERE SPOTTED IN CANADA OR SOMETHING.

  “Of course,” Colonel Charles said. “This way, then.”

  He walked them back to his office and led them inside. It wasn’t big, but at least it looked like it’d had its technology updated. The decor matched the rest of the facility, though, with two puke-green chairs facing a desk in a small, cramped area. Could this be the best office the facility had for the coheadmaster of the school?

  “Sit, please,” the colonel said, waving Fort and Sierra into the two chairs. “Now, tell me what you’ve got for me.”

  “She’s in Canada,” Fort said, right as Sierra said, “We’ve tracked her to California.”

  They turned to each other, Fort blushing, Sierra glaring. I thought you said “Canada”!

  I SAID MAYBE CANADA! I’M STILL IMPROVISING!

  Colonel Charles looked between them, frowning, then abruptly opened a drawer and pulled something out in his closed hand. “Oppenheimer, I notice you’re missing your protective amulet,” he said, quickly standing and walking around to stand behind them. “And between that and the fact you called Fitzgerald here ‘Fort,’ I’m going to assume I’m speaking to… Sierra?”

  - TEN -

  SIERRA LEAPED TO HER FEET, but Colonel Charles was faster. He slammed something down over her head, and Sierra shrieked, collapsing to her knees.

  “Ah, I wasn’t sure that would work,” the colonel said, grabbing a pair of handcuffs from his desk and placing them on Sierra’s wrists behind her back. “I’ll have to give Oppenheimer credit for that, if he ever regains control.”

  Sierra thrashed around on the floor in pain, and Fort finally made out what Colonel Charles had put around her neck: a protective mind amulet. With Sierra’s mind inside Dr. Opps’s, there was no telling what kind of damage the amulet was doing to her.

  “What are you doing?” Fort shouted, jumping to his feet too. “Stop it! She’s in pain!”

  Colonel Charles stepped between Fort and Sierra and pushed Fort back to his seat. “Ah, now that’s disappointing. Here I was hoping you were under her control as well. But considering she’s barely able to think right now, I think we can safely guess you’re here all on your own.” He gave Fort a curious look. “What exactly did you want with me? To take over my mind, and control the entire school? Wipe my memories again? What was the plan, Forsythe?”

  Fort just stared at him, then launched forward, trying to pull the amulet off. Unfortunately, the colonel was faster, grabbing Fort by the wrist before he could reach Sierra. Colonel Charles twisted his arm painfully, pushing Fort’s head and chest down against the desk, pinning him there.

  “She’ll be fine,” Colonel Charles told him. “Unless, that is, you pull a stunt like that again. Now, can we talk like civilized adults, or do I need to keep this up?” He wrenched Fort’s wrist again.

  Fort gritted his teeth to keep from crying out. “Okay,” he hissed. “But please, let her go.”

  “What… what are…,” Sierra tried to say, slowly pushing to her knees, only to drop back to the floor. “I’m… you’re… splitting me in… half!”

  “Really?” Colonel Charles said, looking back at her. “Honestly, that’s news to me. Oppenheimer never claimed it’d be painful. Just thought it might be a last-ditch way to drive one of those monsters out if it took over a student again.” He leaned down to give Sierra a closer look. “But instead, I’m guessing it’s interfering with your spell, while not allowing you to leave his mind. That’s actually perfect.”

  “Take it off, ” Fort said, practically begging now. “Please! We weren’t going to do anything, we just wanted the Summoning book.”

  “And why would she need that?” Colonel Charles asked. “She has Damian, and he can summon whatever he wants, clearly.”

  “It was for me,” Fort said. “Dr. Opps thinks my father might still be alive, and I had to use the magic to get him back!”

  This made Colonel Charles stand back up in surprise. “Oppenheimer thinks that?” He seemed dumbfounded for a moment, then leaped forward and grabbed Fort by the uniform, his eyes wide. “What proof does he have? Why has he never told me this?”

  “I don’t know,” Fort said miserably. “He just thought it was possible.”

  “My son was taken by the same creatures!” the colonel said, releasing Fort and turning around. “Why would he never tell me this? It can’t be true, not this long after… can it?”

  Sierra whimpered on the ground, and Fort’s stomach hurt just hearing her. “Please, I’ll do whatever you want, just let her go!”

  “Ah, no, we won’t be doing that,” Colonel Charles said, barely giving Fort a look. “Now that we have her, I intend to keep her. I don’t know how we’ll get her out of Oppenheimer’s mind, but even if we can’t remove her, she’ll still be an asset.”

  Sierra slowly looked up at him, her face—Dr. Opps’s face—contorted in pain and fear. “You… you can’t… keep me… locked up!”

  “Locked up?” Colonel Charles said, still distracted. “Of course not. You’ll be working for us. Oppenheimer wasted you while we had you. Think of the good I could do around the world with your magic. I’ve been testing both the Mind and Summoning books for the last week or so, but Oppenheimer declared that they had to be put back in storage for safety. I agreed at first, then realized this was ridiculous. His passivity has been holding us back, keeping us in danger, when we should be using the magic we have! So I took them back.”

  “I… will never… be your… prisoner !” Sierra shouted, and Dr. Opps’s body seemed to bulge strangely, like it was too full or something. Fort’s eyes widened, but Colonel Charles didn’t notice.

  “Call it what you want,” he said. “But you will—”

  And then his mouth dropped open as his own amulet floated up and off of his chest, then over to Sierra’s hands behind her. As it did, the handcuffs around her wrists ripped in half, freeing her.

  “How did you do that?” Colonel Charles demanded, stepping back to pull a glowing red orb out of his pocket.

  But Sierra just stared at him with hatred in her eyes as she slowly rose from the floor, floating in the air now just like the amulet had. “You have no idea the power I have,” she hissed, her voice low and dangerous. She clenched her fist and crushed the amulet in her bare hand. The one around her neck cracked, then tumbled to the floor.

  The walls around them began to creak, and Fort backed into the center of the room, scared for Sierra, but also now terrified of whatever magic she was using. Where had it come from? How could she be doing this?

  The chair behind Sierra exploded into pieces as a strange wind picked up, swirling around Colonel Charles. The colonel held the glowing orb between them, his eyes now wide with fear. “You… you don’t have this kind of power! This can’t be happening. The amulet protected me. Stay back!”

  But Sierra just sneered at him as Dr. Opps’s body fell to the floor, leaving Sierra’s glowing yellow form still floating in midair. Unlike the other times Fort had seen her in his mind, he could actually feel her presence now, just like he’d felt the Old One in the mess hall at the previous school. Magic emanated from her like heat from the sun as she slowly reached for Colonel Charles.

  “You were going to keep me locked up here?” she said, squeezing her hand again, and the red glowing ball in his hand shot away, cracking against the far wall. And then Colonel Charles rose into the air, hanging by his shirt collar.

  “
Please, let me go!” he croaked. “I wasn’t going to hurt you. I just… just wanted to… protect…”

  Fort started to stand—he couldn’t let her just choke the man. But as he got up, Sierra’s magic seemed to surge in power, like her anger was feeding the magical energy, making her almost too bright to look at.

  Fort dove back to the floor, hoping to escape the power that he could now feel throughout the room, like the air before a lightning strike. He crawled under the desk as the room creaked again, and something fell from the ceiling. Someone screamed, but he couldn’t tell who, and then…

  And then the light faded back to normal, the eerie wind died down, and there was only silence.

  Fort slowly pulled himself out from under the desk, terrified at what he might find. Sierra stood on the ground again in front of him, glowing normally now, with Colonel Charles lying on the floor, breathing steadily, but otherwise not moving. At least he was still alive!

  “I will take your memories of this moment,” she said, raising a hand, and Colonel Charles’s head glowed yellow. His mouth opened and closed without any sound coming out. “And I will take your memories of the books of Mind and Summoning magic.” His head glowed again. “But I will leave you with the memory of me holding your mind in my hands. And any time you even think of coming after me or my friends, you’ll remember this moment, how I could have wiped your mind completely. And you’ll know fear.”

  Colonel Charles nodded over and over, breathing faster now. “I… promise… please—”

  She lowered her hand, and the colonel’s head slammed back to the floor, not moving. Sierra’s glowing self also returned to the floor, and she fell exhaustedly against Fort, only to stumble right through him. He reached out for her, but just like in his dream, there was nothing he could do to help.

  “Are… are you okay?” he asked, unable to hold back his fear.

  “I… no,” she said, looking up at him with a scared expression that he knew matched his own. “What did I just do?!”