The Phantom ripped itself out of its restraints. It flung the cage at the left side of the classroom. Castor threw himself to the ground and the cage flew over him, nearly hitting two students sitting behind him. Instead, it slammed into the wall, which splintered all the way to the top. Overhead, the ceiling shattered, and a jagged rainfall of wood, marble and plaster pelted down—but Castor was there, his wind blowing the debris away.

Poppy and I dodged chunks of the walls as the cracks spread over the ceiling. We were the lucky ones. One girl, who always sat in the back of the room, took a hit to the back of her head. Another boy’s hand was crushed by a bit of the ceiling. He screamed.

Poppy’s scared eyes looked at me, terrified. I grabbed her hands.

“We’re going to be fine,” I said, determined. I would never let anything happen to her; not after what had almost happened in the gym. 

She nodded at me and her spine straightened.

At the front of the room, the newly freed Phantom howled, a completely inhuman, indescribable sound. Part of the wall collapsed and a boy near us—Nilo?— took a hit from another piece of broken wood.

“Are you okay?” I asked.

He nodded, but I saw blood drip down the side of his face. “Help me bring them together,” he said, gesturing at the injured students and Nike. 

The Phantom’s gaze had locked back on to me.

“Poppy, grab Nike. I’ll lure the Phantom away,” I said. 

I headed for the creature. It moved closer to me—and I shot a massive flame towards the Phantom. At the same time, on the opposite side, Castor threw out a massive wind attack. The elements met in the middle—the wind blowing my attack back at me. I threw myself to the ground, dodging the massive flame, then shot Castor a glare.

“Really?” I yelled at him.

“That was not intentional,” he yelled back.

Behind us, Nilo gestured and a wall of earth broke through the floor, separating the injured students from the Phantom. He gestured again and another appeared. Nilo was boxing the injured away from the Phantom. Poppy dragged Nike, along with the injured students, behind the protective walls, and then stepped out of the area.

“Seal it,” Poppy told Nilo. Another wall of earth rose to complete the triangle and protect those inside. Good. In the end, it was just me, Poppy, Castor, and Nilo facing the Phantom

“We need to take this thing down,” I said to the others. 

Nilo swayed a bit on his feet.

“You okay?” I asked him.

“I’m fine,” Nilo said—but he also reached out and steadied himself on Nike’s desk.

But there wasn’t any time to worry. The Phantom was charging right at us. 

Castor and I both reacted immediately. I ran to the left, he to the right. Poppy was right behind me—but she stopped.

“Poppy, what—” I started before I saw. Nilo, unable to react as quickly, swayed in front of the charging Phantom. Poppy was already running back.

“No!” she yelled, her hand thrown out. A tsunami burst from her hand and knocked the Phantom away from Nilo. She did it.

Nilo’s eyes rolled up in the back of his head and he collapsed.

“Guard Nilo,” I said to Poppy as I rushed back into the fight. Behind me, I saw Poppy take a defensive stance. 

My eyes met Castor’s across the room. It was up to us.

And the Phantom was already upon us. Somehow, he was in front of me, his hands reaching toward me, clawing at my face and arms. I struck at the Phantom, yelling at him, knocking him away from me. And then, over the Phantom’s pulsing shoulder, I saw Castor charging in. 

With wind, he knocked the Phantom away from me. The Phantom skidded on the ground, sliding back. In a second, he was back on his feet—his eyes once again locked on me.

“We have to get the heart,” I told him. “I’ll lead him away. While he’s distracted—”

“I’ll grab its heart,” he cut in. 

Could’ve at least let me finish, but yes.

I nodded at him and ran towards the other side of the classroom, into the corner. The Phantom followed me. Each step, it looked as if his shoes melted. His body expanded again, like a balloon, trapping me in the corner.

Where was Castor? He wouldn’t leave me to die, right? My heart stopped. Right? He was the boy sent to kill me. The boy who didn’t like me. Still, he knew we had to work together. He was an Astral. He wouldn’t just leave me here…right?

The Phantom reached out towards me—and that was when I felt it, a brief current of air. It ruffled the Phantom’s fake suit. My hair gently moved in the wind. 

As if in slow motion, I saw the stuffed bunny slip from the Phantom’s hands—and fly straight back to Castor.