Makenna took one hand off Raeven and clutched her cape. She peered up at her new crystal wings and flapped them. With each flap, rainbows shimmered in them.
Makenna slowly lifted into the air and giggled, whispering, "I'm flying." It felt like it had been forever since she flew.
She was getting ready to head down the hallway when Mr. Nelson called to her. "Hey! What about me? Aren't you going to release me?"
Makenna studied him and smiled sarcastically. "I'd prefer not. I need to ensure it'll be easy for the police to locate you, Mr. Nelson. I, on the other hand, need to rescue my friend and brother. Good to know you, though. Perhaps you and Peter will think about your mistakes while in jail."
Raeven blew Mr. Nelson another raspberry.
Makenna patted him and prepared to fly away again, but then she realized that she had no idea where Mr. Nelson had hidden Tracey, Gina, and Caleb. She needed to force the truth out of him. Therefore, instead of flying down the hallway, Makenna flew to Mr. Nelson and landed.
Raeven settled on one of her shoulder pads.
Makenna kneeled to Cody and asked in a calm voice, "Mr. Nelson, where are you hiding Tracey and my brother?"
Mr. Nelson scoffed and closed his eyes. He turned his head away from the newborn fairy and said, "Humph."
"Mr. Nelson," Makenna added, gripping her knee, "I don't have all day. Talk, or I'll make you talk." Makenna lifted her new wand. "I'll use this if you don't fess up."
"Go ahead," Mr. Nelson said. "However, Miss Delling, you do not have the higher authority over me. You're not the police."
"That may be true!" a voice yelled from out of nowhere. "But we are!"
Makenna gasped and leaped to her feet. She, Raeven, and Mr. Nelson examined the hallway.
Five Charleston County police officers (two of whom were female) had appeared at the end of it, and they hustled toward Makenna.
"Officers!" she said. "You're right on time!" Yes! Mr. Gheesling and Dr. Medford had called 911! "Oh snap!" Makenna quipped, bringing her hands to her lips. "They've seen me! Great! Now I know they'll throw me into a laboratory!" She gulped and tried to make the most of her last minutes of freedom. She just wanted to see Mr. Nelson arrested.
She removed her hands from her lips and brought her wand down on the rainbow vines wrapped around Mr. Nelson. Right after they touched, the vines vanished.
Immediately, Cody jumped up and tried to run, but two police officers grabbed him and said, "Now, just hold on a minute, sir! Where do you think you're going?"
Another officer, Camden, stared at Makenna.
She waved and waited for the officer to grab her, too, but strangely, he didn't. He let Makenna be and approached Mr. Nelson.
Makenna was beyond confused. Why weren't any of the officers gaining up on her? She was a freaking fairy! Her true self had been revealed to the entire world!
She and Raeven watched, bewildered, as Camden stopped beside Cody and held a clipboard up to him. "All right, Cody Nelson," he calmly spoke, flipping through the clipboard, "you're under arrest for kidnapping, parking your car in an illegal parking spot, bringing an illegal weapon into a school, and child endangerment. Search his pockets."
The officers holding Mr. Nelson searched him from head to toe and pulled out his wallet and walkie-talkie.
Scoffing, Mr. Nelson asked Officer Camden, "Who said I brought an illegal weapon to a school?" He tried to break free, but the officers tightened their grips.
"Oh, please," said Camden. His eyes skimmed the bazooka pieces in the hallway. "Don't you play dumb with me, sir. I know those are bazooka pieces lying around. I'm just doing my part in protecting the community. We don't need troublemakers like you and your son around."
Makenna smirked. She and Raeven did a small fist bump. However, they immediately lost their smiles and gulped when they saw the remaining two police officers approaching.
Makenna started to sweat. "Oh no!" she whispered, rubbing sleep from her eyes. She was ready to sleep, but knew she couldn't.
The officers approaching her and Raeven were a female and a male officer. They stopped beside Makenna.
Holding her breath, she wrapped her cape around her.
Her new wings shook with fear.
Makenna waited for the officers to put her in cuffs, but they didn't.
Instead, the female officer, Jordan, feebly smiled and saluted, saying, "Hi. Are you all right, young lady?" She was a tall woman, but looked friendly. She had a British accent.
Makenna didn't answer. She couldn't.
Officer Jordan noticed her fear and comfortably said, "Oh, don't worry, young lady. You're not under arrest. We're not going to take you and your little friend there to a laboratory."
"You're not?" nervously asked Makenna.
Jordan shook her head no.
Makenna sighed with relief. It was nice to finally meet a group of people who didn't go crazy over the fact that she and Tracey were fairies. Then again, they were the police.
Makenna relaxed her muscles.
The male officer, Patrick Hobbs, was the next person to ask her a question. He was a younger officer. Makenna thought he was a little cute.
Hobbs inquired, "Did he hurt you, young lady?" His radio started to talk, and he reached for it.
Makenna nervously shook her head.
"Are you sure?" Hobbs questioned.
Makenna nodded.
"What about your friend and brother?" Officer Jordan held her hands behind her. "Do you know if he hurt them?"
"I don't know," Makenna whimpered. Images of Tracey flashed through her brain. "However, ma'am, my friend, Tracey, has broken wings. Broken wings are the worst thing that can happen to a fairy."
"Well, then, we must hurry and find him," Jordan quipped. "Don't worry, miss, we'll help your brother and friend." She, Makenna, Raeven, and Hobbs glanced at Officer Camden, Mr. Nelson, and the officers still holding him.
Camden inhaled and asked Cody in a calm but stern voice, "Well, sir, where did you hide the two boys?"
Cody came up with an excuse. "This is a free country, sir, so who said you have the right to force me to answer?"
Camden was patient with him. "If this is a free country, sir, then how come you kidnapped two kids and locked them up?"
"I refuse to answer," Mr. Nelson replied, scoffing again.
"I'm just asking a simple question," Camden said, "and all I want is a simple answer. You've lost, sir. Nobody can save you now. I'll repeat the question. Where did you hide the boys? I'm going to keep asking until I get an answer." He wrote a few notes down on a notepad he had also brought to the scene.
Mr. Nelson slightly glared and said, "Man, you're just harassing me."
"My apologies, sir. I'm merely doing my job. All I want to know is where the boys are. Not to mention—there is a fairy over there who can probably launch a spell that will force the truth out of you." Officer Camden pointed his thumb at Makenna.
Seeing that, she gestured at herself and peered behind her to ensure he wasn't pointing at anybody else. Turning back, she nodded at Raeven, and he returned it.
Makenna had to be brave. She was now a Crystal Metamorphic Fairy, and it was her duty to rescue Caleb, Gina, and Tracey. "That's right, Mr. Nelson," Makenna spoke, banging her wand against her hand. "There is much more to me than you think. I don't believe you're aware of the magic I have concealed in this wand." She approached Mr. Nelson and threatened him. "Where did you hide my brother and friend?"
Mr. Nelson gulped. "Fine!" he eventually yelled. "I hid them in the auditorium!"
"Auditorium?" questioned Officer Camden. "Where exactly in the auditorium, sir?"
"Backstage in the men's changing room," he answered, sweat fountaining down his temples.
"Thank you," voiced Camden. He looked at Makenna. "Makenna, do you think you could lead Officer Jordan, Hobbs, and me there? You most likely know the way since you go to school here."
"Yes, sir," she answered. "I do. Let's go, but we've got to hurry. Follow me." She lifted into the air. Makenna flew forward, Raeven beside her.
Behind, a few more police officers arrived on the scene and rushed to the officers holding Mr. Nelson. The only ones that didn't stay behind were Officer Camden, Jordan, and Hobbs, who followed Makenna.
She led them down the hallway, flying as fast as she could. While she flew, her crystal wings shimmered.
The officers were close on her tail.
Every once in a while, Raeven ensured they hadn't lost anybody. In his mind, he asked himself, "Oh, how will I repay Makenna for saving my life?"
Everyone soon arrived at the auditorium.
Makenna threw the door open and flew inside. With her free hand, she gestured for the officers to come in, and they did, shutting the doors.
Officer Camden held his radio to his lips and explained, "We have just entered the auditorium in the east wing. This is where Cody Nelson hid the fairies. Yes, Makenna's with us. Yes, she's all right. However, Officer Jordan says that she's worried about Tracey. Makenna may be all right, but she's not sure if he is. We will search this auditorium from top to bottom. Over." Camden lowered his radio and attached it to his belt. He stepped forward and joined Makenna and the others.
Since she could fly, Makenna searched the ceiling. Acting out her flying pose, she frantically flew up to it and, for the moment, decided not to celebrate becoming a Crystal Metamorphic Fairy. She had to rescue Caleb and Tracey first.
Raeven followed her up to the ceiling.
Makenna soon hovered and called, "Tracey! Caleb! Gina! Somebody! It's Makenna!"
Nobody answered.
Makenna clenched her fists and groaned. "Argh! This is killing me! Tracey! Caleb! Gina!"
"Makenna!" a voice called from down below.
Makenna dipped her head, and her eyes landed on Officer Hobbs, standing almost directly under her. "I think the suspect said that he hid your brother and friend backstage in the changing room."
Makenna gasped. "He did! Thank you, officer! Come on, Raeven!" She and Raeven stooped down and soared toward the stage, the officers remaining close.
Reaching it, Makenna landed, and Raeven rested on her shoulder.
Makenna hurried toward the backstage area and called, "Caleb!" Her voice cracked.
***
Caleb was still trapped in the men's changing room with Tracey and Gina, but he was busy. He was still checking to ensure Tracey was breathing. He was, but had fallen unconscious.
Caleb kept his bare chest exposed, just in case, and comforted Tracey by rubbing his hand. "Hang in there, Tracey. Please." Tracey's hand was cold.
Scared, Gina hobbled to Tracey and leaned against him, whimpering.
Caleb covered him back up with the sheet and clenched his teeth. Where was a phone when he needed one? "Hang in there," Caleb repeated. "Don't let your heart quit on you. Please, Tracey. You're way too young to die."
Soon after, Caleb heard Makenna. "Caleb!"
Caleb gasped and listened carefully. Was that who he thought it was?
After a bit, Makenna again called, "Caleb!"
"Makenna!" Caleb shouted.
Gina jumped.
Outside the changing room, Makenna, who searched backstage for him and Tracey, heard him and whirled around. "Caleb!"
Raeven shuffled on her shoulder.
Officers Camden, Jordan, and Hobbs soon arrived and joined Makenna.
All of them listened to Caleb—"Makenna, we're in here!"—and faced the men's changing room.
Caleb asked his sister, "Are the police with you?"
"Yes!" Makenna said. She and the cops hurried toward where they had heard Caleb, and Makenna added, "Yes, the police are with me!"
"Hurry!" yelled Caleb. "Makenna, please! Get us out of here!"
Makenna noticed the fear in his voice. She sped up, but she and the officers reached the changing room at the same time.
Officer Camden reached forward and grabbed the doorknob. He tried to open the door, but it was locked. "It's locked!" he yelled at his partners.
"Move!" Makenna shouted. She pushed through the officers. Stopping before the door, she lifted her fist and knocked on it, asking Caleb, "Caleb, is Tracey in there with you?"
"He is!" Caleb answered. "And Gina, too. Makenna, please. Get us out of here."
Makenna rested her palm on the door and said, "I'm going to use my magic to break down the door, Caleb."
"Magic?" Caleb wondered. "What are you talking about, Makenna? But your magic is—your magic is… break is down?"
"Stay clear of the door!" Makenna peered back at the officers. "Officers, you, too." She focused back on the door. "All right, Caleb, don't worry. The door is coming down. Protect Gina and Tracey." Makenna backed up and prepared a spell.
Raeven gulped.
The police officers stepped away from the fairy and didn't stick their noses into her business.
In the changing room, Caleb grabbed Gina and approached Tracey's head. Snatching his arms, he slid him back a few feet, away from the door, and said, "Sorry, Tracey, but I have to move you." He returned to Tracey's side and got down. Caleb flung himself on top of Tracey to protect him and Gina. "I'm ready, Makenna!" he said.
"Okay," Makenna said from the other side of the door. She lifted back into the air, clenching her fists.
Makenna closed her eyes and yelled. A ring of blue, fire-like magic surrounded her, and a blue figure of a dragon escaped from it, flying straight for the door.
The officers watched, amazed.
Makenna's dragon growled. Holding out its claws, it flew through the door and ripped it off its hinges. The door flew over Caleb and Tracey's heads and crashed into the wall.
Caleb yelped. However, he then opened his eyes, and they landed on Makenna's dragon. "Holy smokes!" he said.
The dragon flew around the room, roaring. It appeared to be dancing. Before Caleb knew it, though, it went poof and disappeared in the heart of the room. Blue sparkles floated down toward Caleb, Tracey, and Gina.
Astonished, Caleb yelled, "Whoa!" and caught a few sparkles in his palms. "Sweet! How did she do that, though?"
Outside the room, Makenna landed and reached for her knees. "Whew. Spells are exhausting."
"That was amazing, Makenna!" Raeven announced. "Absolutely amazing!"
"Thank you, Raeven," said Makenna. Narrowing her eyes, she plopped down and jogged into the changing room.
Behind, the officers stood thunderstruck. They then chased after Makenna.