𝐈𝐍𝐕𝐈𝐒𝐈𝐁𝐋𝐄 𝐒𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐍𝐆 || 𝗝. 𝗚𝗥𝗔𝗖𝗘

1.2

THE STORM CHURNED INTO A MINARURE HURRICANE kids screamed and ran for the building. The wind snatched away their notebooks, jackets, hats, and backpacks. Irene spotted Jason skidding across the slick floor toward them.

Leo lost his balance and almost toppled over the railing, but Jason grabbed his backpack and pulled him back

"Thanks, man!" Leo yelled.

Irene gripped on to Jason's arm, her hair blowing in her face. She felt so helpless so high in the air.

"Go Go Go!" Yelled Coach Hedge.

Piper and Dylan were holding the doors open herding the other kids inside. Piper's thick jacket was flapping wildly, and her dark hair was all in her face.

Irene, Leo, Jason, and Coach Hedge ran toward them, but it was like running through quicksand. The wind seemed to fight them, pushing them back.

Piper and Dylan pushed one more kid inside then lost their grip on the doors. They slammed shut closing off the skywalk.

Piper tugged at the handles inside the kids pounded at the glass but the doors seemed to be shut.

"Dylan, help!" Piper shouted.

Dylan just stood there with an idiotic grin. like he was suddenly enjoying the storm

"Sorry, Piper," He said. "I'm done helping."

He flicked his wrist and Piper flew backward slamming into the doors and sliding to the sidewalk deck.

"Piper!" Irene yelled she tried running to her side, but the wind was against her Jason, and Coach Hedge pushed her back.

"Guys," Irene said, "Let me go!"

"You three stand behind me." Coach ordered, "This is my fight, I should have known this was the monster."

"What?" Leo demanded. A rogue worksheet slapped him in his face but he swatted it away. "What monster?"

The coach's cap blew off, and sticking above his curly hair were two bumps. Coach Hedge lifted his baseball bat—but it wasn't a regular bat anymore. Somehow it had transformed into a crudely shaped tree branch club with twigs and leaves still attached.

Dylan had a psycho smile played on his lips. "Oh come on, coach! Let her attack me! After all, you are getting too old for this. Isn't that why they retired you to this stupid school? I've been on your team the entire season and you didn't even know. Your losing your nose, grandpa."

Coach made an angry noise like an animal bleating. "That's it, cupcake. You're going down."

"You think you can protect 4 half-bloods at once, old man?" Dylan laughed. "Good luck."

Dylan pointed at Leo and a funnel cloud materialized around him. Leo flew off the sidewalk like he'd been tossed. Somehow he managed to twist in midair and slammed sideways into the Canyon wall. He skidded, clawing furiously for any handhold. Finally, he grabbed a thin ledge about fifty feet below and hung there by his fingertips.

"Help!" He yelled at them. "Rope, please? Bungee cord? Something?"

Coach Hedge cursed and tossed Jason his cub. "I don't know who you two are but I hope you're good. keep that thing busy." He jabbed a thumb at Dylan—"While I get Leo."

"Get him how?" Jason demanded. "You going to fly?"

"Not fly. Climb" Hedge kicked off his shoes. Irene almost passed out. The coach didn't have feet he had hooves—goats hooves. Which meant those things on his head, Irene realized, weren't bumps. They were horns.