The throbbing in the back of Zoey’s head was barely noticeable as she came to, but became more obvious as she gained consciousness. She heard Dominic speaking at first, saying her name, sounding very concerned, until she groaned in response. She blinked her eyes open, blearily.

“What happened…?” She managed to ask, head lolling for a second. When her eyes came in to focus, she saw Rebecca hovering over her, tears in her eyes. She reached for her cheek, and found it as solid as it had been before the attack, but utterly confused to what Doug had done.

“Dominic told us everything that happened… but… When Ferris went to rescue him, they took him too.” Rebecca babbled, starting to sob. “I think he did it on purpose this time, so Doug wouldn’t be a-alone.” She wrung her hands and then patted herself on the face. Pulling in her sobs with a shaky breath, she continued to wipe at Zoey’s face. She must have been trying to clean the mess off it from earlier.

Zoey could still taste the metallic tang, and tried to move her tongue around, but everything felt so dry and sandpapery. She began to cry herself, pulling her legs up close to her body. “What are we going to do, Rebecca?” she asked, not looking up.

“I’m going after them.” Rebecca told her quietly, but decidedly. Her lower lip trembled a bit as Zoey looked up at her, but Rebecca stood, and began to walk in the direction of the parking lot.

Zoey scrambled to her feet with some difficulty, and Dominic followed suit, looking conflicted as well. “Rebecca, you can’t do that, you’re exactly who they’ve been trying to capture. We’ve been there multiple times, and the times we weren’t with a dragon, we were captive! Do you want to go back to that? That isn’t what Ferris would want!” Zoey shrieked, her voice raspy from the wood pulp she had swallowed. She paused, glancing around to make sure nobody was around to hear what she was saying. 

Rebecca turned back, her tears drying on her face. “I was there for almost a year, Zoey. I do not need to be reminded how horrible that place is. Of course I don’t want to go back. But you know who has been there longer? Someone I love with all my heart. If I don’t at least try to save Ferris, and Doug, I’ll never forgive myself. I’m not saying you have to come. I’m saying I’m going.” Her voice had an edge that took Zoey aback for a second.

Zoey felt heat rise to her face in shame, and then she decided. “I’m going too.” She told Rebecca.

At this point, Dominic interjected. “Neither of you are even armed! What do you think you’re going to do there other than end up- … I don’t even know what.”

“They want to turn me into a dragon like they did Blythe. It almost killed her, and they have no idea if it will kill me.” Rebecca told him plain faced.

“Rebecca, stop!” Zoey tried, but Rebecca put up her hand.

“He needs to hear this.- You think any of our friends chose to be the way they are? You need to focus your attention on who the real monsters are. If you are dead set on protecting the civilians as you claim to be, how about coming along with us? Because you can’t stop either of us from going.” Rebecca told him, walking away. Zoey began to follow her, and neither looked over their shoulder when Rebecca called out, “Remember who saved you earlier from that machine, or you’d be in the same boat as all of us.”

There was a large sigh, but Dominic charged after them.

On their way to Ferris’ car, they ran into Melanie, who was raring to go after a short explanation. Rebecca, holding both her and Ferris’ backpacks, dug through his until she found his car keys, and slid into the driver’s seat. Zoey took the seat next to her, and Dominic sat in the back, looking nervously at Melanie beside him. In the backseat of the car lay the helmet Ferris had worn to the Halloween dance recently. Rebecca didn’t say anything, but let out another shaky breath, and motioned for Melanie to pass it to her. She did, and Rebecca put it on, sliding up the visor before pulling out of the parking lot.

Zoey had assumed Rebecca would be a better driver, but she certainly wasn’t under stress. Rolling stops were constant, if there was any pretense of a stop at all. Dominic and Zoey exchanged a look and wondered if they should point out that they couldn’t save Doug and Ferris if they were arrested.

When they parked nearby, Dominic did decide to speak up, asking, “Why did I need to come with you if Melanie is here? Isn’t she one of them too?”

She shrugged at him, bouncing past, still energized to save her brothers. “Honestly, you didn’t have to, it’s your fault for not noticing sooner.” then she paused, shooting him a coy look. “I thought you were so dead set against leaving humans alone around the big, scary dragons though?” Her eyes had a pained edge, not matching her smile.

He scoffed, rolling his eyes, but didn’t say anything further as they headed towards the building yet again.

“How much time has passed by the way?” Zoey asked, realizing she didn’t know how how long she had been out for.

“Including the driving time, nearly an hour, Melanie was the only one still at school.” Rebecca reasoned, walking around to the side of the building, still wearing the knight’s helmet on her head. “Dominic, boost me to that window.” She demanded, pointing to one that was in a reasonable distance, and looked like it might be open a crack.

He walked over and looped his hands, reluctantly giving her a boost, while Zoey and Melanie stood off to one side.

“Okay, if that happens again, I’d really like to point out the fact that I was out for a super long time and you should have taken me to the hospital.” Zoey told them, watching Rebecca yank the window open further and slide inside. She hesitated again to follow, fear kicking in, but also wondering if Dominic could boost her, being a bit heavier than Rebecca. She glanced at Melanie, who was also curvier, but she just put her hand up to Dominic, and hopped up to the window with ease and without aid. He probably was a little nervous to help her anyway, having confirmed her dragon status. Zoey didn’t want to be left behind, so she struggled into the window with Dominic’s help, but had a bit more difficulty than the others did.

“Okay, next time we bring someone who can break walls.” Zoey whispered, looking around the empty board room they had ended up in.

“Remember, stealth mission this time, our numbers are down, and frankly, my powers are stronger than Doug and Ferris, but that still doesn’t rank me very high.” Melanie told them, pacing forward. She suddenly turned back and stuck her finger directly under Dominic’s chin. “If you use that information against me in the future, I swear I’ll introduce you to the most powerful members of my family. One of which is apparently Karver, and we all know he’s willing to get his hands dirty.” She threatened.

Dominic gave her a wary look, to which she flipped her curls over her shoulder and turned back to the door again. “Wait, who’s Karver?” he asked.

“He’s one of the guys that works here, just hope we don’t run into him.” Zoey told his quietly, while Rebecca deadpanned,

“He’s a real asshole.”

“Wow, it’s like Ferris is still right here alongside us. You just channel him while he’s gone, don’t you?” Dominic remarked, walking out into the hallway with his dagger drawn. They all followed suit, Rebecca pulling a face under her helmet. Nobody mentioned that they could hear her shaky breathing the entire time behind them.

It took a long time to make it through the halls under their self imposed stealth mission. At one point, they came across an intersection of hallways, and they had to duck into a dark office until the employees crossing had all left. This snail’s pace had Rebecca’s teeth chattering, and she kept reaching under the mask in order to roughly grab her own face and force her jaw to stop moving.

Each time they came to the end of another floor, their hearts sank, because climbing the stairs and starting on a whole new floor held so much risk, and so much to fear. Luckily, it was past the hours of a regular working day, so the usual office workers were gone, leaving enough empty rooms for them to duck into, but there were still scientists, researchers, and guards prowling around. With the added danger that some of these people could secretly turn into dragons, taking their time was heavily necessary.

When they saw where Ferris and Doug were being kept, in a research room filled with machines and computers, behind a large window, it was difficult to not rush to them right away. Fortunately, nobody had noticed their entrance to the facility at all, and they were able to inch their way over. Melanie tried the door, and much to everyone’s surprise, it opened. Dominic stayed at the door, just to keep watch and make sure it stayed open in case this was a trap. The oddest thing about the room was probably the fact that both Ferris and Doug were on operating tables that had them shackled in and turned upside down, IV’s in their arms, both seeming to be passed out until the rescue team pushed their way in. Well, to be fair, Doug was still unconscious, but Ferris’ eyes popped open as if he’d been trying to have a quick nap.

“Oh good, you’re finally here, Doug’s been out for like twenty minutes, it’s been super boring, and I’m really tired of being upside down.” He told them, Rebecca pulling off her helmet and rushing over to him. He just gave her a nauseated smile, then nodded as best as he could towards the IV’s. “Probably best to remove those first, then the computers control the shackles. If I could see I’d instruct you a bit more but-” He suggested, his voice cut off as Rebecca slammed her hand down on a button and the shackles holding his legs in place immediately opened. He prevented himself from kneeing himself in the face when his legs fell forward only by leaning forward and stretching his toes out to slam his feet into the window across from him. Then, he visibly winced, and Rebecca pulled her hands away from the buttons, up to her face, looking terrified.

“It’s okay, it’s okay. My feet are just the numbest they’ve ever been, from being upside down. Also, I wasn’t expecting you to release my feet first.” He told her, trying to work them on the glass without losing his grip.

Melanie was continually chanting, “Ew, ew, ew, ew.” to herself, removing the IV’s from her brother’s arms gingerly, and Zoey pretended to know how to take Doug’s pulse. She glanced at Dominic who was giving her an odd look, until Zoey moved her hand three inches to the right, then he nodded silently, giving his head a little unimpressed shake.

Ferris looked back to Rebecca, then nodded at the computer. “Go ahead, I’m prepared.” He told her, and she hit the buttons a little less exuberantly this time. His torso and arms released and he rolled with it, landing on his feet with only a slight shake of the knees. He turned and gave Dominic a confused look, but then Doug let out a groan and he reached forward to help catch Doug as Rebecca released his shackles. He and Zoey kept Doug pressed against the table as support, but spun him around so he would be right-side up when he came to.

“Do you know what they were trying to do to you guys?” Zoey whispered, and Ferris shrugged.

“It wasn’t having any effect on me, so I have no idea. I wasn’t even sleepy, I just felt sick from being turned around.” He told them honestly, giving Doug a shake.

Doug’s eyes rolled, but as he was actually out cold, and-possibly due to a chemical, it was taking a bit for him to actually regain consciousness.

Dominic kept a nervous watch by the door. “When was the last time they checked on you guys, Ferris?” he asked, chewing his lip.

“Oh, it was recently, they shouldn’t be back yet. I can carry Doug if we need to though.” Ferris offered. Nobody pointed out their difference in height, and that Doug’s feet might drag, even if Ferris could lift him due to dragon strength.

“We kind of want to leave as stealthily as we came, although that will be as simple as finding a window, so much quicker than before.” Melanie commented, trying to read the labels on the IV bags, but they were all coded, created in-house at JARGON, probably.

Doug began to stir at this time, causing them all to turn back to him as he opened his eyed blearily. He looked at them as if he was very confused, and even a bit nervous. They waited for the confusion to clear, but it didn’t seem to, instead, Doug pushed weakly back from Ferris and Zoey, trying to stand but stumbling to one side, falling to the floor. He looked at his own legs and seemed surprised.

“Doug?” Ferris asked, looking worried and sounding hurt, his jaw working. He didn’t rush towards Doug, however, allowing him his space, and putting his hand in front of Zoey.

She wasn’t sure who he was trying to protect. Every time Doug looked at anyone, there was no spark of recognition in his eyes. She felt her heart sink.

“W-who?” Doug started, but then jumped at the sound of his own voice, holding his throat. He was beginning to look around in a much more panicked way.

“Doug, it’s us. We’re your friends and family, you’re safe!” Demanded Melanie, voice sounding strained.

Doug just looked at her, as if he wasn’t sure she was speaking to him, his breathing starting to quicken. Then suddenly, the fog cleared. Doug’s head snapped up to attention, and he cried out, weakly, “F-ferris.” He reached out his arms, and Ferris was there instantly to help him up.

“Okay, buddy. Just keep breathing and I’m sure you will clear your head in a second.” Dominic instructed, but even he sounded alarmed.

Ferris didn’t even speak, avoiding eye contact with anyone, his mind a storm.

Finally, after a few moments, Doug seemed to recognize everyone, but was instead becoming more and more alarmed that he hadn’t. When his eyes met Zoey’s without the fog, she instantly relaxed.

“I’m so sorry!” he told them quietly, but Melanie brushed it off.

“We really need to head towards the nearest exit. We can discuss what happened later, but we have definitely been here too long.” She told him, ushering everyone to the door. They headed out at the same shaky pace they’d had before, slipping out a window and having Melanie and Ferris fly each person to the ground. Even Dominic silently accepted, even if he did part ways with them directly afterwards, looking shaken.