CHAPTER 31HOLLOWEREAfterward, Mayor Mulligan was walking away when he turned and saw Principal Diana across the lawn in a white dress. Something in him collapsed. He went to her and she held him while he came apart completely, her arms around him, her expression patient and still. Elsewhere, Cody found the others, Anna, Cole and Jack, gathered near the edge of the lawn. “Not fair” Anna said immediately “we wore black at Austin's funeral“You don’t like white?” Cole asked “It’s not about liking it. White impractical. You know when you stab someone and the blood goes all over you? With any other colour it won’t show. But white, that’s a lot of bleach. You get it?” Cole stared at her, surprised “not at all” Jack turned to Cody “so what now? Back to Dragon Academy?” “For me, yes. Not you guys” “Why?” “Hommer knew something. Something the other didn’t want us to find out. You need to be the ones to track it down” “How?” Cole asked“I don’t even know who this Hommer guy is” A

From upstairs, Anna and Cole heard the roar. They came down fast and arrived at the doorway to see Cody in the lit room with the beast already rising to its feet. “Run!” Cole shouted Cody turned and bolted, but the beast was faster. One claw swept across his back and threw him into the wall. He hit it hard and slid.“Cody!” Anna’s eyes went wide. Then she took in the full shape of the beast for the first time “So that’s what it looks like” She materialized a spear and drove it at the beast. It passed straight through it like the thing wasn’t there. Anna blinked “My spear just went right through it” “Correct” Cole said The beast swung toward Anna and Cole. Then, Jack hit it from the side, fully shifted, all weight and momentum . the beast staggered. Jack growled and charged at the beast into a full on fight. Anna and Cole used the opportunity and went to bruised Cody and got him outside, each taking one arm, moving through the trees. Cody was grunting with every step “We have t