Page 39 of Switched

“It’s a giant!” Maxine cries as two giants start descending the beanstalk, which now reaches all the way into the sky.

Jack grabs my hand. “We have to go! This is our chance—the beanstalk will lead us straight to Cloud City!”

His voice is washed away by the sound of a giant stepping onto the ground, making things shake further. Seconds later, the school’s extra-loud new warning siren goes off. It whirs as Miri’s mirrors on the great lawn flash a deep ruby red. “Fairy Tale Reform School is under attack!” Miri announces. “I repeat, Fairy Tale Reform School is under attack! Defend your school!”

A second giant is right behind the first one. The two stumble around the grounds aimlessly, looking sort of stressed by all the little people taking aim at them. I’m slightly in awe of the sight of them. As tall as a castle turret, with feet as large as Blackbeard’s ship, these giants look different from the ones I encountered in the Hollow Woods. Their teeth aren’t all yellow, and if I’m not mistaken, one is wearing a rather civilized dress shirt and vest. I see something fly through the air toward us.

“Duck!” I cry as a trident narrowly misses taking off AG’s head. I watch her face twist angrily as a hair sprouts from her chin. She quickly calms her breathing, and the hair disappears.

I can see now that mermaids are aiming their tridents and spears at the giants with little success. Their weapons keep bouncing off them and onto the ground. Madame Cleo, posed on a rock with fiery-red hair, uses her magic mirror to conjure a whirlpool that whips at such a frantic speed I worry the rest of the mermaids will be washed away. Instead, the first giant gets caught up in the tidal wave and starts to fall. Everyone cheers, but the victory is short lived. The giant stumbles backward and falls into the Pegasus barn.

My throat constricts. Where is Maximus? Is he okay? I look up and breathe a sigh of relief. He’s already in midflight. The sky is full of Pegasi and flying carpets, which hopefully means none were still in the now-crushed barn.

“Those clumsy giants could destroy the school with one wrong move,” Jocelyn shouts as the second giant trips and squashes the vegetable garden with one footstep. “Is anyone still inside the school?”

“Peaches, Wilson, and the fairy pets are,” Maxine realizes at the same time I do.

“And Tessa and Raza are in the dungeon. Right, Jack?” Jax says. “Jack?” We turn to look for him, but he’s gone.

ROARRRRRRRR! The giants are now pointing at the castle.

My eyes move from where Jack was just standing to the beanstalk and back to the school.

Anna.

Wilson. Peaches.

Anna.

The RLWs I can’t stand.

Anna.

I feel pulled in two completely different directions. I look at my home-away-from-home one more time. We can’t hope the giants are stopped before they get to the castle walls. We have to get everyone out in case they do.

Jax is watching me, waiting for me to say the right thing. This time I do.

“We have to go inside and get everyone out.” I whistle for Maximus, and like magic, the Pegasus lands at my feet. Jax climbs on behind me. “But first we need to make a stop at my dorm room. I think I’m going to need my bow and arrow.”

CHAPTER 13

Under Attack

There’s no time to waste. I call out orders from atop Maximus. “Kayla, Jocelyn, and Ollie, make sure Kayla’s mom is secure,” I direct them as they jump onto other Pegasi and join us in flight while Maxine takes off on Blue. “Maxine and AG, you release the fairy pets. Jax and I will grab Peaches and Wilson. Then, we’ll get Tessa and Raza out. We will meet back out here at this wall, or what’s left of it, when we’re done. Got it?”

“Got it!” everyone agrees.

I look at AG. I’ve added her to our crew without even asking. Knowing how she handles stress, is this a good idea? “We can get you back to your parents if you want.” I say.

AG stares at the sky filled with cannon smoke, wand flares, and Pegasi. “No,” she says firmly. “I want to help.”

I look at her.

“I can handle this.”

I nod.

“Any clue where Jack went?” Ollie asks me.