Well, these next two weeks shall conclude Season Four (the second half is done so it will be next week I swear). It has been a rough road with many delays this season for which I thank you all for being so patient and remaining such loyal readers.

Exciting news! The official tumblr is back up and running: .com. Right now it has an image of the face claim for Lori and her Companions and a few extra goodies- a Highlight Reel, Sneak Peeks, Relationships, and much more. I'm hoping to keep the momentum going as summer approaches and am pretty excited. Stop over there and ask a question or let me know what you want to see.

I can confirm there will be a Season Five with a trailer up in two weeks after the second half and the episode following the week after. Thank you again so much for your love and support of Lori and her Companions and enjoy what promises to be a very intense conclusion to the season.

XXX

Lori Fitzgerald exits the classroom to find Charlie Prescott and Michael Harms waiting for her. She locks eyes with them before throwing her hands up in the air, papers flying everywhere. "We are officially done with Organic Chemistry!" she whoops. They laugh at her antics as she proceeds to dance and kick the papers. "This is what freedom tastes like, boys."

"You'd better pick those up," Michael tells her. "The big dedication ceremony for the new wing is today and a professor might kill you if he sees that." Lori sighs and scoops the papers back up. "I can't wait until I can see the conservatory for myself."

"Oh boy stars," Lori says sarcastically.

"And a glass ceiling," Michael adds. "Plus dangling planets. And new labs with fancy machinery, more classrooms, and a greenhouse. This is going to be really awesome next year."

"I look forward to it," Lori says rolling her eyes. Charlie just laughs and she ruffles his hair. "Won't stop science from being science. Which means impossible."

They exit the building when there is suddenly a glow from her bag. She pulls out the book as it sputters, sighing. "I was starting to think we'd get a free pass these Finals. Especially with it being over a week. But I should know better by now."

"We also need to be careful," Charlie adds cautiously. "We don't have the best track record during Final's either- Frodo and Hades coming to mind." Lori nods but raises an eyebrow at the fact that the book is still sputtering.

"I hope this is a good sign," she says with a guarded expression as it finally stops with a burst of light the barely blinds them anymore. "Let's text the others and get this figured out so we don't leave someone Finch has to entertain all summer."

"Caleb?" Charlie asks, addressing the elephant in the room. Lori takes a moment before nodding.

"I'd like to keep him benched until we get this sorted, but we need all hands on deck so we can get this moving." Charlie nods, sending a text to everyone. "Let's grab our stuff and take the gym." The group then heads towards the dorms, Charlie unsurely looking over his shoulder as they go. Lori puts an arm around him. "It's going to be fine. I'm sure we've handled worse." They keep walking but he doesn't seem convinced by her words… and quite frankly neither does she.

XXX

So follow me down

Lori stands with the glowing Disney Encyclopedia. She sighs and pulls out her phone.
Where to?
Outta this town

Charlie examines his map and grabs his flashlight.
With you
Girl, you're movin way

Hannah is typing away at her computer.
Too slow

Caleb is right next to her doing the same, nudging her playfully.

So follow me down

Michael grabs his first aid backpack and throws it on his shoulders.
Which way?

Rachel is performing on stage when her phone rumbles in her boot.
Down, down, down

Ben looks at his phone, adjusting his tie.
I'll show you around

Kaity is drawing pictures of the group absently in her dorm room.
Okay

Andrew runs out the door, nearly tripping, removing his magician's cap from his head.
There's a place we gotta go

Finch puts the two fingers to her temple and her eyes glaze over.

Follow me, follow me

Lori, Charlie, Hannah, Michael, Ben, Kaity, Finch, Rachel, Caleb, and Andrew are running through the preserve, freezing once on each of their faces.
Fa la la la la

Follow me, follow me

Fa la la la la

Lori comes to a halt and the others crash into her, sending them all to the ground.

Lori Disney? (Not Likely!)

Episode Twenty A: Listen Well, All of You

XXX

Lori, Charlie, and Michael shine their flashlights in every direction as they walk through the preserve that evening with their other Companions: Hannah Frost, Caleb Dean, Ben Prescott, Kaity Klingbeil, Finch Hale, Andrew Parker, and Rachel Ellis. Everyone is on edge and tightly packed around one another- Kaity with her arm through Ben's, Finch guiding Rachel, and Lori keeping Charlie firmly behind her.

Caleb takes in the scene and moves up to Hannah. "I assume we have a good reason for being this tense, but I was wondering if you could enlighten me as to what it may be." Andrew becomes interested and drifts over to the two of them.

"Finals weeks usually means some rotten and ugly characters. Last semester Lori was thrown off a balcony by Hades and the semester before nearly… assaulted by Frollo. Since we haven't found them yet we're starting to think this is going to be the same wheelhouse."

"I was so busy thinking about the characters we'd get to meet that I kind of forgot about the villains," Andrew admits. "There doesn't seem to be a lesson to learn to them and they endanger the book itself by endangering Lori's life. Why would the book let them through too?"

"Much like most of the book's motives," Lori cuts in having overheard, "we have no idea."

"Do you trust it though?" Caleb asks.

Lori takes a beat before answering. "I do." She can't see him look downcast at this. "It is the biggest pain in my neck, but I've found it has a way of taking care of me. It's the reason Finch is still alive, it made sure Merlin got me the sword, and it knew just who to send for Michael. I try to listen to it," she admits, looking back at him. "Sometimes I'm just not sure what it's trying to tell me." Caleb nods at this, Lori bringing everybody to a halt as they reach the clearing where a lone figure is standing in the center- perfectly still. Everyone almost shivers unconsciously and their breath becomes visible.

Lori knows these aren't good signs and steels herself, eyes narrowing. "Stay here," she says under her breath, gripping the sword tight as she emerges to meet the person. Everyone gets as close as they can to fringe of trees without disobeying her. "I figure you've been waiting for me. I hope I haven't kept you too long." Silence. Lori tries to keep it from unnerving her. "This is typically the part where you gloat about how you're going to be different from every villain I've faced so far for a bit. I'd keep with the program so we can get this done pretty easily… with me winning of course."

There is the smallest hint of a laugh. "Trust me," a cold, menacing voice informs her, "you have not met anyone even close to my league yet." The figure turns slowly as if finally willing to give Lori some attention. "There is a reason they call me the Mistress of All Evil," she smiles, revealing herself to be Maleficent.

The color practically drains from Lori's face at the sight of her, causing her to take a step back. "I don't care who you think you are," she attempts bravery. "I'm sending you back where you belong." She raises her sword towards the sorceress, but Maleficent stares at her almost bored. "I've been practicing so we might be able to make this an even fight."

Maleficent then stares past her to the tree where her Companions are barely hiding- fighting the urge to run and help their leader. She throws her arms out grandly. "Listen well, all of you," she commands in a booming voice. "You have three days exactly to convince your foolish leader to hand the magic book over to me. If in that time I have not received what I desire…" She just starts laughing in a way that puts everyone on edge, before suddenly halting. "Then no one on this entire campus will survive my wrath." She then locks eyes with Lori- eyebrow raised. "I suggest you understand the sincerity of what I'm saying and make the right choice… for everyone."

Lori watches her flick her wrist and there is suddenly the sound of something breaking behind her. A scream echoes through the clearing, causing her to turn around. By the time she looks back, Maleficent has completely vanished. She growls and makes the sword disappear, sprinting towards her Companions who are all in a ruckus over someone on the ground. "What happened?!"

"She broke his arm," Ben explains in a rush from where he is kneeling next to who she realizes is Michael. He starts digging through his first-aid backpack. "One minute he was just standing with the rest of us, and then all of a sudden 'Snap!'" He pulls out a splint and hands it Charlie, digging for more supplies as Lori kneels next to Michael.

"I'm so sorry Doctor. I'm so sorry," she apologizes, seeing the bone is physically sticking out of his arm. "I had no idea she could that, otherwise-"

"I know," he assures her, gritting his teeth in pain as Ben and Caleb fix the splint on him. "I'm going to be fine, Lores."

Lori rises to address everyone. "I need someone to take him to the hospital now." Andrew raises his hand immediately. "Thanks Andy. Ben, can you go with them?" Ben makes a face, but quickly buries it and nods as he helps Michael up. "Stay together. That goes for everyone. No one is going out by themselves until we deal with her." She starts out of the preserve and everyone follows, Charlie running up beside her. "We are so out of our league buddy."

"You'll figure something out," he says with every confidence in her. "You always do."

Lori looks back over her shoulder at Michael, who is taking a couple pain pills Hannah fished out of the backpack. "I'm not so sure about that," she admits, her leader façade falling away to fear.

XXX

The next morning, Lori turns to see Hannah looking at her from the edge of the bed. "Jesus!" she shoots up, clutching her chest. "I won't be your roommate next year if you creep on me when I sleep."

Hannah just raises an eyebrow. "We both know you didn't sleep at all last night, even after the Doctor texted you that he was back safe and sound." Lori knows she can't argue with this and hops out of bed. "It's a good thing you're up though. They've been waiting?"

"Who?"

"Pretty much everybody," Hannah informs her, causing Lori to groan. "They all want to know the plan and what they can do to help, because you're not handing the book over and we don't want everyone on campus to die. So I'd figure out some sort of leader speech before I go out there."

Lori takes a moment, running a hand through her hair. "Hannah, I spent all last night thinking about what we should do… and I have nothing!"

Hannah folds her arms. "Yeah. That isn't going to cut it out there. Think of something better, especially for if she turns into a dragon."

"This isn't a joke!" Lori lashes out. "She broke his arm by waving her hand! We don't know what else she'll do to get to me! She could sneak up on Rachel and she wouldn't even know! I'm half tempted to order you all on the bench and handle this by myself, but I know all of you won't listen to me!" Hannah just takes it. "She is the single most powerful Disney villain and we are a bunch of college kids and a projection. There is no possible way we can win this," she says, resigned.

Hannah taps her foot a minute, thinking. "Hold on." She runs out of the bedroom and returns a minute later with a confused Andrew. "Time to do your job," she tells him as Lori just rolls her eyes. "I will be with the others keeping them calm until you get your shit together." She heads out, slamming the door.

Andrew gives Lori his typical small wave. "Good morning." She nods at him. "Those… you really look nice in those pajamas," he offers, pointing to the Avenger pajama set she's sporting. "I'm a fan big of the Avengers too… big fan. Sorry." Lori can't help but give the smallest smile, making him smile as well though he's still a bit uncomfortable. "I'm-I'm not sure why Hannah-"

"She wants you to calm me down, not see the situation as bleak as I am right now. Normally she would drag in Charlie or Michael, but I guess they're even beyond dragging me off the cliff right now."

"He's kind of still a little loopy from the pain medication and Charlie is panicking a bit since he watched the movie last night." Lori leans against her dresser and after a beat he joins her. "I'm not exactly sure what she wants me to say."

"I don't know if you have to say anything in particular," Lori admits. "You're a good, optimistic person and she's trying to get some of it to rub off on me- well, this version of me." They take a beat. "Can you show me a magic trick?" He raises an eyebrow at her. "Just show me that something impossible is possible."

"Anything for you, Fitz," he says with a huge smile. He looks around the room quickly before grabbing Hannah's alarm clock and a full pencil cup from her desk. He puts both things on the dresser and covers it with a blanket from her bed. "Now don't take your eyes off it," he warns. He then waves his hand over it three times before pulling the sheet off to reveal the clock in now in the pencil cup and the pencils are all where the clock once sat. Lori looks at him with genuine amazement and that only makes his smile wider. "That look is why I do magic," he tells her.

"I don't know how you did that," she admits. He puts everything back quickly and efficiently. "I honestly don't have a clue."

"But I did it," he reminds her, sliding so he's next to her again. "I did something impossible. You can too." She just looks at him, smile becoming smaller but still there. "From what I understand you've even faced a dragon before."

"Yeah, but that was only because DIZ was there to take it out with harpoons and chains. It was pretty efficient." Something hits her and she snaps in his direction. "That's it. We can do this. We just need help to do this." She goes to run out of the room, but stops at the door. "For what it's worth, you're very good at your job."

"Well, I'd hope I was good at magic if I wanted to make a career out of it."

"No. At being a good, optimistic person. Thank you, Andy." She then vanishes out the door and he watches the spot for a moment.

"Like I said," he says to himself, "anything for you, Fitz." He then heads out to the living area where all the Companions have gathered. Lori is moving off checking on Michael to Finch.

"I need you to get in contact with Higgins," she requests. Everyone, particularly those there for the DIZ saga, get a little on edge. "I don't like it either. But the fact of the manner is that at the moment we don't have the power or tools for this job. We need to contact them, use them, and then I swear to God we will send them on their way. They were so desperate to help us before I don't see why they wouldn't now." She can still tell the others are a bit unsure. "Trust me. We need to keep all of us safe and that is going to be an impossible task without them. You've trusted me to lead you this far. Let's end this year the best way we can."

There is a beat before Rachel speaks up. "I think she's right. We do what we need to do. She's not playing around and neither should we."

Finch nods. "I will proceed forward in contacting them immediately." She puts two fingers to her temple and heads out the door.

"Everyone else just go about you day- take you Finals, study for Finals, sleep off the pain medicine you are obviously on. The second we have a plan I will let you all know, okay?" They all nod and rise, Charlie making sure to give her a hug before he follows. This leaves Lori and Hannah alone staring at the door.

"Tell me it's going to be okay," Lori requests.

Hannah puts an arm around her shoulder. "Everything is going to be absolutely fine," she says convincingly. Lori doesn't seem to completely buy it though as she heads back to change into some clothes.

XXX

That afternoon, Lori is in the library studying when Ethan comes up to her. "So… you never called me," he comments, making her jump.

"Oh, yes. Sorry. Things have been really busy lately. I have a lot more to deal with than you average college student," she admits, rising and closing the book.

"We could do something when you're done with Finals. You should be less busy then, right?" He can read her expression pretty easily and frowns. "Was-was I reading it wrong. Because I could have sworn you were flirting back with me-"

"I was," she cuts him off. "I just- I can't."

"You're just not even going to try?" She backs off a few steps. "Wow. I guess you were different than what I thought when I asked you out. Have a great summer." She watches him go before turning and exiting herself.

"It's for the best," she tells herself, nearly running into Finch.

"I got ahold of them," the projection informs her, immediately distracting her from what had just occurred. "I can give you a number that will put you right to Higgins."

Lori nods. "Alright. Let's go figure this out."

XXX

"Okay, Higgins," Lori says with a relieved smile that evening as she pours over drawing on a piece of notebook paper. "It's a plan. We'll see you tomorrow at nine o'clock on the dot." She hangs up her phone and pats Finch on the shoulder. "Thanks for getting me through to him so fast."

"I merely had to mention you name and it cleared virtually every hurdle," Finch waves off the compliment. She nods to the paper. "Is that our plan?" Lori nods and rises, heading out to the living room where everyone has gathered. Finch follows as she places the paper on the table for all to see.

"The plan is simple," she begins in her best leader tone. "We will take up posts around the classroom building in pairs around eight fifty-five tomorrow- one on the top floor, two on the main floor, and one on the bottom floor with myself in it. This will hopefully be enough bait that Maleficent can't resist and will put in an appearance. It will most likely be with me, but it it's with any of you then you book it as fast as you can down to me. You do not engage her. You run like hell. My floor is where the doors are and where we need to lure her out of."

She looks up to see everyone nodding and following along. "DIZ will arrive exactly at nine and meet the last group at the top of the hill overlooking the building. They will then surround the building and the moment she walks out those doors open fire while getting all of us out of there. We aren't thinking this is going to kill her. It will merely piss her off and make her go dragon at which point they duplicate what we did before. I send her back and we all walk away. Sound good?" Everyone nods, some surer than others but all determined to stand by her.

"I take the bottom floor with you," Finch decides. "You need to be protected the most and I am the one most equipped to do that."

"Finch, I don't-"

"You do, Lores," Michael cuts in. "Finch will be with you." She stares at him for a moment, but finally gives in.

"Fine." She scribbles their names on the spot. "Charlie and Rachel are taking the hill that way they are out of direct harm." Charlie goes to say something. "You are the only minor here and we have already dealt with you being hurt once. There is no argument. You know I want you by my side, but this is what we need to do. And Rachel-"

"I'm blind and putting me in that building would be a disaster for my partner," she summarizes like it's no big deal. "Plus having me with the kid will keep him from running off to you because he'd have to abandon me. Sounds like a good plan actually."

"Kaity and I will take the main floor," Ben offers. "I want to be with her if Charlie's out of the equation." Lori nods and scribbles that in.

"And I'll take the other side with Hannah," Caleb follows up. Lori scribbles that as well.

"And that leaves Michael and Andy for the top floor," she finishes her writing. Andrew and Michael nod at one another. "Okay, this needs to be efficient and precise. You don't leave your partner. You don't leave your post. You do not engage the villain. Are we clear because anyone who breaks those will be benched for the entirety of next semester?" Everyone nods and mutters in agreement. She nods and rises. "Get a good night's sleep. Tomorrow we go to work." She notices everyone hesitating and can't help but smirk. "Fine. Go grab your stuff and we'll have a big sleep over if that sounds better." This seems to agree more with people and Lori heads to the bedroom, tucking the plan in the filing cabinet next to the book.

XXX

Higgins hangs up the phone with a frown. "I'm sorry, Lori. But this is the way it has to be for things to move forward with Abbot." He then heads out of his office, passing a completely empty headquarters as he heads out for the night, seeming to regret what he is about to do but not enough to stop him from doing it.

XXX

The next night, Caleb is suiting up in his running shoes, slipping a flashlight into his pocket and his phone into the other. There is a knock and he looks up as Jolene Dean enters, arms crossed. He instantly knows the nature of this visit and sighs. "Jolene-"

"Michael told me this one is pretty dangerous. I wouldn't let him tell me who, but I can figure it out based on how scared you all are." She walks up to him, eyes down. "I don't know exactly what happened to his arm, but-"

He grips her shoulder and smiles gently at her. "I'll be careful. We all will."

"Maybe you could sit this one out?" she asks. "With Finals this week and everything I know she'll understand. You have that big one tomorrow and you need sleep to-"

"What did Michael say when you asked him the same thing."

"I didn't," she admits. "She's his family and he will follow her into battle always because he needs to protect her. I've made my peace with that. But you- you're just a few months old- a new recruit. You can't possibly-"

"When I signed up I vowed to be a Companion," Caleb tells her. "I am a member of that family and I plan to be no matter what because for the first time in three years I feel like I'm doing something important. I'm going to keep this campus safe like they do and it's going to be fine because I will have their back and they will have mine," he vows, hugging her. "Just like me and you." They stand there for a minute. "I will keep an eye on Michael, okay?"

She nods, pulling back. "Thank you." He nods and she heads out, him following a moment later to meet Hannah and Lori at the end of the hallway. Hannah takes his hand and Lori gives him a nod that he reciprocates. Soon everyone else has gathered and they all head out as Lori makes the sword appear in her hand and passing the book to Charlie, striding confidently and together towards their biggest battle yet as a unified team.

XXX

Lori stands tensely with her grip tight around the sword in the basement of the classroom building. She looks both ways down the hallway seeing nothing but an equally amped up Finch who has both fingers to her temple in constant surveillance. She locks eyes with her, but the projection merely shakes her head. She clicks a button Hannah installed on her phone, hold it like a walky-talky. "Alright, everyone report in," she orders in full leader mode.

"Andrew and I have the top floor," Michael's voice comes through. "No sign of anything."

"Caleb and I are in the Nursing wing on the main floor," Hannah adds.

"While Kaity and I have the Engineering wing of the main floor," Ben follows.

"Lori and I have the bottom floor secure," Finch says, having a connection without a phone.

Lori can't help but roll her eyes. "Finch, I'm right next to you. You're fine." She goes back to addressing the others. "Okay. Everyone keep an eye out and let me know the instant we have a sign of her. Do not approach. Just run and keep her distracted until Finch and I get there with Higgins and DIZ to pull out the stops." She clicks the button so they can't hear her anymore. "My hope is she just comes after us anyway."

"Lori, can we talk to you on our channel. It's pretty urgent," Charlie's voice crackles. Lori hits a button that switches to a second channel.

"Great. Put me on with Higgins."

There is a pause before Charlie speaks, clearly very worried. "Lori, they're not here." Lori and Finch look at one another, perplexed and worried. "Rachel and I are right where they said to meet them- on the hill. But there is no sign of anyone- not even cars coming into campus. He's not here. "

Lori tries to keep everything calm. "Just keep waiting. He promised he'd be here. He knows we need him for this plan."

"They're a military organization. They wouldn't be late," Charlie voices his obvious worries. Lori can hear what he's afraid to say and tries to comfort him.

"They'll be here. It's all going to be-"There is suddenly a rumbling that nearly knocks Lori off her feet. She whirls to face Finch. "What was that?" Finch shakes her head as it happens again, sending them both sprawling to the ground as the shaking continues.

"Lori, it's just your building that's shaking!" Charlie's voice shouts from the phone she dropped as the rumbling gets even harder. She crawls for the phone and manages to snatch it, pulling it out of the way as a piece of the floor lands right where it once was.

"Are they coming?!" she asks, desperate.

There is the smallest pause before Charlie is back. "There's no sign of them." She seems to realize what this means and he does to. "Lori, they aren't coming!" Lori screams as she is thrown against a wall when she rises as if by magic.

"Such a shame," a spine-chilling voice comes through the phone. "All of you trapped in that building with no way out. No one to come and save you." Lori looks at Finch who shakes her head.

"She's not here. She's not doing this from here. We can't-"

"I wish I could be there is person, but it just seemed too dangerous. I hope you all find you way to safety. Especially you, Ms. Fitzgerald." At that, Lori slides to the ground- released from the wall. "It would be terrible for the game to end so soon. Have fun," she ends as more pieces of debris begin to fall around them. Finch helps Lori to her feet.

"It's a trap!" Charlie shouts, frantic. "It's a trap, Lori! You need to get out of there! Lori-!"

"You two stay where you are no matter what!" she barks before switching channels. "Everybody, listen to me. DIZ isn't coming. It's all a trap. This is Maleficent. We need to get out of here. Everyone find the quickest and safest way out now!" At that, the rumbling causes her to drop her phone. She goes to reach for it, but Finch pulls her back as a piece of debris nearly decapitates her and crushes her phone.

"Come on," Finch orders, taking charge. She takes off at a run, dragging Lori behind her. "We need to get you out of here immediately." A piece of debris falls, but she punches it apart so they are merely coated in dust. "Protect Lori Fitzgerald and her Companions."

"We need to get the others!" Lori shouts as they reach the main doorway of the building to find it blocked. "This is the only door! We need to save them- get them here!"

"We need to get you our first," Finch reasons. "You are the keeper of the book and the primary target. The rest would want you safe." She gets to work throwing the blocked debris aside with ease as chaos reigns down around them, keeping Lori safe from falling things and on her feet right next to her.

XXX

Hannah and Caleb are sprinting down their wing towards the stairwell door, hand in hand. Suddenly, a huge portion of the ceiling comes down and he makes a split-second decision, shoving her towards the door as she screams. When the dust settles she pulls herself up from her back to see is alone. She is closed off, the rest of the hallway blocked to her by this piece of ceiling.

"Caleb?!" she shouts, voice cracking. "Caleb!" She pulls herself up and runs to the fallen ceiling that blocks her way. "Caleb!"

"I'm here!" she hears faintly, causing her to release the breath she had been holding. "I'm okay! I got out of the way! It's okay!" Hannah looks at the blockage and starts moving rocks as fast as she can.

"Don't worry! I'll get you out!"

"Hannah, there's too much rubble here!" he reasons calmly. "You take those stairs and I'll get to the ones on the other side of the building, okay?! I'm a fast runner! I can do it!"

"I'm not leaving you!" she shouts, fist pounding a rock.

"You need to!" his voice orders her. "You need to be safe! I need you safe! So get out of here and I will see you outside! I promise!" She hesitates, knowing he's right. Finally, she takes a few steps back towards the stairwell- his wishes for her winning out.

"You'd better be! Because I love you!" She starts down the stairs, desperately grasping the railing as they become a slide to keep herself from falling. "No!" she shouts to the ceiling, slowly sliding down with a grip on the railing. "You're not taking me down that easily!"

Meanwhile, he is leaning against his side of the rubble with a large dorky smile. "I-I love you too!" he shouts, unaware she's no longer there. He then runs the other way down the long hallway, pulling his shirt up as smoke wafts up from various fires that have started.

XXX

Michael and Andrew meanwhile are about halfway to one of their stairwells on the top floor. The floor starts to fall out from behind them and is rapidly catching up. Andrew makes a split-second decision and throws open the door to a closet. Michael follows in after him and the two proceed to barricade the door with anything the can find around them before sliding down the wall to the floor.

"We… stay here until it gets better or it gets worse," Andrew pants. "She doesn't seem to be focusing on us or we'd be dead in this box. We're safe here for now." Michael nods in agreement, wiping sweat from his forehead.

"I need to get to everyone else," he says.

"We will," Andrew vows. "We just need to make sure we can get you to them first. We need a minute." Michael can't argue with this and the two of them remain huddled in the back corner of the closet catching their breath and hearing destruction all around them.

XXX

Kaity and Ben are running for the other set of stairs as fast as they can when beams shoot up from the floor. She lets out a scream as they try to maneuver and dodge them, him always keeping her a step ahead of them. They seem to manage to make their way out of the situation and take just a moment to catch their breath- ducking into a classroom.

It's a moment too long. The ceiling above them comes falling down and Ben lets out a cry as a steel beams lands right on top of his stomach, pinning him to the ground. The shaking only grows worse as Kaity climbs out from under the desk where she hid and sees this.

"Ben!" she runs and tries to lift it, but obviously has no luck as he screams in pain and agony. She looks at him, running a bloody hand through his hair. "I'm going to get help! I'm going to find someone and we'll get you out of here, okay?"

He just continues to scream, cutting her to the core. She kisses his forehead and then takes off for the stairwell. "Help!" she cries up it. "Help! Somebody! Ben needs help!" She starts up the stairs rather than down in desperation, reaching a landing when beams coming shooting out of the floor. They box her in a corner, hand trapped between two of them and bleeding profusely. She starts hyperventilating as she tries to pull it out.

"Help! Please! Help!"

XXX

Finch and Lori make it to the top of the hill, both covered in dust and dirt but ultimately no worse for wear. Lori then realizes something as she looks around. "They're not here. They didn't listen to me." She goes to run back, but Finch grabs her and holds her from behind. "Let go of me! We need to go! We need to save them!"

"I will go back," Finch says in a tone that leaves no budging. "I will go back and get all of them to this hill before I return. I can handle myself in there. You need to stay here."

"I'm not just going to watch while my friends are-"

"You are!" Finch raises her voice, setting Lori down firmly but not letting go yet. "I cannot protect you and dedicate myself to finding them. You are because you are too important to lose in there."

"They're more important than I am!"

"Lori Fitzgerald, you need to realize that in this way they are not!" Finch shouts, stopping her cold. "If Maleficent kills you they will all come through. There will be nothing any of us can do to stop them and we will all die anyway. This is the best thing you can do for them. They need their leader. They need to see you and be able to run to you once they get out of there. That is the part you need to play because to them you are the most important." She lets go and Lori remains still, almost in tears.

"I don't like it. This isn't the kind of leader I want to be."

Finch comes around her, looking back at her over her shoulder. "We both know it's never about what you want to be." This seems to hit her and she gives the weakest of nods, part of her clearly hating herself for agreeing. "Stay here," Finch orders as she takes off towards the building. "Everyone is depending on it!"

Lori just watches her go, twiddling her thumbs as her eyes remain locked on the chaos of the building before her.

XXX

Caleb has made it to the other end of the main floor when he hears the screaming. He looks into the classroom and sees Ben pinned under the beam. "Shit!" he exclaims, running over to him. "Ben!" he shouts as he takes the scene in. "Ben, we need to get this off you."

"Kaity…Kaity went to get help," he manages to get out of gritted teeth. Caleb kneels but can instantly tell he will not be able to lift this giant beam off of him. "You need… need to get out of here."

Caleb shakes his head. "We're not leaving a man behind. Maybe I can slide you out." He goes around and clutches Ben under the shoulders before pulling. All it does is make Ben wail in absolutely excruciating pain to the point Caleb lets go. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I was just trying- I don't know what to do."

"Leave," Ben groans as the shaking gets worse. "Leave me."

"Well, I'm not doing that," Caleb disagrees with venom. He takes a seat next to Ben, putting his head in his lap. "I'm staying with you. Someone will find us, okay? We're going to be fine and Kaity and Hannah can lecture us when we get out."

"It hurts so much," Ben cries, tears flowing freely. Caleb squeezes his shoulder.

"I know. I can imagine," he tries to comfort his friend. "But pain is good. Pain means you're alive. It's when you feel no pain that we have a problem."

Ben takes this in and settles back, grimacing rather than screaming in agony. He then realizes something that makes his eyes go wide. "Then I think we have a problem." Caleb raises an eyebrow as Ben tilts his head to look up at him. "I-I can't feel my legs anymore."

XXX

The worse shaking has made its way to Andrew and Michael in the closet, causing them to rise. They both nod at each other and throw themselves against the door to remove their barrier and throw it open. The floor is missing except for a small bit along the edge that the cautiously make their way down- sliding across the wall.

"Help!" they hear from the stairway and the two proceed to book it, sliding until they are safely in the stairwell. There they rush down the stairs at the sight of the trapped Kaity. "Ben's downstairs and he needs help," she cries, puddle of blood on the floor from her hand. "He's trapped."

"Right now we need to worry about you," Michael counters. He looks at the situation before turning to Andrew. "This is going to require both hands." Andrew nods, stepping up. "You need to get a blowtorch from one of the Engineering rooms downstairs." He nods and takes off at a run as Michael reaches through to take Kaity's other hand. "Kaity, I'm so sorry but this is going to be nasty. But we need to get you out of here."

"Ben-"

"We'll get help for Ben. Right now we need to make sure you can get back to him." Andrew comes running back in with the blowtorch already aflame. "You need to burn around her hand and then around her so we can get her free. Try to avoid hitting her, but you probably will regardless. We can handle that though. We can't handle something falling on her in here."

Andrew nods, locking eyes with Kaity. "I'm so sorry."

She nods. "Just do it." He brings the flame to the metal and start melting it, part of it dripping on her and causing her to cry out in pain. Michael turns her head to face him and just keeps his eyes locked on her, letting her squeeze his good hand as hard as she needs. "It's okay. You're okay," he just whispers to her over and over.

Andrew thankfully makes it quick as he can; clearing a hole big enough Michael is able to help her out of. He looks at her burned and bloodied hand for a brief moment sadly. Andrew makes a decision and leads them up the stairs. "Where are we going?" Michael questions as he supports Kaity.

"We need to get out of here and I only know one surefire way to do that without encountering more horrors." They exit the stairwell and he proceeds to throw a fallen brock through the glass window at the end of the hallway. "It's two floors and there are some bushes below us. It's our best shot at this point."

Michael is clearly reluctant, but sees his point. Kaity, however, is shaking her head. "I'll take her with me," he decides. Andrew nods and kicks away as much glass as he can. "We will come back for Ben," he vows. "But we need to get out of here and find the others. Staying here is what she wants." Kaity just stares at him, eyes glassy and unfocused. He turns to Andrew and nods when suddenly a fireball comes rolling through the hallway from an exploding gas tank.

This makes the situation less than ideal as they both now have to run to the window and jump out of it rather than playing it safe. Michael clutches Kaity to him with his free hand as they fall, him landing on the branches below while she merely lands on him. "Doctor!" she cries once they've both landed, shaking him. "Doctor!"

He groans and slowly sits up, cut and scratched from the branches. He turns to see Andrew doing the same next to him. Kaity wastes no time in throwing her arms around him, sobbing into his chest. He takes a minute just to hold her as the two boys painfully try to rise.

XXX

Hannah has made it to the main doors after a slow trek down the staircase, only to find they have been blocked once again in a way that she has no hope of removing. "No!" she screams, running down the hallway and avoiding a fire as she tries to find another way. "No! No! No!"

She forces her way into a classroom, looking for something that might help. She finds nothing and runs back for the door only for it to close on her. She pulls at it but it refuses to budge. "No!" she cries, looking around the room desperately.

Suddenly, the sound of screaming sounds around her over the intercom. It only takes her a moment to realize what it is. The sounds of all her friends screaming and in agony. Lori. Charlie. Michael. Ben. Caleb crying her name. She tries to throw something at it frantically, but the screams merely grow louder and surround her in the room. She finally gives in and can't take it, curling into a ball by one of the desks as she rocking back and forth sobbing with her hands clutching her ears to try and block it out.

XXX

Finch has scaled the outside of the building and kicks in a window to the main floor where she senses people. She runs into the classroom where Ben and Caleb are, taking the beam in for a brief moment before easily lifting if off of him and throwing it aside. "We need to go."

"He can't walk," Caleb informs her. "We need to get him to a hospital right now. He can't feel his legs and he might have internal bleeding or something. And we need to find Kaity."

Finch walks over and gently as she can pulls Ben up onto her back with ease, causing him to cry out. "We will get you two to safety and then continue collecting the others. I have promised Lori Fitzgerald this. She needs her friends to be safe." Caleb nods and the two head out of the classroom for the visible stairwell at a run.

XXX

Hannah is still in a ball on the floor, barely hearing the sound of glass breaking. "Hannah. It isn't real," a voice says from in front of her, trying to pull her up. "We need to go." She looks up to see Charlie trying to pull her, and dazedly lets him lead her to a broken window Rachel waits outside of.

"You shouldn't be here," Hannah manages.

"I know," Charlie admits. "But we decided one time around to see if we could help anyone… and it looks like we did." She helps him out the window before following herself, screams suddenly coming to a halt as the entire room goes up in flames. They all look back at it, Rachel able to feel the heat.

"It looks like we were just in time too," Rachel adds. "She almost had you." Hannah can only nod, rooted in place with her arm gripping Charlie's tightly. He just gives her the moment she needs as she just stares back at the flames in horror.

XXX

The shaking has only increased as Caleb throws the door open to the stairway, clinging to the railing as he is thrown about from an explosion upstairs. Finch follows with Ben on her back, managing better than her fellow Companion. They start down the stairs, dodging falling debris from the ceiling- purely focused on making it to the next door.

This becomes an issue when a large piece of the ceiling lands directly in front of them, Finch pulling Caleb back to keep him from getting crushed and sending him onto his back. "Thanks," he breathes, almost unable to speak. They take a moment before Finch gently slides Ben to the ground, trying to ignore his screams of pain as she does so. She then lifts the piece, which is as big of her, with a small grunt of exertion and throws it over the railing to the ground two floors below. She then turns to collect Ben again, moving as fast as she can as the building continues to shake and debris falls.

It all happens in a few moments. As if possessed, some of the bricks of the staircase walls pulse outwards before suddenly pulling back in. It happens once and Finch jumps and pulls Ben away from the wall into her lap as Caleb finally rises to his feet, turning to them. The second group and flies outward and one hits him square in his chest- sending him over the railing with a small shout. Ben sticks his hands through the railing, but is unable to grab him as he falls.

Finch desperately untangles herself from Ben, ignoring his scream he tries to muffle, and jumps over the railing to dive after him. That hesitation, that lost moment, changes everything though. She reaches and he tries to grab her hand, but it is too late as he lands on the piece of debris she had just thrown over moments before- head sending a cracking sound echoing through the stairway.

As if on cue, everything comes to a halt. The bricks stop pulsing and the shaking ceases. Finch lands in a crouch right beside him, instantly recovering and moving over to him. Ben pulls at the railing despite his pain so he is able to see over the edge.

Finch comes up next to Caleb and doesn't know what to make of the blood coming out of his nose, his closed eyes, that he isn't moving, or the fact that he isn't breathing at all. "No," she whimpers, voice cracking like a child. "No!" she cries louder, pulling his torso up and shaking him violently. He simply rolls about- lifeless. She drops him abruptly and roughly, moving back against the wall as she begins to hyperventilate, tears appearing in her eyes. "Protect Lori Fitzgerald and her Companions," she whispers to herself, rocking back and forth. "Protect her Companions. Protect her Companions. Protect her Companions."

"Finch!" a voice snaps her out of it. She looks up to see a very grim Ben. "I know," he tells her with pure sympathy, clearly on the brink of tears and emotionally drained as well. "But we need to get out of here," he tells her steadily, voice echoing throughout the staircase. "You-you can't help him. I'm so sorry… but he's gone," his voice chokes.

She shakingly rises and swings up the railing back onto the staircase with ease, running up the rest of them to get back to Ben. She helps him onto her back without a word and carries him down to the door to the basement they had been so close to reaching. She looks over to where his body remains just as she left it. "I can carry him as well."

"Finch, it-it needs to look like an accident. We weren't here," he tells her logically, though it is clearly tearing him apart to say it.

"We can't just-"

"We have to. Besides, Hannah can't see him. Not like this." Finch nods, unable to deny his reason. They both stare a minute longer before exiting the stairwell and leaving behind the body of Caleb Dean- the bright, nerdy future lawyer who so desperately wanted to be a Companion. Who deserved better.

XXX

Lori stands, feet firmly planted in the grass as she watches the crumbling building down the hill in pure horror. A scream echoes and her hands go to her mouth as her knees nearly buckle, but she manages to keep herself standing. Her feet move as if to run, but she remembers Finch's words and forces herself to remain in her spot, hands going through her hair desperately for something to do as she shakes and trembles.

Suddenly, the rumbling stops and everything is silent. She freezes, staring at it and drowning in the silence of the moment as she waits for something, anything to happen. Her hands slowly fall to her side as she waits, knowing something is clearly wrong. She can feel it but she is just staring straight ahead as she hopes and prays and bargains silently to herself that she is wrong.

Then a chill runs up her spine, making her shiver and wrap her arms around herself for warmth. A pair of ruby red lips hovers next to her ear, but she is unaware until they speak. "You have lost," they whisper with a smile. She whirls around as fast as she can but no one is there, making her shiver even more. She turns back to the building and stands alone on the hill as Maleficent's triumphant laughter echoes through the wind, mocking her. Her knees buckle and she slides down into the grass, hands trembling and hyperventilating. Because she can feel it… something is really wrong.

XXX

Tune in next week for the thrilling conclusion of the season as Lori faces down Maleficent with the entire campus at stake. And we can promise… it's going to involve a dragon.