Author's Note: Hi again, guys! So sorry for the late updates: I've been really busy and my busyness would probably continue so updates may be a little slow for a while. BUT THE GOOD NEWS IS I WON A CONTEST! THE BAD NEWS IS I'M JOINING ANOTHER CONTEST THAT'S, LIKE, A WEEK AWAY AND I HAVE TO PREPARE! Sorry! But a student's got to do what a student's got to do. So anyway, thanks so much for all the support and I hope you continue with them! And now here's Chapter 22! Remember to follow, favorite, and review!

P.S. THE FALL OF FIVE WAS EMOTIONALLY EXHAUSTING DON'T READ IT IF YOU ARE NOT EMOTIONALLY STABLE I'M TELLING YOU.

John

As signs advertising Paradise, Ohio pass by, I slowly turn into a curb and watch the people pass by. The sun is beating down on us but the wind is thin, smooth.

Sarah is next to me, her hair slowly dancing around her cheeks with the windows of the car rolled down. She looks peaceful and wistful but there's a hint of sadness in her bright blue eyes. I want to tell her that it's okay, that everything's going to be fine. But I can't do that. Of course I can't. Nothing's fine when you're dating an extraterrestrial creature who's being hunted by a horde of aliens.

The others are crammed up in the back. Sam and Malcolm are both looking serenely out the window, remembering their normal lives. I feel somewhat guilty that they aren't safely inside their homes right now; with their family. But I know that this is what they want to do. And what they need to do in order to stop this war.

After about another half hour of driving, we arrive about five or so yards from Sarah's house. The others wait by the car as I walk with Sarah to her house. So many memories play back in my head as Sarah leads the way into the familiar view.

We arrive moments later. Her parents' car is parked which means that they're currently home and that it would mean the end of me if they found out I'm with their daughter. So as a safety precaution, we say good bye to each other a safe distance away.

"Well I guess this is it." I say, feeling more poignant than ever.

A tear slides from her cheek but she's smiling. "By it do you mean me returning to my boring life and being back with my boring friends and talk about boring things that involve boring people? And after that, I'll be back in my boring house and in my boring room and sleep in my boring bed without you?"

We both chuckle a little bit.

"I'm gonna miss you." I say sullenly.

She smiles and nods, but her eyes are brimming with tears. "Don't. We'll call each other every night, right?"

I nod. "Yeah. But that's not the same as seeing you every morning."

She shrugs. "You're going to be okay, John. And don't worry about me. I'll be okay here. If anything happens, we have each other, right?"

I nod and hug her tight, feeling her warmth against my body for what will be the last time in a long time.

I kiss her for one last time and then she lets go. I can see that she's still crying and I'm starting to tear up too.

"If something happens, just give me a call and I'll be right over, okay?"

"Okay."

We hug one last time and she walks a few steps away from me, towards the house.

"I love you, Sarah." I say.

She smiles and nods. "I love you too, John."

And then we both walk away.

I'm glad that she's back where she belongs; with her family and friends, not with some aliens who are constantly being tracked around the globe.

…

Five

"Mogs!" Eight shouts from the other room.

I let out a string of curses as I jump into position, Marina and Ella by my side. I can see that Ella is wearing her crown and holding her sword.

Suddenly, an army of Mogs crashes the wall in front of us. All of them are heavily armed and I can see about ten krauls trailing them.

"Are you guys ready?" I ask, grinning. It's been a while since I've joined a good fight.

They both nod.

A Mog rushes towards the three of us, his sword thrust forward, but Marina creates a telekinetic shield to block the blow.

More Mogs are piling in and I can see the others fighting their way through the thick army.

I launch fireballs at the Mogs and I disintegrate a few but there are so many of them. The hotel is collapsing as each blow passes and I can hear screams coming from downstairs.

"Go!" Marina shouts.

"What?!" I ask, incredulous.

"Take Ella with you and go someplace safe. I can handle this. Just contact me telepathically, okay? Now go!" she exclaims.

I nod vigorously as I make me and Ella invisible and rush outside. There's a car waiting for us but I have no idea how to hotwire one. Fortunately, Adam was there and he apparently has some experience.

Me and Ella jump in the back as Adam revs the engine. All of the Mogs are too focused on the hotel to notice us fleeing, which is good.

"Where are we going?" Ella asks as Adam pulls out on the road, her heart still pounding.

"I don't know," I shrug. "But anywhere is safer than here."

…

Eight

"Marina!" I shout as I rush to her side. She has just used her Legacy to manipulate sound to blow some of the Mogs away.

I shape shift into Narasimha, one of Vishnu's avatars; a half-lion, half-man.

I bite some of the Mogs' heads off and claw some of them out but they just keep coming. Marina has created a telekinetic shield but it's not enough.

Nine is at the far end of the hall, standing on the roof, his pipe staff covered in Mog ash. I can see he's struggling.

I teleport to him and help kill some Mogs off.

"You alright?" I ask.

"Yeah!" he shouts. "You didn't even have to come over! Go help your little girlfriend, dude."

I sigh and teleport back to where Marina was, but she isn't there.

Panic races through me as I glance around the room, my head spinning.

She's nowhere to be found.

"Marina!" I shout over the blasts of Mogadorian canons.

No answer.

"Marina!" I try again. Nothing.

I teleport all over the hotel and outside, dodging blasts and killing a few Mogs along the way. I need to get to Marina.

Finally, I see her. She's being dragged furiously by a Mog into the back of a truck. She's trying to squirm free but she can't: the Mog's too strong.

Immediately, I teleport to her. The Mog notices and quickly pulls out a red stone from his pocket. In one swift motion, he places the rock over his heart and both him and Marina teleport away.

"No!" I scream, as tears start rolling down my cheeks. Marina's gone. She's been captured. And I couldn't do anything.