1 — A Dragon Gets Me An A+

Does anybody else hate history?

Seriously, what's the point of learning about something that happened so long ago when it will never happen again? I mean, I figure the world wouldn't be so masochistic to wipe half the world's population in a nuclear war again! That's just common sense, no?

Regardless, I still feel as if some people didn't get the memo. I don't know why, really. It doesn't matter if you saw the nukes go off (though they were on live television) or if you were asleep for the entire war - it's not something you ever would want to experience again. The lasting effects… they shatter families. The world needs hope, hope and restoration.

I guess complaining wouldn't save me from this test, but it's nice to know somebody's listening.

I tapped my pencil against the beige desk scanning my eyes over the paper. 14 questions is fourteen too many, especially an essay question. I scoff and raise my hand, gesturing for my teacher to come, as he stands up and walks over to me.

I point with my finger, "Why does question 3 say, 'If World War 3 happened again would you serve in the Irish Military? Why?' Last I checked… that wasn't in the material."

Mr. MacMiller scratched his scraggly beard, "It's just a question about you, Cael." he mused.

I don't get it, why does he want to know about me? Am I proficient in knowing about myself, is that what that test is supposed to judge? "I'm just not understanding how that's related to the Battle of San Francisco," I said, "It was fought on American soil… we're Irish."

"But is that the point, Cael?"

"Well… yes! It is the point, we're learning about an American battle and you've- you've put a question relating to the Irish on it!" I exclaimed. Now the whole class was looking at me with a few irritable chuckles escaping some students.

My teacher frowned and looked at me, "Mister Hendrick, this behavior cannot go on much longer. You're known for being very… explosive with your mannerisms."

"Explosive!?" I yelled, "I'll show you explosive!" I slammed my pencil on the ground and began walking to leave the room, so it was just my luck when an empty trailer outside of our classroom exploded. The boom! reverberated throughout the halls, echoing and shattering the windows of our classroom.

Panic surged through my veins. I panted as the corners of my vision began to go black, the universe beckoning for me to faint any moment now. My hands were shaking as I stumbled under a desk, as did the other students, fear and exhaustion cast on their faces.

Mr. MacMiller was trying to calm everybody down, "It's alright. We're all safe under the desks. Nothing is going to happen."

"You don't know that," snapped Katie O'Brien, "Tilly's Smith's dad died at work like this!"

The entire school seemed to shake and the building rumbled as an unfamiliar roar was heard up above. I could hear the waves crashing against the sand from our open window, like something was deeply stirring in the water.

The Dublin air sirens began blaring as they always had, and the Irish Army would be here any minute now. More explosions rippled throughout nearby, and I could hear my teacher mutter something mostly intelligible, but I caught wind of one word.

Danu.

The smell of smoke rose in the air, billowing across the sky. Fire burned the forest just outside of our room, crawling closer and closer to where we were. Dust fell from the ceiling and I could feel my hands shaking faster than ever before. The wind picked up and I could see a large wave rising up in the distance, "Is that a tsunami?"

Suddenly, a redheaded woman kicked out the door and walked in, holding her vest handles like every police officer did. She had a navy blue vest on and a green t-shirt, her vest reading "BSI" in big yellow letters, "This is the the Irish Bureau of Supernatural Investigations, it's safe to come out now!"

Nobody moved.

"Alright guys, come on. The threat has been handled and first responders are on the scene. It's safe to leave now."

With a newfound sense of hope and strength I stood up from under my desk, "It's nice to meet you," I walked over to her and shook her hand, "So… what just happened?"

As soon as everyone noticed I hadn't been blown to bits they began standing up and asking questions themselves. Clearly, the BSI lady was getting overwhelmed, because she promptly put two fingers in her mouth and delivered an ear shattering whistle, "Attention everybody! I understand the urgency of the situation but the BSI has made it clear that all students and people in the vicinity of West Dublin Highschool need to evacuate the area!"

"What did you mean about supernatural investigation?" I inquired restlessly, "What happened here? Is Ireland at war?"

The lady began to groan and murmured, "Always the Dagda's children."

"Hm?"

"Nothing." she snapped.

"So?"

"So… what?"

"So is Ireland at war!?"

"No!"

"Well you didn't specify! What the heck is the supernatural?"

"I don't need to specify, the BSI requires we leave, now!"

I finally accepted defeat as we formed a single file line and began walking down the hallway. Nobody could stay silent except me, mainly because I was scared the BSI officer would punch me in the face.

Suddenly, a flaming light came down just above me. dangling from a wire as it swung, just about ready to hit my back. The officer slammed her foot down and leaped towards me, tackling me and sitting over me as the flames exploded in the opposite direction — it was as if they were avoiding her.

What the hell?

My heart was racing as beads of sweat pelted my face, "I- I- I- what just happened?"

She took a sharp inhale and helped lift me up, nearing the exit of the school. She was silent as she walked, but she kept throwing her head over her shoulder as she stared at me with a quiz-like gaze. She would whip her head away as soon as I made contact every time without fail.

My heart felt like it was pummeling inside my chest, "The fire it-"

"It's over now." She said, with a fake smile. I could tell she knew I wanted to know what happened. Unfortunately, I was not granted this.

Eventually we exited the school which is when I finally realized what had happened. The entirety of West Dublin High School had been either blown up or lit on fire except our cell block. Were we the only survivors? What happened?

Smoke floated in the air as fire brewed inside the giant high school. It drifted in the wind as multiple "BSI" black vans sat outside the school. People were being delivered into ambulances on stretchers, firefighters were attempting to put out what remained of my school, parents were gasping and screaming at teachers.

The lady pulled out a walkie talkie (which was the first time I'd seen her not holding her vest) and spoke into it, "No casualties… yet. There are some pretty bad burn victims, but I think they'll be alright."

"Are you going to tell us anything? Some of us almost died!"

"With due time everything that happened here will make sense, Caelan Hendrick. You just have to wait." She assured me.

"I don't want to wait!"

"Caelan."

"How do you know my name?"

"There are incredibly powerful forces at play near this highschool, things that can't easily be explained… or even shown. What you saw today was not meant to be seen… I don't know what else you want me to tell you."

The walkie talkie spoke back to the lady, "Is the target safe and well? Have you explained everything yet?"

The red haired chick didn't look like she planned on explaining crap, speaking into her walkie talkie again, "Location A1 has been destroyed. Is B2 alright? And yes, the target is fine. I fear his... limiter has been broken."

"Who's the target!?" I slammed my hands on my side and scoffed, wondering if I'd ever get an answer.

"You! You are the target Caelan, this is all about you, this attack was about you, so stop asking questions!"

What?

. . .

"I'm just glad you're safe is all," my mother said, pouring me a glass of water, "I swear that school does nothing for you kids." She groaned.

"West Dublin has always been a bad school, what's even so 'prestigious' about it? They call us the West Dublin Warriors, but I think cowards would be more accurate to be honest."

"Is it so hard not to be pessimistic for one day, Caelan?"

"Yes, actually. It is when a monster attacks your school."

"Enough of this monster talk! I talked with the BSI officer, Mallory, and she said nothing was wrong. She just said there was a fire and a lot of mishaps."

"Mom, half our school blew up!" I cried out, "I could've died today so maybe stop acting like nothing happened! Why does everyone do this? Every time something out of the ordinary happens people just… forget!"

She poured some wine into a glass, average, "I understand why you're angry right now, but you can't take it out on me. The BSI is handling it, you will get answers, we will get answers."

I could feel all my anger piling up inside me, "Why can't I blame you? After all, somehow you scared my father away! My whole life has been a mess because of him - and you drove him away!"

"Never say that again!" She snapped, slamming the wine bottle onto the table and nearly cracking it. I'd never seen her this angry, "You need to stop talking about things you don't understand. I'm done with this, I'm done with your school tolerating this behavior. Tomorrow morning you are starting the alternative boarding school, you're not coming back until you learn something!"

"Fine!" I walked upstairs and slammed the door behind me, collapsing onto my bed. After throwing myself a pity party I was left alone with nothing but my thoughts and my sadness. "You are the target!" What had she meant by that?

I know what I saw was real, I was there after all. Mom wasn't there, Mallory wasn't even there… how did they think they were qualified to understand? Only I could get it, only I witnessed it - and I was sick of people telling me otherwise. It's always, "Caelan, this!" and "Caelan, that!" but nobody checks up on me. I feel helpless, and honestly? I'm just really tired.

I fumbled with my test paper this morning. It had been folded up so many times it took me a few moments to unfold it. When I did I noticed a bunch of red writing and an A+.

Cael, I know you're afraid about what you saw. I know people won't believe you and I know that your classmates and you are scared. It's okay to be scared, and it's okay to wonder. There's no easy way to explain what you and your peers saw. It's called an Ollipheist and they're dragon-like sea serpents. The world you've read from Celtic Mythology is real and those monsters are real too. The BSI looks to handle the issue… but I'm afraid they may not be able to. This is bigger than all of us, Gods, Demigods, and Mortals alike.

- Manannan mac Lir

What? Why had Mr. MacMillar signed it with the name of a god? What does he mean the "world" from Celtic Mythology is real? I have so many questions… but I'm just not sure what to think anymore. A dragon? And what's a demigod? Like… Cu Chulainn?

I don't want to think anymore, I don't want to.

Think I'd rather just sleep.