It was a bit awkward, with the bag of food hitting his back every few steps, but he felt better being able to cast Teleport at a moment’s notice.

Was that everything? He patted himself down, trying to think of what he’d forgotten. He had food, weapons, his amulet, which hopefully would actually hide him from the Old One… was there anything else he needed before going on a long trip?

Oh, right! He’d almost left out the most important thing of all! He quickly teleported to the bathroom, considering there probably weren’t great facilities in a monster dimension, and with that, he was finally ready.

He teleported back to the display room, bringing with him a pen and paper he’d found with the tape, so he could leave a note. The Gettysburg Address brochure was already back in his pocket, for luck.

Gabriel, he wrote. If you’re reading this, then I’ve been gone long enough for you to come looking for me. If that’s the case, I’m probably not coming back. I’m leaving you the book of Summoning, which I stole from Colonel Charles to use to find my father after he was taken by one of the creatures that attacked D.C. I know he’s alive, and I’m going to find him… but I had to go alone. It’s the only way to keep everyone else safe, just like we talked about. Give this book to Rachel, in the Destruction class. She’ll know what to do with it. Tell her, and Jia, and Cyrus…

He paused, tapping the pen. Hopefully none of this would be necessary, but he wasn’t going to jump to a strange dimension with the book of Summoning on him, considering what the Old Ones might do with it. And if he didn’t come back, he wanted everyone to at least know what had happened. The last thing he wanted was for his friends to think he’d just abandoned them and left.

But it also felt really weird to say good-bye. It felt like he was giving up before he’d even started.

Tell them I’m sorry, he finished, and tucked the note into the book.

If you go by yourself, you might rescue your father, but you won’t make it back! Cyrus’s voice rang through his head, and he hesitated. Was he really ready to get stuck in the monsters’ world forever? Or worse, not survive the trip?

Stay safe, his father would have told him. I’m the parent, and you’re the child who will become the first Fitzgerald to be president. You don’t have to do this.

Fort rubbed some wetness from his eyes and clenched his fists. Maybe Cyrus was right. Maybe he wouldn’t make it back, or see his friends ever again.