The boys turned to Oliver, slapping him on the back, cheering. Esther flopped forward, drained from holding back the shield. Hazel seemed paralyzed in her crouched position, holding up the snapped red wire.

We have to destroy it, Oliver said. All of it. Quick.

They got to work, ripping apart the plates of metal, pulling out the wires, throwing everything onto the bonfire.

Ralph pointed to the sky. Theres Professor Amethysts plane coming back to collect us. Lets go!

They all looked up as the headmasters strange plane swooped down. It behaved like something between a helicopter and an eagle. It touched down, not with wheels, but with feet shaped like talons.

His friends started hurrying toward it.

But Oliver knew there was one more thing he had to do. In order to fully destroy the bomb and make sure it could never be made again, he had to destroy the plans.

He pulled the dossier from his overall pocket and threw it into the inferno. He watched the plans burn. As it was incinerated, he felt a swell of relief.

Satisfied that it would never be made again, Oliver turned and hurried across the courtyard, in the direction of the headmasters plane. Hazel and Simon were already inside and Esther stood by the door, gesturing for them to hurry up and get inside.

Walter leapt into the plane. Ralph shoved Oliver and he flew into the open hatch too. A second after, Ralph leapt in behind him.

The planes engines whirred and within a matter of seconds, they took to the sky. Hazel grappled with the door. She heaved it shut, but not before Oliver looked out at the scene of chaos left in their wake.

The place was destroyed, drenched in water and rust-colored puddles. The raging fire at the center concealed twisted metal from all the trucks that had exploded and the pieces of bomb. Soldiers lay dotted around, incapacitated. It was a satisfying sight.

Oliver looked over at his friends, drinking in the sight of each of their faces; Hazels sincere gray eyes, Ralphs friendly dimples, Walters cheeky grin, Simons pale, wide-set eyes, and finally Esthers coy blush. His heart soared.

We did it, he stammered to them all.

Despite their fatigue, they all cheered.

Suddenly, Oliver realized it was time to tell his friends the truth about his test results. Hed avoided it because he had not wanted his friends to treat him differently because of it. But after what theyd all just gone through together, he knew it was time to tell the truth.

I need to tell you something, Oliver said. About who I am. What I am. My test. Im atomic. But my type is mixed. Im bromine and cobalt.

They all looked at each other, stunned.

No way, Esther murmured, sounding both surprised and impressed. I didnt even know that was possible.

What a turn up for the books, Simon exclaimed.