Im sorry I hid it from you all. I just wanted to fit in. I was scared you wouldnt accept me.

Oliver felt a gentle hand press into the top of his arm. He looked over and saw Esther looking kindly at him.

Of course we accept you, she said.

Then everyone leaned in, patting and hugging Oliver. He smiled, grateful to be accepted for who he was.

Suddenly, Oliver became aware of the feeling of a leaden weight in his whole body. He felt empty, like a shell of a person. Hed used up so much of his powers, a tiredness like none hed ever felt before overcame him.

As the plane soared through the sky, Oliver felt overcome with exhaustion. His friends were talking happily and enthusiastically, going over the events in Germany, but Oliver was too tired to even focus on their voices. He was too tired to even hear their congratulatory words and their affirmations that hed saved the world.

His eyelids felt so heavy. He tried to fight it, but they started to flutter closed. He couldnt keep his eyes open any longer. All he could do was flop down in the back of the cabin, spent, overcome with exhaustion, and let blackness envelop him. He fell into a deep, deep sleep.

CHAPTER THIRTY FIVE

Two familiar faces looked down at Oliver.

I think hes conscious, the man said.

Youre right, the woman replied, kindly. Oliver, can you hear us?

Oliver sat bolt upright, looking from one face to the other. They were the man and woman of his visions. He wasnt in the airplane anymore, but in some dark, empty space like the abyss of Professor Amethysts dimension. All that existed in the vast blackness were the three of them.

Where am I? Oliver asked. Where are my friends? Wheres the headmasters airplane? His voice sounded strange, blunted, as though the sound waves were traveling differently than normal.

Youre somewhere between asleep and awake, the man said. Youre still in the plane. Your friends are still with you.

Oliver felt relieved.

Why are you here? he asked.

We came to congratulate you, the woman said. For saving mankind.

Oliver recalled the vision hed had where the man and woman had told him he had a task to save mankind. For some reason, these two strangers cared deeply about his success. But he had no idea why. Theyd never given him satisfactory answers, had never explained themselves.

Who are you? he asked. My guardian angels or something? Why are you always watching me? Why do you keep appearing in my dreams?

The man and woman exchanged a glance.

I think you know who we are, the woman said softly.

I do? Oliver asked.

The man nodded. His smile was so kind. Yes. You do. You just need to accept it.