Startled by the sudden attack, the vines shooting down from the dark to seize their classmates and pull them off their feet, Aris utters a yelp and drops the phone he'd been holding out like a flashlight. This doesn't help. It does, however, make it easier to grab onto Patrice when his instincts come rushing back in. Holding on for dear life and calling out incoherent protests, he soon realizes that Presley has a hold of him too and...tries something else.

Half-climbing Patrice, he hauls himself up in an efficient but awkward motion. Pushing off the other boy's shoulder to give himself leverage, he brings the broad side of the drum stick down on the vines as hard as he can. Again. And again. "Let! Him! Go!"