By: Marquie Brown

 A Rithmatist has the power to infuse two- dimensional figures known as chalklings. They are humanity’s only defense against wild chalklings. Wild chalkling are dangerous and merciless creatures who leave mangled corpses in their wake. They threaten the American Isles.

 Joel is a regular student that is really smart, but doesn’t care about his classes. He wants to be a Rithmatist and learn more about Rithmatics, but he missed his chance because his dad died. Melody is a Rithmatist that is flunking because she is not good at drawing. She gets a tutor from a professor during the summer. To learn more about Rithmatics he becomes the assistant of the professor.

 The professor is hiding something from Melody and Joel. Joel get curious and tries to find out what’s going on. The professor is working on a case of the kidnappings of Rithmatist students at Armedius. The professor and the police let Joel join the case because he is the assistant. Melody soon gets curious too and spies on them. At each crime scene they spot a new Rithmatic line. Joel finds a clue in his dad’s basement.

 Joel finds the exact same Rithmatic line that his father had been researching before his death. That same night Joel couldn’t sleep. He heard something at his window and realized it was the kidnapper. He tried to call for help, but his voice wouldn’t come out. He figured out that the new symbol they discovered was a line to make everything quiet. He ran outside to try and find help while a big group of chalklings chased him. He found someone in the office. He had two buckets of acid with him and was a Rithmatist. As he bought time with the chalklings, Joel went to the gate where the guards would be. They had more buckets of ice and managed to get all the chalklings.

 The melee was coming up and Melody had to participate. Joel got a seat as he saw Melody standing in the middle as she was surrounded. Joel could tell that he needed help. Since it wasn’t against the rules he went out there and told Melody to copy his circles and lines. They managed to fight everyone off and take the win.