Controller of the Elements

Chapter 7 - Madeline

My friends an I agreed to meet each other outside of school today. We're all carrying almost four gigantic bags, and 1/10 of a bag for me, because of my purse.

The reason why? We're going to that house I got emailed about, the one with the Controller of Elements. I don't know why, but I trust it. I have a similar feeling to the one I had on the first day of school, but not one that tells me that something's gonna change, but one that tells me that this is real, not something fake, like a crazy hacker who wants to murder me. This is the actual Controller of Elements.

Oh, and also, the Controller of Elements, he's this guy, not much is known about him, but he's in the same boat as the Slender Man. He's like the Slender Man of the supernaturals. In which we kind of are. He controls their minds, so he's obviously powerful, but he hasn't been doing anything in my favor, or the favor of my friends.

Oh, and, Tammi, we're not totally sure about her. Not totally sure. But, this girl, Candace, who's seriously just mean to Tammi, and everyone else who hangs out with her (well, not Bridgette and Serena, who are pretty much popularity queens), put tape in her hair today, and, later on in the day, when Tammi just moved her pencil while facing Candace...well, at first we didn't see where Candace went. Then, we realized...Candace was a frog. Messed up, but true.

And now she's who-knows-where, somewhere, hopping around New York City. Hopefully she's in the park or something, or at least no where near us. I have no idea what kind of drama will go on with Candace's parents, and what they'll say to the rest of the class, but I guess we may never find out where she went.

And our parents won't even be able to find out where we went. Of course they would not at all like to hear that we went where we did, and, here's the thing, we did, well, we are going to, go there.

Outside the school, I look at every one seriously, as I pull out the paper in the pocket of my denim shorts, the checklist.

I look away for a minute, making sure I'm not going to throw up or cry. I look back. It is what it is, I think, and we can't stay here.

"Okay, everybody, got your PJs?"

They all nod, with an occasional "yes" and "I do" from some of the calmer girls, who can bear to open their mouth without vomiting and crying or making a big show of themselves.

"Phones?"

I get the same thing I did last time, except, this time I end up with an "They won't do us much with no wifi, but we have them." And even though we're sad, we can always smile a little bit at what sarcastic Kelsie has to say.

"Water bottle, and sandwich?"

Same thing, without the wifi thing.

We go through the rest of the list, and wait for the bus to take us across town. This is it. I could go home now, or even just catch another bus, but would it be a good idea? No. a big, fat no. Now that I've turned into my fairy form in class, and Candace is a frog, it's a terrible idea to stay.

Bridgette turns to us.

"Guys?" she begins as we get on the bus which has finally come, "I hope that the Controller of the Elements fixes us, and we can go home. And live our normal lives again."

Gwen sighs. "We all do," she says, looking down, "And I think this time, I'm playing it coward. Off at the next stop, going home."

"Gwen, you can't," Kelsie says, almost laughing, "You were the one to organize this. Now you're chicken?"

Gwen looks down, then up again at Kelsie. "Yeah," she admits, looking sad and guilty, as the bus stops. "Bye."

She walks out.