Element Academy

Camp?...Crystal

One hour later, the plane landed at some random airport in the middle of Montana.

“Come on Page. We need to get off the plane now.” Said Crystal. She grabbed a hold of Page’s arm and tried to pry her hand off the armchair. Throughout the entire flight Page stayed in the same position; fingernails clinging to the chair for dear life, body tense, and a facial expression of pure terror. Even when the pilot announced their arrival a moment ago Page didn’t ease up. The landing was smooth and not bumpy, but Page did not change; her teeth stayed clenched and her eyes were shut tight. Whatever element Page was, it was definitely not air.

“Do you need a hand?”

Crystal turned to see a girl standing in the aisle. By now, the plane was half empty. The girl had long straight jet black hair that reached down to her hips. She had a fair complexion with very dark brown eyes.

“Here let me try something.” She suggested. Crystal backed out of the way while the girl took a seat next to the petrified Page. “Oh, my name is Sonya, in case you were curious.”

Crystal blushed as the eighteen year old turned back to Page, she had been wondering that. Sonya reached into her khaki shoulder bag and pulled out a small clear bottle of pink liquid. She pulled off the cork cap and passed it back and forth under Page’s nose. After a few moments Page shook her head.

Page looked around, “Whoa. Where did everyone go?” Crystal breathed a sigh of relief that Page was alright.

“Alright guys, let’s get you guys on the bus so we can get going.” Said Sonya.

“What do you mean?” Page asked.

“Well, I am one of your camp counselors.” She explained, “When you two didn’t answer during roll call I came looking for you too. Now let’s get you two to the bus.”

Page and Crystal followed her out of the plane with a mix of enthusiasm and anxiety. Sonya led them out of the airport and into the sun filled Montana air. Both girls shaded their eyes until they adjusted to the brightness.

Sonya laughed, “Yeah, sorry about the sunshine. But don’t worry you’ll get used to it.”

Page and Crystal gaped at the wondrous landscape, the immense Montana mountains to the endless shades of green. Then a large shadow cascaded the ground. They looked up in front of them, four large navy blue and grey buses sat in neutral and were ready to go.

“We’re bus number two.” Sonya told them pointing to a bus with is side compartment still open. Quickly they put their bags in the side compartment, closed the hatch and climbed in.

“Late as usual Crystal.” Mahoney teased from the second row bench on the bus behind the driver. “Look, I saved you and your friend a bench.”

Crystal saw the empty bench in front of him that he gestured to and groaned. She quickly looked around the bus praying that there were any seats left open. To her dismay her scan of the bus revealed that the bench was the only one left.

“Of all the buses we could end up on and it’s the one with him.” Crystal groaned inwardly.

Twenty minutes of attempting and failing to ignore Mahoney converse with a red head later, their bus came to a screeching halt. Page woke with a start, “Where are we?”

Alright ladies and gents. For the rest of the day we will be here at the Forever Happy Hotel. Right now we’ll get you situated into your rooms and then we’ll enjoy some lunch. After that, well you’ll just have to wait and see.” Sonya announced from the front of the bus.

The bus doors opened and everyone tumbled out. Crystal and Page were the last ot get off the bus. The sunlight was blinding. They stepped into the shade of the looming tan colored hotel. It was more than four floors tall and just radiated an air of fanciness.