Two (Countdown Book 5)

Chapter 11

After two weeks, we'd heard nothing more about Makinshien. I didn't know where or when he was, but I hoped I'd banished him to some far corner of the earth where he could be alone forever... of course, my luck was rarely that good.

Since he'd arrived, however, the number of portals opening had increased significantly. I didn't know if that was to do with him, or if it was due to my own portal making.

It was for that reason that we were all gathered in the hall early one morning.

Now, when I say everyone, I mean everyone. Us Elementals were  there, along with the kids from SSYC. Also seated around the large table were Boston, Vasim, Jess, Wyatt and West (who had no one else to look after him). Steve, Scarlett and Tony were still asleep.

"You know why we're here today." Boston announced, standing up at the head of the table. "These portals; wherever they're from, however they're made... we need a way of stopping them. We can at least agree on that, right?" There were nods and a couple of murmurs of 'yeah'. "Well, our scientists have come up with a way of closing the portals."

There was more chatter now as joy and disbelief passed around the table like a disease. My mind raced. Maybe I could finally go home.

Boston cleared his throat, calling for silence to return. "We can't be certain that it'll work, so don't get your hopes up. We will also still need you here to go to the portals and close them."

There was a lot of whinging, especially from us Elementals. I wanted to go home.

"This new development is in the form of this device," he pulled put a big, black plastic box that looked like a large remote control with an antennae sticking out of the top. The front of it just had one button, so I figured it had just one purpose. "You just point it at the portal and press this button. I know that since the visit from Makinshien, the portals have been hanging around more than usual. So, our aim is to close as many portals as we can, before more people can come through. Any questions?"

Of course, I had at least a dozen questions but I tried to minimise my talking to Boston as much as possible. One of the girls down the other end of the table raised a hand nervously. Boston nodded, indicating that she should speak.

"What about the people who've already come through? They can't stay here." she said. I noticed that William looked up, becoming more interested in the conversation. I hadn't dared ask him about what I'd seen the other day, and he hadn't approached me about it, either.

"Well, that all comes down to whether or not Eli can learn to use his power to create portals." everyone around the table turned to look at me.

I felt my face turning bright red.

"I'm, uh... I'm working on it." I said, looking down at the table. The truth was that since the fight with Makinshien, I hadn't been able to conjure up any more portals. I still didn't know how I'd managed to make the first one.

"Any other questions?" Boston asked, as though nothing had happened. 

Nobody answered, so he took that as a 'no'. He dismissed us all, and we headed off, mostly to eat breakfast. 

"Ah, Eli, Mackenzie, I was wondering if I could have a word with you two?" Boston called us. Jake gave me a look like, tough luck, mate, but left along with the others, leaving me and Mackenzie alone with one of our least favourite people. 

"Sit." Boston said, gesturing to the seats opposite him.

"I'm fine standing." I said coldly. Mackenzie nodded in agreement.

"Fine," Boston muttered. "I suppose it doesn't make a difference. I'm putting you two on a special assignment."

"What kind of special assignment?" Mackenzie said grudgingly.