Krys
After my transformation into a bird, I act like it never happened. I don’t understand anything. Matt kissing me and then fighting me. Me sprouting bird wings. Everything makes my head spin. I tried my best to ignore it until one day, I find a note in my locker. I do my combination, swing open the door and a piece of paper flutters out. I unfold it and read it. It has different letters cut out of a magazine to make a message.
Meet me at lecafé at 8 tomorrow
-B.B
I study the note carefully. I don’t know anyone with the initials B.B. I think of people with a name that even begins with B. “What’s that?” a voice asks from behind me. It startles me. I whirl around making fists. I see it’s Hunter. We haven’t talked much since I left him in the bathroom. “None of your business.” I mutter. “I already saw what it says.” He insists. “Then why are you asking me?” I lower my eyebrows. He shrugs. “So are you going?” he asks. He’s such a little brat. “I dunno. Maybe.” I close my locker and walk off. Tomorrow will be a Saturday so B.B probably means 8 in the morning. I’m not all that sure but I don’t even know if I’m going.
On my walk home from school I decide to stop by Le Café. It’s a cute new restaurant. It’s not even open yet and it needs employees. I look inside to see two people from my school working there. One girl has a red t-shirt that says Le Café. A boy has the same shirt in yellow. I linger by the door for a while until I see someone walking towards me. It’s Hunter again. I groan. “Quit stalking me!” I snap at him. “I’m not. I’m . . . getting something to eat here.” He says with shifty eyes. “The restaurant doesn’t even open for weeks. Why are you really here?” I demand. “I dunno. I thought it was open.” He insists. I can’t tell if he’s lying but I don’t care. I walk off.
The next day, I wake up at seven and eat breakfast. I decide I’ll see what this B.B person wants. Part of me feels like it has something to do with my turning into a bird but I think that all the time. If a teacher calls me over to his desk I think he saw me transform. When my mom or dad call to me I think they want to talk to me about it. I always feel like the world knows and is staring at me. I think all this walking over to Le Café. When I finally get there I see the boy and girl from the day before working there again. I take a breath and walk in. The boy and girl turn toward me. “Hi . . . is there a B.B here?” I ask nervously. They exchange glances. “What’s going on?” a familiar voice calls out. Hunter comes out a door that says employees only. He's wearing an orange shirt that says Le Café on it. He works here. He probably left the note himself. “You!” I say dramatically pointing at him. “What?” he asks casually. “You left that note didn’t you.” I step toward him. “I did not!” he cries. “Don’t lie to me. You suck at it.” I fold my arms. “I do not.” He argues. I snicker. “Why’d you want me to come here? Did you want me to work here with your other little friends?” I taunt. “I’m sixteen!” the girl in the red cries. “Thanks for sharing.” I say rolling my eyes. “Wow. Who let the sarcastic bitch in here?” Hunter asks.
No regrets. I lunge at Hunter. I easily pin him down. “And I’m the one with anger issues.” He says annoyed. “What’s going on in here?” a voice booms. I look up to see a tall man. It’s the school nurse. I’ve been mad at him after he kept denying the theory that there was something in the water fountain making people sick. “Who are you?” he asks. “Wait! I know you! You were in the nurse’s office the other day.” He exclaims. “Yeah.” I reply sourly. “She’s Krys.” Hunter says still under me. “Krys?” The boy in yellow asks. “I know. Dumb nickname.” I blush. “No. I mean . . .” he flusters. I roll off of Hunter. He leaps to his feet like a jack-in-a-box. “Krys,” the nurse begins. “Has anything weird happened to you lately?” he asks. Hunter begins to back away along with the other two workers. “Um . . . no.” I lie thinking of my bird wings. “Are you sure?” he persists. I know he wants the truth. “Well . . . I was fighting with this guy named Matt,” I begin. “Fuck Matt.” Hunter mutters. I ignore him. “And . . . I turned into . . .” This sounds so dumb. “An animal?” the nurse asks. I nod. “A bird.” I continue. “And you fought Matt?” he asks. “Sorta. He kissed me and then hit me.” I explain. “He what?” The boy in yellow asks. “Then I guess I must’ve transformed because he started saying he was sorry and I was beautiful.” I blush thinking of what he said.
“Well, Rose, Hunter and John have the same ability as you.” the nurse explains pointing to Hunter and the two workers. I assume the girl in red is Rose and the boy in yellow is John. “We need you to help them fight Matt and another boy named Joe with your powers.” The nurse explains. I scowl at him. “I don’t want to fight anyone. I don’t want anything to do with your freak team of circus animals. Never talk to me again and leave me alone.” I whisper with sharp words. “Don’t listen to her B.B.” Rose says to the nurse. So he was B.B. I wonder if he left the note. “Remember how you were asking about the water in the fountains?” B.B asks. I nod. “You were right about it. I put animal DNA into the water to give five people the powers. I need you to fight Joe and Matt. And there’s a third person.” He explains. “I don’t care. I’m leaving!” I shout storming out the nearest door. It’s windy and grassy outside. I don’t see any civilization just trees. I realize I went out the wrong door and I’m behind the building.
I hear whispering and look up toward the trees. A branch snaps and a twig falls at my feet. I see a yellow glow. “Matt!” I shout angrily. He reveals himself from the tree followed by another boy who’s glowing red. I figure that must be Joe. He hovers near the tree top. I realize he and Joe can fly. I think for a minute. I had bird wings. Maybe if I transform again I’ll be able to fly. Matt and Joe fly down and land right next to me. They surround me. I have nowhere to run. “Krys, I’m sorry for hitting you. Can you please give me another chance?” Matt begs. At first I thought he had issues. Kissing me and hitting me and then saying I was pretty. But now I know he liked me but he had to fight me. But why? “Don’t go making love with the enemy,” Joe insists bopping the top of Matt’s head. “They won’t like it.” He adds looking around nervously. “Who are they?” I ask. The back door slams open. “LEAVE HER ALONE!” a voice cries out. I see Hunter standing in the doorway with Rose and John behind him. He takes out an orange gem. Rose and John take out the same gem only Rose’s is pink and John’s is green. They run outside. “This one’s for you!” John shouts tossing me a light blue gem. “What is it?” I ask. “Lift it up.” Rose orders. All four of us lift up our gems and touch them together. A white light surrounds us. When it fades I stare at Rose, Hunter and John in shock.
Rose has a pink and green dress, cat ears and a tail. Hunter has a tiger striped shirt and shorts. He has tiger ears and a tail. John has a shirt made of yellow and green snake scales and shiny shorts. I know I have my bird wings and feathered dress again. We turn and face Joe and Matt. “We’re outnumbered.” Matt insists nervously. “That’s what you said last time pussy.” Joe teases. Matt looks down and pulls out a mace. Joe pulls out a gun. I know they’re dangerous but no one ever said they have weapons. Joe fingers the trigger on his gun. It’s pointed dead at me. I stand frozen like a deer in headlights. “No!” Matt shrieks. Just as Joe shoots, Matt hits him with his mace. He tries to get him to miss but I feel a sharp pain in my stomach. “Krys!” Rose cries. I see Matt looking down at me and then I black out.
“She’s waking up.” A hushed voice whispers as I open my eyes. “Where am I?” I moan as my vision clears. I’m in a white bed. I see everything in the room is bright and white. The walls are painted white and the floor is made of white tiles. There’s sunlight streaming in through the window making the room even brighter. I see Rose, Hunter and John looking down at me. “What happened?” I ask. “Well Joe shot you and Hunter beat him up,” Rose begins. Hunter smirks with pride. “Hey. He had it coming.” He smiles wider. “Then John blamed Matt and kicked him a lot. He started crying and saying he wished he could be with you but ‘they’ wouldn’t let him. Currently we have no idea who ‘they’ are.” Rose finishes. I remember Joe telling Matt not to flirt with me because they wouldn’t like it. I strain my brain but I can’t think of who ‘they’ might be. “So are you with us?” B.B asks entering the room. “You do need protection.” Rose points out. “You’re also pretty tough.” Hunter insists. I look at John. “And we need you.” He gives me pleading eyes. I hesitate. “I’m in!”
