E L E M E N T A L S

Chapter 22: From other eyes

KALONICE

It all happened so fast.

There was so many things going on.

One moment, everything was normal. We all followed Jessica and Stella to a party and even though we knew we shouldn't be out this late, we still did it. Kaitlyn was fidgeting but still acted otherwise normal. I knew something was off with Kaitlyn since the last few weeks, I could see her face going from her usual happy, go lucky demeanor to a more serious, daunting look.

The others don't seem to have realized, but I didn't think too much of it.

Sometimes Kaitlyn had these moments of deep thought and I thought she had some deep realization.

I wish I hadn't known that

It was all so bizarre, seeing Jessica's fists go aflame and seeing her getting pushed back by a shot of electricity. Imagine my surprise when the electricity come from Kaitlyn's hand.

Then there was Stella.. then there was that talk??

No wait, that wasn't how it happened.

First when we had gone deep into the woods, Kaitlyn had called out to Stella and Jessica. We all turned and we saw Kaitlyn slowing walking backwards. We were confused what she was doing but it didn't seem too out of character.

Then that's when everything went to hell.

Electricity radiated off Kaitlyn, moving around protectively before it shot out. We saw Jessica with fire coming from her fists, then before she could charge at Kaitlyn, the electricity shot her backwards; stunning her. Then we saw the shadows rise from Stella and shoot out of her arms and punched Kaitlyn; who screamed and cursed at the pain.

Everything was a whirl and then we were held down when Stella inserted that...shadowy ball thingy into us.

Afterwards, that was a blur. Like I was waking up from a dream. I remembered glimpses and scenes but not all of it was coherent.

And then I woke up, with Alex hovering over me. My eyes squinted at the light and then I realized it was coming off Alex's hands. The bluish light felt nice like cool mint, but before I had a chance to savour it, he lowered his hands.

I saw Clara and Azalea also looking around confused but I couldn't see Stella and Jessica. I saw Kai staring at us, shocked but also relieved. There was something earlier in her eyes but I couldn't tell from the lack of proper light.

Then, all of a sudden, we saw the earth rise and we saw Jayden form stone benches from the earth and made a firepit. We all watched confused while we gathered out bearings as a fire was built.

The bomb of what had been happening to Kaitlyn and the others was rather, sudden and honestly, unreal.

But what sold it was how tired Kaitlyn was and how her face was devoid of all the energy Kaitlyn would typically have.

"Do you really think this is all real?" asked Azalea, who was hugging herself and curling into herself.

Clara was rubbing her arms and it wasn't from the cold.

I glanced at Kaitlyn who was walking away for a moment and I caught the flash of hurt over her face. My breathing stopped in that moment but I forced myself to regain composure.

"It has to be. We might think this is not, but for Kaitlyn? The others? They clearly went through something and we can't ignore that."

"But Stella? Jessica? Evil? They can't be evil-"