Element

✯ Chapter 44

“Today, well, it was quite a day. It was horrible. The death… It was nearly unbearable. All I can think about was the effect the elemental guns had on the Shadows. If you hit them with a bullet, it would go right through them. You could see behind them through the bullet hole. The Shadow would crumple over in pain and would slowly blow away into the wind. And that’s only the Air gun. When a fire bullet hit one of them, the fire would spread over them until they were consumed in a fiery ball. And then, the flames would disappear, leaving nothing behind. It was horrible, but we won the battle. It wasn’t worth it, though. The screams of Shadows’ agony will haunt my sleep.”

Although it’s quite the depressing subject, I smile bitterly as I lift my pencil from my paper. This entry of the journal is based off of a few lengthy entries in the actual journal, written by Cacillia. I’ve realised as I’ve come to work more and more on Ms. Hersmer’s project that it’s pretty much just a summarized version of her journal, written as a journal. But that’s ok. I hate to put it this way, but no one else knows about the actual Journal, so I can write about anything from it. My inner conscience keeps me from copying directly— that would just be wrong.

I take a moment to put the pencil down and shake my hand a bit. All the writing makes my fingers hurt. Suddenly, I hear a loud boom, and then a short period of electrical crackling. My heart beats faster. What’s going on? And then, the power goes out.

I stay stone still, not moving an inch. My eyes adjust to the miniscule bit of light filtering into the dark corner I’m working in. Something else crackles, but it’s just the loudspeaker.

“Hello, this is Mr. Algathy speaking. We’ve had a school-wide power outage, but this is no cause for mass panic. Please listen to my instruction, and do not move until I tell you to do so.

If you are in a dorm room, stay there. Teachers will be coming around, collecting students from their rooms and taking them to the Dining Room. If you are in the Dining Room, stay there and do not move. If you are outside, please go to the Dining Room. If you are in the Library, please stay put. So, with these instructions, everyone on campus should be gathered in either the Dining Room or Library. These are just precautions; we’ve just gotten notice of a major storm system moving in to Central City and we want everyone to stay safe and calm. Police will be circulating the school, checking up on everyone, and bringing supplies if needed. Periodic updates will be broadcasted through the loudspeakers when appropriate.

Thank you everyone for your patience and listening. You may now move where necessary.”

The speaker crackles and goes silent. By now, my eyes have adjusted fully to the dim lighting, so I gather my things carefully and put them in my bookbag. Although I’m in the library and have no obligation to move, the darkness and eeriness of this area is kinda creeping me out. I make my way to the front of the building, and find quite a lot of people gathering. I hear quiet conversations happening all around me. I set my things and self down on an empty couch and pull out a regular history textbook instead of the old journal to avoid suspicion.

Suddenly, the Library doors swing open. Along with a gust of wind, a few people step inside. Among them is Kaelie and Gavin, hand in hand, and Rhodes with his bookbag.

The librarian shoots them all an irritated glance; they technically were supposed to go to the Dining Room. I motion to my friends to come join me on the couch, and they do.

Kaelie and Gavin sit down first, and Rhodes plops down between Gavin and me, and pulls me into a hug.

“Hey, Ram. How are you?”

“Great.” I smile into his shoulder.

We break our hug. His hazel eyes stare intently into mine, and I remember why I like him so much. And why I’m so happy I have him. He grabs my hand and squeezes it lightly, just as a comforting gesture. I lean into him and breathe in his woodsy scented shirt. He wraps his arm around my shoulder and kisses the top of my head. I smile softly.