by c a king
Makayla bit her top lip, stifling a chuckle from forming. There was no way bubblegum girl was stopping anywhere near him. That one was headed straight to the back of the bus—a place reserved for the most popular—albeit nastiest of students. The two traits were often interchangeable among students.
The doors squeaked closed—next stop Academy Landing. There were no silly songs or active chatter for this ride. If anything, an awkward silence flowed through the bus, save for the occasional annoying snap of bubblegum.
It didn’t make sense to make new friends when, at the end of the line, it was unlikely any of the riders would see each other again. They were all heading to different classes, held in institutions, littered throughout the magical world.
Shadows formed, a canopy of leaves and branches blocking out the sun. The road turned bumpy, pavement of the humdrumian world left behind. Nature was a witch’s domain and the place they were headed was surrounded by just that.
Woodlands Preparatory School was located deep within a forest, and other than its odd location, appeared to be as mundane as any other private learning institution in the country. Brakes squealed their displeasure of the bus being forced to a stop. The front doors continued with the loud complaints, sliding open directly in front of a set of white stairs. The driver chuckled, gears grinding as their transportation bolted away, leaving them in a cloud of purple smoke. It wasn’t by any means harmful, but annoying just the same.
The stranded students were collectively nothing more than statues in a museum. Mouths hung open gaping at the entrance looming over them. Somewhere beyond the large wooden doors, only a few steps away, was their future. What that meant none of them could truly fathom from where they stood. This was their initiation day—the first time any of them would lay eyes on the magical world from which their ancestors hailed. One had to be a permanent resident of the land, an adult witch, or enrolled in one of the academies to enter.
Makayla made the first move. Hopefully one of her brothers was still hanging around inside to show her the rest of the way. If not, it was going to be an extremely long day.
Chapter Four
“Excuse me,” Makayla blurted out for the thirteenth time. A lucky number it wasn’t, at least in this case.
The woman ignored her completely, rushing by with a stack of papers. The top ones scattered, fluttering down to litter the ground. An old man in a grey jumpsuit ordered a broom to sweep them away, mumbling about the first day of classes under a big bushy moustache.
“Excuse me,” Makayla said a little louder, this time yelling over a counter at a number of the staff. Not one paid her any attention. That was a big mistake. If there was one thing she could do better than anyone she knew, it was scream. Her lips parted, lungs filling to capacity. “Excuse me!” The glass panes on windows and doors vibrated, threatening to break. That time people noticed.
“What in the Middle Ages are you yelling about?” a woman asked, scurrying over. “It isn’t proper behaviour at all.”
“I’m new this year...” Makayla glanced at the woman’s name tag, “...Ms. Dred.”
“Well, obviously,” Ms. Dred replied, using a bunch of schedules to fan herself. “No one else is raising their voices. You shouldn’t be either. Unless there is an emergency... is there an emergency?” Her voice rose slightly at the end of her question.
“Not exactly. It’s... well... I’m a bit lost,” Makayla answered. “I have no idea where to go.”
“That’s it?” Ms. Dred said, raising her nose in disgust. “All students have to find their way on the first day. It is part of the process. How else are you going to learn?”
“I understand that,” Makayla blurted out, “but I have absolutely no clue. I was planning on having one of my brothers show me...”
“Is this story very long?” Ms. Dred questioned, wiping a few beads of sweat from her brow. What had been a freshly done do was ruined, reduced to a pile of soaked strands flopping down in an unruly state. “I have a few thousand things to get back to.”
“I still don’t know where to go,” Makayla complained, watching the woman turn to walk away. “I can scream a few octaves higher. It’s a gift. Would you like to hear?”
Ms. Dred froze, pivoting back. “That won’t be necessary. Show me your slip.” A palm extended, one foot tapping.
“I don’t have one,” Makayla admitted. “We didn’t receive any communications from the Academies about my classes.”
“Then you have to see the librarian for a slip,” Ms. Dred snapped. “Once you have it, stick to the instructions. It isn’t that hard to figure out, dear. If it were, we’d be overrun by students such as yourself. Now, off you go.” Her arms waved.
Makayla felt a swoosh, then the slamming of a door behind her. She’d been officially kicked out of the office. How many witches could say that on their first day? A sigh passed through slightly parted lips. She’d made a bit of progress in knowing where she was heading to. If only she knew which direction the library was in.
The movement of staff and students in the hallway was all heading the same way. Mustering up the nerve, one foot stuck out, the rest of her sliding into the stream. At least some of the hustle and bustle was flowing in the right direction—they had to be.
Woodlands Preparatory was home to classes that involved using magic in the real world. What they taught there was advanced spells for senior students. For everyone else it was merely a train station—a place where portals were located. Normally students knew which exit they were heading to before they arrived. That was what she was missing: the slip that explained which gateway she was leaving by and how to access it.
“Library,” Makayla blurted out, making eye contact with the girl beside her. The reply came as a single finger pointing to an empty corridor to their right.
She chuckled. That meant swimming against the current. Bodies banged and shoved. “Sorry,” she muttered several times, pushing her way through the crowd. For the first time having six older brothers actually came in handy. She was used to fighting for what she wanted. Rule one, in such a situation, was show no mercy.
Lights flickered, keeping the path to the library dimly lit. Polished black shoes shuffled, scuffing against the flooring beneath them. Two double doors swung open in anticipation of her approach.
She chuckled, realizing the irony of her situation. She’d only made it as far as she was because of her vocal skills. They weren’t going to help her there. Yelling was taboo in any library. One hand rubbed her throat as words attempted to form. Nothing happened. Makayla approached a woman reading behind a counter. Arms flailed about trying to break the woman’s concentration to no avail.
Whitened knuckles rapped on the counter surface, but made no noise at all. Makayla bit her bottom lip, a flush filling her cheeks. It was all or nothing. Mouth wide open, she took in as much air as she could muster before letting it all back out in the loudest scream she’d ever attempted. It came out as barely a whisper, but worked nonetheless.
“Shh,” the librarian replied, pressing a finger against her lips.
Makayla broke out into a rather odd game of charades, trying to articulate her needs through movements.
The woman simply shook her head, holding up a slip of paper. “Stick to your instructions and you won’t have a problem.”
That was easier said than done. The paper was blank except for the words ‘grab a book.’ Makayla let out a quiet huff. There were books everywhere. Simply picking one up wasn’t going to do the trick. One finger traced spines as she combed the corridors, looking for a title that would pop out at her. A dirty finger was the only thing she ended up with. Apparently dusting made too much noise. Who knew?
Dust! “Achoo.” A hand rushed to block the sneeze from spreading germs all around the room. As much as she hated the sniffles, the itchy watery eyes that came next were much worse. On the plus side, her voice was intact again.
“You can’t find it either, huh?” the boy from the bus suggested. �
�I’m usually the one who ends up with allergies first. It’s good to know someone else takes that award for once. I’m Thomas, by the way.” He held out one hand, reeling it back in at the sight of a second sneeze forming.
“Ah. Ah...”
“Boo!” the bubblegum chewer blurted out, snickering as she walked by. “Anyone try the paranormal section?”
“There isn’t one,” Thomas replied, shadowing the tall girl. “I’m Thomas.”
“I got that when you said it earlier,” the girl snapped. “You might as well keep the introductions until after we know if we are in the same classes or not.”
“We can still be friends either way, right?” Thomas asked, scratching his head and further messing up his hair.
Makayla chuckled under her breath, watching the two standing side by side was quite amusing. She was twice his height and a quarter of his width. They’d be an odd couple in the making if she decided to give him the time of day.
“It must have something to do with witchcraft,” the girl huffed, her long black ponytails swinging back and forth as she moved.
Fingers snapped. “Fantasy,” Makayla blurted out. “It has to be.” She bypassed the other two students, heading straight for the back wall. Air forced her cheeks to puff out as her eyes glanced over every title. She crouched down to the bottom shelf, pulling out a tattered book looking out of place among fancy covers: Ageis’ Stones.
Gears began grinding. The bookshelf swung out, knocking her onto her backside and the wind from her lungs.
Thomas rushed forward, stopping the hidden portal from shutting on them. “I got it!” he declared, sweat beading on his reddened forehead. “Go on through.” Bubblegum girl had already disappeared before he finished speaking.
“Are you sure?” Makayla asked.
“Just...” Thomas huffed, “...go fast.”
He didn’t have to tell her twice, she raced through without looking back. “Thanks...” her words faded. They were still in the library. “Great.”
“Was that supposed to happen?” Thomas questioned, holding on to a stationary shelf while he caught his breath. “I mean aren’t we supposed to be somewhere else now?”
“Maybe it’s because dummy didn’t put the book back,” bubblegum girl barked, standing only a few feet away.
Makayla glanced down at her hand; book still firmly in her grip. She was sure she’d put it back the moment things started to move; yet there it was. “What should I do with it?”
“What are you asking me for?” the girl snapped, rolling her eyes. “You could try putting it down somewhere. That might help.”
The book landed with a thud.
“Hello,” a shaky old voice called out. “Who is there? I don’t have time to play games. Show yourselves.”
“I said put it down, not wake the dead by tossing it on the ground,” bubblegum girl grumbled. “Now we are all in trouble. Thanks for nothing.”
Makayla pushed by the other two. “Don’t worry, I’ll take the blame,” she huffed. “Hello. I’m sorry to disturb you. I’m a little lost.”
“Let’s see the slip,” the elderly librarian said, holding out one hand palm facing up. “It is quite clear to me.” He handed it back, his left eye twitching as he examined her. “Follow the instructions. They won’t steer you wrong.”
Makayla accepted the paper back. A frown crept over her normally perfect complexion. The words on it had changed sometime between the two rooms.
Exit the library.
“Thank you,” she muttered, pushing her way through a metal turnstile. Only after finding herself on a set of steps leading down to a deserted road did she remember the other students she’d left inside. The door she’d just exited refused to budge. A closed sign appeared in the rectangular window. At least those two were still together. She was all alone.
Chapter Five
Save for the absence of people and the odd items being displayed in store windows, it could have been the main street of any town.
Makayla took each cement step down with caution, happy to reach the sidewalk at the bottom. Short legs weren’t a blessing. Far too often they tripped over each other, especially when she was excited. A deep breath momentarily calmed her fluttering heart. Before her was the path to her future—an uncertain one at that. One foot tested the cobblestone before the rest of her was allowed to catch up.
The wandering began. There were parking spots, but no cars. There were stores, but none were open. The first window display was filled with sweet treats—none reachable. Stomach growling, she moved on. Everything a witch needed to perform even the most difficult of tasks could be found in the matter of two blocks. None of it, however, was accessible to her.
Makayla rubbed her temples. There were no roads in and no roads out. One foot stomped on the ground. It made no sense. There was nowhere to go. She’d circled the same three blocks a half a dozen times already.
She licked a finger, holding it up. There was no breeze. Using one hand as a visor, she glanced up. There were no clouds. The only thing moving at all was a stream of water continuously cascading down from the tiers of a centralized fountain. A rim around the edge was also the only place to sit and think. What town lacked benches?
The slip of paper was her only clue. She glanced at it again, rubbing her eyes when the words began to change.
The sun warms and dries.
“Warms and dries,” Makayla mumbled, glancing over her shoulder. Her eyes locked on a group of giant goldfish swimming in circles in the basin of the fountain. “Were you guys there before?”
Scales of orange and white glistened as one fish majestically leapt into the air, spouting water from its oval mouth, directly in her face. “Of course we were, stupid.”
One hand wiped the water from her face. “That wasn’t very nice. How would you feel if I did that to you?”
“We don’t care,” another fish answered, this one had a streak of black on its side. “We like being wet.” An arch of water formed from its mouth, landing directly on top of her scalp.
“Hey,” Makayla screamed, jumping aside. It was too late. The latest spray soaked her head to toe. A tongue popped out in response to chuckles and comments from the pool. “It’s just water. The sun will dry me off.” She paused, glancing down at her slip.
That was it. The paper had to get wet in order to dry. That was the goal, preferably without dowsing herself for a third time. The water carried a rather unpleasant fishy smell.
She inched forward; her nemeses following every move she made. They had no intentions of making this easy. Gone was the playful spitting of flowing streams, replaced by liquid weapons—each one capable of leaving a rather nice sized welt on any exposed skin it came in contact with.
With six brothers, hopping from foot to foot while dodging bullets of water was a piece of cake. Her tongue stuck out once again. “You missed me. Ha. Ha.” Taunting words did their job. The number of attacks increased, one blast knocking the slip from her hand. It flew backward, landing on the ground.
Makayla made chase, reaching the paper in time to see the wetness evaporate, leaving a map where words once were. That wasn’t the only thing that changed—the road itself now extended past where earlier it ended.
Time might not have a meant a thing where she was, but in her world there was no doubt the hour was late. Feet moved at twice the pace, heading for the route that hopefully led to whichever school she’d been placed in. A glistening film appeared, showing her a way out. One hand extended, a single finger testing the way before declaring it safe enough for the rest of her body to follow.
The cobblestone road lying ahead was virtually the same style as the one she’d just been on. Makayla gasped, glancing over her shoulder at a bustling town going about a normal business day. “What the...”
“What did you expect?” a boy questioned, allowing their shoulders to bump as he passed. With a road big enough for most vehicles, the collision wasn’t necessary.
“Wait!” M
akayla exclaimed. “I was there just a minute ago and it was empty. How is that possible?”
“You do believe in magic, don’t you?” the boy snapped, continuing to put distance between them and not once looking back.
Catching up to someone who obviously had no interest in being friends was a waste of time and energy. His pace was much quicker than hers, almost as if he knew where he was heading.
Makayla glanced around, letting a breath of air puff her cheeks out as it escaped. The palm of one hand smacked her forehead as a light turned on inside. There were fenced off fields on both sides of her and only one road. It only made sense to follow it. That’s why he was so confident.
A few hundred yards of the rough surface, matched with her awkwardness, was a recipe for disaster. A foot caught on a crack, sending her stumbling forward a few steps before landing on hands and knees. “Ow!”
“Are you okay?” Thomas asked, rushing forward, breathing hard. “That was a nasty fall.” He offered a hand.
“It was the funniest thing I’ve seen in a while,” bubblegum girl snickered, strolling by. Pigtails flipped as she passed.
“I’m fine,” Makayla snapped. Falling without an audience would have been better for her pride. Unfortunately, timing was rarely on her side. Every embarrassing thing that happened in her life always ended up well witnessed.
Her necklace swung free the moment she pulled herself up. A breeze had returned; rustling tall grasses and stinging as it brushed by the scrapes her knees had amassed.
It’s only a surface wound. Walk it off. The first step was always the worst after a wipeout. It started with the bare minimum of pressure, adding a little more before quickly moving her good leg forward and catching her balance. She glanced down through blurred vision. Yellow and purple were already moving in to accompany streaks of crimson blood. It might have made for an interesting piece of abstract art, if it weren’t for the pure white background.