With a swish of his cloak, Maeleachlainn Spongincork strode to the other end of the room to join Krizia. Anni looked at the secretary. Verity rolled her eyes and, with an unapologetic shrug, pressed a white button on the side of her desk.
There was no warning. A clear rectangular box rose up from the floor and surrounded Anni. It sealed itself around her with only a few inches to spare above her head and shoulders. She panicked and started breathing harder, afraid she’d suffocate. She grabbed her key necklace with one hand and pounded against the transparent enclosure with the other. Nobody paid her any attention.
“Relax, Child,” said Whiffle sleepily. “Save your strength. They cannot hear you. You’re not going to expire. Just. Breathe.”
“Whiffle?” Anni gasped. “How’d you…did you have something to do with this?”
He didn’t reply. She slumped to the floor. Cold air was rushing in from the bottom.
To Anni’s shock, Finnegan strolled into the room, as cool as can be. She jumped up and screamed his name. No one turned. No one heard her. Finnegan walked past Anni without even a glance in her direction. She couldn’t believe it when he jumped the queue. What was going on here? If all these people were Elementals, did that mean that Finnegan was one, too? He sure looked comfortable. It dawned on her that nearly everyone she knew was acquainted with the world of Elementals—everyone but her.
She had no idea how much time passed; it could have been hours. Different Elementals, mostly animals dressed in clothes, came and went; several stared at her like an animal at the zoo. When the queue was down to a handful of Elementals, two new people entered the room: a short, older man and a young woman.
The young woman looked upset while speaking to Verity, pointing in her direction, but Anni couldn’t hear what they were saying. The young woman was plainly dressed in a beige sheath, her long, dark hair was neatly braided, and she waved at Anni with a gentle and modest smile, which, apart from Squirt or Daphne, made her the friendliest person on the Zephyr.
Beneath his square cut glasses, the short man wore a patient expression. He looked familiar. Anni remembered that he was Yugi. A large satchel hung over his shoulder. It overflowed with a variety of grasses, sticks, and long tubers, and his boots had spare bits of sod stuck between the spiked tips. His hands were sheathed in strong, fibrous work gloves that held two distinctive tickets with the words E-pass written boldly on the paper.
The newcomers waited in chairs next to Verity’s desk for Krizia. The young woman was the first of the two to walk toward the other end of the room. Her meeting was brief, and she waved at Anni before she left the room. Yugi’s meeting was just as short as the young woman’s, but he didn’t wave to Anni when he left.
Annoyed, Anni couldn’t help but wonder how much longer she had to wait inside the insidious box. At long last, Verity approached and Anni thought she might be able to get out. Verity placed her palm over the box’s surface and shrugged again.
The bottom of the box rose two inches off the floor. A surge of air, like a turbo jet revving up its engines, built up pressure beneath the box, making it rattle and creak. It blasted forward. The force slammed Anni backward as the box headed straight for Krizia’s desk. It was going too fast. It wasn’t going to stop. Anni screamed. It slammed to a halt.
Anni rubbed her nose. All she could think about were bugs on car windshields. As she pushed aside strands of her flashy hair, she felt an unexpected smile spread across her face. At first glance, the woman sitting at the desk looked like Vivian Sugar, then Anni’s smile vanished. A plaque on the desk read Ornella Krizia. Upon closer inspection, she knew she wasn’t Vivian. Krizia had a pulled face, exaggerated by her severe bun.
But Krizia took no notice of Anni. She reviewed stacks of papers next to the scar-faced man who Verity had called Maeleachlainn, who had ordered Anni to be boxed. They acted as if she wasn’t there. When Krizia finally glanced up, her lip twitched. Her gaze was penetrating and unpleasant. “You will forgive the box, human. The Manor’s Funkometer has reached our daily limit,” Krizia raised her hand and said, “You may speak now.”
Anni cleared her throat. “Um, is Lexi here?”
Krizia stared at her for a long moment. She pulled the E-pass from her desk and said, “You are Anni Moon, yes? And, Alexa Waterstone is this Lexi you are referring to?” Anni nodded, “You were to arrive together. Can you explain where she is?”
“I…I don’t know.” Anni’s voice cracked. “Egbert said he was bringing her—”
“My sister-in-law, Zelda Scurryfunge, explained that Mabel Moon and Teddy Waterstone were you and your friend’s previous guardians?” Anni nodded. Krizia scarcely took a breath before she paused to scrutinize Anni. “I wonder…what do you think has happened to your so-called friend?” Krizia’s gaze was paralyzing. “I suppose you don’t read The V.O.I.C.E.”
A projected newspaper flashed a bluish hue a foot in front of Anni’s face. It was exactly the same holographic newspaper Anni had seen when she opened the desk drawer in the Headmistress’s office. The news article looked just like the one she had read about Teddy, except this time, there was a school photo of Lexi.
Kidnapping Rumors Surface in the Waterstone’s Case
OpEd By: PENELOPE W. POTBOILER
The Elofficium confirmed that Theodore Waterstone’s charge, Alexa Waterstone, student at Waterstone Academy for Girls, Chicago IL, was kidnapped Saturday, June 2nd. This report was authenticated just 24 hours after Teddy Waterstone’s early death date was announced. The Elofficium have a short list of suspects. Sources suggest that they are looking at Moon family members.
Alexa Waterstone, thirteen years old, was last seen at Waterstone Academy (currently under acquisition by the philanthropic Murdrock Family) on the morning of Saturday, June the 2nd. Waterstone Academy, one of a few highly regarded private Elemental/human educational establishments in North America, was in good standing with the Elofficium until they discovered that there was no record of classification for Alexa Waterstone. Lacking proof as to whether the child was human or Elemental goes directly against Section #3353 of Elofficium Rulings and Regulations. A school spokesman, Vivian Sugar, declined to comment.
Whether the Fectus are responsible for the kidnapping, Elofficials will not issue a statement until a thorough investigation has been completed. If true, then Alexa Waterstone’s fate is far worse than her departed uncle’s.
If Alexa Waterstone is an Elemental, is she related to the Moon family? If so, who are/were her parents? Does the kidnapping have anything to do with the priceless Elemental artifact? Or is this an extension of a family curse?
The Moon family has had its historical share of great privilege and power as well as tragedy; however, Mabel Moon’s role in the devastating events that led up to June 21st, thirteen years ago, known as The Great Catastrophe,* coupled with recent events, have left members of the Elemental community questioning if the Moon family is in fact cursed.
The Great Catastrophe was not only defined by a failed prophecy, compounded by the massive loss of Elemental lives, but as the devastating reminder of the last Elemental birth. Although Elementalkind may well be on its way to extinction, this report should be a reminder to you, my dear readers, that our lives, all our lives, are very precious and that we must be vigilant in the protection of our youth, for they are the very last of our kind.
*A Moon Manor representative issued a statement that a memorial anniversary will take place in August.
DOWN THE CHUTE
Anni didn’t want to believe Lexi had been kidnapped. There had to be some mistake. Egbert said Zelda had found her, didn’t he? Krizia’s voice echoed in the distance, saying something about the Fectus being responsible, whatever they were. Anni felt numb all over thinking about the line, “If true, then Alexa Waterstone’s fate is far worse than her departed uncle.” This meant only one thing: Lexi’s life was in danger—or worse. Only, Anni didn’t know what could be worse.
“Clearly, you cannot provide
further information. I will report our meeting to the Elofficium so that they will not detain you or take you into custody.” Krizia scribbled a note. She continued to speak without looking up. “As such, I will grant you temporary clearance to reside on this Zephyr for the duration of six months, by which time other plans will be made for you to travel back to wherever it is that you came from.”
“No!” Anni found her voice at last. “I need to go home. I need to find Lexi.” Krizia squinted. “She’s my family! I have to find her. Egbert is looking for her. He knows where she is. You need to send me back now.”
Krizia whisked her index finger in the air. There was something about her manner that strongly reminded Anni of Egbert.
“Miss Moon,” Krizia said with a fierce stare. “You have jumped the Elemental residency queue by six months; for humans, this is simply unheard of. Consider yourself fortunate that my sister requested I allow you clearance to stay on Moon Zephyr. I am a very busy woman, and your arrival has completely exasperated my schedule due to the excessive levels of Funk you brought with you. In fact, Elofficials are roaming the village right now looking for you.” Krizia paused to look at Anni’s hair. “Judging by your appearance—it is clear that your guardian, Egbert, has not seen fit to acquaint you with our ways. Therefore, this tedious task falls upon our already engaged shoulders.”
Krizia secured her glasses and scribbled another note. “As such, we are duty bound to maintain your well-being while you are with us. You have been granted three vouchers for the duration of your stay. Mr. Maeleachlainn Spongincork here, is one of them.” Anni didn’t find him friendly. “He has seen to your lodgings at Spadu Hills; it’s the only part of the Zephyr that can withstand your levels of Funk. Mr. Spongincork has seen to your work detail, as well. Yugi San will attend to your Funk and, lastly, Diana will assist with your general acclimation. You may direct all questions to her, but be advised, she’s an extremely busy woman, as well, so keep your questions short.” Krizia looked down to scribble another note. “You would do well to follow our rules. The alternatives are not agreeable, not even for an Elemental. That’s all. You may go.”
Anni had no words. Somehow, this Elemental world didn’t feel too different from Waterstone Academy, except that Krizia was a whole lot scarier than Egbert.
The air below her feet started to stir again. It sucked at her legs like a vacuum, and a creaking noise rippled inside the box. Earthy smells wafted upward. A billowing gust of steamy air filled the transparent cell, turning it into a muddy gray cloud.
Without warning the floor beneath her vanished. Under her feet, dozens of chutes moved in every direction with colorful items flashing out of view; Anni swore she saw a carrot. Her ankles wobbled as she pinned them against the sides of the box.
Anni looked up. Spongincork stood beside the cell. When he touched the box, a slot opened, large enough for a small business card to pass through. The card winged its way into her shirt pocket. Spongincork’s hand hovered over the spot that Verity had touched earlier. Anni shook her head pleadingly. He grinned and returned to the desk beside Krizia.
The transparent cell-box started to crackle. Like a paper bag being squished from the top, it started to collapse in on itself. Anni’s eyes darted everywhere looking for help, but none was to be found. Suddenly, at the far side of the room, the double doors to Krizia’s office opened. Egbert Frode Moon walked in, alone.
Desperate to talk to him, Anni beat against the box’s crackling walls. However, the box crumpled into the office’s floor, taking her with it—and poof, she was gone.
Somewhere inside Moon Manor, Crisp, the new cook’s apprentice, cradled a large silver bowl over the compost chute. Once he opened the bin’s lid, a whooshing cry rattled against the metal slide, and he spotted two huge brown eyes peering back at him. He yelled. The thing in the chute yelled. The boy jerked. His bowl of scraps shot into the air and landed on his head.
Meanwhile, outside and behind Moon Manor, Daphne and Squirt moved toward the compost yard, encircled by a low brick fence.
“Where’s Anni?” asked Squirt.
Daphne raised her shoulders and bit her lip. “Yugi said to meet her here.”
Squirt peered over the brick wall and lifted a bruised banana peel, trying his hardest to stifle a giggle. “Funk aside, this stinks more than Anni.”
Daphne eyed the piled heaps. “You shouldn’t make jokes.”
POUND. CLANK. THUMP.
POUND. CLANK. THUMP.
POUND. CLANK. THWACK.
The sounds of screeching metal reverberated off the building and trees. Daphne and Squirt both looked up.
“AAAAAHHHHHHH.”
Two stories above, a blur of black and neon streaked over their heads. It landed on top of a pile of dried lettuce leaves, instantly disintegrating into brown dust, leaving a pair of black-and-white-striped socks sticking out from under the mire of lifeless vegetation. Anni’s backpack tumbled out last and landed by Daphne and Squirt’s feet, unsullied.
“Anni?” Squirt called out.
“Not funny now, huh?” asked Daphne and waded into the muck first.
Squirt followed. They managed to uncover Anni’s arms and legs and remove most of the scraps clinging to her body. But her hair, ever unlucky, was coated in a greenish slime that neither of them dared to touch.
It took longer to locate her shoes, which had slipped off inside the chute. Anni was not a lot of help, which was why Squirt and Daphne hooked her arms around their necks and dragged her into a clearing.
Speechless, they all sat on a patch of dry grass. Daphne and Squirt pulled bits of carrot, potatoes, and banana away from each other’s clothes. Their eyes shifted toward Anni every few seconds, concerned she wasn’t moving or speaking.
Anni stared off into the distance like she was in a trance. After a few minutes, she cleared her throat. “I was just…dumped…down the garbage chute!”
Squirt didn’t smile or laugh, and his staunch expression looked wholly unnatural.
Anni frowned at them. “Why is all this happening? What is this crazy place? Who are you people? First you turn my hair crazy colors, then you send me into a building where people treat me like…like I’m some kind of…I don’t know the word! And dumped me down a garbage chute…”
She took a series of deep breaths. “What’s worse, what’s terrible, is that my best friend in the whole world has been kidnapped! Lexi’s like a sister, the only family I have left, and she’s gone! She was in your news! It said her fate was worse than Teddy’s because the Fectus have her! I don’t even know what that means!”
“Oh no,” said Daphne, wide-eyed, making Anni feel sick.
“Egbert’s up there, I saw him, but I don’t know if he saw me! Now I’m stuck here for six months before I can leave, but I can’t stay! I have to go. How am I supposed to find Lexi while I’m trapped here? It’s all my fault. My fault. I should have made Lexi tell me what was bothering her. I didn’t know. I didn’t know. I should have listened to Egbert and stayed with Lexi the entire time, like I said I would. If I did, none of this would have happened.”
It took all her strength, but she refused to cry. That never solved anything. Besides, she didn’t know Squirt or Daphne well enough. She slowed her breathing and forced her mind to focus. She needed a plan, to come up with something, anything.
Daphne and Squirt stared at her with a combination of concern and sympathy. They sat in silence even though they, too, were covered in the same smelly refuse, until Squirt lowered his nose to his shirt. “I can’t take this smell a second longer.” He stood up and waved them to follow. “Let’s clean up. I’ve got extra coveralls. Come on, Daph, Anni, you’ll feel better after you change.”
Anni followed them like she was on autopilot, racking her brain as they took turns hosing off their hands, arms, and legs. Squirt and Daphne held their breath and gritted their teeth as they helped rinse out Anni’s hair. Squirt offered her the cleanest towel he could find in the garden shed to wrap up
her wet hair. He then handed each of them a one-piece zippered jumpsuit in a bright shade of orange. Anni glanced at the jumpsuit. It reminded her that she was a prisoner on the Zephyr.
“Orange isn’t exactly my color,” said Daphne.
“No problem. What color, then?” asked Squirt.
“Lavender for me,” said Daphne. “Anni?”
“I don’t care.”
Did it really matter? They were talking about things as if everything was normal. Squirt flipped the tag under the collar. His tongue stuck out as he played with the tag, but nothing happened.
“I’ll do Anni’s,” said Daphne, who took the garment and instantly changed Anni’s coveralls from orange to black. “I’m partial to lavender.”
“Thanks,” Anni mumbled.
After they changed out of their dirty clothes, they put them in a canvas sack.
Squirt offered to carry Anni’s backpack. “Your hair should be dry now.” He pointed to the towel on her head. “That sucks up loads of water. I should know. I used to spill things a lot in the beginning, but Yugi hasn’t given up on me yet. He’s still my Earth Studies teacher. Now if only I could get my Opus Stone…”
Anni’s hair was the last thing on her mind. She wasn’t going to turn down his help, but she wasn’t sure she could trust either of them. Finally, she said, “Going back to Chicago is useless now. I need to find out where Lexi is. I don’t know how you can help me do that, but that’s my plan. If you can help with that, then good.”
“I made a promise to Anni and I keep them,” said Squirt. “Daphne will, too.”
“Squirt! Don’t volunteer me for things I can’t do. It’s not easy to get off the Zephyr. It’s almost impossible for underage Elementals to leave, you know that.”
“Daph, don’t say that. We have to help Anni. This is serious!”
Anni Moon & The Elemental Artifact: An Elemental Fantasy Adventure Series: Book For Kids Ages 9-12 (Anni Moon Series) Page 11