August 27, 2015
A light breeze, smelling of salt and saline fish, carried over the shoddy bus stop and into the nostrils of the vast amount of occupants. Sunbeams radiated onto the earth, burning the bodies of Floridian citizens as they choked on the humidity of the state. Women and men roamed the streets, dressed casually and formally and oddly and normally – some even wore purple and black robes, how queer they must seem to the unmagical passing through. Kids, dressed alike in weird robes and normal clothing, milled around the shelter, laughing and talking to each other as well as preserving the few moments of technology that they have left. Of course, there were the few teenagers that sat alone, pondering the outside world that surrounded them. Aella Strand was one such student.
She sat alone, licking the slowly melting ice cream in her hand. A vanilla droplet races down the cone, slipping over her fingers like a never ending snake and coating her pale, freckled skin with sugary heaven that will later transform into a sticky hell. Of course, it was her duty to lick her fingers clean and then the cone and then devour the traitorous treat before it could contaminate her body once more. Aella gobbled it down, glancing at the serene palm trees that stood sideways and up ways and down ways and weird ways. The brunette – or was she blonde? dirty blonde? at times no one could tell – glanced at the simple black watch adorning her bony wrist and watching as 8:59 flickered to 9:00. She stood up immediately and, as if someone had banged a war drum, the students began clambering for first stop in the makeshift line by the curb. Aella rushed, her sneaker-covered feet thumping on the concrete as she skidded to the front.
As if called by the battle, an old Peugeot swerved around the corner, flying into the other lane and slid dangerously to a stop in front of the line of Salem Witches’ Institute students. Aella felt the hot air burst across her cheeks and the gasoline aroma force its way into her nose. The window of the Peregrine rolled until it was fully in front of her before the obscure glass shift downwards until the wrinkled face of Mercury could be seen. Mercury absent-mindedly pressed the window button, not noticing that it was all the way down, as she complained with Pluto next to her.
“And I say we listen to rock!” Mercury shouted, her thin lips quivering as Pluto shouted something unintelligible back.
“Ahem.” Aella coughed politely, leaning down so she could peer into the car.
“Because jazz music is shit!” Mercury cried, slamming her fist against the radio, changing it to a country channel rather than the rock channel she wanted.
“Excuse me.” Aella murmured this time, but her voice was once more drowned out by the elderly women. “Excuse me!”
“What!” Mercury scowled, turning to Aella before shredding a piece of paper from a slot and sticking it into Aella’s palm. Aella dutifully took the paper and climbed into the back of the car.
Aella hunched over onto her knees as she struggled to move in the seatless car, opening the furred hatch. It was with relief that she was able to stretch her legs and descend the stairs. Her bags had been tagged with her room number and magically transported into her room already. Luckily for Aella, she was higher up on the floors considering that today was the last day of travel – so when they stopped that night at the Institute she wouldn’t have to climb so many stairs. Aella made her way to the 37th floor, the tenth room, and promptly flopped onto the bed. Her precious ratties, which had been delivered just like her bags, bruxed their teeth together happily at the sight of her and Aella wiggled her finger between the bars, the rats licking her fingers with joy. The Good girl flicked the intercom on and listened to the entertaining old ladies arguing over Burger King fries as she sighed and closed her eyes for a brief moment.
With a tired sigh, Aella made her way to the bowels of the Peregrine Hotel and into the hangout area designated for the students to mingle. She grabbed a drink from the bar, inhaling deeply as she anxiously glanced around the room.
