Chapter 4 The Pick Up

THE FIFTH ELEMENT🔥🌊🌪️⛰️🌀

~Cassie’s POV~

Bright light from my window woke me up. I hadn’t realized I’d fallen asleep last night.

I checked the clock by my bed. 7:00 AM.

I dragged myself up and went to get ready for school.

Downstairs, Mom was already awake, making breakfast in the kitchen.

“Cassie… you’re up,” she said when she saw me.

“Yeah, I am.” I didn’t feel like talking to her. Not after last night.

“I made pancakes. Sit down. I’ll dish you a plate.” She slid some onto a dish.

“I’m not hungry.”

“Honey, you don’t have to be hungry to eat breakfast. Sit.” She pointed at the chair.

“I said I’m not hungry!” My voice came out sharper than I meant. “I mean, it’s not like you’re my real mom, right? So why bother telling me what to do?”

She froze. “Look, I know you’re angry I kept the truth from you. But you don’t get to talk to me that way. I raised you. I loved you like my own. I’ve done everything a mother would do for her child. So I AM still your mother, even if I didn’t give birth to you. And you will respect me.”

“Right. So what do you want? An apology? I’ve been living a lie for eighteen years, Mom! How could you not mention it once? And now you’re telling me I have this gift and I belong with a bunch of strangers? Forgive me if my tone’s spiteful, but I think it’s justified.”

“Isn’t my love for you enough? Have I ever failed you as a mother? Tell me.”

“I’m going to school. I’m done with this drama.” I grabbed my bag and headed for the door.

“Cassie… you can’t go to school.” Her voice was pleading now. “The Elementals will be back today. I have to prepare you to go with them. Please.”

“Elementals? Is that what they call themselves?” I laughed, but it wasn’t funny. “Well, Mom, I don’t care. I’m not going anywhere with anyone. I’m going to school.”

I yanked the door open and slammed it behind me.

~~~

At school, I couldn’t concentrate.

The teacher’s voice was background noise. All I could think about was home. What would happen when I told those people to their faces that I wasn’t going with them?

Mom said I have gifts. What kind of gift did she mean? Blinding people, making them numb?

These Weird things had happened around me before, but I never thought much of it.

“Cassie, why don’t you give us the answer?”

The teacher’s voice snapped me back. Everyone was staring, waiting.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t hear… I don’t know the answer.” I stuttered.

“And that is why you should pay attention in class, everyone,” the teacher said. “To avoid embarrassing yourself in front of your peers.”

The class laughed.

“I didn’t actually ask a question,” the teacher added, softer now. “I just wanted to see if you were here with us, or somewhere else. Please pay attention.”

I nodded and tried to listen for the rest of class.

~~~

During Lunchtime at the cafeteria, I sat with Veronica, Marvin, and Abby again but I kept zoning out and Veronica seemed to notice.

“Hey, Cassie, you okay? Your mind’s somewhere else.”

“Sorry. Just thinking. It’s not important, don’t worry about it.”

I could never tell them about my problems. I could never tell anyone.

“You sure?”

“I’m sure.” I forced a smile.

“Well, well, well. The new girl’s having a crisis.”

I knew that voice before I turned around.

“Seriously, don’t you have anything better to do than talk to me?” I faced Lisa and her two shadows.

“After what you did to me? You think I don’t know you had something to do with my vision the other day?” Lisa’s eyes narrowed.

My stomach dropped, but I kept my face blank. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Oh, I think you do. You’re a freak of some kind. And freaks like you should be locked up.”

Anger flared hot and fast. “If anyone’s a freak here, it’s you. Oh, and you two as well.” I pointed at the girls behind her.

“You little shit,” Lisa hissed, stepping closer.

I stepped in too, close enough to whisper.

“You’re right. I did have something to do with your vision. And I can do much worse if you don’t stop pestering me. Consider this a warning. If you want to keep using those eyes of yours, you’d better avoid me.”

I stepped back and smiled.

The color drained from her face. That was exactly what I wanted.

“Let’s just go, girls. She’s not worth it,” Lisa muttered, and they went back to their table.

“Wow,” Marvin said. “I’ve never seen her scared of anyone. What did you say to her?”

“Yeah, what did you say?” Veronica asked.

I just shrugged.

~

After school, I took the bus home. I didn’t wait for Mom. I knew she wouldn’t come.

As expected, the black SUVs were already parked out front.

I took a deep breath and went inside.

“Child, we’ve been waiting for you,” the dirty-blonde woman said, standing when she saw me.

“Waiting? Why? I don’t owe you people anything, do I?”

“We don’t have time for this. Are her things ready?” the black-haired woman asked Mom.

“Yes. Over here.” Mom pointed to the corner.

My bags. Boxes. Packed.

I stared at them, then at Mom. “How could you do this to me?”

“Good.” The black-haired woman snapped her fingers. The men in leather attires started carrying my things outside.

“Mom? What is this? Why are they moving my bags?”

“I’m sorry, honey. But this is what has to be done.”

“No! I’m not leaving. I’m not going anywhere with these people. Please don’t do this to me, Mom. Please!” I was begging now, but she didn’t budge.

“I don’t have a choice, Cassie. And neither do you.”

Rage exploded in my chest. “I hate you! I hate all of you! I wish you would choke!”

The words were barely out before Mom’s hands flew to her throat. She started choking — gasping, eyes wide, face turning red.

I panicked. Was I doing this?

“Child. Stop what you’re doing this instant,” the black-haired woman ordered.

“I’m not doing anything! I swear!”

“Yes, you are,” the bald man said. His voice was calm. Too calm.

I looked at him. “No, I’m not.”

“Child, you’re out of control. You need to want it to stop. You’re killing her.”

“But… I just said it. That doesn’t mean I wanted it to happen.” I was shaking now.

“Yes, you did.”

“I said no, I didn’t!” I yelled at him.

He choked. Just like Mom. His hands went to his throat, his face twisted.

Then I swore I saw a wall of water slam into me.

It hit me like a truck, drove me back into the wall... hard.

And Then I blacked out.

~~~