As Ann now led Lynne towards the others, she couldn't shake the feeling something was wrong.
Dressed only in a blouse that descended to her knees and a jacket that completely swamped her were the most obvious. Also walking around barefoot on a cold floor didn't make much sense. These worries though, while obvious, were quickly dismissed by the 7 year old. Everyone was dressed like this to some extent. Girls between 6 and 7 darted around the room giggling. In every case the girls either sported far too long dresses or blouses that hung on the girls like night shirts. Maybe this was a sleepover? It would explain why no one had shoes on.
Other things though bothered Ann though. It seemed like things were bigger than they should be. Ann watched as two girls now stood on tiptoe to reach their drinks on a table. Another group that was sitting down seemed to have to stretch across the table to reach their glasses. Why would everyone put their drinks in hard to reach places?
Finally what struck Ann as truely odd was the complete lack of grown ups. There were more people here than Ann could count (or at least 7 year old Ann could count). Every girl looked around Ann's age, maybe a little younger like her 6 year old sister Lisa. Ann had never heard of any sleepover ever being this big. If it was a school party, which would explain why there were so many kids, then where were the teachers? Ann had never seen any school assembly where the teachers weren't hanging around.
As Ann and Lynne approached Lisa, they could see the 6 year old talking with her friends Kumiko and Julia. As she saw Ann and Lynne approach she gasped in shock. "Ann what is Lynne doing here?"
"I don't know," Ann shrugged. "I just found her." Lisa now approached the toddler, a frown forming on her face. "Mom is going to be so mad you snuck in here."
"I wanna go to da party," Lynne pouted, the 2 year old folding her tiny arms across her chest.
"This is a big kids party," Lisa stated. As she said that everyone once more lost a year of age. Lisa shrinking into an adorable red haired Kindergartener of 5. The girls sweater now brushing her toes. Ann meanwhile became 6, a sense of vertigo washing over her as she grew smaller. As the first grader looked herself over, she couldn't shake the feeling something was off.
"Lisa," Ann asked quietly. "Something doesn't feel right."
"What do you mean," Lisa lisped, her wide innocent eyes beaming up at her big sister.
"Why do we have big girl clothes on," Ann asked, gesturing to their overly large blouses. "Its a party Ann," Lisa stated with absolute certainty. "You hafta dress in big girl clothes to go." Ann nodded, still a bit uncertain but unable to counter Lisa's logic. Maybe one of her friends could help?
Ann now glanced over at Maddie, Nina, Reiko, and Natalia. The group of 6 year olds talking with a 5 year old Stephanie. Nina and Maddie were currently having a Tumbling competition. The two 6 year olds doing cartwheels as Stephanie and Reiko cheered them on. As Ann looked at Natalia, she noticed the young Scottish girl seemed bothered by something. Ann remembered that both Nina and Natalia had only recently moved into town. While Nina was outgoing and friendly, Natalia was a very shy and quiet girl. "Natalia are you okay?"
Natalia glanced at the young blond girl, nervously pulling on her blouse that grazed her ankles. "Something feels weird," she whimpered.
"You feel it too," Ann asked in awe. Natalia nodded, scuffing her barefoot on the floor. "Dis feels weird Ann," she said quietly. "Why are my clothes so big?Where are the grown ups?" Ann shrugged, she didn't have a good answer Natalia.
As Caleb and Gloria now pulled up to Lisa's office with Jacob Moreland, they scanned the outside of the building. "Well the building is still standing," Gloria stated.
"Is that really a concern," Caleb asked in alarm. Gloria blushed, remembering her time traveling sisters penchant for trouble. "Umm probably not," she blushed. "Lets just get inside."
As the group now entered the building, their jaws dropped. Instead of a gathering of professional women, the building was filled with 80 energetic 5 and 6 year olds. The group watched as girls raced through the halls, singing Christmas carols and playing with reckless abandon. Jacob simply gawked as a tiny girl with sandy brown pigtails raced towards him.
"Daddy," Nina squealed. "Dis is da beat party eva!!!"
"Nina," Jacob asked, completely in shock. "What happened? Why are you a little girl?"
"I'm not little I'm six!" Nina grumbled, the tiny farm girl placing her hands on her hips as she glared up at her husband. Jacobs shoulders now slumped, his hand forming into a tight fist.
"Oh shit!"
Caleb glanced down at Spark, the fairy burtong herself into Calebs coat pocket. "What is it Spark?"
"Your dad is about to blow a gasket," Spark said nervously, pointing at the one armed hunter who was visibly shaking now. "Last time he did that was when witch tried to hurt Nina."
"What happened," Gloria gulped.
"He um leveled an office building," Spark replied sheepishly. "A forty story office building. Just blew it up with the witch inside and everything. Took out an entire city block."
Caleb and Gloria gulped, nervously watching as Jacob slowly turned to face them. Jacobs eyes seemed to glow red with anger,, the veins in his neck bulging.. Despite his injuries and lacking an arm, the look on the old hunters face made Gloria want to face a 1000 vampires as opposed a very angry hunter.
"Fix it."
"Dad I..."
"FIX IT," Jacob snarled, Caleb and Gloria shrinking back as Spark now buried herself deep inside Calebs pocket. Jacobs breathing became ragged, the hunters face turning crimson with anger. Gloria now reached out with her ring, beads of sweat now forming on her brow.
"Um Mr. Moreland," Gloria replied sheepishly. "My sister Lynnes magic is a bit chaotic. I'm, um, going to need a bit of help with this one."