Jon was still reeling from all the information Karyn had given him. Naturally because Jon made the wish, he still remembered his old normal reality. This was different though. His wish had somehow altered reality, but only within range of the stone.
In some ways that constraint was the largest cause of his growing distress. What would people outside be thinking? They would be thinking the exact same thing he was. He had the same memories as everyone else outside the range of the stone but within Lakeside how far? His grandfather's note suggested the stone had a range of 'several miles' so perhaps that at least included people in his town- though could potentially miss a few people on the eastern side, since his house was on the western side and nearest to the lakes and forest.
Karyn looked at Jon sympathetically she wasn't too sure what to say to him. Still Jon -did- have the stone, so.. surly it could be fixed? "Jon, why don't you just wish the Mist never existed?" She thought aloud. "You still have the stone right?"
"Yeah its at home."
"Okay, so just make a wish to sort this out."
"I can't! The stone's range is limited. The wish I made it.. it's like we're in a bubble that just popped. If I made another wish, I'll just be putting us in that same bubble, but the bubble from the previous wish is still there!"
Karyn looked at her phone. "What- the feds are quarantining us?! Because of the Mist?"
"To them it never existed until now." Jon reminded. "So if I wish that it never existed, it still exists to them."
Karyn looked at the news. "It says there are reports of kids with strange symptoms all over the world. South America, Europe, Japan, Asia- Oh boy this isn't good Jon!"
Jon gulped. A simple wish to fix this was now beyond his reach. "Let me think the stone can't change anything outside it's range. I think I can fix this by wishing for a cure instead. It can be found here, then sent off around the world.. and things could get back to normal."
Karyn thought about that then nodded. "I suppose that would work. Better then the idea I was thinking of."
Jon grew curious at that. "Hm?vWhat were you thinking?"
"Well- I was thinking of back to the future, so I thought maybe time travel," she said with a blush. "We could ask to go back in time and you stop yourself from making that wish."
Jon laughed a bit. It took the edge off the situation. "Yeah, I think that's a bad idea. Let me wish for a cure, then we can fix this all up."
"I wonder how Biff would take it. I think he likes being a kid again."
"Biff?" Jon arched an eyebrow.
"Biff caught the Mist last year. He was reduced to about nine years old. He seems to be doing pretty well though academically."
Jon sighed. "Well nobody has to take the cure once its wished for. At least we know this can be fixed up soon..."
A teacher, with blonde hair then started to approach. "Excuse me Jon."
Jon didn't recognise her. Was she new? "Uh- hello.."
Miss Wyngate looked sadly to him. "I'm afraid your brother is in the nurses office."
"W-What!" Jon looked startled. "What happened? Is it okay?"
"It's okay," Said the teacher carefully. "He's a bit shaken. I'm sorry but he's caught the Mist. If it's okay with you, could you go visit him? I think he could use some cheering up."
Jon didn't need to hear more. He ran as quickly as he could. This was his fault! All because of his wish. If his brother was hurt because of this he would never forgive himself. That stupid stone! Once he fixed this mess he would throw it away.
Mikey never liked being in the nurses office. As he walked in, he saw other kids stare at him, at the bright red feathers that spilled out of his pants. He wanted to just hide away from it all. A lot of emotions went through him, somehow all of them trying to get out but resulting in a giant ball of numbness.
"Don't worry Michael, it's not so bad," said the Nurse.
"I got feathers on my butt."
The nurse chuckled. "Yes, but it's perfectly normal. I mean it's not usual of course, but quite a few your age start going through changes. Now I think I have a pamphlet here.." She gave him one titled 'MIST, a general guide.'
Mikey looked at the book briefly. It didn't have a lot, just how people changed when they went through puberty and sometimes the Mist took them in another direction.
"Ah, here we are. One for Bird-formations." The nurse provided another one. This had a pack with a few others titled 'taking care of ones claws, 'talking out of a beak', and of course 'how to preen your feathers.' Mikey took the pamphlets wordlessly. "H-How many.. are there in school like me?"
the nurse shrugged "Like you, probably none. Or at least very few. The changes don't tend to go 'exactly' the same way, though I dare say there will be other bird beings around. You should be done in a few days though."
"D-Days?"
The nurse nodded. "Well, it can vary but most are done changing by a week or so. There might be a few more changes in the final stages but your new template should be all fixed up in a week."
Mikey looked down at his body a body that right now he felt like it was betraying him, taking him somewhere he didn't want to go. He didn't want this to happen! He wanted to be like everyone else normal He was so shaken that he didn't even notice Jon knock.
"Hey Mikey," whispered Jon.
Mikey continued to look on the ground.
Jon sighed. He couldn't tell Mikey about the stone just yet but he know he could fix this! "I- I'm sorry." He said honestly.
Mikey looked up. "Why ain't your fault."
Jon wasn't sure what to say he felt himself break inside at that. It was his fault! "I- Mom said I- I should be looking out for you. I didn't even notice. You could have told me.. I I would have helped."
Mikey burned with quiet fury. "It ain't your business it ain't any bodies!" The young boy suddenly broke down. Wet tears streaming down his face.
The nurse tried to offer some comfort to him. "Michael, honestly I know things look bad now, but you can get through this. I have seen many people go through changes, many far stranger then yours. You'll get to see them all."
"I don't want to!"
The nurse's voice remained calm. "It will help you. Mist students have their own classroom.."
"What about Biff? He was in a normal class! It's cause he didn't turn into a freak so he doesn't have to be with that teacher. I don't want to be in that zoo classroom! I want to be in Miss Wyngate's class!"
The nurse gave a sigh. "I'm sorry Mikey but it's just how things are. Biff was an exception because he just became younger. Students find the other Mist changed very distracting... If we put you in a normal class, things don't tend to work well. You won't get to learn as well, and the other students won't learn "
Jon took this news with some concern. He wasn't sure what the implication of this was but.. he was quite sure he didn't like it. Everything was telling him to take Mikey's side in this. More then just because he was his brother but because of his sense of fairness. "It's his class with his friends though," he said. "He likes his teacher. Putting a new one just because he would 'fit in' with them can't be right." The more he thought about it.. the more unfair Jon realised it was.
Mikey glanced to Jon hopefully. "Y-Yeah..."
The nurse bit her lip. "I'm afraid this isn't up to me The class has some very nice students in it though, you'll be fine."
Mikey grimaced all the more at what the new classroom would be like.
