The Elements

By Emmeline Fulara

Prologue edited by Mish Fulara

End of chapter two edited by Anita Morin-Walter

And for all you people, who supported and encouraged me, you deserve a mention – Leanne Miller, Ms. Hart, Stephanie Noel, Liam Smart – and many others supported me via the Internet.

Sparks - Hiwateri Shun
Elf - Elfe Folletto
Sky - Sora Miharu
Sorceress - Hara Itoe
Agua - Heather Chan
Angel - Angelito Lessien
Blaze/Jim - Jimmy Taiki
Crimson - Erik Kiyoshi
Storm - Suoh Saberu
Li - Lindal You

Dark – Andrew McBernott

Prologue

It was a cavernous room; flickering candles dimly lit the dark, musty space. Small crevices in the crumbling plaster let loose a chilling breeze. Age-old cobwebs fluttered in the dark corners of the walls. These walls had been made with cold stone, adorned with heavy tapestries; and decorated draperies depicting a coat of arms hung from the ceiling. There was an unlit chandelier in the centre of the gloomy room, the candles warn down to small stumps. The air was both damp and stifling, and it hung in the room like an eerie ghost. Filling the archway there was an imposing double door made out of oak, with breathtaking carvings and large brass ring handles. The door lies slightly ajar. A platform had been built at the opposite end of the room; a few, slight steps led to a throne placed in the centre of the platform. The throne had purple and blue cushions; the matching blanket had fallen from the King’s lap and now lay forgotten in a crumpled heap at his feet. The throne looked like it was made of gold, but that idea was foolish; it couldn’t possibly be real gold. From where the king sat; a deep purple carpet travelled across the room, to the double door. Two voices pierced through the unnatural silence.

“We cannot fail” the King’s young voice echoed within the room.

“Yes, of course not” another woman’s voice spoke.

“The prophecy must be fulfilled,” he said, his voice increasingly demanding; he pushed himself up and off the chair.

“Yes” the woman was wearing a dark cloak with a hood. This hid all her features with an intimidating thick shadow, cast over her eyes. “Shall I perform the spell?” She asked, remorsefully, thrusting a piece of aged parchment in his direction. Her fingernails pointed and razor sharp, painted with a menacing black varnish.

“Yes” the King nodded, he snatched the parchment out of her hand. His authority over this cloaked woman was easing from every fibre of his being, he has power and he enjoyed it. And he’s not the sort to accept the people who challenge it lightly.

“But-” the woman interrupted thoughtlessly, her voice sounded a little more urgent than her previous tone; though just as sinister.

“Yes?” The King walked forwards into the candlelight. He had long, black hair. This was pushed back into a ponytail, some stray strands of hair hung loose in front of one eye and some shorter strands hung about his head. He wore simple clothes; nothing too elaborate, the only way you could tell he was royalty was by the crown he was wearing. It wasn’t a crown you’d see in fairy tales... it was silver, had elaborated patterns and gems encrusted on it. He wore this crown with pride, it’s not the sort of thing he’d wear unless he had to. But this crown signifies power and so he wore it with pride.

“This... this magic is evil. I don’t want to use it. I fear what the consequences will be-” the woman stuttered; fearful of the King’s reaction to her words, the King smirked and slowly flounced up the stairs; shaking his head.

“Sorceress... in the future all knowledge of magic will be lost, you know why?” He stopped moving and turned on the platform, his eyes bore into the Sorceress’.

“Because science will advance too quickly and people won’t need its knowledge anymore” Sorceress revised, as if she read or learnt it.

“Precisely, and I don’t want that to happen… do you?” The King paced the room as Sorceress shook her head in agreement. “And the only way to get the magic back will be to perform the spell; it says in the prophecy that, without it, all magic will be lost”

“But there must be some other way…”

“There isn’t!” The King shouted and leant on the wall “go and perform the ritual, it’s the only way to bring back all knowledge of magic in the future and–” he placed his hand on his forehead as if to ease the migraine this imbecile was giving him.

“I refuse to plunge the world into darkness!” She shouted in his direction, questioning his authority.

“Perform the spell!” King shouted and pointed at Sorceress; who bowed, defeated, and scuttled out of the room. King held up the piece of aged parchment, which was in his hand and translate a select part of the ancient text.

“The time will come; the light will join with the darkness and they both become one, and darkness will overpower light. The world will perish unless Earth resists…” King grinned in a sinister manner and walked out of the room, slowly closing the door behind him.

The Elements

The sound of footsteps echoing in a cold, damp room...

There is a woman making these footsteps and she is walking across an outsized room, which is so large that the walls are not visible. The woman walks to what she seems to assume is the centre, she places down an orb that emits an eerie glow that is of a pinkish/bluish colour. The woman waves a hand and mumbles a chant, the orb begins to glow intensely and something floats into view. The woman stops chanting and bends down; a distant voice whispers from within the darkness...

I keep having these bizarre dreams, it’s getting frequent and I’m getting used to it... I think. For some reason they don’t seem to resemble dreams; but visions from what occurs in another time or place. I rubbed my eyes and looked groggily upwards, I'm in my classroom. I live in Japan, and in schools like this one we don’t shift from class-to-class but the teachers come to us, so this classroom I’m sitting in is kind of considered a second home for some people. They pinned up posters and other personal papers on the wall, and some of them even brought in belongings like cushions and manga to add to the shelf we had in the corner of the room. Today we’re going on a field trip to England; because this school is wealthy and it’s for one of our subjects, which subject it’s for I don’t even have to explain, anyone would’ve guessed it’s for ‘English’. I looked over to Hara, who had an invaluable look on her face. Hara’s got shoulder length brown hair; she’s always concerned for her friend... that being me. However, it can be annoying sometimes. She’s into poetry and I always imagined her as an actor. She’s daydreaming – no doubt about Jimmy again. I don’t know what’s so extraordinary about him... why do nearly all the girls like him? Though I guess I can answer that question for myself...

"Where do I insert my money?" I asked her teasingly, albeit tiredly. She altered her expression and side glanced at me.

"Very funny, the trip's today and you're not prepared!" She said, I did tell you she’s always concerned for my well-being.

"I am, I just don't need as much as you" I shrugged, glancing at my miniature travel case.

I picked up my school bag and pulled out my manga and attempted reading, though the ‘vision’ I had keeps floating back to the front of my mind, that voice at the end of my dream is most disturbing…

‘Elf...’ What does it mean? I pondered my vision when I heard someone call out my name; I woke from my trance with a start and turned in my chair... its Lindal, my facial expression dropped significantly. Lindal is a ‘geek’... or a ‘nerd’ – whatever name you prefer I don’t care. He’s annoyingly intelligent and that’s why nobody likes him much. He’s good with computers and anything that would require fixing. If you need something built or repaired, go to him – he can do it. He wears thick-rimmed glasses (which doesn’t help his appearance) and he’s got pale white/blue hair (I don’t know if it’s natural – although he’s not the sort that would dye it, also note it’s white and not grey). He constantly adjusts and cleans his glasses. Recently he’s keeping to himself, mostly. He’s been sitting with his back towards us when we have our lunches, he doesn’t eat. He’s working on a project, and by the looks of it, he’s getting obsessive. And I am rather surprised to hear him even speak after so long, he hasn’t been answering those questions teachers expect no-one to know and he’s always drawing diagrams for something.

"Go away" I said, pulling up my manga level with my face and attempted to focus on reading it once again. But I could feel his stale, arid breath on the back of my head and shuddered. I heard his footsteps travel away from me and over to Hara. I muttered a grateful remark, looking in Hara’s direction... what I saw was Lindal chatting to her, he’s holding a large, metal briefcase. Was it what he’s been working on obsessively over these past few weeks? He said something suggestively to Hara, she turned up her nose and said something back (knowing Hara, It’s something I’m glad I’m out of earshot to hear)... a look of disappointment flashed across his face; I smirked as he wondered back to his position at the back, however before he sat down he turned his seat to face the wall and opened his briefcase.

“You handled that well” I grinned at Hara and she giggled.

“Always do!” She smiled warmly at me, regardless of what she just did to Lindal.

Everyone and I primarily mean the girls, paused chatting and gazed at the opening door. Jimmy is late – again. But fortunately the coach is too. Jimmy, unlike Lindal, is a ‘babe’ magnet, whether he likes it or not he attracts girls like crazy – I don’t blame them for being attracted in such a way. With his flaming scarlet eyes and jet-black hair, which girl could resist? All the girls wanted to date him, and all the guys want to be him. Jimmy is an icon, a dream. Everyone looks up to him, even though he considers himself nothing special, if he does what Lindal’s doing right now everyone would walk up to him and ask what he’s doing. He pushed open the door and entered the classroom, looking at the girls goggling at him at the front and rolling his eyes. He walked towards the table next to me, glanced at the girls (who were giggling and waving) and he shook his head. People may dream, but they’re blind to what it’s really like for him. I bet he’d give up his unwanted popularity any day.

I greeted him, keeping my eyes glued onto my manga, though not understanding a word of it, I was aware of Hara’s dreamlike expression; and she looks close to dribbling.

"Same old same, nothing changes and those girls won’t stop staring" Jimmy waves a hand at the girls, and grins falsely in a comical manner. The girls started squabbling over whom he waved at; I can't hear them from here. Jimmy turned back to me, shaking his head.

"There's nothing wrong with them" I sighed, he just waved at the girls and they melted. They’re so easily mislead.

"I didn't say there was... you ok?" Jimmy said, peering at my face. I realised how close his face was to mine and began violently blushing.

"I'm... I’m fine,” I stuttered, and quickly raised my manga to hide my face; I looked sidelong at Hara... who looked jealous. Private chat later Elfé... her expression told me, I grimaced at the thought of her accusing me of flirting or worse – stealing ‘her man’, and believe me her ‘talks’ can be bad.

What was it? Was it a dream? Or was it something else?

My attempts at opening my eyes seem to be failing, as I can’t see through one eye, my manga book was stuck messily against my cheek. I peeled it off carefully, making sure not to tear any pages. I checked the spine, to find a huge crease flowing right down the book, that’s just great – I had to sleep on my manga and ruin it… I guess it couldn’t be helped since it did happen again, that dream... or was it a dream?

"Elfé! You ok?" Jimmy leant towards me and looked into my eyes – like he was attempting to perceive within me; he then picked up my travel case how he manages to carry my travel case and his own bag is a total mystery since he also supported my drowsy body with one arm, and all I thought was how strong he must be. I focused my eyes and noticed people queuing up at the entrance to the classroom. I attempting to shake off Jimmy’s arm and stand up myself, I began following Jimmy when Hara blocked our only path to the door, and Jimmy looked at her with his brain-melting eyes.

"You can't take Elfé!" she stuttered (obviously struggling against Jimmy’s gaze), pointing at Jimmy accusingly.

"And why shouldn’t I?” Jimmy looked calmly into Hara’s eyes and she slowly lowered her hand to her side and looked up at Jimmy dreamily.

"I…" Hara looked lost for words and continued eye contact with Jimmy, Jimmy smiled and patted her shoulder as to tell her she’s done a good job in letting us through. Jimmy picked up our suitcases, one in each hand, and walked towards the line. I followed him only to be blocked by her again, this time she was red in the face and she was looking at her feet.

“You can’t…” Hara trailed off as Jimmy smirked.

“Hara… don’t worry, I am a good friend of Elfé’s and I think she doesn’t mind sitting next to me on the coach…” Jimmy’s eyes sparkled. “Anyway, It’s only one coach ride, I’m sure you can sit next to her on the coach back…”

“Wha…?” Hara looked up at Jimmy confused

“I’m glad you agree, Elfé is her own person”

“Hara, I’m sure Lindal wouldn’t mind sitting next to you…” I began saying

“No!” Hara overacted to my suggestion

"There's nothing wrong with him!" I said with annoyance and began striding to him. I didn't realise Jimmy had his hand wrapped round my wrist and so I dragged him along with me. Lindal looked up and pushed his glasses up the ridge of his nose

"What do you want?” he closed his metal case and looked guilty of something. I raised an eyebrow.

“I…” I forgot what to say and stood above Lindal as he waited for me to speak.

“Hara needs a partner and since I’m taking her only choice… would you mind?” Jimmy grinned and turned on his charm “You see she seems to like you and…” Jimmy paused; he knows he said enough to convince Lindal.

”I uh…” Lindal screwed his face up with confusion “uh, ok…” Jimmy thanked Lindal and led me to the back of the queue as it started shifting through the door.

“I think something’s going to happen in England, Elfé, I don’t know what but I want to be there with you when it happens…” He whispered into my ear “I didn’t want to say anything because… you know…” He pointed at the girls. I nodded and looked at my feet, so Jimmy also thinks something is going to happen in England. The line of people began shifting through the door and down the corridor, out of the front gate and into the awaiting coach. We climbed onto the coach and sat close to the back so as to avoid attention from the other girls. Hara and Lindal decided to sit behind us, I think it was Hara who chose where they sat - Lindal didn’t seem to care, Lindal pulled out a drawing board and a piece of paper and began drawing something. Hara looked over her shoulder and sighed with exasperation.

“They say a beast lives in Bodmin Moor” Hara said suddenly.

“They call it ‘the beast of Bodmin Moor’” Jimmy said and continued staring out the window, as if he said naught and seemed fascinated by the countryside speeding past the window.

“Jimmy, you read too many fictional books. It’s obviously made up by someone,” Lindal said, cleaning his glasses.

“How do you know?” I asked.

“I read non-fictional books and I base my opinion on science, and I just said it as an opinion not as a fact. For all we know the so-called ‘Beast of Bodmin moor’ might be very real” Lindal placed his glasses back on his face.

”You expected us to automatically know it was your opinion?” Hara challenged. Lindal nodded and shot a look at Jimmy.

He laughed “That boyfriend remark’s very offensive for Hara, and can you stop it – it’s irritating” I looked at Lindal, so he thought Jimmy was insulting Hara when he Jokes about him and Hara getting together? How upsetting it must be, to like someone and know you’re not good enough for him or her.

“I was… you know…” Jimmy was searching for something to say as a cover when I sighed out loud, shifting all attention away from Jimmy – to me.

“So… I don’t know much about you, Lind…” I began to say, attempting to drag the attention away from my audible sigh.

“Li!” Lindal interrupted.

“Li?”

“I don’t like my name… call me Li” I looked towards the window and started drifting off, I tried to stay awake but, to me, it seems impossible. I woke up suddenly when someone called my name.

"Uh... yeah?" I turned my head in all directions, searching for the one calling me.

"You like pictures?" Jimmy asked, I nodded and he began scribbling on his pad. I looked at the blur of countryside out the window; it didn’t seem real behind that pane of glass. But then again what is real? We learnt in science that if you moved your hand fast enough it’d just flow straight through any solid object…

A woman looked up, though her face was hidden by a shadow cast by the candle. “Elf” she whispered “Elf, don’t leave Japan” some footsteps were heard from somewhere amongst the darkness. The women instantly stopped talking and spun round. Then everything blurred to darkness.

My eyes flickered open and I looked out of the window. I can see a load of tree’s and the sea in the distance. Should I really listen to a mere dream? It’s just a dream. I should ignore it.

“Elf?” Jimmy’s looking at me “I finished my sketch just when you woke up” he grinned “here, you fell asleep when I asked you if I could draw you, I took the liberty to draw you without permission” he passed his sketchbook to me; he then took an interest in the patterns on the floor of the coach. I opened the sketchpad and on the first page was me, sleeping. But, he drew me so peaceful and beautiful… It couldn’t have possibly been me. I can’t find any words to say, I’m lost for words.

"You know, you can... call me Jim. Jimmy is what other people call me" He met my gaze and smiled. The coach stopped, we're at the harbour.

Everyone started rising; I suddenly felt frightened for some reason and gave Jim back his pad. “Elfé, you ok?” Jim looked concerned “You look pale, are you ill?” Turned around to look at him

“I’m fine” I grinned to reassure him.

“Oh, ok” Jim smiled “I thought… tell me if there’s something wrong… ok?” I nodded and everyone began leaving, starting from the front of the coach and when it came to us, I couldn’t move. Why was I so scared?

“Come on Elfé!” Jim pulled on my wrist and I lurched towards him. We went outside to collect our luggage.

On the ship I was ok; I went right up to the rails and leant over, not too much. But just enough to have the fresh, sea air blow in my face and through my hair. I smiled. I do like ships; I just don’t like my creepy dreams. “Hi Elfé” I turned around; It was Jim.

“You look like you’re enjoying yourself” Jim came over next to me and leaned on the railings with me.

“Why did you look pale on the coach earlier?” he turned his head towards me and looked at my face. “You don’t have to tell me, I think I’ll understand if you don’t”

“I’m sorry, I should tell you.” I looked away from him and reserved to looking at my feet “I was pale because I’ve been having nightmares recently, all the same. Not scary, but…” I pause and waited for him to laugh, but he didn’t. “At first I was ok; they just came when I slept during the night, but then I started fainting and collapsing during the day…” I felt tears bring up “I’m scared to go on this ship because the nightmare told me not to leave Japan”

“Elfé…” Jim looked lost for words by what I just said, so I flung my arms around him in a friendly manner.

“I’m scared” I dug my head in his chest.

“It’s ok” Jim remained frozen, I think I shocked him with my hug “its ok, lets go inside” I nodded and let go of him as he led me inside.

A few days passed and we’re leaving the ship in Dover, England. It’s too late to turn back now. Teacher gathered us round and she led us to another coach parked on the side of the road. “Get into pairs and put your luggage inside the coach” teacher opened a latch near the end of the coach and we filled up the storage space with our bags and suitcases. “I’ve decided that Bodmin Moor is closer than our hotel, so we’re going there first!” everyone looked at each other excitedly, but I just froze. Bodmin Moor… Bodmin… moor…

I woke up in Jim’s arms “Elfé, you collapsed again”

“Did you… catch me?” I stood up and brushed all the dirt off my uniform.

“Uh,” Jim looked toward teacher and listened to her instruction “nobody noticed you collapse, they were too excited with the field trip and stuff…”

“Thanks, Jim” I smiled.

“We better get on” I noticed everyone filing onto the coach and once again, Hara and Li sat behind us. The coach started once we all were on, I turned towards the window and leaned on my arm. I watched the green and yellow fields speed past the window until I dozed off…

“You’ll pay for ignoring me, ELF!” the woman said once again “please do not enter Bodmin Moor!” the woman looked almost scared, but then her expression changed to anger “We’ll all pay for your ignorance” she didn’t seem to be directing her last phrase at me, but at someone I cannot see.

I woke up, my face was covered in sweat and I was breathing fast.

“Elfé!” Jim leant over “did you have another nightmare” I shot a look at him, did I have to answer that? I think Jim got my silent message and put his arm around my shoulders. “She told me not to go to Bodmin Moor” I felt more tears “I don’t know what to do!”

“She…?” Jim asked as I closed my eyes, my head lolled and fell asleep.

I awoke and blinked out the water from my eyes, the bus slowed down to a halt, and I looked out the window, to see a sign bearing the words “Bodmin Moor” I felt my stomach sink, this is bad. We left the bus in the same fashion as we did in Japan, and gathered round teacher.

“Ok, we’ve got…” she checked her watch “three hours here, that gives us time…” she opened her leaflet “time to see…. four sites, divide yourselves into four groups” we did so. Our group contained Hara, Li, Jim, Sora and Angelito. Sora is a blond haired girl who’s into sports. She’s in basically all extra-curricular clubs and she’s extremely athletic, she’s wearing a mini skirt though she isn’t your average bimbo – she’s intelligent and didn’t wear make up – she has natural beauty that doesn’t need to be covered up by cosmetics.

Angelito, however, is a quiet girl. She reads and writes poetry. But she’s always hanging near Sora – they’re best friends even though they’re opposites. Eventually they might be driven apart by their differences but for now, they are inseparable.

"You have to look after each other, make sure none of you gets lost. Here are your cameras" Teacher distributed some digital cameras "Take picture's of what you see!" Teacher shooed us away and started to make a coffee.

"Ok, where should we go first?" Angelito asked, her words barely audible.

"Umm..." Sora pulled out her map – it’s just like a girl who’s into sports and is captain of the cheerleader squad to take lead. "Well, the stone circles are the closest. Maybe we should start there?" she looked up at Jim for ‘permission’ to take lead, he shrugged and she grinned. “Ok…”

"I don't think we should!" I blurted out; everyone looked at me "I don't... it doesn’t matter" What should I tell them? That I'm scared of a bunch of dreams? They'll think I'm an idiot.

"Ok, let’s go!" Sora shouted, leading onwards. Everyone started following, but I just lingered here. I hope that if I keep quiet, nobody will notice me missing.

"Come on, Elfé!" Jim shouted and turned around "Let's go!"

I sighed, "I'm coming" and ran to catch up with them. I might be in serious danger, and nobody even knows. I'm so stupid… what am I saying? They're just dreams. I reassured myself as the stone circles came into view. My thoughts hung in my head. It’s just a dream… it’s just a dream! I stopped walking; Jim noticed and stopped as well. He twisted round and walked down the path to me with raised eyebrows. He had a stop-this-right-now-it’s-annoying look on his face.

"Seriously Elfé, you should stop this everything is ok…" everyone else suddenly stopped walking and went rigid; one by one they collapsed onto the grass when they entered the stone circles. I started feeling woozy too. I grabbed my camera and started randomly taking shots. Then I hit the ground.

I woke up, rubbing my head and I looked around. This is not Bodmin Moor. I've seen this place before. I suddenly felt queasy – I know where this is. It's the place with the strange woman, no sign of her though. I stood up and started to panic... I'm not dreaming! I'm physically here! What am I going to do? I started walking and saw something on the floor. It was a pendant; I touched it and felt a horrible sensation – like something was snaking into each of my fingers and toes, I squirmed with horror and attempted to move my hand – I collapsed onto the ground.

Somewhere in England, a boy was lying, motionless in a street. Though he was breathing, he awoke and looked around; people walked past him and ignored him or looked down at him as if he was no better than them. He had black and white locks and pale skin. He stood up and looked around – his garments stained with dirt. His features sud3denly screwed up with anger and he screamed, the weather instantly changed and the clouds blocked out all natural light and everything grew dingy, it started raining and thunder could be heard.

Somewhere else, also in England, a boy was meditating. He wore a red top and baggy jeans – it looked like he was in a Japanese training hall. He looked like he was sleeping (though he was sitting up), but the woman in the room knew better.

“Awake Erik, your training is done for today”

The boy called Erik sensed something wrong, he has red and black hair and he was rather skinny, even though he does martial arts. “I don’t want to open my eyes”

“Why not?”

“Something’s happened, something changed”

“Open you eyes and stop fooling around – I thought you are stronger than this”

The boy called Erik knew there was nothing he could do to convince this woman “I did warn you” he opened his eyes.

Another girl in the same training hall awoke from her meditation and heard a scream. She opened her eyes and left the room – something is wrong.

Another boy. He had spiky, blond hair pointing in all directions was sitting in a school science lab. They were doing electrical currents and he was fed up – he couldn’t make his circuit work. The teacher walked in his direction.

“Show me what you’ve done”

The boy picked up the battery and plugged it into a small light bulb, and the other end to a switch. He used another wire to complete the series circuit, he flipped the switch on but it all remained dead.

“Is that all?” the teacher was unimpressed and scribbled upon his clipboard.

“I don’t know what’s wrong, I did it all right but nothing’s working!” the teacher walked away shaking his head and the boy pulled the wires out of the battery, the boy grinned cheekily. The teacher looked at the boy just when he attached the loose wire ends to his thumbs. There was no mistake – the torch lit, brightly. He gasped.

“What are you doing Hiwateri?”

The boy called Hiwateri wasn’t moving, - he was shocked. The battery couldn’t light the bulb, but his thumbs could. The teacher whipped out his cell phone and dialled a number.

“We have something you might be interested in…” the boy looked up.

“Shit” Hiwateri yanked the wires off his thumbs and leapt out a gaping window, the teacher rushed towards it.

“Looks like he’s heading home, I’ll access the student database”

This last boy looked about seventeen; he was wearing a black trench coat and boots covered with glistening buckles. He had long black hair, which swayed naturally over his left eye – though a few, short strands hung loose about his head. His exposed eye had a charcoal black mark in the shape of a point, or you can consider it a spike thinning out towards the edge of his mouth. His right hand was in his coat pocket and his left hand held a cigarette up to his lips; he brought his left hand down to his side and tapped it, the loose ash floated towards the ground. He closed his eyes tight and after a few moments he opened them, it began to rain lightly. The boy grinned sinisterly and looked up, towards the grey clouds. The boy threw his cigarette on the floor when a woman called out his name.

“Andrew! Come on, your dinner’s getting cold!”

Andrew groaned and turned to walk to the light, which is the side door to his house. He brought out his right hand and a knife glinted in the moonlight. Andrew walked through his back door; a cloaked figure emerged from the side of the house and followed him in.

I sat up on the grass in Bodmin Moor. I breathed a sigh of relief, how did I get back? I quickly realised something missing and looked into my hand, the pendant is gone! I looked past my hand, at my leg. My skirt had gone up slightly to reveal a small tattoo. It was a strange twisty line… it looks similar to a leaf, if you examined it enough. I picked myself up and brushed my school uniform down. Now, where to go? I looked down and realised everyone else had fainted. I laughed softly and tried to rouse Jim, who did so, rubbing his head.

"What... what happened?" he pulled his hand down and looked at it, bewildered "umm..."

"What is it?" I asked him, quizzically and attempted to get a view of his palm.

"Uh... nothing" Jim quickly moved his hand and grinned.

"Are you ok?" We both simultaneously asked

"Uh... I'm fine" I replied quickly, trying to reassure myself and convince Jim. "It was kind of freaky though" I started adjusting my school uniform collar. Just then Sora and Angelito stirred.

"What happened?" Angelito questioned us “Why were we laying on the grass?”

"You're lucky you're not lying on anything other than grass" Jim looked at them and raised an eyebrow; Sora and Angelito’s face slowly drooped.

"Other than grass?" Sora quoted and looked both revolted and scared. "You mean mud, right?"

"Nope" Jim looked away and shook his head with laughter. Sora began to frantically scream and dance round, checking their school uniform for cow pat, etc. Hara and Li simultaneously stirred, Sora immediately stopped screaming and stood still.

"Where’re my glasses?" Li searched the ground around him; Hara held up a pair.

"Would these happen to be them?" Hara handed them over and grinned, her face reddening. Li looks good without glasses; he should consider wearing contact lenses.

"Hara, did you bump your head or something?" Sora asked Hara, her eyes fixated on her forehead. I noticed Jim had his hand held up in front of his face - examining it intently. She has a mark, directly in the middle of her forehead. It is pale pink; it’s shaped of a circle.

"Hold still" Li observed Hara's forehead "It could only be a bruise, you probably acquired it when you fell". Hara nodded in agreement.

"We better get back" Jim said, standing up and brushing himself down. The rest of us did the same (though Sora already did so earlier – though she frantically danced around and screamed). I decided to look around – the mist is growing thick and I think we should stay together if we have a chance if getting back to the car park.

"We came from this direction, because the stone circles are there" Li pointed at the stone circles.

"So we go this way!" Jim started to walk in the opposite direction to the stone circles. We followed. After a short amount of time, we heard some rustling somewhere in the mist.

"What was that?" Sora asked, clutching onto Angelito.

"I don't know" I replied, grabbing Jim's arm.

"Do you think its The Beast of Bodmin Moor?" Hara asked, looking at Li.

"I told you on the coach, it…" Li was interrupted by some more rustling, which grew louder until eventually something emerged from within the mist...

Teacher shone a torch in our direction, and we all breathed a sigh of relief. Li grinned smugly,

"I told you it doesn’t exist!" Li whispered as Hara smiled.

"What're you doing!" asked Teacher "what happened? Hara! Your head! Are you ok?" Teacher rushed over to Hara and examined it "how did you get that bruise? Come on, everyone’s worried!" We followed Teacher as she led us out of the mist "I almost thought something bad happened to you guys!"

"Something did! We..." Angelito's mouth was blocked with Sora's hand.

"Nothing happened, ok?" She whispered in Angelito's ear, Angelito nodded in agreement.

"But we..." Angelito started to say when Sora removed her hand.

"Just fell" Jim finished off for her "Nothing more" he walked ahead of them towards me "you ok, Elfé?"

"Um... yeah... I'm fine; you can call me Elf if you want..." I said. Well if he wants me to call him Jim. He should be able to call me by my nickname.

But I was scared back there; I really thought it was the Beast of Bodmin Moor! Looks like Li’s right, there's no such thing.

Finally, we got back to the coach in one piece; got on, and went on our way to the hotel. This time, we sat behind Hara and Li - Sora and Angelito sat behind us.

"Hi" said Sora, I grinned and waved at her.

"You can call me Ange" Angelito said quietly, as her way of greeting us.

"Hi Ange" Jim said cheerfully, looking away from his sketchpad, Ange giggled and blushed.

After a while, the coach rolled in front of the hotel. The hotel has a very lovely interior, it’s elaborate carving’s and decorations are breathtaking, we stood in the middle of the entrance hall to have a good gaze, the velvet curtains blew in the gentle breeze entering through the large window pane. We followed Teacher to a large carved wooden desk where a Hotel Secretary sat.

We got given our key cards and rushed off to our rooms to unpack. I went to mine and Hara’s room, I chose to share with Hara, her being a girl and there being two beds in a room. Ange and Sora are sharing and so are Li and Jim. Ange and Sora and nothing alike and yet they’re close friends, it’s hard to comprehend. I chucked my suitcase near my bed and flopped down on the soft mattress; Hara carried her suitcase to her bed and dropped it on the floor. She sat on the edge of her bed and heaved a sigh.

“So, Hara” Hara looked up at me “You and Li, you’re very close?” Hara realised where this conversation would head if it continued and commented on being tired. She grabbed tomorrow’s change of clothes and closed the door to our bathroom. I also took this opportunity to get changed into my pyjamas.

“If you don’t want to talk…” I paused when I saw my ‘tattoo’, where did it come from? I quickly fastened my pyjama buttons and pulled up my bed sheets, I slipped my feet under the cover and pulled it up to my chin. Hara also came back and flopped onto her bed.

“I…” Hara trailed off, she seems to be considering if she should talk or not “I’m tired” Hara decided and climbed underneath her covers facing away from me. I looked up at the ceiling, it’s about midnight, and I don’t feel tired. I thought on this a while and gave up on sleep, sleep seems so impossible right now. I have something to do. I flipped my cover off me and jumped out of my bed. I grabbed some clothes from my suitcase and changed. I took out my small backpack and filled it with a water bottle, a torch and a few other necessities. And so, silently I started to head off to Bodmin Moor.

I entered Bodmin moor and looked around, the cold wind rustled the leaves. The moonlight made trees and rocks look like deadly beasts and cast sinister shadows upon the grass. The large muddy puddles created an eerie reflection of plants and the rippling water made them almost alive. I took out my torch and flicked on the switch, the torch only created more darkness; I took a deep breath of reassurance and began searching for my camera. When I fell, my camera was my eye. I want to find it; I want to know what happened. I approached the stone circles and saw a glint in the grass. I picked up my camera and pressed the on button, the camera came to life - it didn’t break! I opened up a menu and began scrolling through the pictures. Instead of finding my answers I found more questions, why are those pictures blank? What happened? I looked in front of me; a shadow loomed over mine – someone’s behind me.

I turned slowly, to find a familiar face staring back at me.

“You shouldn’t do that” I snapped, and pushed the camera into my bag.

“What are you doing out here? I saw you leave and followed… you” he hesitated

“Thanks, that was really scary though. Next time, let me know… ok?” I laughed, but I stopped abruptly when I heard more padding footsteps...

“Come on out, Hara. We know you’re there!” Jim shouted as I turned and screamed. I poked Jim who turned and yelped.

“So, I guess it is real… isn’t it?” He laughed nervously, mostly to himself. My brain was telling me to run but my legs weren’t responding. This time it’s a big, black and large feline. Though it’s no ordinary cat, it’s some larger creature. It’s bearing its teeth, hackles raised, getting ready to pounce. I poked Jim, who turned around and yelped. As the beast launched itself Jim jumped and pushed me out of the way, landing on top of me, he rolled off me. We heard someone shout.

A boy, about the same age as me, leaped out of the bushes and readied himself. He had a black top and grey jeans on. He kicked the beast away. I looked away from him and looked at Jim’s palm, which was lying on my tummy. I gasped. I saw a red mark. It was of fire but it kind of spiralled in the middle. Jim saw me looking and clenched his hand into a fist.

“It’s nothing…” Jim responded as if I asked him about it. Jim quickly sat up and started watching the fight, which the strange blonde haired boy was in with the Beast. I decided to watch too, it looked like the blonde haired boy was winning. He was weaving and dodging the Beast’s fangs and claws. Whilst he did that, he managed to get in a few offensive moves as well. Not punching and kicking. But clicking his first finger with his index finger and swiping his hand to create a spark of lightning. I watched with awe, also aware of Jim wrapping his hand with a strand of cloth.

The boy shot a powerful bolt of lightning at the beast. It whimpered and ran off; the boy put on his gloves and turned towards us.

“Impressive?” He asked “I wanted to test this… power ever since I collapsed yesterday and I’ve been making things happen… with electrical appliances in my house” he hesitated “I’ve also found out I can attract metal…”

I smiled, but I stopped when he looked irritated.

“It’s not funny… Look!” He pulled up his sleeved to reveal a mark of a lightning bolt, which was a pale yellow colour. “It has something to do with this mark! See, you’ve got one!” He pointed at my leg; I quickly stood up, brushing my trousers down in an attempt to cover the mark. I opened my mouth to defend myself but I couldn’t think of what to say.

“Hey, I didn’t rip your trousers!” he pointedly shouted towards me… actually, I think it was Jim who did that! I flushed slightly, remembering that moment when the beast pounced. Jim pushed us both out of the way…

I stopped blushing and stood up, brushing myself down.

“I’m Hiwateri Shun; I also liked being called sparks… Kind of ironic…” His eyes twinkled. I looked at Jim’s hand, which he bandaged and sighed.

“We… should be getting back…” I said; Jim nodded in agreement. I was about to start walking when Sparks grabbed my arm.

“Can I come?”

“No, go to your home…and get you hand off Elfé!” Jim shouted running over to us. I noticed Sparks is wearing some black gloves, they felt strange, like silk!

“It’s ok, I’m wearing my gloves” Sparks reassured Jim

“What will gloves do?” Jim asked, sarcastically.

“They control my… ability” Sparks hesitated; I was wondering if that was the right word to use, I could tell he agrees with me.

“No…Sparks go home” Jim flinched as if using Hiwateri’s nickname was a needle.

“Ok, well… see you later – I think it’s inevitable, we will meet again Elf” Sparks smiled “bye” He shrank into the darkness.

“I want to go back… I’m tired and I want to have an early morning…”

I opened my eyes. I was in my bed. Was it all a dream? I pulled my clothes on and stumbled into the bathroom. I came out that’s when I saw him.

Outside my window.

I quickly and ran over to the window and opened it.

“Wha… how?” I asked and peered out the window, Sparks was hovering. He did tell me that he could attract metal, but I didn’t know he could float!

“I don’t know, but can you let me in? I think I’m going to fall any moment!” I moved out of his way, as he grabbed the window frame and climbed in.

”Hi” Spark sat on my bed and looked at me, a cheeky grin on his face.

“Uh…” I was still adjusting to the shock – so it wasn’t a dream.

Sparks raised an eyebrow whilst looking at me. We heard three knocks on the door, I don’t know who it is – but they’ll be pretty freaked to see a strange boy sitting on my bed. I pushed Sparks off the side of the mattress, which wasn’t viewable from the doorframe and rushed over. I peeked through a crack of the door nervously. It was Li and Jim. I widened the crack but stood in the way so they couldn’t find a way in.

“Hey, Elfé… can we come in?” Jim asked, indicating himself and Li.

“I’m sorry, this is mine and Hara’s room and I was about to get changed” I said quickly and smiled afterwards.

“I don’t mind waiting…”

“I take a long time to get changed…” I carried on; I don’t know how long I could keep this up before they became suspicious.

“Elfé, you look fine how you are – and you’re already in a change of clothes” Li pointed out.

“Uh…. I want to change, I don’t really feel like wearing these today” I knew the boys were seeing that I was hiding something. Then I heard a groan come from the side of my bed; automatically (without thinking) I spun my head round and saw the top of Spark’s head. I quickly spun back to be faced with a really angry looking Jim.

“Elf?” This is the first time I’ve seen Jim angry – I knew he couldn’t stay laid back. Something must tick him off.

“Um… yes?” I attempted the innocent look, I batted my eyes and smiled as sweetly as I could but Jim took none of it.

“Let me in” He didn’t say it as a request, more like an order. He pushed past me and ran straight for the side of my bed, and I noticed him going to pull his bandage off. He turned the corner of my bed and I could see rage fill his face.

“Jim, it’s nothing…” I tried to stop him but it was too late, he saw him. He saw Sparks - In my room, beside my bed.

“What the hell are you doing here?” shouted Jim, pulling his hand away from the bandage and lifting Sparks off the ground.

“Who the hell do you think you are? What the hell are you doing here?” Jim looked at Sparks intimidating and Sparks looked like he was about to cry for a split second, but the feeling must have passed because Sparks also looked angry.

“You have some bloody nerve, you knocked but didn’t I just hear you say you’ll wait? Maybe you were planning on peeking at Elfé through the keyhole. Don’t falsely accuse me of something you know nothing about. You’re more stupid than I thought.” Sparks lifted his hand and pressed it against Jim’s hand, which held him and shot a small volt down Jim’s arm. Jim yelped and released his grip.

“What the hell you do that for?”

“Well, you were kind of strangling me…” Sparks started saying but he was cut off when Jim finally pulled off his bandage and aimed his hand straight at Sparks and shot out a fire wave, Sparks avoided it by jumping onto my dresser – luckily nothing set on fire, but I screamed and woke Hara nonetheless (Hara’s a deep sleeper, it’s hard to wake her). Hara sat bolt upright, rubbed her eyes and ask what time it was. Sparks looked ready to shoot out a lightning bolt when he heard Hara, and looked towards her bed. Hara looked from Sparks to Jim in utter confusion.

“Who… what’s going on?” Hara asked nobody in particular as Sparks quickly leapt down and straightened his clothes up.

“I’m Sparks and I was in mortal combat with Jimmy” Sparks smiled and Hara looked more confused than ever. “Let’s see what you can do, shall we?” Sparks walked towards Hara’s bed and she looked increasingly frightened.

“Sparks, what’re you doing?” I asked him, he seemed to have all his attention fixed on Hara and completely ignored me “what if she doesn’t have powers? Or what if you hurt her?”

“She’ll get over it” sparks said, still walking towards Hara.

“What’s going on?” Hara scrambled to the edge of her bed fearfully. Sparks smirked and raised a hand in a fighting stance.

“Come on, stand up” when Hara did nothing he stood naturally “what the hell’s stopping you?”

“What am I supposed to do?” Hara asked, standing up. She was already dressed, she goes kind of backwards – she gets changed then goes to bed, weird.

“Just follow your instinct” he jumped into the air and shot three sparks from his hand, Hara’s eyes widened and she covered her head with her hands, I closed my eyes – she’s so dead… or mortally injured – whatever. I cringed, getting ready to hear a scream.

I heard a strange swish sound and opened my eyes, Hara was surrounded by a blue shield like thing, the sort Sorcerers or Mages have in them RPG games. Hara was a small, crumpled heap inside this sphere. She peeked through her fingers and looked around her, seconds before impact.

The lightning bolts didn’t hit her, or the shield, but got absorbed inside it. Hara’s eyes widened “I did something! I made it! I’m alive!” she danced round inside the shield and then realised the situation. “How do I get out?” She glanced around frantically and attempted to force the shield open, but failed. “Someone help me!” she screamed, she fell on her knees and closed her eyes. Her shield seemed to melt away and Sparks rolled his eyes “jeez, you’re scared of your own powers”

“And I suppose you’re not” I squared my eyes up to him.

“Of course not”

“… Of course not…” I mocked and turned towards Hara “Hara, you ok?” I bent down to her level; I couldn’t do anymore to help, as I didn’t fully understand what was going on myself. Sparks knelt down next to me and spoke “don’t be afraid of your powers, embrace them” Sparks obviously thought he was helping, but I know Hara. When she’s in pain, she doesn’t want consoling.

“Shove off, you already made things bad, don’t try to fix them” I pushed him and he fell over backwards, he rubbed his backside and stood up. He looked down at me with a look of disapproval.

“Ok, I’ll just leave then. See you later” He walked towards the window, and lifted it up.

“Wait” I stood up and followed him “where are you going to go now?” Sparks looked at me, I noticed his eyes wobbling, as if he was feeling… emotional on the conversation subject “Shelter”. He looked down and seemed interested by a man walking his small dog on the street.

“I… don’t know”

“Don’t you live with your parents or something?” I saw Jimmy look upset by this subject, this a boy thing?

“I don’t live with… anyone… anymore. I don’t really want to go into it right now, I did something stupid and regret and now they’re after me” he looked angry but not at any of us, but at himself.

“Jimmy, let him move in with you and Li!” Jimmy looked panicked by this

“No freaking way!”

“Honestly, I prefer the streets than living with him” Sparks nodded towards Jim with a disgusted expression.

“I guess that’s one thing you two have in common, ok you can stay in here” I faced my back to the boys and winked at Hara, who was looking increasingly shocked but went normal when she noticed the wink.

“In here? Elfé I won’t allow it!” Jim was striding towards me and grabbed my shoulders “why do you want to help him? He’s happy how he is!” Jim must’ve said the wrong thing because I too knew that he was happy – I wasn’t. But Sparks instantly changed his mind when Jim said this.

“I’m not actually happy on the run. I need” Sparks smirked “… love” when he said love Jim screwed up his features and grabbed Spark’s collar again.

“You’re asking for it, you know that so don’t complain when I make you bleed!”

“Please, Jim, jealousy doesn’t suit you” Hara sat on her bed, deeply amused by the situation unfolding in front of her.

“It’s not like that; I just don’t want this bastard peeking on you two. That’s all”

“What did you say!”? Sparks pressed the joint of Jim’s thumb knuckle, Jim yelped and let go.

“I’m going to kill you!” Sparks leapt forwards and collided with a pink shield.

“Please don’t fight” Hara said from her bed as Sparks scrambled into a sitting position.

“And why not? He’s asking for it… I don’t want to hurt you but…” Hara screamed and took down her shield. Sparks stood up and looked at Jim.

“Ok, you can stay with us” Jim nodded “but we’ll be going back to Japan soon”

“I don’t care”

“Ok, and stay away from me”

“No problem” Jim was losing his temper again, but began to leave the room with Li at his heels.

“Oh… and Jim” sparks called

“Yeah?” Jim stopped and turned his head slightly

“We’ll need to head to London”

“Why?” Jim turned around.

“Something’s happening down there” I noticed Sparks was holding the morning newspaper, he flipped it over and showed us the front page: It had a headline but what really got my attention was the picture – it was of a tornado, and judging what Sparks just said. It’s in London.

“You don’t think?” I grabbed the newspaper and began reading the article

“Someone’s controlling the weather down in London”

“Well, I want to explore around before I leave” I said, getting up from the floor and picking up the bag I used yesterday.

“Ok, we’ll handle teacher’s timetable” Hara smiled

“Ok, tell me about it on the coach to London” I winked and left the room. I looked down the corridor, Hara said that Sora and Angelito’s room is E5… there it is! I knocked on the door thrice and someone opened it, it was Angelito.

“Oh hi, Elfé… why are you down here?”

“I’m heading out to look around the area. We may need you and Sora to help us with something; you collapsed with us in Bodmin…”

“Jim said that we just fell…”

“Well, we didn’t ‘just fall’ it’s much bigger than that”

“How much bigger?” Angelito looked anxious.

“Go to room E1, the others will show you” Angelito nodded and closed the door to her room. I continued walking down flights of stairs to the exit. And walked out into the open air, according to a leaflet I picked up. There’s a martial arts centre nearby… I should maybe go there…

The boy called Erik killed her… all he could remember was opening his eyes and hearing a scream, there was a red laser pouring out of his eyes. He killed her, this realisation made him instantly close his eyes again. He stood up and let his other four senses replace the one that was taken from him. Touch, smell, hear and taste. He could see, but not with his eyes, but with a sight different to before. He walked over to the drawers that were on the left wall of the room; he felt for the first draw, opened it and found a bandage. He quickly wrapped it round his eyes and tied it behind his head, he heard a girl’s voice and footsteps enter the room, he heard her gasp and rush over.

“What happened?”

“I saw”

“She’s…”

“Dead, I know”

“What’s this bandage?”

“Your safety”

“I don’t understand”

“I have to get out of here… I’m wanted for murder”

“I’ll come too”

“You mustn’t”

“I…” the girl sensed something. “Someone’s here”

“Please, let me go” the boy called Erik pleaded, the girl looked at his bandaged face and sighed.

I walked to the destination on the leaflet… so this is it? It’s got yellow and black police tape winding round the site. I ducked underneath it and quietly walked in, it seems deserted. Maybe I could look around, just to see what all that police tape was about. I looked at a door across the hall, It is opened I slowly walked over to it, it isn’t opened, it’s made of paper – like some houses in Japan. It scorched, torn. As if someone shot a laser beam through it. I must be prepared to face whatever it is in there. I looked into the room and saw a body… a dead body, looks like there wasn’t enough time to ‘clean up’. I examined the body from where I stood at the doorway. There was a hole in her head, about five centimetres wide and blood poured out onto the straw woven floor, it’s still fairly wet. So whoever did this is still here… oh dear.

“Heather? Is that you? But you said you’d be a while…” I looked across to the other end of the room; there was a boy – about fifteen years old by the looks of it. He wore a red top and baggy, black jeans. He has red/black hair and a bandage around his face.

“I’m not Heather… did you… do this?”

“Who are you? What are you doing here?” I heard a note of panic and fear in his voice.

“I’m Elfé, did you do this?” I looked at the body sprawled across the far end of the room. I noticed that there was only one thing in this room – a wooden chest of draws, to which this strange boy sat near.

“What if I did? She literally asked me to open my eyes”

“Open your eyes?”

“I… I didn’t mean to, she asked me… are you going to turn me in?”

“No, but someone must’ve already… there’s police tape around the whole place”

“No, I must leave…” He began lifting himself off the floor, using the chest of draws as a support.

“Tell me what happened… maybe I can help?”

“Nobody can help…”

“I might… something’s happened to me too, and my friends”

“Nothing like this” He indicated the dead body on the floor “I… killed Mistress” I looked at the boy.

“What’s your name?”

“Erik”

“You’re waiting for this girl… Heather, was it? Where is she?”

“She’s gone to get some travel supplies, I need to leave. I’m going to be wanted for murdering… her”

“You can tell me what happened whilst we wait”

“I’d rather not,” he said uncomfortably.

“Ok” I nodded, and then the sound of an opening door could be heard.

“She’s back” Erik walked to the centre of the room and tilted his head, listening…

“It’s not Heather” Erik said this as three policemen appeared at the doorway.

“Kids, we’re not here to harm you” The first policeman said and walked into the room holding up his hands as if to calm us.

“You’re arresting us?” Erik said emotionlessly.

“N…” The second policeman said, also stepping into the room.

“I’m not letting you arrest me” Erik cut in forcefully. Erik swung a fist at the first policeman, whose face smacked against the wall. The third policeman whipped out a communication device, I must knock it out of his hand. We need to make a clean getaway, if he calls for backup this will end up messy. I looked at the device and suddenly a huge vine shot out through the planks of wood near him, accurately knocking the device through the planks. The third policeman sword and knelt down the retrieve the device. Erik dodged the policeman’s swing and stumbled backwards, taking his bandage off. His eyes remained firmly closed.

“You honestly don’t want me to open them,” He said threateningly, the second policeman laughed.

“Hey, now’s not the time to play games”

“Don’t make me open them!” Erik shouted forcefully, the first policeman recovered enough to attempt a sneak attack; he pulled out his handcuffs and moved slowly close to the ground.

“I’m warning you” Erik pointed directly at him, the policeman stopped moving and remained quiet

“Stop playing-” the third policeman’s whole arm is in the hole where his device fell, still attempting to retrieve it.

“That’s what she said,” Erik said remorsefully, pointing at the dead woman. The three policemen’s eyes widened with shock, I covered my mouth and remained mute. Where’s this situation heading?

“You did this?” the first policeman asked from the ground

“… No!” Erik said opening his eyes, a red laser beam shot out and hit the second policeman’s chest. The third policeman retrieved the device and quickly flicked it on.

“All units on alert, we’re going to need back up…”

“Dammit, I did tell you” Erik closed his eyes again and clutched onto his bandage tighter. I grabbed his wrist.

“Let’s go!” I shouted and pulled Erik behind me; I pushed the third policeman down and charged into a paper door. The door easily split into segments and we sprinted into a crowded high street.

“Erik…” I began saying

“I panicked,” he said fast.

“Well, I…”

“I can hear her, she’s coming” Erik exclaimed and I peered in the direction he was looking. I could see a pretty girl. She has a round, mature face and flowing red hair. Her deep blue eyes shone like the ocean.

“Hi, who’s this?” She asked Erik

“This is Elfé; she helped me when a couple of cops showed up”

“Well, I didn’t do too much” I said, turning crimson.

“Ok, I expected a cop or two to show up”

“Heather, we can’t stay in England. They’ll eventually find us…”

“Hey! You can come with me!” I exclaimed

“… What?” Erik said exasperatedly

“We’ll be heading back to Japan soon…” I said pointedly

“Ok, we’ll come with you” Heather smiled

“Great!” I exclaimed, “You have to meet the others” I walked along the pavement and Heather dragged Erik along with her.

I opened the door to my room with Erik and Heather tailing me.

“So you manage to get the timetable changed?” I asked intently as Erik and Heather made themselves home.

“Yep!” Hara leapt off the floor “it was so cool!”

“We’re going to London tomorrow” Jim grinned.

“Oh, this is Erik and Heather” I indicated the two new people, they both nodded as a greeting.

“Well” Sparks immediately took lead “something big is happening in London” he thrust a newspaper in Erik’s direction, who took it without question.

“But this is just the weather acting up a bit…” Heather commented on the headline

“Yes, maybe, but notice the date. It happened yesterday; the exact time we…” Li explained

“Got our powers” Sparks cut in “so it must be something to do with that…”

“Correction - may be something to do with that. We’re not a hundred percent certain”

“Whatever, we’re checking it out anyway,” Sora said

“Ok, where do we sleep?” asked Erik

“You can sleep in my room Heather” I said to her, she nodded “…and you in Jim’s room, oh and Sparks – you’re coming too right?” Erik stood up to leave.

“Hell yeah!” Sparks exclaimed

“Everyone get some sleep, tomorrow’s going to be a long day” Erik commented “lets go to bed, and it’s getting late…” Erik pulled open the room door with Sparks and Li following; Jim stood but turned to me.

“Stay safe,” he simply whispered into my ear and sauntered out of the room. I turned my attention to Heather, so where’s she going to sleep? I asked myself this as she pulled out a sleeping bag and rolled it out onto the floor. I curled my finger so my hand is clenched in a soft fist and smiled. Good, she’s prepared; I just hope Erik is too…

I collapsed onto my bed…and closed my eyelids; the beds soft mattress didn’t ease my drowsiness, but rather beckoned it. As I gave in to sleep I thought on what Jim meant. Stay safe…

I opened my eyes as I felt an unknown presence within the room, I glanced around, there’s no one here. I felt a chill down my spine and looked at the window, which I just realised, is left wide open. The net curtains fluttered in the wind sucking into the room. I shut the window firmly and clambered back into bed, the unknown presence diminished and I closed my eyes, waiting for sleep to wash over me.

Everyone filed onto the coach, including Erik, Heather and Sparks. And we rode steadily on to London. Finally, I thought, we might get some answers! Our class is a small one, so nobody noticed the ‘extra’s’ joining us on our trip to London.

“… And then Li swiped the paper right off the table! It was so cool, and she didn’t even notice! He quickly altered the timetable and here we are, on our way to London!” Hara exclaimed excitedly.

“That would be great, but if you don’t quieten down I think you’ll raise suspicions…” I muttered to her.

“Oh, oops” she giggled to herself. “I’ll shut up now!”

“So what’s happening in London?” Sparks asked me sarcastically, as he twisted in his seat to look through the gap at Hara and me.

“We’re just checking out what’s going on there, if there is something then…. I don’t know…” I trailed off

“We’ll stop whatever’s going on!” Hara exclaimed, I giggled at the joy in her voice.

“I know this much, there’s something strange going on and I don’t like being kept in the dark!” Erik flinched as I said the word ‘dark’

“Sometimes it’s better that way,” He muttered mostly to himself

The coach pulled into a London bus station and we hopped off, we entered the largest building there. The interior is elaborately decorated; we stepped inside through the swinging double doors. As we gazed at the large welcoming hall teacher walked briskly to the large desk and talked to the secretary, the inaudible words didn’t bother the teenagers as they decided who-shares-with-whom.

“Ok!” Sora immediately took leadership once again. “So as we don’t raise suspicions to the other people I say Erik shares with Li, Heather with me, Ange with Elfé, Jimmy with Sparks and Hara… with Ichigo!” Sora randomly picked Ichigo, a foreigner with long, brown hair with pink highlights. She looked lost in this new class and definitely alone. Some people laughed at her name due to the fact that it means Strawberry in Japanese.

I stepped into Ange’s room and mine, she silently sat on her bed and laid back, its dark out and I think she’s tired, I know I am. I giggled softly to myself and laid back into the bed. I closed my eyes wearily and slept.

I opened my eyes, my surroundings of a normal house, and stood up steadily. The small living room has a cosy feel to it, though that eerie thought kept reappearing in my mind. Where am I?

I walked curiously to the door and stepped through, I saw two people. One was a male teenager, about fifteen to seventeen years old. I’ve seen him before, I think. His dark hair spiked at the back and long strands flowed in front of his left eye. His right side had short strands randomly twisting into different directions.

Another girl stood next to him; though he looks calm she looks frightened. Her wide eyes shook with fear and her dark, green hair fell to her shoulders. She wore interesting clothes to reflect her character; she’s a normal teenager with normal parents and once had a normal life. Until she met this person, he whispered to her and she shook her head.

“I can’t,” she whimpered as she pulled out a dagger from her back pocket “I can’t…” at this the boy with her snorted with laughter.

“What’s that for Jade?” the woman sitting on the couch is an average middle aged being, drinking a cup of coffee and watching TV, oblivious to what’s about to happen.

“Bloody hell!” the boy exclaimed impatiently and grabbed the girl’s hand holding the dagger, and pulled on her arm forcefully into her mother’s gut, the woman looked up at the girl with a confused gaze.

“Why…?” she touched her wound, a crimson liquid pouring out continuously, staining her clothes.

“I’m so sorry” the girl whispered mostly to herself, tears flowed down her cheeks as she gulped her words.

“Jade, I don’t understand…” Jade’s mother said to her, confused but in her voice was also a hint of sorrow. Jade crumpled down into a heap and began crying, her mother remained still but muttered something comforting. Then her face grew pale, and she died. Once she did, Jade’s face screwed with anger. She stood up to face the boy and lunged for him screaming.

“Why did you do that? Why? I’m going to kill you!” she was hitting his chest with as much anger and force she could muster, but her attempts were only replied to by laughter.

“Calm down Jade, it has to be done” He said, pushing her away, this guy didn’t seem like the sort of person who gets close to people, even if it’s to people he’s killing, he never uses his own fist to punch someone; always a dagger or gun…

Jade’s dad and brother heard the commotion, Jade’s hair was green and I think it’s natural. Strangely so is her dad’s hair. Her mother’s hair is a strange unnatural red colour, but I know it’s in her genes due to the fact that Jade’s little brother also has red hair. Her little brother looked no more than six or seven and her dad about the same age as her mum. Her dad opened his mouth to speak but he caught sight of his wife, dead on the couch.

“Wha… who?” He asked, his lost eyes glancing warily at the teenaged boy and Jade.

“Run! Quick, get away!” Jade screamed, but before this could register. The teenaged boy threw a dagger at Jade, who caught it with ease but remorsefully looked down at it.

“Daddy is Mummy and Jade ok?” the little boy tugged at his dad’s shirt, pestering him like any normal child. “Daddy…?” He whined and tugged more, the teenaged boy’s eyes sparkled with an evil intent and clouded over, he lifted his right hand and made a throwing motion, Jade copied him against her will. And the dagger flew out.

“NO!” Jade screamed and slapped the teenaged boy out of his trance, who did so rubbing his cheek. Jade looked up to see the dagger deep in her dad’s chest, a bloody mess staining his shirt. She whimpered with horror as her dad fell to the ground and blood leaked onto the floor.

“Daddy…?” The little boy’s eyes filled with the tears of a scared and upset child “Daddy, are you ok? Wake up!” he pushed at his dad, attempting to wake him “Daddy!” He screamed and threw his head onto his dad’s back and began weeping. Jade watched the scene; tears also flowing down her cheeks.

“What have I done…?” she asked herself as the teenaged boy sniggered and began to advance on the boy. Jade glanced at the teenaged boy and flung her arms around him, preventing him from killing her brother.

“Erik, Run! Quick go!” She screamed as she struggled to keep the teenaged boy from progressing this madness, Erik looked up, his wide eyes reflecting the image of this Dark individual. Erik nodded once, wiped his tears and began to run clumsily from this massacre.

My eyes opened, and I looked up at the ceiling. The morning daylight reflected brightly onto the floor, in juxtaposition to what just happened in my mind. I clambered out of my bed and a new day began, we regrouped at the foyer.

“Where’s Hara?” I asked nobody in particular.

“Ichigo said she left earlier to do something,” Sora said as Angelito nodded with agreement. My eyes widened, what is she doing? What if something bad is out there? And it’s after us? I didn’t need to think twice, I ran out of the foyer onto the streets, a light drizzle pattering the pavement and concrete road.

I glanced around, the only teenager I spotted was this boy standing across the road, he was leaning on a post and his cast down eyes gave him a look of depression, his white and black locks ruffled messily on his head. His face was curved to give him an adult appearance, though you could still see hints of his childhood features.

“Excuse me, have you seen a girl leave that hotel pass by here” I approached and asked him politely.

“And so what if I did?” He retorted, I just noticed his angry expression mixed with sorrow and confusion. And those eyes…

“Hey… your eyes…” I whispered with astonishment, the strange boy looked up at me, his eyes swirling with a cloudiness of confusion and fear, reflecting his emotion.

“Leave me alone!” He shouted painfully and ran into a close by alleyway; I pursued him, but had difficulty as the alley began to mist. Though the rain began to subside, the alleyway turned to a dead end and I looked at the boy as he panicked. The mist thickened.

“Hey, are you… is everything alright?” I asked him warily, taking a step towards him.

“Does it look like it?” He shouted sarcastically, keeping his back to me.

“Well, no, maybe you should talk about it?” I asked him, taking another step. The others caught up with me, wheezing and exhausted by their long run.

“I don’t want to talk to anyone! Least of all you!” He shouted and remained still.

“Please let me help” I said softly and took another step.

“Elf…” Jim said to me unsurely.

“I’m fine,” I whispered to him.

“Leave me alone!” the boy shouted and turned, he pulled out a gun and pointed it at me. His hand shaking with nerves, he’s never killed before so I took another step and ignored his hollow threats.

“Whoa!” Sparks exclaimed.

“Come on, Elf, get out of there!” Jim panicked

“Put the gun down” my voice shook as I said this, as well as my body with fear even though I’m confident he wouldn’t shoot. “We can talk…”

“No!” he screamed

“Pl…” I started to say but he pulled the trigger, the bullet hit me before I could do anything. I felt it penetrate my ribs and pierce my heart.

“NOO!” Jim screamed and rushed to me to catch my falling body, blood began pouring onto his hands and staining his clothes.

“Elf…” He whimpered as tears flowed down his cheek, I looked up to his face.

“I feel… cold…” I muttered slowly to him, and lifted a hand to his face… “Ji…” I began to say this but my words choked in my throat, my face paled and eyes closed, darkness secluded me from the world I once knew.

“Elfé…” Jimmy whimpered for a moment, but stopped. His eyes covered with a mat of hair. His devastated friends could see a darkness creep in him. He looked up, his eyes flaring.

“You…” he snarled, and carefully placed Elf’s head on the ground. “You…” he lifted himself off the floor, his hands blazing and his hair on fire. His face was so clouded with hatred and anger; He wanted to kill this boy. He wasn’t getting out of this place alive…

The boy’s hand remained held up where he shot her, but it shook so violently he dropped the gun.

“What have I done…?” the boy gasped and stumbled onto the ground, in shock he lifted his shaking hands and looked down at them. “I…” he looked up at Jimmy fearfully.

Jimmy’s face became a blur and then it enveloped in opaque darkness, and after a few moments there was an eerie silence as Jimmy turned the one thought over and over in his head. The one thought he’s been thinking about since her death. It was his fault, he killed her. She’s gone, dead, and she’s never coming back. She’s never coming back.

Finally Jimmy broke the silence with a single phrase “you bastard…” as Jimmy croaked this at the boy he looked up at Jimmy, his face obscured with darkness and hatred, this boy realised that Jimmy can and will kill him. He needs to pay… this one thought kept repeating Jimmy’s head. He needs to pay...

Sparks took a step towards Jimmy, and although he hated Jimmy, he didn’t want to see him kill someone.

“Cal… calm down, Jim” he stuttered slowly but unsurely, Sparks too was fighting off the urge to kill this boy who killed the first person who understood him and accepted him for who he was.

“Don’t tell me to calm down!” Jimmy spat; his head bowed down created a shadow beneath his eye, with the intent to kill. A confused jumble in his mind urging him to make a decision, to kill or not to kill…

The other people either collapsed in tears or were so in shock they just stood still without moving, barely breathing. Finally Angelito cried out and ran towards Elfé, collapsed by her side and wept.

“Oh my god, Elfé…” she whispered through her sobs. Elfé, to her, was her friend. One of the only people who tried understanding her, whereas other people shunned her for being a shy and boring person, Elfé praised this as a quality. ‘Hidden knowledge…’ she always said, ‘better to know and be silent than to lose it all and be loud…’ Jimmy tossed his head and looked at the boy across the alleyway; his trembling hands could be seen from where Jimmy sat. Jimmy smirked as he made his decision and stood up, setting his fists alight. As he stood his face became clearer, they could see the tears rolling down his cheek and they could see his hatred brewing, Sparks knew then. That Jimmy was going to fight this boy with the one goal, to kill him, to avenge Elfé.

Li leapt in front of Jimmy, he also realised Jimmy’s decision and wanted to at least try to stop it.

“Jimmy, if you do this you’ll lower yourself down to his level!” Li pointed out and held out his hands in front of Jimmy as if to block him from advancing. Though Jimmy ignored him and held eye contact with his enemy.

“Move out of my way Lindal…” he jeered Li’s name as he punched his side, sending him crashing into the wall. At this violent behaviour Sparks decided to also attempt to stop him, though he knew how much Jimmy cared for Elfé. There’s no possible way to stop him, he’s made his decision.

“Jimmy, what would Elfé think? Don’t tell me she’ll want this!” Sparks shouted and tried blocking Jimmy’s path with a fighting stance.

“Move out of my way!” Jimmy passed Sparks’ guard and also swiped at his side and sent him flying into another wall. When Jimmy’s path was clear he began strolling towards the boy.

“I’d like to know the name of whom I’m about to eradicate!” he said with confidence, the boy’s eyes widened when he heard the sentence and realised he’s the one Jimmy’s addressing.

“I’m… I’m Suoh.” He stuttered fearfully, somewhere on a higher ground a Dark figure chucked and a woman figure smiled.

“Is he the one?” she asked.

“Yes, let’s watch this first, it’s interesting” the man drooled and sat down as the woman nodded.

Like his fists, Jimmy’s eyes were filled with fire of hatred and his hair continued blazing as he walked slowly onwards towards this boy.

“I… am going to kill you for Elfé’s sake. I will avenge her!” He raised his voice, his anger feeding his fiery hatred.

“Wait… wait, we can talk about this!” Suoh attempted to stand up but failed miserably. Jimmy halted his advancement on Suoh when he felt a bright light emitting from behind him. He spun round to see Angelito, well he thought its Angelito. Her eyes were crystallised over like she has no emotion; her hand hovering over Elfé’s wound emitted an eerie yet planar humming sound. Her eyes slowly crept shut and just as if they pressed rewind on time, the bullet pulled out of the wound and it closed up neatly. Jimmy stood still, his heart felt as if it stopped beating and he also forgot his breathing. Waiting to see what happened, what did she do to Elfé? Just when Jimmy moved towards Elfé’s limp body he felt someone swipe at his head, he turned around rubbing his head to face a panting Suoh holding a small plank of rotten wood. When Jimmy saw who hit him, his face screwed with anger.

“Ok, now I’m just getting sick looking at you.” He snarled and lunged for Suoh, who yelped with surprise and moved clumsily out of Jimmy’s way. “I’m going to kill you!” Jimmy shouted with rage and took another swing of his fiery fist. “Why did you-?” Jimmy stopped fighting to concentrate on his breathing, as he and Suoh panted, the Dark figure chuckled.

“I… don’t know…” as Suoh pondered this to himself suddenly a cloaked figure leapt in between the boys, he kicked Jimmy and pushed Suoh out of his way so he has direct eye contact with Angelito.

“Heh, you can call me Dark” Dark looked up at Angelito with a sinister yet accomplished grin. Sparks could feel this guy’s evil seeping through his skin, he could feel it so strongly it choked him, but instead of coughing Sparks pulled off his gloves and plunged them into his pockets. He decided that this is his time to shine; he will fight this guy and win. But just as Sparks moved towards Dark, Erik held out his arm to block Sparks.

“This is my fight” he mumbled, his bandage a mask covering not only his vision but also his emotion. Erik began calmly advancing towards Dark. “I will not run away again,” he said confidently. “… Dark”

“So…” Dark said casually and sauntered towards Angelito “So you’re Light?” Angelito looked up at Dark fearfully and her body shook, with a jolting motion Dark grabbed her chin and leant forward. “I’ve finally found…” and before he could finish his sentence he kissed Angelito tenderly, he pulled away grinning – though his arm around her body trapped her in his embrace. She tried pulling away, but all was in vain. She screamed in terror.

“Ange!” Erik shouted as he heard her scream, he made a step towards where the sound was coming from but stopped, he could feel the ground’s vibrations, the step… the movement. He could feel his environment, he could see. But not a vision anyone else has. He could see Dark.

Before the situation continued Erik suddenly leapt towards dark and his foot collided with Dark’s cheek, sending him further into the alleyway. Dark twisted his body in the air and landed on his feet, his cloak flowing behind him and landed in a puddle.

“Humph, who are you?” Dark asked Erik, straightening his posture and rubbing his swollen cheek. He glared at Erik distastefully.

“I’m… I’m Crimson.” Erik muttered, deciding to use a nickname rather than his own. Dark grinned nonetheless.

“You’re destruction” he jeered, his face lighting up with a childish glee he has never felt for an age.

“No… no I’m not!” Erik shook where he stood; he clenched his fist tightly with anger.

“And how can you justify that? I saw you kill her” Dark laughed and glared into Erik’s eyes. “You knew she’d die, but you killed her anyway, and she was in so much pain. Like your parents were fifteen years ago” Erik remained mute, anger and hate clouded his only sense of being human. He wanted revenge.

“You… you…” Erik began saying this but his words caught in his throat “my parents…”

“Yes, I did kill them, and it was fun watching them suffer at the hands of your sister. The only family you have left is her and she killed your parents.” As Dark explained this cloaked shadow behind him moved closer to the scene.

“You… you Bastard!” Erik shouted with anger and darted onto a brick wall; he pressed his foot onto it and levitated himself up towards dark. Dark grinned and dodged Erik’s kick, he landed sideways on the vertical wall.

“Another fight, and the perfect time too” Dark gestured the moon and looked down at Erik “you may call me a bastard but it’s not me who you’re supposed to be fighting” Dark closed his eyes and waited.

“I will kill you!” Erik shouted.

“So be it” Dark opened his eyes and pushed himself off the wall, to deliver a kick into Erik’s side. Erik yelped with pain and focused on Dark’s positioning - the movement of his legs and body. Where is he going to go next, Dark moved. The speed of his movement too much for Erik, who decided, he waited for only but a second then it was time.

Erik yanked off his bandaged and opened his eyes, a bright light poured out, a strong shade of magenta.

It was all too fast; I opened my eyes just when he pulled the bandage off. Erik and this… person, fighting I think. I sat up and turned my head to where they were fighting. And the light was supposed to make contact with that other person, but then she got in the way. She moved with grace and speed, she didn’t seem to think on what she did, but she moved in front of him and pulled up her transparent cloak to cover herself and the man. The light collided, but it didn’t get absorbed, it rebounded…

A shrill scream rattled the air in the alleyway.

Erik collapsed onto the ground, a few drops of crimson liquid fell and a trickle poured down his side. Lumps of loose, bloody flesh fell to the ground. Erik clutched his shoulder in immense pain; his eyes squeezed shut. As he embraced the pain Dark chuckled.

“Aw, little Erik hurt himself…” Dark grabbed Erik’s tear stained chin and dragged it up to look at him, Erik’s teeth clenched as Dark did this, pain searing through his body with every slight movement he made. “Don’t cry, little boy, that pain is nothing” Dark threw Erik to the ground, whom screamed as his open wound touched the gritty floor.

“Y… you…” Erik breathed short wheezes and single words were a challenge to even whisper.

“No, no, no. You!” Dark mocked and walked towards Erik and kicked his stomach, Erik screamed in agony as more blood poured out the wound. “You are destruction,” Dark laughed as he tormented Erik, he kicked Erik’s side once more and turned to his severed arm, Dark’s grin widened. “A fitting trophy” Dark scooped down and picked up the arm, I covered my mouth in horror. “Come, Sorceress!” he shouted and melted into the darkness, the cloaked woman swept up and followed him.

When they left, the scene finally registered, Sparks is sitting against a wall – and so is Li. Jim is lying on the ground, and Erik is sitting in a pool of blood and flesh, breathing heavily and clutching his shoulder. I watched Angelito rush to where Erik sat.

“Oh my god…” she panicked, and hovered a shaking hand over his wound. “It won’t heal, I need the…”

“Yeah… I know I know…” Erik said through gritted teeth, his pain clearly showing through his expression. When she said this tears stung Angelito’s eyes.

“Some healer I am…” she cried.

“I… I chose to fight him.” Erik coughed; as he did blood splattered the floor in front of him.

“What can I do?” Angelito asked herself, and then Li stood up and brushed his dust covered uniform.

“I… think I can help,” He said thoughtfully “one moment” and with that he sped out the alleyway, a second later he’s standing over Erik, holding the briefcase he’s been obsessed with for the whole year.

“Hold still” Li said this and kneeled near Erik’s wound. Erik snorted at that comment, but Li placed the briefcase on his Lap and opened it, ignoring Erik’s reaction. “Now…” Li pulled out a mass of metal “this may sting a bit…” Li shoved his hand into the metal and flipped it to life. Once the metal began running Li flipped it over so the opening he used to flip it on faced Erik’s wound. “Can you please remove your hand?” Erik gave one nod and moved his bloody hand off the wound; he moved it slowly and shakily pressed it onto the ground for support.

The wires inside the metal arm began glowing an eerie red colour, when they did Li moved the metal closer to Erik’s wound. Suddenly, like being attracted by a magnetic force, Erik’s veins and muscle lining jumped up and gave out a horrible crunching noise as they ripped off Erik’s skin. Erik screamed with pain as the veins and muscle connected with the metal, his bone melded with the metal, his muscle and veins rested in their natural positions as they, too, finished fusing with the metal.

A few moments passed, no sound could be heard, and Erik opened his eyes, a magenta laser shot out so he closed them again.

“Dammit, can someone pass my bandage?” I hopped up to fetch it but Li stopped me.

“No need!” he exclaimed excitedly. “I’ve calculated the composition of the marks we’ve all acquired” Li nodded to Erik’s eyes. “No doubt that’s what’s in his eyes, the reason he can’t open them is due to the fact that the mark in his eyes are continuously reacting with the moisture in his eye. Very unfortunate for him.” Li said this and slowly began walking towards his briefcase.

“Get to the point!” Angelito shouted.

“Ah, yes, my point is that I’ve used my own mark…” Li pulled up his trouser leg to reveal a grey mark upon his leg. “To calculate what I could use to neutralise this chemical reaction, I noticed if I dropped water onto it, it reacted. So I thought, if I could split the water apart… or extract it from the ‘laser’, which exudes from Erik’s eye, and I got it!” Li bent down and pulled out what looked like a pair of black shades. “All I needed to do was create some sort of cover which isn’t affected by the resulting reaction and instead of being burnt, extracts the thing that makes it react!”

“Which is…?” I asked Li, completely lost to where he’s heading with this.

“Water! I extract the water element from the ‘laser’…” Erik unfolded the shades and placed them gently on Erik’s face “and presto, Erik can see!” Li stood up to view his masterpiece. Erik’s eyes fluttered open, he looked up to Li, and then down to his arm – the metal glinted in the moonlight. The immense pain subsided when the arm connected with his body and became part of it. Erik contracted his arm, and straightened it. He curled his fingers, and spread his palm.

“I…”

“It will feel slightly numb as it adjusts to the organic material it fused with, but soon the artificial nerves will activate and you’ll be able to feel…”

“I… wow”

“Yes, it is impressive-” Li began bragging when someone interrupted.

“How does it work?” Heather stepped forwards and stroked the smooth, metal surface.

“The metal is receiving, and giving out brain signals. It’s just a prototype but I hope…”

“It’s just a prototype!” Heather shouted angrily “I can’t believe you used Erik as a guinea pig!” Heather stood up and looked directly at Li’s face.

“I understand how you must feel but if I didn’t do something he would’ve died from the blood loss!” Li shouted back, his voice unsuitably louder than Heathers. Heather looked at Li, lost for words, and then drove her attention to Erik’s arm.

“Does it hurt?” she asked, scanning his face

“No” He shook his head. “I feel a little…” Erik trailed off as he fainted.

“Erik!”

“We should take him back, he needs rest” Hara stepped into the pool of blood and slung Erik’s human arm over her shoulder to support him, Heather did the same.

“Let’s get out of here” Angelito said and followed them, Sora and Li followed them.

“Jimmy…” I whispered to Jim, who looked up at me.

“What is it?” he asked me, he sat up and rubbed his head.

“Suoh is… gone…” as I said this Jim’s eyes’ widened.

“What? Where?” He startled me as he leapt up and scanned the environment; he stopped looking when I also stood and put my hand on his arm.

“We should go, you’re hurt.”

“I’m fine,” he said but made no protest when I lead him out the alley, we turned to leave.

“Oh my god, don’t make me feel sick!” Sparks emerged from the darkness.

“Sparks!” I shouted, surprised that he didn’t leave with the others.

“Isn’t it sweet?” He mused, dawdling uncharacteristically towards us, with hands in his pockets.

“What?” I looked up at his face, his eyes glinting with an unknown evil.

“You and Jimmy, always arm in arm and yet still denying the fact that you both like each other!” Sparks stood over us with a wide grin.

“Sparks, this is not like you…” Jimmy began saying through gritted teeth. “Yeah, sure you’re a bit of a bastard but you’d never…” Jimmy stopped when Sparks’ grin broadened.

“Things are not what they seem, Jimmy Taiki…”

“What do you… how do you know my surname?” Jimmy’s eyes narrowed, Sparks turned his head to one side and his hair started melting to a cold black and his skin paled, his eyes morphed into a deep shade of crimson and his clothes changed to a long, dark…

“Dar…” Jimmy began saying when Dark lifted him off the ground by the scruff of his neck.

“Yes, it’s Dark. I needed an inconspicuous way to finish Erik off however he left with the others…” I looked up at Dark, remembering suddenly that Sparks left with the others, now why didn’t I think about it until now?

“You… you bastard!” Jimmy struggled as Dark chuckled.

“I thought that was what your friend Sparks is” Dark threw Jimmy onto the ground; I crawled to him and helped him up as Dark took a few steps backwards, to be joined by his cloaked friend.

“Meet Sorceress, my favourite assassin and my closest friend…” the edges of Sorceress’ lips curled up as he said this.

“Can I kill them now?” She mused, her velvety voice echoing in the darkness, Dark shook his hand and took a step towards Blaze and me.

“No, I have a better idea… kill the boy, he’s useless.” I gave a startled glance to Erik, who glanced back; I looked at the movement under Sorceress’ cloak. She slowly pulled out a pointed dagger; it glinted with opaque, purple liquid - Poison.

“With pleasure…” She gripped her hand onto the dagger; Blaze tensed up and held out an open palm to Sorceress, he shot out a pulse of fire. Sorceress reacted too slowly to avoid it and the fire set her arm ablaze.

“You sneaky little…” She waves a hand over it and the fire goes out “… you sneaky little pest!” She bent her knees slightly and as if she was a pulse of energy, moved towards Blaze, within seconds she was in front of him, Dagger pressed into the side of his abdomen.

“The poison spreads quickly throughout the body, and it is lethal, you will be dead within a few minutes…” Sorceress stopped talking and grinned lethally. I felt another presence awaken inside. Suddenly everything was black.

I searched the darkness…

Let me lead

Who are you?

It doesn’t matter.

I can’t do anything, she’s too strong…

Let me save Light, he needs help.

I nodded to the unknown power…

I opened my eyes, but as if I was in a theatre watching, the surrounding world had a green colour to it, everything was different. I watched as my hand lifted up slowly and held out towards Sorceress, though it didn’t seem like my hand. This unknown power that surged through me, I liked it and yet it scared me –I had no control over it.

Jim collapsed onto his knees, as he did so Sorceress eased her dagger out, I could hear him wheezing for air as the poison spread throughout his body. He clutched his side and blood trickled down his hand and onto his lap. Jim shrieked with pain as the dagger was pulled out from the wound.

“You shall pay the consequences for wounding my comrade.” My voices echoed with an inter planer field to it, like it wasn’t my own. Dark’s eyes widened with an uncertain realisation and he indicated to Sorceress.

“Sorceress, we must leave, now!” He shot his head up to look at me, however too late since I stamped my foot angrily and pointed my hands to the ground, my hair and clothes blew from the force which I used to pull the earth loose of the ground. I shrieked with anger at the sight of them leaving.

“You can’t leave without paying Dark!” I lifted my hands up, the earth lifted out the ground. I turned my palms towards Dark and the earth flew towards him with immense speed, he waved his hand with an expression showing fear and the earth absorbed in a shield of dark energy.

“Sorceress lets go!” He pleaded desperately; she turned away from Blaze and nodded. She glanced at him once more and kicked him.

“Don’t ever attempt to attack me again you inferior asshole” she muttered to him and turned to walk away. Once out of sight I hurried down to Blaze, who was leaning forwards with gritted teeth, his voice rasped and sounded dry when he spoke.

“Elf… Elf I’m sorry…”

“I will heal you Blaze” I said and hovered a hand over his wound, my hands began glowing with a green glow.

Wow, I can heal? I thought subconsciously as the poison drew from the wound.

Only poison, earth has minor poison healing abilities whilst Light specialises in healing physical wounds to the body. I thought on this

Oh…

Listen to me, Elf, before I return. This boy is more important than Dark thinks, don’t let on that he is however. Everything will change if you do.

Wha-

I watched the wound visibly cleaning up and smiled in my heart. Jimmy’s breathing settled a little however he still clutched an open wound. He looked up at me and smiled.

“Than- Elf!” he shouted in horror as my vision blurred, my body swayed as I lost consciousness.

I looked at my ceiling, remembering an old joke brought a smile to my face; recent events lay forgotten as of now as I pondered my whereabouts. I pushed myself into a sitting position and glanced at the familiar walls and carpet. I’m in my bedroom.

“Before you think stupid thoughts like ‘was it all a dream’ I shall answer for you. No, it was real and I’m proof little girl.” A velvety female voice pierced the darkness sharply. I looked to where the voice came from and spotted the cloaked figure sitting on top of my wardrobe her eyes shadowed by the darkness of her hood she smiled evilly underneath it’s shadow.

“I’m Sorceress, as you well know, not my real name I must add. Don’t ask what my real name is for I will not give you it. I came here for one purpose.”

“Which is…?” I flipped my duvet off my legs and swung them off the side of my bed.

“A question”

“Question?”

“Where is Erik?”

“Where is… Erik?” I repeated quizzically.

“Where is my sibling?” She asked more forcefully, though she kept her distance and stood with her back to the framed window, it let in a soft pale blue light that cast upon my carpet.

“Your… sibling?” I repeated once again.

“Yes!” she shouted, audibly getting agitated.

“Um… How should I know? I don’t even remember coming back…” I thought for a moment.

“True, you have been unconscious for a couple of days… ok, then, tell me. Where does that boy live?” Sorceress crossed her arms.

“Which boy?” I asked confusedly.

“The one who lives here!”? She shouted angrily.

“Wha-” I muttered, I ran to my door and wrenched it open, Sparks fell in and scrambled off the ground.

“Hey, what’s up?” He grinned.

“What are you doing here?” I screeched.

“Your mum let me sleep on the sofa…” he scratched the back of his head with his gloved hand awkwardly.

“My mum what?”

“Um...”

“Never mind that, where is Erik?” Sorceress cut in, me and Sparks both looked at her.

“Oh… um, he’s at Jim’s place.” Sparks shrugs his eyes drifting away from Sorceress.

“Tell me where ‘Jim’ lives… please” she reached into her cloak and pulls out her dagger, Sparks opens his mouth to answer, he closes it when he spots the dagger.

“No need to get violent… I just want to know, where does little brother live?”

“I’m not telling you!” I shout, looking frantically around the room, no earth or soil, just concrete. Rock hard concrete…

“Oh, I see how it is… you want us to show you where he lives?” Sparks starts sliding his gloves off, he tosses them to one side and goes into a fighting stance. “Bring it”

Sorceress rolls her eyes "all the same, no different. All of you are violent. Never just give in and surrender. Always put up a fight, well if that's going to be how it is... I shall bring it" And with that Sorceress lurches towards Sparks, and me he pushes me onto my bed and out of harms way. He jumps out of the way in the opposite direction. She swings her dagger at Sparks; he jumps behind her arm and kicks the dagger from her hand. He touches Sorceress’ wrist and she shivers as a bolt of electricity runs through her.

“Now, do you wish to leave? Or do you wish for more?” Sparks says threateningly.

Sorceress sighs, "though I hate how you people never just give up I must be hypocritical, I need Erik" She grabs Sparks' wrist with her free arm and Sparks yelps. "Don't you just hate the feeling of cold ice running in your blood streams?" Sorceress smirks as Sparks staggers backwards. "Take me to Erik!" she shouts once more.

"You have a lot to learn... Sorceress, was it?" Sparks shakes his arm and little sparks of electricity fly off as he reheats it to body temperature. "Isn’t it interesting how electricity works? As it moves quicker and quicker the warmer it gets, I think it's something like kinetic energy?"

"Shut it, Boy! Don't get scientific with me, I perform complex experiments back home, nothing as easy as completing a damn circuit!" Sorceress laughs shrilly. "Little Sparkly boy has gotten all cocky, I don't like cocky teenagers... look how full he is of himself, pathetic." She flips her hood off to reveal emerald green locks of hair; her eyes have gone a dark onyx shade as she grins widely, revealing her front teeth. She picks up her cloak and throws it over her head, suddenly vanishing from view. Sparks yelped and clutched his stomach painfully, he fell to his knees and leant on a hand as he spat out blood, he suddenly fell flat on the ground as if someone hit him on the back, Sorceress appeared again, cracking her knuckles. "That's how it's done, what you did is... easy" a light mist appears around her and she fades from view.

“I’ll be back…”

I looked at my ceiling, I didn't sleep once last night, and however Sparks is now sleeping soundly on my floor as if last night was some game to him. I stood up and kicked him.

"Oi, get up, we need to meet the others." I said to him, his eyes flickered open and he gazed up at me.

"Oh, right, right..." He stood up and scratched the back of his head; his messy hair surprisingly suited him.

I, on the other hand, do not look so dazzling with messy hair and pulled my hood over my head.

"Come on..." I called him as we walked the streets straight for the cafe.

"I am, I am!" He shouted, having trouble keeping up.

"Hey Elfé, you're awake I see... oh, hey Sparks." Jimmy greeted Sparks in a lower tone.

"Hey, Jim" Sparks grunted.

"Is Erik with you?" I look past Jimmy and spotted Erik wearing his shades as usual.

"It was hell trying to get inside, they tried taking Erik's shades - can you believe it?" Jimmy said and laughed.

"Not funny" Erik muttered.

"Oh, sorry" Jimmy smirked. "Yeah, so we sat outside..." Jimmy carried on, stirring his coffee.

Erik turned away from Jimmy in disgust, I noticed his shoulders tense up and he quickly turned back to us.

"Are you ordering yet?" He asked in a hushed tone.

I picked up the menu, scanning the contents. “Give us time, Erik, we only just got here!” I laughed and turned to one of the dessert choices.

“Hey!” I called; I stood up and ran towards her. “… I need to speak with you!” I tripped over tables and chairs but continued running.

She gasped and began running away from me.

“Stop!” I called; I heard footsteps behind me as the boys followed. I pursued her to a dead end.

“Can we talk?” I said softly

“There’s nothing to talk about!” She held her position, her back facing us. I gasped as she began fading.

“Come back!” Erik shouted, and ran forward just as she disappeared.

“They know we’re here?” Li muttered; I bit my lip.

“Um… last night she came looking for you Erik” Erik looked at me, his shades masked his eyes, though I knew he felt pain, he froze as he thought of something, that thought angered and pained him. The other two left the alley to look for the others, leaving Erik and me alone.

“Erik…” I reached up to his glasses and pulled them down; before his eyes were exposed he grabbed my wrist firmly. I continued to pull the shades down; overpowering curiosity completely overtook my being. Erik looked down at me, a mixture of sorrow, confusion, anger and pain in his eyes. His eyes each held a crimson symbol, not like eyes I have ever seen. The symbol discolored his eye, making them look inhuman and mesmerizing.

“They’re…” I breathed.

“They’re disgusting” Erik closed his eyes and turned away. He put his shades back on and looked down at me for a moment then began walking out of the alleyway; I followed silently.

We all met up in the park, the soft grass we sat on cushioning us.

“Prophecy…?” I asked, looking at Li.

“Light will meet darkness and darkness will overcome light unless earth resists.” Li recited.

“So…?”

“The geek seems to think that it has something to do with us.” Jimmy cut in, rolling his eyes.

“Shut up!” Erik snapped.

“You’re strange, Li” Hara laughed.

“How can you call me strange?” He asked her, a shocked tone in his voice matured his expression.

“Hi” I grinned falsely at the group, all I could think about were Erik’s eyes. What made them inactive?

“Hey Elfé, I still don’t think there’s a reason for all this!” Hara exclaimed.

“I thought up the probabilities and done some intense research, which was difficult, and the chance that there is a prophecy is extremely high”

“And I don’t care!” Jimmy said to Li’s face, grinning.

“W-w-well” Li began saying, unexpected to the response Jimmy gave.

“Argh, I’m fed up. See you guys later” I stood up, I felt a headache creeping in. When I heard their byes I began taking my leave, also waving. I stopped when I heard someone calling my name.

“Elfé! Can I stay at your place?” Sparks caught up with me.

“What?” I turned to him.

“Can I stay?”

“I heard that”

“Yeah, well?”

“No!”

“But Erik’s staying at Jimmy’s and Heather at Hara’s…” Sparks trailed off.

“Fine, but my mum will kill me!” I said, defeated.

“Hey, I can stay hidden” Sparks said with a wink as we made our way home.

I awoke with a start; I peeked through my eyelids and spun on my bed. I let my feet down and hit something. I looked down at the floor and saw Sparks sleeping on my carpet. I sighed and walked around him, as I placed my hand on the door handle a voice spoke behind me.

“I told you I’d be back!” I heard her land on the carpet and steadily walk towards me. “You know where he is, don’t you?” I felt the sharp tip of her weapon pressed against my back, I tensed up.

“Who?” I asked her, turning my head so I could see her shadow reflected off the wall, I felt her wrap a cold arm around my neck.

“You know,” she whispered menacingly.

I thought for a moment “… Erik”

“I know his name, it’s his location I need to know!” her arm tensed around my neck.

“He… I think he’s staying at…”and before I could finished Sparks swiped his foot across the floor, the woman fell, her arms loosening around my neck and letting go. Sparks speedily leapt off the ground, pulled one of his gloves off, and sat on the fallen woman, pointing his hands right at her face.

There were a few moments of silence; I could hear Sparks breathing hard from saving me. I turned around.

“Who are you?” I asked her.

“Hmph… funny question” she muttered.

“Why did you attack Elf?” Sparks demanded.

“You might want to move away your hand of you still can’t control your powers…” she said up to Sparks sarcastically, who moved his hand away from his face about ten centimeters.

“Why do you want Erik?” I asked her.

“… Wouldn’t you like to know…” she grinned and slowly faded away...

“No!” Sparks shouted and reached out to her with his gloved hand “dammit!”

I stood still breathing hard, my heart pounding. I recognized this feeling…

“Elfé!” Sparks stood up and looked concernedly around my face “did she hurt you… oh” his eyes glanced to my neck, “oh, dammit…” he thought for a second and reached up for his t-shirt sleeve.

I felt my face heating up as he yanked his sleeve off and held it gently to my neck.

“Is that better?” he asked softly, looking up at my face, I couldn’t speak through the lump in my throat.

“Elfé, are you ok?” Sparks used his free hand to reach up to my head and stroke it. “You don’t have a high temperature…” I closed my eyes, am I losing it?

Sparks pulled the cloth away from my neck and grimaced.

“Still bleeding…” he placed it back on my neck; I opened my eyes and my heart stopped.

He’s an inch closer; watching my face with a concerned look in his eyes, he turned his head away.

“I’ll get a cold flannel…” he muttered and left me gasping for breath holding his cloth against my neck…

What’s going on? I held out my shaking hand. Why is Sparks suddenly so concerned with me, and why did I enjoy his attention? He returned with the promised flannel and replaced the cloth with the flannel.

“… That should numb it a bit” he whispered softly, the wound stung at first but as he said, the freezing water numbed the wound significantly.

“Can we sit on my bed?” I spluttered suddenly, my warm bed and sleep looks increasingly appealing…

“Yeah” he answered and walked beside me, holding the bloodstained flannel.

When we sat he brushed loose strands of my hair out of the way and tucked them behind my ears.

“Your eyes are so pretty, don’t hide them under a curtain of hair” Sparks jokingly commented and held the flannel back to my neck.

“Why won’t you touch my skin?” I asked, trying hard to sound irritated, Sparked looked at me with an amused expression.

“Do you want me to?” he joked; I lifted a hand up.

“Put your hand on top” I challenged.

“No” Sparked expression lowered to an angry stare.

“Why not?” I dropped my hand onto the soft bed; Sparked checked under the flannel and lowered it.

“Because…” he dropped his pained eyes to the flannel “it’s stopped bleeding” he said curtly and stood up. My gaze followed his back as he moved toward the bin and dropped the flannel inside; he glanced at me.

“I think I’ll sleep somewhere else…” and he moved to leave the room.

“No, wait. I’m sorry!” I said and put a hand on his shoulder, the small of his hair – coconut. He turned his head to look at me.

“Ok, I’ll sleep in here” he grinned and sat on my bedroom floor, I looked down at him as he clambered into his covers. He paused to look at my face.

“Don’t…” he muttered and fell asleep.

I lay in my bed for a few moments, unable to sleep. I turned in my bed and looked at Sparks, sleeping soundly. I closed my eyes and tried to make sense of the scramble in my head.

Prophecy… Elements… Dark…

What will happen to me? I thought and tossed in my bed to look at the ceiling.

What will happen to all of us? My mind drifted to Erik. I pity Erik. No family and Dark seems to know what Erik’s past was – why? What had happened between them? And who is Sorceress?

Dark and her seem close somehow…

I side looked at Sparks and thought on what happened before “Because…” why didn’t he answer? I turned onto my front and reached out towards him. When my hand touched hi I felt a bolt of electricity run through me, not like that of normal electricity, but it was warm and it felt…

Nice.

I froze to feel the electricity, I watched him sleeping… however the more I watching him the more I realized – his veins were glowing, not a strong glow like a torch, but a calm one. His hair lifted up and fluttered slightly as I held his hand.

Suddenly his eyes fluttered open, he looked at me tiredly and oddly, and with appalling realization he pulled his hand away and I fell limp.

Elfé… Elfé!

Someone’s calling me, the voice echoed distantly.

Open your eyes; I have to open my eyes.

“Elfé, Oh God, Elfé!” Sparks knelt beside my bed; he put on his gloves and shook me with gloved hands. He let go of Elfé and put his head in his hands.

“Why…” he muttered.

He pressed his first two fingers against Elfé’s neck and breathed a sigh of relief when she sprang to life.

I sat up in my bed, looking at Sparks in stunned silence.

“Sp-Sparks?”

“Elfé…?” Sparks watched me worriedly.

“I’m… I’m so sorry, Sparks”

“Elfé…” he put a gloved hand on mine, rested on my lap. “It’s ok”

I smiled at him warmly; these gloves were for our protection. I looked at Spark’s eyes; they shone an electric blue in the darkness, glowing softly. Sparks raised himself up from kneeling so his head was level with mine.

“Elfé…” he whispered, he lifted his other bare hand up, but recoiled it instinctively, sneaking an apologetic peek at my face.

I lifted a hand up.

“Sparks, it’s ok…”

“I can’t control my powers, Elfé” he looked at his hand self-accusingly.

I closed my eyes, my power just controls itself automatically, and everyone else seemed to have problems controlling theirs. I smiled.

“I believe you will be strong one day, Sparks, when you control your powers” in the way I said it, made me seem weak. Sparks didn’t look convinced, I put my hand on my bed, a small bunch of roses grew from in between my fingertips, and I laughed.

I intended to create one rose, “looks like I’m not brilliant at controlling my powers either.” I grinned and held out the roses towards him. “Here”

He took them without protest, thinking as he stared at them, until he suddenly said.

“We will be ok, won’t we?” I thought about it for a moment.

“Well, if we are following a prophecy, then what will be will be. And I know we can take down Dark and whatever plans he have” Sparks smiled slightly.

“Whatever will be, will be” he looked at me strangely, like he was dreaming, his face was soft and his electrical eyes glistened as the colors swirled.

“Elfé…” he whispered, looking directly at me.

“Yes-” and before I could answer he leant forward and pressed his lips against mine, he lifted a gloved hand up and placed it gently upon my shoulder. I closed my eyes slowly, savoring the moment and finally I admitted to myself, I liked Sparks, not Blaze.

Blaze was a dim fantasy, lusted by nearly all girls, and being honest – I thought it was normal to want to go out with him, or just claim you want to.

Nothing was ever there, Jimmy and me would have never been.

I apologized to Jim silently, then my thoughts drifted to Sparks, how he beat the Beast of Bodmin Moor so easily… I remember when I looked up to that slightly angular face, those electric eyes, perfect nose and static hair – which amazingly suits him. I thought how strong, cool… and Jimmy knew I liked him somehow, before I knew, he knew…

When he found Sparks down the side of my bed, the rage he has in his face was immense.

Sparks slid the hand on my shoulder down my back, and he lifted his other hand, I grabbed that hand by the sleeve to stop it moving closer, I then realized my mouth is full of electricity, warm and buzzing, I liked the feeling, I placed my other hand on his cold cheek and rested it there. Finally, I pulled back. My lips tingling slightly, I watched as he licked his lips and opened his eyes. Then followed a long silence.

“Elfé?” Sparked surveyed his hand sadly.

“Yes?” I leaned back and laid on my bed, I looked at the ceiling.

“Did I hurt you?” he asked, turning his eyes to me “… when we kissed” I smiled.

“No, you didn’t. I was no doubt the best kiss I’ve ever had” I closed my eyes, my hands resting on my tummy. I heard some movement and opened my eyes. Sparks was lying next to me, smiling.

“Elfé, I’m going to promise you something.” He whispered, I watching him. “I promise I will get full control over my powers,” he said this so determinedly it made me giggle.

“And I promise you, Sparks, that I will play my part in the prophecy and save the world with you!” I giggled and looked into Spark’s eyes, mesmerizing me, I drifted to sleep.

Sparks watched Elfé close her eyes and knew she wouldn’t open them till the morning, he grinned and picker up her hand in his gloved hand, he lifted it up to his lips and kissed it. He looked at her face, happy, she squirmed intently as Sparks leapt off her bed and found his other glove, and he pulled it on and clambered into his sleeping bag.

Morning, I awoke to a soft tapping on my bedroom door. I sat bolt upright. That’s right; Mum would freak Jimmy ten fold if she found Sparks in my room.

I jumped off my bed and shook Sparks.

“Sparks? Sparks? Oi!” I whispered and shook him harder. Breathing a sigh of relief when he woke.

“Wha…?” he said, rubbing his head.

I reached towards him, his eyes suddenly snapped open and he yanked his arm out of reach.

“What?” he hissed

“It’s my mum!” I whispered back at him “she’ll freak if you’re in my room!”

Sparks nodded with a sudden realization, a boy in my room, he clambered out of the blankets he slept in and started shoving them under my bed, I crouched down to help him.

“Go, get in the wardrobe!” I hissed urgently as the door handle pushed down.

I gave one final shove and turned to face my mother, she held a bundle of clothes in one hand and a glass of water in the other.

“Hey honey” she soothed, stepping in my room. I eyed the bundle of clothes and my heart jumped.

“Are those mine?” I muttered, nodding at the clothes as my mum set the glass down.

“Yes” she smiled and cast her eyes down on the bundle; she looked up. “Want me to take them for you?” she gestured the wardrobe.

“No!” I said suddenly, I snatched the bundle off her.

She raised an eyebrow at me.

“I’ll take them my self later, I might want to wear some today” I set the clothes down and grinned at her. She nodded partially unconvinced.

“O…. k” she said slowly “I’ll leave you to it” she smiled warmly and walked out of my room.

I turned to Sparks, in my wardrobe, and pulled the door open. I smiled down at him, sitting in the small space below my clothing.

“You have nice clothes” he grinned at me cheekily; I felt my expression harden into a glare.

“Get out” I reached my hand out towards him, the speed of it startling Sparks; he jolted away from my hand.

“I can get out myself!” he whimpered, pushing my hand away with his silky fingers.

I smirked down at him, folding my arms, as he scrambled to his feet.

“It’s not funny,” he muttered as he brushed his clothes down.

I felt my smirk broaden, Sparks glared at me; however slowly I felt his glare soften.

“Elfé…” Sparks mumbled, lifting a hand up to stroke my face, his soft silk contacting my skin.

“Sparks...?” I blinked at Sparks, confusion setting in.

His smile broadened his pale blue eyes boring into mine. “You’re so-” he blinked, as if catching himself out of a trance, and turned away, coughing into his hand. “Um... yeah, where were we?”

I turned away from him awkwardly. “Um, I think I have some of my dad’s clothes somewhere, they should fit you...” I grinned at Sparks sheepishly.