Part 3

Everyone in the yellow division gathered in a classroom in the study hall. Mrs. Larson entered and told us all that she would take us out one at a time to another room where the evaluation would take place. Carly went first but when they called for the next student she didn't return.

As usual with my luck, I was very last to go. My legs felt stiff from sitting so long as Mrs. Larson led me out. She opened the door to another room the same size as the one we had been in before but this one was most definitely different.

There were no desks or chairs inside. The walls were painted  a dark green and the carpet was soft and comfortable . There were four people sitting in a square on the floor. They were wearing strange cloaks of the same colors that covered the walls.

"Do as the keepers say and you will find your power," she whispered before closing the door behind me.

Professor Mason motioned me to sit; they were all strangely silent and sever looking. Professor Mason began "Stretch out your hand."

The cloak he wore hid his face. I tentatively reached my hand out to the wooden bowl he offered me. At once the earth in it surrounded my hand not touching it. He took the bowl back and the earth settled back into it not dropping a single particle.

Next he placed it on the ground and grass began growing in it. I was told to place my hand on the soft plant, which flattened underneath my hand straining to get away from it. I could tell that earth didn't like me.

The four people shifted position so that I now faced a dark red clad figure. I couldn't see much of her face but she looked oddly familiar with her long dark brown hair that curled slightly. She held out her wooden bowl that was full of dancing red flames. There was no way I was going to put my hand in the fire. If it didn't like me would it burn me? She gestured for me to put my hand into the bowl. I tentatively reached my hand out toward the fire. Just like the earth it leaped about and encircled my hand. It took a lot of self-control not to wrench my hand backward. The flames felt warm but never touched my skin. The fire keeper withdrew her bowl and shook her head.

I did know the girl in the white cloak; it was Drew Larson the girl with the multicolored eyes. I wondered why a student was part of the evaluation or ritual, as I was now thinking of it. Her bowl appeared to be empty but as I placed my hand in it a wind sprang up inside. This time I felt it not only around me but actually touching my wrist in a seemingly playful manner. I looked at Drew hopefully. She placed the bowl on the ground gestured for me to spread my fingers above it palm down. The wind took a moment but then whistled through my fingertips. Drew took the bowl back shaking her head and the keepers changed places again.

The last was a man with a short black beard but so much of his face was in shadow that's all I could see. His bowl was full of water and as he raised it I saw his fingers were black. It jumped from the bowl and, like the wind, enveloped my hand. The keepers all looked hopefully at this and the man placed the bowl on the floor. Just as with the wind the water shot through my fingers and landed again in the bowl without spilling a drop.

The keepers all groaned. That was it, I was just like Carly now, the evaluation had failed. "I sense she is cold," said the fire keeper, again her low voice sounded familiar.

The others nodded in agreement and stood as one. Professor Mason and the women in red backed away as the white and blue figures came forward.

Drew went first, "fill your mind with nothing but air," she instructed. "Imagine yourself flying, weightless, like a wind."

I shut my eyes tight trying to imagine the sensation.

"Raise your hand and envision that same wind coming from your fingertips."

Nothing happened. I felt stupid, standing there with my hand out pretending I could conjure wind. I lost the sensation completely and opened my eyes. Drew looked disappointed.

The man in blue then tried.

"Water, think only of water," his voice had what I guessed was a heavy Jamaican accent. I prepared myself for another failure but this time it was different. I could clearly picture myself floating along a river being one with the water. There was a tugging sensation in my palms; it felt as though the blood in my veins was trying to get out. Instinctively I cupped my hands together and looked down into them. They had filled with pure, clear water. The keepers all let out a long sign of relief. I stared dumbfounded at the water in my hand. With a single thought it started splashing in my hands merrily. With another it dried up instantly. I was giddy at my newfound power. I sprinkled drops of water into my mouth.

ARCH

We're going to shift gears a little, I'm working on a really awesome difficult book but I need some help! I need a company name with the initials A R C H. It's like a research and development company that works on health improvement mainly but a lot of other stuff to. It's got tons of branches but it's mainly science research. I don't know much about it cause no one really does. It's really mysterious, sorry to be vague. Any ideas?

Christmas teen drama snippet!

"Merry Christmas" whispered Justin.
I wasn't one for picking sides, but the way Justin was looking at me right now was seriously changing my mind. Did I really want Sarah to take him back? A little voice in my head was shouting no! That same voice was now whispering the possibility of me going out with Justin. I tried to shove these thoughts away. Justin had broken Sarah's heart. He had broken up with her for someone else! But who was that someone?
"Lexie, I just want you to know..."
"No don't" I blurted out.
 If he said he did like me I was sure I'd meld but if he didn't I thought I'd like to kill myself.
The red and green lights were swimming around my blurring vision but I held my ground. I was deftly aware that the snow was falling again, sticking in Justin's hair. I could hear distant jingling bells and wondered if that was my imagination.
Justin was moving closer and took my cold hands in his.
"Going out with Sarah, and seeing you everyday, it killed me."
Now I was breathing harder, my breath rising in mist in front of me.
"Maybe you've never thought of me that way, maybe I was just your friend's brother."
He was even closer now and the other half of my brain that was controlled by reason was shouting at me to  back away.
"Sarah's my best friend Justin," saying his name made me tingle.
He looked down for the first time.
"I know," he dropped my hands. "Jackie always said you and Sarah were inseparable." He looked back at me "Lexie," I felt something swoop in my stomach when he said my name again. "Is there no way I can... Nothing I can say?"
And now I felt my eyes getting wet, I tried to look away from his bright blue ones.
"I just... Can't. I want to..."
But suddenly he was holding me in his arms and I was crying into his shoulder. He pulled away just enough to kiss me, and the half of my brain that was totally, completely in love with Justin Stevens kissed him back.

This is what Christmas in Florida looks like

But I thought this one would be a better visual for the story

Part 2

Here's the next part. Thanks so much for your input, keep it up!

I shook slightly as I stood up. Words failed me and I simply shook my head. The room was deathly silent for two heartbeats, and then it exploded into sound again.

I didn't understand why so many people were angry, or scared, hardly any seemed sad. "Quiet please, do not overreact!"

But professor Mason's words were only heard by a few.

"Silence everyone!" He shouted, but only half the room responded. Collin stepped onto the platform at the end of the room,

"You heard the man, shut up!" he shouted at the top of his lungs.

They did.

Professor Mason nodded his thanks as he stood on the platform.

"There is no need to panic, everything is alright."

A woman in the front cut him off, "there is nothing about this situation that is alright!" She shouted, she had a French accent and when she came to the front, I saw she was wearing the same navy and green uniform I had seen before.

"The last of the water talent are dead, and who knows when or even if there will be another. That gift is extremely rare. If the balance is not restored... And if we do not send out the four soon..."

"Do not discuss that subject here Ms. Fay." Said professor Mason cutting in and giving a meaning full glace at the students, who were now looking curiously from professor Mason to Ms. Fay.
The wind division YL Isabella, or just Izzy, spoke up "but professor we do have eleven new students that haven't been evaluated. I know how important it is to have a member of all four talents."

"Ah, you do not have any comprehension of how important it is to have all four talents,” said Ms. Fay.

I was shocked at how little anyone seemed to care that Kevin and Trevor were dead. Finally someone said it "first, we tend to our dead," said the kind voice of Mrs. Larson, "we can take care of other matters later, more privately."

YLs were ushered out by the teachers and the doors were slammed shut behind us. The Ambassador had remained and I noticed how shaken the normally easygoing kid was. Collin immediately ran back to the door and pressed his ear against the crack. Izzy crouched down and listened too. I had no desire to hear what the teachers were discussing; I was still in shock about Kevin and Trevor.

"They're trying to decide if they should speed up the testing for the new students," said Collin.

"Impossible, most of us haven't even been tested, and we already know our powers" said Izzy. Collin stood up strait and ran his hands through his hair.

"First Trevor then Kevin," he said, "what's happening?"

"I was hoping you could tell me that."

Collin looked at me numbly.

"That battle last nigh," he started "it seemed like they went strait for Trevor, I mean they found him so fast and it happened so fast. But Kevin wasn't killed by anyone he exhausted himself to death."

I was horrified by what he just told me,

"He exhausted himself?"

"If you're not careful, your powers can overwhelm you, drain you completely of everything inside. Kevin knew that, it seemed like once Trevor... He just lost it and we had to watch the life just... Leave."

All six of us were silent. Izzy had berried her head in her hands.

"What are you doing here anyway Jess?" Asked Collin.

I had almost forgotten that I wasn't supposed to be there at all.

I shrugged "I was sick of people telling me to sit and wait I guess."

He nodded, "not much we can do now."

"Who were all those people?" I asked, not caring so much about the answer.

"School board," he said dully "they're in charge of everything that happens at this school. A lot of them represent different countries because there are only a few other places Element Workers have been found; there are only two other academies like this one. England and Australia."

I found this mildly interesting, I hadn't thought about other countries being involved.

The door opened and we all looked up to see SCD. He didn't look surprised at the students gathered around the door waiting.

"We've collectively decided that we'll bring the evaluation forward to today. We're also gunna be testing a select number of students." There was an intake of breath from all four YLs.

"What's testing?"

The Loop looked surprised to see me there. He closed the door behind him and fell into one of the chairs along the wall.

"The testing is to decide who will take the next mission. If we can see that you are properly ready fo’ it, you get sent."

Well there was no way I was ready so at least I didn't have to worry about that. 

Part Chapter 4 part 1

Thanks for your input, I'm working on it! 

Chapter Four

The balance

      The sound of a pin dropping would have been as loud as a jet engine in the silence that followed. Kevin's twin was dead; there was only a single member of the water division left. Some claimed water was the most important, as it was easily controlled and extremely powerful. With my limited knowledge of the powers we all possessed, I couldn't say if I believed that.

I light breeze sprang up, even though the windows were closed, and blew across the heads of the students, lifting white flower petals that had come from no where. A silent tribute to the fallen warrior. I wondered slightly if it had been professor Mason's wind, but no, I remembered when he had sprouted the flower from his hand when we had first met. He had the element of earth.

We got up slowly; no one was in the mood to talk to one another. I didn't see Kevin anywhere; he had probably stayed in his own dorm alone now without his brother. It made my heart to ache thinking about it.

The next morning dawned deceptively bright revealing that someone had cleaned up the mess of the previous night. I would have thought it was a dream except I hadn’t slept at all. Much of the grounds were impervious to magical harm due to a spell cast when the school was first built. It hardly showed any signs of the horrors of the night before.  We all rose late and gathered in the auditorium before breakfast.

Carly was still in a state of shock that had me extremely worried. She hadn't spoken a single word since last evening. We all sat subdued in the dim auditorium waiting for someone to do something. I wasn't the first to notice that something was wrong. Teachers were rushing back and forth and whispers were running around that official looking cars were arriving at the front gate.

Finally the ever-calm Mrs. Larson took the stage and said into the microphone, "students there is a situation. Please return to your dormitories. YLs, we require your assistance." There was a collective groan and someone shouted, "You said we would know what happened today!"

"We will have your YLs tell you our position after we have taken care of matters."

I stayed longest in the auditorium trying to get Carly to respond.

She did finally "I just... Didn't want it to happen... Not again..."

Her words were halting.

"It's gunna be okay," I said for what felt like the thousandth time.

I had only known Carly for three days and yet I felt like we were best friends by now. I slowly guided her out the door and led her back to the dorms. I saw Pat go toward the Base and tried to stop her.

"Wait, what's going on?"

She ignored me and pulled the door open. I followed her, only wanting to know what was happening. I pulled open the door to see shear chaos raining. Teachers and other, more official looking people in navy blue and green were rushing around shouting things and delivering documents. I stared in shock at the complete frenzy of the normally well ordered group of people. Then I saw the stretcher. Pushed by two scrub-clad doctors, a freckled, red-haired boy laying on it. I followed the stretcher-bearers into a room full of more shouting adults. The doctors didn't follow us into the room. All four YLs were there too. "Everyone calm down!" Shouted professor Mason.

The room fell silent slowly.

"Do not panic please, Jessica,"

I was startled to hear my name, and then I realized I was the only one standing at the back, right next to the stretcher. It wasn't Trevor at all, I realized with a shock. It was Kevin.
I knew what professor Mason wanted me to do just from his look. I crouched down beside him and brushed his curly red hair out of his eyes. His face was cold and drained of color. I hadn't known Kevin or Trevor, but right then I felt like time had stopped moving. Not both of them, how could it have happened? He was so still and cold, not a single mark on his body. 

Part 3

Sorry it's been so long!

"Missions," Carly said in a resigned sort of way.

"They tell you all about it at your evaluation, but I'm sure it won't matter if I just tell you two."

She was talking to me and Wayne, who was also curios at her comment. The others of our division were either hanging around our table listening in or pretending to study at the other common room tables. I knew Wayne's big mouth wouldn't close in this instance either. As soon as he got the goods, he would spread the word among the other boys. Those girls who were not eavesdropping were sure to connive it out of Carly sooner or later.

"Some of the older students get sent out during the summer but only in great times of crisis are a few chosen to go on a mission during the school year."

"But why," I asked the question before Wayne undoubtedly would.

"You don't think Feren is just sitting idly by while good guys recruit new Element Workers do you?"

"You don't think Feren is..."

"Yep, he's doing the exact same thing the academy's doing. Most of his supporters are immortal though, at least, they can die if you run a sword through them, but they haven't aged in centuries."

"That's really..."

"Creepy." Wayne finished my thought.

"So the academy finds us to protect us?"

Carly nodded "I wasn't sure if I should come here at first, but now that I know Feren would have gotten me if I hadn't." She shuddered a little "I'm glad I did."

I shared her sentiments remembering the 'others' professor Mason had mentioned when I had first met him what seemed like a thousand years ago.

An enormous blast rent the air in two. Something was glowing outside our huge windows and we all jumped to our feet to see what was going on. An orange glow lit up the dark sky; it was shimmering like silk. Or smoke. People were running around the dark lawns. One boy ran to the door and threw it open to the night air.

"Stay in your common rooms!" A voice boomed, and I recognized professor Mason's over some kind of amplifier.

"Return to your dorms, you will be protected there. YLs gather your forces, with me!" The boy slammed our door as Pat rushed out of her room. She was wearing a robe and a towel in her hair with the odd accessory of a sword clutched in her left hand.

"Stay here!" She yelled kicking off her slippers as she threw open the door and out into the night.

I was terrified by what I saw. Flames were licking up the side of the Base. The lawn seemed to bee rippling sending the few people who were still on the grass tumbling. Students were clutching each other regardless or gender or age and a few were crying shamelessly.

"I thought we were safe here!" I shouted over the roar of some unknown power.

Carly was staring wide-eyed outside completely paralyzed. Another explosion shook the ground. I sank to the floor and wrapped my arms around my knees trying to ignore the screams and crashes. Squeezing my eyes shut I to wait it out.

The door was thrown open and I saw to my great relief that it was Collin.

"Is everybody alright in here?" He had a commanding tone in his voice.

I spoke for everyone "yes, what's going on?"

"Feren's soldiers are attacking," he said gesturing outside with his sword "we've almost got them back, stay here until we give you the all clear."

"We know we need to stay put, but what can we do? I for one don't want to sit here and wait to be trampled down!" Said Mariana a fire red haired girl with a temper to match. There were murmurs of agreement that was interrupted by a roar of water coursing down the walkways.

"Uh, that's very noble of you to offer and all, but you don't have the expertise to fight yet, or the experience."

He dodged out the door with one last shout of warring for us to stay put. I stood where I was, facing the door poised on the edge of running after Collin. None of it, not the magic powers not the battle training or the threat of opposing forces, had ever sunk in until now. This was real, extremely real, real enough to get someone killed. I tried to push away these thoughts and focus on helping the rest of my group. Two of the younger girls were still sobbing and hugging each other fiercely. The boys had all started unconsciously pacing. What worried me most was Carly's blank stare of horror and fear.

"Everyone, calm down they've got it covered." I said with a reassurance I was far from feeling, but I was happy with the way it sounded.

The girls had stopped crying to look up at me.

"Worrying won't do us any good now, so lets just try and do our best to..." To what?

I didn’t even know. A dark boy I only knew as Carlos came to stand by me,

"She’s right, we'll be fine. So will everyone else."

I was grateful for his support but what could we do now? We watched helplessly as the battle raged on. We could now see vague figures stabbing and thrusting with swords and spears. I caught a glimpse of Collin fighting two on one and involuntarily bit down on my knuckles. It didn't last much longer. It was still pitch black when we could no longer see the flashes of light or hear the screams.

"Students please remain calm and in an orderly fashion return to Base." Came professor Mason's voice over the intercom.

We were all relived to here it, but also afraid. I didn't want to see what those shapes on the lawn were. We crowded into the upper floor of the Base, which was only one large conference room. Older students had soot and dirt on their faces and were drenched in sweat and water. We took seats at the table or on the floor; a few restless boys paced the back of the room. The teachers all looked as haggard as the students many of them had put on their pajamas before the fight had begun. Professor Mason addressed us once all the YLs had assured him everyone was there.

"I am sure that you are all aware of what took place this night." He said slowly "Feren's forces have attacked, at least a small group of them did."

He ran his hands through his hair tiredly.

"We will ask you all to please ask questions tomorrow, what's important is that we fought bravely and there were only minor injuries. You should all be very proud of the squadrons. But now we will ask you to please return to your dormitories and try to get some sleep. There was one casualty."

My blood froze. The way he had said it, so sad as if the world were coming down on him. There were immediate shouts in varying hysterics.

"Who? Who was it?"

"Not one of ours!"

"We have a right to know!"

Professor Mason nodded, "indeed you do. Young Trevor of the water division."