Chapter 7

Back at the base, Mia found herself in her room staring out of the window. She missed her parents but more than anything she missed the freedom that she had. She could not understand why so many had a problem with the way her parents taught her. Out there she didn't have to rely on earplugs. She could spend all day long listening to all the sounds nature had.

There was a knock on Mia's door and she went to open it. To her surprise she found herself looking at Luna who was in her training uniform. She pointed to Mia's ears and Mia removed the earplugs. "Why are you still wearing those earplugs?" she asked. "The sounds in this building is getting to me," Mia answered.

"So you really have a sensitive hearing?" Luna asked. "Yes, but I am wishing at the moment that I didn't have sensitive hearing. Loud sounds and music really hurt my ears," Mia answered. "We were about to start with the celebration but I take it you dont want to join us?" Luna asked. "No, I dont feel so good. I think I rather stay here and rest up a bit," Mia siad.

"Okay but if you need anything you will ask right?" Luna asked. "Yes, thank you, Luna," Mia said.

About an hour passed before there was another knock on the door. Mia was busy drawing a picture of the river she saw earlier that day. She got up and went to open the door. Luna was standing at the door and said, "you can not hide in here all day long. Come on it's a party, you will enjoy its promise."

Luna didn't give Mia much choice in the matter as the next moment she found herself in a dining hall full of loud music and a lot of dancing people. "Take those out, you're missing the fun," Luna siad. Mia didn't let Luna take out the earplugs. "You dont have my hearing Luna. You dont understand the pain I am in with loud music like this," Mia siad.

"Your no fun, you do know that right," Luna said. "I dont care I am not removing my earplugs," Mia said. But then one of the men living on the base took out Mia's earplugs. "Music is meant to be enjoyed you know," he siad. The music got really loud and the beats made it impossible for Mia to focus. Her ears were hurting and the more she tried to get out of the room the worst the pain got.

Luna realised Mia was in pain and tried to talk to Mia but Mia wasn't responding to her. "Turn off the music," Luna shouted. The room was instantly quiet, "Mia are you okay?" Luna asked but Mia wasn't responding she was still holding her ears. "Get the captain, Sam anyone, I think Mia needs to see a doctor," Luna shouted. Sam was next to Mia within seconds followed by her uncle.

"What were you guys thinking? You knew she had a sensitive hearing?" Sam shouted. "We thought she was lying besides no teenager in their right mind would ignore a party," a man said.

"You dont understand what you did to you do you?" Mike shouted. He and Sam got Mia to a truck and they rushed her to the hospital where she was given something for the pain. The doctors did a few tests and told Mike the next morning, "I have never seen an elemental user with Mia's hearing."

"Why do you say that?" Mike asked. The doctor showed him Mia's test results. I suspect her father kept her in isolation because of her hearing. It will be troublesome to even live with her," the doctor said.

"You mean she might not be able to adapt to living a normal life?" Mike asked. "It's possible for her to live a normal life but can you learn and adapt with her. We will have to do more test but is suspect she will be wearing earplugs for quite some time," the doctor said. "How can we help her?" Mike asked.

"Her father had the best remedy, Mike. The problem is on her own she won't be saved so I suspect you will have to find a way to help her. A soundproof room will be a good start. Training might help too but it needs to be in stages but it will have to be slow. Too fast and she could lose her hearing completely," the doctor said.

Mike was sitting in the hallway when Sam gave him a cup of coffee. "The doctor said her father had the right idea keeping her in isolation. It's possible to train her but it will have to be slow," Mike said. "When I saw her for the first time I didn't even notice her hearing. What I saw was her other abilities, her hearing must be a new skill," Sam siad.

"Yes, and we will have to teach her control but it needs to be slow or she could go deaf. I suspect loud sounds and music will never be her thing, unlike the personnel on the base," Mike said.

"Yes well, it's not my style either. I never did like the loud music," Sam siad. "Yes but the doctors are telling me that they have never even seen a case like Mia's before," Mike siad.

"That could be a problem since it's not saving for her to be alone off base," Sam said. "Yes well, they said a soundproof room might help. She will have to get used to wearing earplugs for a while," Mike siad.

"Well if she is anything like her father she can overcome any challenge even this one," Sam siad.

"Yes, but I wish my sister spoke to me about her. I dont know how to help her?" Mike said.

"Maybe you should ask for help from Diana. She might be able to help her?" Sam siad. "Why did you have to bring her up again?" Mike asked. "Because one you still love her and two you do not know how to help Mia do you?" Sam asked.

"Why do you always have to make sense Sam?" Mike asked. "It's my job as your second in command and your best friend to help you. Plus I think she might be having a hard time adapting," Sam siad.

"What do you mean Sam?" Mike asked. "You should have seen her out there today Mike. She was in her element, happy but at the base, I dont see that," Sam said.

That evening the doctors let Mia go home. Her uncle Mike gave Mia a soundproof room. He also decided to phone Diana for advice on how to help Mia.

He slowly tipped in the number as he was considering putting the phone down but before he could press the red button Diana answered.

"Hello Mike, I haven't heard from you in a while?" she said.

"Hi Diana, I have a problem and I need your advice on the subject," Mike siad.

"What is it, Mike?" Diana asked.

"You know that I have a sister right?" Mike asked.

"Yes, I think you introduced us a few years back why do you ask?" Diana asked.

"Well she is missing and she has a daughter," Mike siad.

"What happend?" Diana asked.

"She and her husband expected a few guests she didn't trust them and hid their daughter in a shelter. My brother found her but she figured out he was part of the reason my sister her parents were missing. She's now living with me and I dont know how to help her," Mike siad.

"How old is she Mike?" Diana asked.

"She finished high school Diana but her father refused to send her to college since she is a rainbow elemental user and her abilities are already creating challenges on the base," Mike siad.

"Challenges like what?" Diana asked.

"Her hearing is the main problem. The doctors have never seen an elemental user with her hearing. They think it's the main reason why her father kept her away from people," Mike said.

"Wait she has never been around people before?" Diana asked. "Yes that is correct," Mike said.

"So what do you need to know?" Diana asked.

"She loves nature, Diana. She arrived with only the clothes she was wearing a backpack and papers," Mike said.

"She will be okay Mike, it will take time but she will be okay," Diana siad.

"If you say so Diana," Mike said. He hung up the phone and found himself looking out of his office window. He was surprised to see that Mia was still drawing. He got up and walked to her. "What are you drawing?" he asked.

Mia showed him the picture, "it's where we found the girl." Mike looked through Mia's pictures and siad, "you have an amazing talent, Mia."

"Thank you, my mom thought me how to draw," Mia siad.

"She did a good job, Mia," Mike siad.

"Uncle, do you think we will ever see them again?" Mia asked.

"Mia, I dont know," Mike siad.

"I miss them a lot," Mia siad. "I know you do but we can only hope," Mike said.