1 Finding our path
Jack and I walked along the cracked sidewalk back from the restaurant. It was a long shift to cover this months rent and nothing else. Jacks feet were dragging, as the youngest man in the restaurant he was tasked with hauling boxes and trash all night while I was a waitress.
"Jack, I think we are going to have to cut the water or electricity. We just don't have enough." I delivered the grim news as softly as possible.
"I can go out tomorrow and find a manual labor job that pays more than the restaurant Jordan, just wait we can…"
"Jack, I don't want you to do that. I like working together, we can wait until the lease is up then find a cheaper apartment. It will just be a month. I saw a swish of black move in the corner of my eye, but it was gone just like that. I grew suspicious on the rest of the walk home.
It was quiet by the Coolridge apartments, usually there were kids on the basketball court no matter how late it was. It was silent without wind, no rustling of a stray cat or groan of an old building. My senses were on guard, there was a presence around the corner and before I could drag Jack back to my side he disappeared. I had no option, well I did have the choice to run but how could I live with that.
"JACK?" I screech, maybe I was just overthinking it and he would pop out and scare me. I usually wasn't wrong about my intuition though. No sound, just like earlier. I round the corner into complete darkness. There was nothing there but a shimmer a little sliver of a new world. As I stared at it it expanded and finally there was a man holding a hand over Jacks mouth. I ran towards them and tried to connect punch to the mans face, but he dissolved into water. Jack was gasping for air and then we were encircled by water. This was something, it felt familiar but terrifying. The man in the trench coat reappeared outside the circle.
"I'm not here to harm you, Jordan and Jack, I am here to inform you of your powers. And ask that you come with me to our training facility. We protect the world."
"WHo is we?" I daringly ask.
"Everyone with abilities just like me and you, there are hundreds. Everything I am saying you know though, you know it in your soul, you are drawn towards the elements." the man in the trench coat was right about that at least. Jack was one also? I knew the slightest about this world from my mother who protects me from afar from unknown dangers.
As the new chapter to my life started, everything changed. I went from a teen on the busy streets to a boat in the lonely ocean pretty fast. I recalled my time back in Manhattan but slowly let it slip away from me. The man in the black trench coat said so. Having someone here with me that reminds me of all I am, and all I was is something to treasure. Jack Haustus, an orphan I found, and I quickly bonded. We had a connection with absent parents and some hope and deep care for others. We clicked together. For 4 years we have been friends, learning how to live and laugh. Then as Jack and I walked back to our temporary home, the man in the trench coat stopped us. He introduced himself as Mr. Dvorak, a teacher at, Get this a magic institute. He explained little bits to Jack and I sitting clueless. What would you believe? After he spoke for a bit i realized i have heard what he talked about before. My mother told me to avoid that life. No magic, it's safer. Seeing Jack's face after hearing we are special and possess the power of elements i agreed with his expression. The want to belong, and after you hear that your special would you really reject it? So Jack and I ended up on a boat. Destination future ahead.
JORDAN
I always wanted to go to the Bermuda Triangle. It seemed so dangerous and supernatural, but as a kid having no dad and a barely seen mom I could pass as an orphan on the streets.. So I never thought I would actually be going. As the boat raced towards the growing island I looked over at Jack, he looked a bit afraid, I mean all this magic business was a lot to take in. when descendents from the original elements have children with other descendents it creates a Elementalist or a person who can effectively use the magic of elements; fire, water, ice, earth, and storm. It was necessary to know before we began training. According to Mr. Dvorak teacher guy over there.
JACK
Jordan looked so excited to be going to the Island in the Bermuda, but from what i've heard these people are crazy, telling us we're special and can use the power of elements. Still the wonder i crave about this, it's like i can feel the power in my bones. It was frightening. I looked over at Jordan dark brown hair fluttering in the wind and golden eyes zoned out then snapping back to reality as we stop at the bottom of a tall cliff.
"Oh my gosh, where are we?" Jordan whispers to me.
"Jordan, Jack, this is where you'll be learning the elemental arts." said the teacher like he heard Jordan's whisper. Then he takes out a stick or maybe it's a wand and the water rises under us until we reach the top of the cliff to get out.
"Now this island is pretty big. I'll send one of my best students to show you around, so you won't get lost," explains Mr. Dvorak, "and by the way I am one of the teachers here but sometimes I travel out to find other students who posses elemental magic, I have a certain gift to locate other powers. Look here he is I'll be off now." A boy walks towards us with floppy brown hair
"Hello im Derek" he says smiling at Jordan and then looked at me with disappointment
"What're your name's?" Derek asks.
JORDAN
"Im Jordan and this is Jack." I say excitedly. Derek seemed to think something was funny but I really didn't know what because all he said was
"Well.. let's get on with the tour."
While he showed us some of the huge forest and the small town where all the retired elementalists stay and run cute shops for students to stop in, I couldn't help but notice that Derek was pretty attractive. He seemed a little wrong in a way though, just peculiar. He showed us the school next, it was huge maybe the size as a football stadium. Were there really that many kids in this school? It was beautifully structured with open hallways and old mossy stone to create a strong setting, but very old fashioned, no lights just torches glowing with a slow undying flames marking the way to classrooms and what seems to be dorms. Derek has been talking the whole time but I've been too focused on my thoughts to listen. Now I hear him talk and state,
"The choosing ceremony will be tomorrow morning and Mrs. Malorie (the school president) can explain lots more later. We also have many old training facilities throughout the dense forest most are forgotten since we just use the new coliseum now." Derek seems to ignore Jack and only aim his words at me, best student huh? Now we all walk through the town again closer up. Derek showed Jack and I where we can get treats, clothes, games, and school supplies like a wand and pendent that we apparently "needed". This is so much to think about.
"Now this is where I"ll leave you guys to get supplies, then I"ll meet up with you and take you to your room later." Derek states, I just now noticed that Derek is wearing a necklace, a chain with a chunky white gem; he saw me looking at it and smirked. I gaze away fast "Okay bye Derek." I smile nervously and he grins then walks away. I turn to Jack and laugh, the awkwardness of the situation was so dense.
"What are you laughing at?" Jack laughs back since we are so close. "This is so weird like maybe it's all a dream and we will just wake up and be back home and alone again it's so… different." I sigh. Jack grabs my hands,
"Jordan, I barely believe it but this is real, we are actually different, but we still fit in so there is nothing to worry about here it's all fine and no matter what we always have each other to so we are safe." Jack reassures me.
"Thanks" I look in his warm green eyes. He always knows how to keep me sane. We walk in the pendent shop together and Jack opens the door into a small dim space with a small old woman wrinkled behind her desk that was decorated with shiny gems on chains just like Derek's, but all different colors and sizes. There were blue, green, yellow, black, white, and every color. "Come." Says the lady behind the desk. We walk up together me hiding behind Jack's shoulder closer to the table of powerful jewelry.
"Jack step forward alone," says the woman. Jack steps up and leaves me alone "Put your hand over the pendants and move it over them." Jack obeys slowly his hand shaking ever so slightly over the rows, then a burst of light spills out of a pendent then dims to a glow. "Ohh the navy blue for you Jack, now take and keep till after the choosing ceremony, now Jordan come," the crinkly old lady says. I'm scared I don't know why I slowly step forward as Jack steps back. I reach out my arm and move it over the table nothing happens then i move it over again slower. An explosion of red light blinds me and then it dims after I blink a couple times. I look around and see no pendants still glowing. What is going on? Then from under the desk a drawer opens and the old woman didn't open it. A glowing dark red pendant floats out all by itself pulsing red light and makes itself at home in my hand. "I knew it was you Jordan Wayhunter." The woman's face bright with mystery, "Now hurry along and get your wands."
"No, wait what's happening?!" I cry scared.
"Don't worry child you will know soon by the ones who gave you it." She replies then we were pushed out the door by a gust of wind and the door slams behind us. "NO" I whisper, what is happening?
Jack puts his hand on my shoulder, trying to comfort my scrambled head. Maybe that was completely normal, or the old woman was playing a trick. Jack seemed as nervous as i was. At that moment the door of another store opens "Come in" says a low voice.
" I guess it's time to get are wands" Jack whispers shyly trying not to disturb me more. Now this store is very dark but as we walk in torches brighten the room into a creepy old shack with an ancient man standing in the middle of the room with wands everywhere maybe 300 just on shelves "Ready for your wands?" asks the ancient man. I felt a pull to one of the shelves. "Let the pull of your powers take you to your wand" I saw Jack walk fast to the shelf opposite of me and he grabbed the wand box and took out the sleek black wand electricity zapped around the room, then I moved, no I slid over to the shelf that the pull wanted me to go to. As if i couldn't control myself. My hands moved by themselves to this very dark red wand with strange carvings on the bottom and the room grew very cold then all the torches flamed up. This is strange, a peculiar feeling of almost unlimited power flew through my fingers, and all through my body. Then to my pendent and the power stopped dead, like they're blocked. The man looked at Jack with a wonder, then swiveled his head and looked at me and his eyes sparkled and he says "Well, well, well you better be off to your rooms Jordan and Jack, you will need a good night sleep." He smiles then disappears with a gust of wind.
"Jack let's go… now," I whisper. As we walk fast back to the school Derek finds us and scares the crap out of me, I almost jump onto Jack.
"Jordan it's fine it's just me." Derek laughs and puts his arm around me only for me to remove it, "Well she wasn't expecting you to pop out and grab her." Jack interjects rudely.
JACK
"Jordan you can do way better than that thing," Derek replies acidly pointing at my face. I feel hot from anger blushing into my face. "Well you know what! -" I yell walking up closer to intimidate Derek.
"GUYS!" Jordan yells, "Shut up and stop fighting damn!" I instantly cool down and back off not wanting to make Jordan pissed. Derek shoots one more nasty glare and turns around and leads us to our rooms, silently this time. "Here you go Jordan," Derek smiles and opens the door for her.
"Where is Jack's room?" She asks golden eyes staring into mine make me feel warm. Derek glares again at me and I just smile to make him angry. I know he won't do anything when Jordan's around. "His room is right next to yours, it even has a door that connects your rooms from the inside," Derek growls while gesturing to the door.
"Okay thanks Derek, you can leave now we are fine," Jordan comments. Derek leaves without saying a thing. I go and open my door
"Jack can you just come in my room first with me please?" Jordan asks.
"Yeah sure," I reply and walk into the huge space.
"Wow did they give me the master suite or what?" she laughs. The huge room had a queen bed locked in between two windows with drapes and then a fireplace bigger than i've ever seen to the side with that fire that always glows. The dresser was huge and crafted from dark wood, stone floors cold as ice but fancy. Don't get Jordan started on the bathroom, it was white compared to the main rooms gray, red and brown look.
"Oh my god i'm gonna faint it's all so beautiful!" Jordan gasps. Just like you, I think in my head but laugh at myself.
"It's fit for a queen like you to live in," I laugh, "I don't think I've ever been in a place this nice in my life Jordy, it's amazing"! Jordan turns around and has tears in her eyes, she's still beautiful even when she's crying, I go and hug her small body warm against me and her head nestled into me.
"We can't ever go back after this it won't be the same anymore." She whispers.
"I know," I say as I let her go, trying to think of any words to comfort her. All i could think of, "Should we get some sleep?" I ask.
"Okay but can I ask one more thing Jack? Can you stay with me tonight please?" Jordan whimpers.
"Yes Jordy" I say pulling her in again for a hug. "Just let me go change in my room first." I added, I then walk to the door on the wall that apparently leads to my room. My room is almost a copy of Jordan's but less, girly can I say. There isn't a burning fire either but it's nice either way. After I'm changed I walk back into her room to find her laying on her bed asleep, so I keep my promise of staying with her and quietly slip next to her leaving plenty of room. I just lie on my back and stare at the ceiling. Decoding the confusing day.
JORDAN
Knock Knock Knock! "Hello Everyone, it's Mrs. Malorie, the principal, the choosing ceremony begins in one hour, this is wakeup call." Her automated voice plays outside through the door. I open my eyes. The choosing ceremony! I sit straight up and wake Jack, who is sleeping right next to me. He looks like he didn't sleep well.
"What is happening?" he says groggily.
"It's the choosing ceremony in an hour!" I panic "I need to get ready and stuff." I run to the closet and grab black tank blue jeans and boots just to keep it simple. Hair! hair! hair! How bout just hair down for today, okay. Jack just sits and looks at me weird while I scurry around getting ready then I stop.
"Wait are you just sitting there watching me get ready in your boxers?" I laugh.
"pshh no.. Yeah maybe I should get ready too," he proclaimed in a funny confident way. He gets up and heads to the door.
"Wait!" I giggle, "Should I wear my hair up or down." I interject shyly.
"I don't care you look pretty either way" Jack smiles then opens his door and leaves to get ready. I catch myself smiling, no this isn't me, I can't, and I won't. After 20 minutes we both are ready to head and Mrs. Malorie, our tall slim beautiful principal comes and tells us the procedure while she guides us to the coliseum.
