A Lumen Ripple | An Elemental Story

Chapter 28 - Takeoff

BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!

Like nails on a chalkboard...

The usually irritating sound of a wake-up alarm turned unbearable for her that next morning. Ember's eyes strained open in reaction, and a massive lumping headache instantly arose. She sharply wriggled around, slamming a finger on the snooze button and lying on her belly.

Thankfully, the ear-piercing thing stopped.

The night prior was rough for the poor young elemental. Not being one to deal with negative thoughts very well, it was all she mulled over since it happened. It was all she could think about.

All she wanted to do was curl up into a ball and burn the negativity up.

Unfortunately, she hadn't had the opportunity to spend a day isolated in her room. That day was meant to be for something else... something unique...

Exam day. It was nigh. If it was to go right, she'd be a Glassitect. The thought of having a career delighted her, but the idea of pushing herself well beyond her current limits didn't.

She had no clue what to think of it as - to her - far more critical things rained clouds on her mind. Or, more specifically, someone did.

She had a look of dead in her eyes as she forced herself to wake up. She really didn't want to, but she had to for the necessity of her future.

She scooched over to look at her phone once again, picking it up and squinting at its rather bright light. Like a foul tempter, she was once again reminded of his face on her lock screen. The look of dead turned to a stare of death - beyond feeling tight by the thought of him.

She looked over at the time;

7:21 am

She let out a groan like a child does on a school morning, gently forcing herself up on her bed in a huff. She sat up straight, hunched over and rubbed her eyes sleepily.

Wade's effect on her wasn't done yet. The moment she looked up from rubbing her eyes, she was reminded of him again - in the form of his still, tranquil pool bed. She looked up and about, thinking that perhaps he was around.

She quickly looked around the room for his stuff in worry. None of it was there.

Suddenly, her raw emotions tried their best to erupt out of her. She nearly became choked up, before grimacing and sharply repressing those feelings.

She knew staying in that room any longer was going to prolong the damage from last night. It was time to get up.

With that, she forced herself up and sprung to her feet. She waddled over to the foot of her bed where her stuff was. Thankfully for her, she'd managed to pack everything the night before in preparation for the day.

She propped her bag up onto her bed, slowly but surely putting her PPE suit on. She did so in a tired manner, gently pulling sleeve by sleeve up.

Before long, she was physically ready for the day - but not quite mentally. To her, however, that didn't matter. Getting the day over and done with meant she had more time to cry over the weekend.

With that, she grabbed her bag, suit on, and made her way downstairs ready for the day ahead.

Without even a dozen steps as she went down the stairs, she was faced with the first challenge of the day already. Last night was tough for her, but this morning felt tougher; because she now had to deal with the prying of the Sea-Nears.

Uncle and Aunty Sea-Near were in the kitchen making themselves, the kids and Ember breakfast. Ember caught wind, shielding herself and moving as quietly as possible in avoidance. As she snuck her way past, she peered over every now and then, watching their lips move about.