FLAWED

Chapter 2

xX Aislin Xx

It wasn't my fault. You know when you're watching something bad happen, whether it's someone getting yelled at, or a fistfight, a robbery, or whatever? And you're just standing there, wanting to help, but you don't, because you're afraid you're going to get hurt or going to get in trouble too? Or you're thinking; someone else will help. It doesn't have to be me. Except no one goes to help, and you're there, willing yourself to move, but then it's too late. I didn't want that to ever happen again.

***

-Then-

My first class was with Biology. "As you are aware, there are five elements. Fire, Lightning, Air, Water, Earth, Darkness. You are compatible with one," she was saying, sitting at her desk with perfect posture, her hands folded in front of her.

"Everyone discovers theirs at different rates. Some of you might find out tomorrow. Others a week from now. Most likely, it'll take you a couple months. All of you will find out before the year ends." The moment seemed surreal to me, the whole class hung on her every word.

I just sat there, staring at her too-perfect brown wavy hair and blimp red lips. Her face held my attention. Sure, she's pretty. But there was something in her eyes. They were brown, with a cold, calculating intelligence. She caught me looking at her and held my gaze. I didn't blink, and neither did she.

Not breaking our trance, she continued. "Many of you will die. Not all of your bodies are...reconcilable with an element. One in five survives." I heard little gasps and exclamations fill the room, and Biology waited for them to die before continuing. As if she were speaking to me, she said, "All elements have their advantages and disadvantages. But all of you will soon discover which are...more desirable," she paused. "Only the strong survive here. Fail to prepare and die, prepare to live and prosper."

I raised my hand. I'm the curious type. "What element are you?"

A faint smile spread on her lips. Out of nowhere, a gentle breeze blew across the room. Even though we were inside.

Air. It picked up strength slowly, first blowing the papers off our desks, and then wildly throwing girls' hair in every direction, accumulating until the room was in windstorm conditions. It howled and screamed, like a monster in the dead of night. Soon you couldn't see in front of you, and the noise kept growing and growing-I clutched my desk when I started to feel it move. Irrational thoughts filled my head. I'm going to get blown away.

I couldn't hear, I couldn't see, and now I couldn't breathe. The vortex was so strong it was sucking up all the oxygen. My head pounded in tune with my heart and my eyes throbbed. I felt something fly across my face, and it took a massive amount of energy to fight the wind long enough to touch my face. I felt stickiness. My ears were being assaulted-and just when I started to get dizzy-the wind stopped. It didn't gradually die; it just...ended. Like it wasn't even there to begin with.

Papers were everywhere. They lazily drifted from the ceiling to the floor. Some desks were turned over, with kids and all. Some teens were clutching their throats, others their heads, some their ears. A girl in the front was madly trying to comb done her hair, which stood up on her head like a Smurfs'. I choked down a giggle, an insane giggle, a giggle produced by shock and tension.

My hands drifted to my own ears, and they came back with blood. I pressed my lips together grimly. My face was cut from something thrown by the wind. My eardrums might have shattered. Wait, I take that back, I wouldn't be conscious right now if that was the case. I can hear ringing, but they are bleeding. I'm no medic, but I know blood is not a good sign. I hear someone behind me rasp, "Awesome," and break into a fit of coughs.