The Others

Chapter 1

"I believe if I knew where I was going, I'd lose my way."

"I believe that the words that he told you are not your grave."

- Christina Perri

~.~.~.~.~

Living in this treacherous place made me come to the realization that there was no escape. The dark and dispirited flow of energy that constantly enveloped my body makes me interpret suffocation in its finest form. Everyday my mind was strategically and desperately fighting for the will to survive.

People are coexisting amongst each other in peace, because of one single factor that is tying us all together.

Fear.

Fear for the unknown for what lies beyond our knowledge, and fear for what the world has in store for our kin. Especially considering the fact that we have no control over our lives.

In our small community, we're categorized depending on the certain power that we obtain from birth. These categorizes are comprised of the world's elements; earth, water, air and fire. There is no escape from my predetermined life and I had to learn this concept from a very young age.

Each of us contains symbols imprinted on the back of our neck that represents which element we contain. This was the first notable sign that clearly displayed how different I was compared to everyone else. The symbol for the element of water is normally a raindrop. Although I have the element of water, I didn't contain the symbol for it. Instead I had an odd, disfigured shape that was left to interpretation. Contrary to belief, I did in fact have the element of water.

In a community where everyone was practically identical in terms of how we live, it's hard not to stand out.

Naturally as a child, I was always told that I was exceptionally gifted. I never believed I was any different from the rest of the kids, but the elders always seemed to think otherwise. They only think I'm special because of an incident that happened long ago that was irrepressible.

After all the constant praise that I received as a kid after the incident, it seemed as if karma caught up to me and slapped me across the face. Fourteen years later, and not only am I not able to control my power, but I can barely perform a simple spell that a five year old can do.

No one has any knowledge as to how we are brought into this world. All the knowledge that we have up until this day is from the elders in our community. Every once in a while, they awake from a dream and have information on how we came to be. Only elders can have dreams so we listen to their words as if they were law.

The concept of siblings was learned from an elder years ago so that whenever more than one baby is placed together in a bassinet, townspeople know that they are somehow related. This is also the only way someone is brought into our town.

People who have immense power, become our leaders whom take care of us as we age. However, not even our leaders who withhold such power can defend us from the outside world.

The town of Valas was a small town with a population of approximately 756 people. The large board posted in the middle of town had the number displayed for everyone to observe. Although it was just a mere number to some people, whenever I look at it, a great deal of sorrow immediately washes over me. The number on the board barley increases as people regularly disappear in the middle of the night. It's as if the board is staring at me in a mocking manner, as if saying that I will be next.

Behind the board is a massive clock that stood high above our town. No one ever went near it because for some unknown reason, it always rang right before the others appeared. It was a rule ever since I can remember to gather around the middle of town beside the clock when it rang. Nobody dares to remain in their houses as the clock rang in fear of what would happen if they get caught.