The Trials of the Elements

Chapter 1: Hope

As the light of the rising sun crept throughout the bedrooms of the orphanage, Hope couldn't help but sigh. It was her final week here in the place she now called home. She turned 18 about 4 months ago, and it was time for her to move on and become an adult. Sitting up in bed, the pale girl rubbed her tired green eyes.

Adult? I can only just about take care of myself, let alone get a job and pay taxes... Hope thought to herself nervously.

After about 10 minutes of debating whether or not to get out of bed, the ash brown haired girl slowly came out from under her duvet, and started getting ready for the day. As soon as she exited her bedroom, she could hear the voices of various children and adults coming from the kitchen. Once she reached the bottom of the stairs, she was greeted by Mike, one of the care workers.

"Well, you're up late Miss sleepy head! You'd better hurry, I made some pancakes for you and there may not be any left if Jonathan gets his hands on them," Mike said hesitantly.

Hope frowned, there was only one reason why Mike would make pancakes - something was wrong. The last time he'd made them, she was told that she was leaving the orphanage. As her heart began to race, Hope cautiously made her way to the kitchen. Once she had arrived, the room of 30 hungry, talkative teenagers and children suddenly fell silent.

This can't be good, Hope realised.

"Why don't you take a seat and have some breakfast love?" Diane, one of the other care workers asked gently.

Whilst pulling up a chair to the kitchen table, Hope replied, "I seem to have lost my appetite. What's going on?"

With a worried expression on her face, Diane stood up from the table and made her way over to Hope. As she stood next to the now terrified girl, she placed the local newspaper down in front of her. Without a word, Hope picked up the newspaper with shaky hands and read the following article:

MILLIONAIRE HENRY EVANSTON SIGNS CONTRACT TO CUT DOWN BROKEN MYTH FOREST!

After months of negotiation, Henry Evanston has finally secured the contract to build his new resort in Broken Myth Forest. Of course, there is still paperwork to be done, but by the end of the week Henry's experienced builders will come to the site and begin bulldozing trees in the area. At the news of this contract, protesters have already gone so far as to chain themselves to the large oak and pine trees to send a message to the millionaire that the forest is part of the community, and must not be cut down. When I, Alan Turner interviewed him on the matter he responded with the following, "If you're getting upset about these trees, you need to get your priorities straight, my friend. And community or not, they're just trees at the end of the day."

It was only when a single drop of water landed on the newspaper did Hope realize she was crying. The forest was her safe heaven, and now it was going to be cut down to make room for some hotel and pool. Anger filled Hope's body from head to toe, causing her to grip the newspaper tightly.

Diane placed a hand on Hope's shoulder and whispered, "It's okay Hope, just, just give me the paper and I'll-"

Without warning Hope stood up and slammed the newspaper down on to the table. With her tears streaming down her cheeks and anger in her eyes, she ran out of the room, out of the house, and into the cold spring morning air. Hope didn't need to ask herself where she was running to, as there was only ever one answer to that question: Broken Myth Forest.