Who We Are

Chapter 1

File Name:

Zaylee Camber

Age: 14

Hair Color: Blond

Eye Color: Green

Height: 5 ft. 2 in.

Weight: 103 lb.

Ability: Element Manipulation (Earth, Air, Water, Fire, & Electricity)

Was born in 1999, July 27. Lived with parents in residential neighborhood in Seattle, Washington, until age 7, when parents perished in house fire. Has lived in several foster homes and orphanages since then, often running away. Can now be found at Miss Claire's House for Girls in Seattle.

Chapter 1

"She's a freak."

I peered through the banisters of the staircase balcony, watching the scene unfolding below. Lisa Conrad was describing me to the people in dark suits.

"She does weird stuff with her hands." continued Lisa. "Like once, she blew me over just by shooting wind from her hands. It was freaky."

Miss Claire, the caretaker, nodded. "She appears to - well, I'm not even sure." she said, her lips pursed. "She has, quite frankly, traumatized some of the girls here." The other girls nodded their heads in agreement, and I rolled my eyes. I hadn't traumatized anyone, and the all knew it.

Oh, right, you are probably wondering what's going on. I guess I'll give an explanation.

My name is Zaylee Camber (call me Zay) and I am an orphan. I have been since I was seven. I have been bounced around from foster home to foster home and orphanage to orphanage, until I finally ended up here, at Miss Claire's House for Girls, here in Seatlle. Most of my orphanages sucked, but this one was by far the worst. Everyone hated me just because I was different. Lisa especially tried to make my life miserable. Every time a new girl joined our orphanage I tried to become their friend, but Lisa always quickly turned them against me. I spent most of my time in my room, reading or training. I teach my self self defense and karate every day.

You might be wondering exactly what all this "she shot wind from her hands and stuff" is all about. Well, I discovered I had an...unusual...ability when I was eight. I seem to have, control, I guess, over elements. At least, five main ones: Air, Earth, Water, Fire, and Electricity. I can blow air out of my hands and even fly. I can make plants spring out of the ground and throw rocks without touching them. Blue lighting shoots out of my fingers on command. Fire can pop out of my hands, and I can lift water into the air without a problem. The only real problem was that I thought other people could do it too, so I gladly showed off to the other girls in the orphanage, realizing too late that it was NOT something to be showing to people. I was quickly separated from the group.

Other than that, my life in the orphanage had been, well, dull. Until today. We were all downstairs in the kitchen when there was a knock at the door. Miss Claire went to answer it and we all followed, a curious bunch we were.

When Miss Claire opened the door, thee men and one woman stood at the door, all dressed in dark suits. The men wore shades and were big and muscular. The woman wore a black dress suit thing and had steely, grey eyes that constantly scanned the room, then locked on me. She had short grey hair, perfectly combed. Not a single hair was out of place. She wore tall black heels, and her lips were pursed. She looked like the sort of person who likes to be in charge.

The woman continued staring at me for a moment, than turned to Miss. Claire.

"Miss. Claire, I presume?" her voice was crisp. Miss Claire nodded, and the woman continued. "I am Vivian Bynes, and we are here to talk to you about one of your...orphans."

Miss Claire frowned. "And who would we be?"

The woman and the men all pulled out shiny badges. "The CIA, ma'am."

Miss.Claire's eyebrows shot up. "Please, come in." she stepped to the side to allow them in. Vivian's heels clicked on the wooden floorboards as she strolled in. She looked at me AGAIN, then murmured something to Miss Claire. Miss. Claire turned her head sharply towards me. "Zaylee," she instructed. "Please go to your room. We'll be with you in a moment." I hesitated, than slowly climbed the steps to my room, feeling 16 pairs of eyes on my back.

I went into my room and closed the door, but was only in there for a minute before I slowly crept out. Crawling on my hands and knees, I crept to the balcony overlooking the living room below, where everyone was sitting down and making themselves comfortable. I watched as the CIA people interviewed the rest of the orphanage about me. What was I like? What did I eat? Who were my friends? (to which, the only answer was "she doesn't have any").

My brain was whirring as I tried to figure out why a fourteen year old girl, who had never mattered to anyone, now mattered so much to these CIA people. It was only when Vivian started asking questions about my abilities that I realized what this must be about. My "powers" were the only strange thing about me. What else could it be?

I shook my head and refocused on the scene below me, only to realize that Miss. Claire and the CIA agents were now standing up and headed to my room. I quickly jumped up and scurried back to my room. I raced to my bookshelf and yanked a random book off the shelf, lept onto my bed and quickly flipped the book to a random page, then crossed my legs.

The door opened and I looked up, placing a surprised expression onto my face as if I hadn't been expecting them. The agents, and Miss Claire all stared at me for a moment, and I stared back. One of the big dudes raised an eyebrow at the book I was holding in my hands. "So...you read the dictionary often?"

What? I glanced down at my hands and my heart sank when I saw when I saw the "book" I had grabbed was indeed , a dictionary. And I was holding it upside down.

I quickly flipped it right side up, and smiled at him. "Just looking up a word." I responded.

He said nothing. Vivian scanned the room with her eyes, then finally locked on me. This seemed to be becoming common.

"So, Zaylee...my name is Vivian, and I have an offer to make you." She smiled at me and walked over to my bed.

Kneeling down next to my bed, she locked eyes with me. "You are a very special girl Zaylee. You can do some extraordinary things, can't you?"

I didn't answer. She was speaking to me like I was five.

"Well, you see, not everyone can do the things you can. Your ability....people don't understand it. They are scared of you. They will try and get rid of you. But if you come with us, we can change all that."

Something about Vivian bothered me. She spoke with a warm smile and was acting so nice and friendly....but there was something in her eyes. Something...cold.

"You want me to come with you?" I asked.

"Yes. We can help you."

"Help me with what? I don't need help. I'm fine."

Vivian just shook her head. "We just want you to be safe. We will keep you and your ability protected."

I frowned and glanced to the dictionary in my hands. My eyes then shifted up to the man in a dark suit standing in the doorway. I noticed a small black gun tucked into his belt. I looked back at Vivian.

"I don't really have a choice, do I?"

A small smile appeared on Vivian's lips. "I can see you're a smart girl, Zaylee. So start packing. You're coming with us."

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There it is, the first chapter. Whaddya think? Please leave me your opinions! I would really appriciate it! Thanks! And if anyone is willing to design a cover, that would be fantastic!

-Ashlyn