Orchid

We Meet Hero

I'm free from my body--just drifting in and out into Jenna.

 Jenna flinches, she knows I'm in. She tries blocking, but I'm like way more powerful than her. I jam through the wall and blast through.

 I'm met by a flurry of thoughts about worries about not applying more lipstick, hungering revenge, and a melancholy that's so strong it almost overwhelms me. I dig in the sadness, trying to find the source.

 I enter a part of her mind all about it. I squint as I see a room, sprayed with dark coloring. I'm seeing it from Jenna's eyes. From her fright and anger, I can tell she's young, maybe a three-or four-year-old. There's an uncomfortable linen cloth stuffed in her mouth as she silently screams.

 In horror, I realize that a woman is chained to the wall opposite her and a masked man is hitting her. As young Jenna whimpers, the man turns, curling his upper lip, which is unmasked, in disgust. I would recognize that mouth anywhere. It looks like mine.

 The man brutally reaches over and stops his hitting. But he does something even worse. He leans over and breaks the woman's neck.

 As the woman hangs limp and very dead on the wall, the man makes himself over to Jenna and snatches the cloth from her lips and carries her away in his arms. The memory fades away as I withdraw, troubled by the gruesome sight.

 I start to say, "Who's the woman?", but I barely have the strength to stay conscious as I return to my body. It's like I haven't eaten for days. My limbs feel like iron and are feeble. I slouch over.

 "Orchid!" Amphitrite looks worried as she comes over to support. "Y'okay?"

 "Not really," I croak weakly. Cold water meets my mouth as Lily brings a cup of water to my side and forces it down.

 Jenna crosses her arms. "Why were you going through my memories? Ever hear of privacy?" She scowls.

 "I'm half-dead and you care about that, you rotten bitch?" That just flew out of my mouth. Amphitrite frowns at me for using language.

 Jenna sighs. "Yes, I do care. Your little crappy life is so trivial compared to mine."

 "So, really, what happened?"

 Jenna gives in. "I was four. My dad killed my mom for dating another guy. So he took me to his brother's and he housed and cared for me. 'Kay? Now don't ask another question."

 "Who was the other guy?" I'm just curious. I personally don't like cheaters, but I wouldn't murder somebody.

 Jenna's lips contort into a sneer. "His long-time rival. Your dad."

 I want to protest, say she's lying. But my dad once told me and my siblings we might had never been born if a certain tragedy didn't happen.

 "So that's why you hate me so much," I whisper. Lily looks on, amazed. It all makes sense now. Ever since we locked eyes in---what, fifth grade?--she had tormented me. Taping "Kick me" notes on my back, laughing at my hair, and really rubbing it in my face. But not I understand. If I had been in her position and known the girl I sit next to was my mom's boyfriend's daughter, would I had done that?

 Amphitrite's leaning on the window, which has broken glass spread out almost everywhere. "So I control water. I was named after the Greek god Poseidon's mate. By the way, Poseidon is the god of earthquakes and the sea."

 Jenna narrows her eyes. "You keep talking about them in present tense. Are they still like....alive?"

 "Yes." Amphitrite bobs her head up and down. "They live and serve their respective kingdoms: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Spirit. Hero is the leader of the Spirits and the only member, though."

 "I'll be the next member, probably," I say grimly.

 Suddenly the already-broken window Amphitrite's leaning on shatters completely as a gust of wind strikes it. Amphitrite nearly leaps a foot. "What the hell?" It's a nice experience listening to a teacher curse under her breath. "Did you do that, Orchid?" Her burning eyes turn to me.

 "No. Seriously." I'm seriously not kidding. I didn't even try to do that.

 Amphitrite's face grows pale. "If you didn't do it, then only Her--"

 A girl maybe our age climbs in the window, wearing skinny jeans, a hoodie(with the hood on), and casual sneakers, and hefts one leg up the ledge, folding her arms snugly. "Hey. I'm Hero."