The Elementals [Watty Awards 2012 Action Winner]

Chapter 4

Chapter four

Chapter four

I spent the rest of the afternoon reading bits about the Stinger Eradication. I blinked a couple of times to soothe my tired eyes and looked outside the window. The sun was getting low and the birds were retiring to their nests calling out the last of their songs for the day. I stretched my arms and heard my stiff bones click.

I closed my text book and decided I’ve been cooped inside for a bit too long; I really should’ve taken up Helena and Max on their mall offer. I grabbed an apple from the counter and locked up the room to go for a walk around the campus seeing as there were still a lot of it I hadn’t visited yet.

I walked down the plain corridor nodding and offering a polite smile to the odd student then scowled at Derrek’s door as I passed it. I couldn’t help but think that I imagined the whole ‘him being nice’ situation the other night. He was so gentle, thoughtful... he was caring. I shook my head at those thoughts. I was confused and all this thinking was doing nothing except giving me a bad headache.

I reached the elevators and decided against it, instead choosing to take the stairwell. I ran down the flights of stairs relishing the thudding of my heart and the warmth that spread over my body so that by the time I reached the bottom floor I had a slight sheen of sweat on my forehead. I ran the back of my hand across my forehead and headed outside. As soon as I stepped outside I took a big breath of fresh air and smiled, this is exactly what I needed. Solitary time and fresh air.

I’d been walking through the forest of trees that grew beside the campus for about twenty minutes, just letting my mind rest and taking in the sights of nature. Above, colourful birds hid in the foliage and the shadows that the streaming sun cast. The wind that blew through the forest howled softly as they raced through the trunks almost as though I was being accompanied by an invisible wolf.

Whoosh.

Suddenly I stopped and craned my neck to point my ear in the direction of an odd sound. Nothing. I stayed silent but continued walking then stopped once more.

Whoosh.

There it was again! I quietly stalked towards the odd sound, making sure to avoid stepping on anything that could alert whatever was making that sound. The sound was becoming louder and louder and I swear I could feel the temperature rise the closer I got to the sound.

I hid behind a cluster of ancient trees and jumped when the whooshing sound clashed so close to me. I peered around the trees and my eyes widened. It was Derrek.

A shirtless Derrek, I might add.

I let my eyes roam over his body seeing as I didn’t see him properly in his room. He was wearing low riding jeans with a hint of his boxers showers on the top and sneakers. Derrek had his eyes closed and with one hand opened in front of him. I had no idea what he was doing. He stood as still as a statue and breathed calmly as though he was meditating.

Suddenly he opened his eyes and twitched his hand wider letting a ball of orange flames curl around his palm and lick around his fingers. The flickering of the flames made the shadows dance over his face and I managed to glance some writing tattooed across his left ribs, but I was too far away to see it properly.

He pulled his arm holding the flame back and using all his strength he launched it against a scorched tree trunk. The flying ball flew past and as it hit the tree trunk it exploded, letting the flames lick itself up the trunk shortly before it died leaving nothing but black trails behind.

I stepped backwards not wanting to disturb him, and just like in those cliché movies my foot landed on a stick and it snapped under my weight. Immediately Derrek conjured another orange flame ball but his stature was stiff. Not like his relaxed posture a moment before, and his eyes narrowed as they gazed around his trying to penetrate the darkness.