The Daughter of the Woods

Chapter 4

I step into the room, and am immediately taken aback by the sheer amazement of it all. It's a room the size of a school auditorium, but has all the qualities of a greenhouse. There are rows and rows of different types of plants, and on the far end is a patch of grass with people doing various things like fake fighting. All around the room, there are adults talking to teens and younger kids and showing them different plants, and abilities they have.

Sydney sees me standing by the door, and she waves me over. I smile and make my way to her.

"Hey! So, I assume Alex told you that this is the nature training room. Did he show you the other rooms?" she asks me before I can even say hi back.

"No, someone needed to talk to him before he could."

"Oh, that's Prashanti. She's always worried about everything. She's in charge of the security of the institute. Anyway, do you want me to show you the rest of the place? I can introduce you to my friends!" She excitedly squeals and grabs my hands, her ponytail bouncing happily. She starts pulling me out of the nature room.

I catch a glimpse of Alex and Prashanti nervously speaking to one another in front of the screens. They look terrified.

I'm pulled through another door, and am slapped in the face with a wall of heat. I look around, and the room is bright and hot. There's a giant fire pit in the center, and another area for training at the back, though made of hot coals instead of grass. I cough as I choke on smoke, and Sydney laughs.

When the people training hear a cough, they all stare.

"Delia! Archie! I want to introduce you to someone!" she squeaks.

A girl who looks a few years younger than me, and a guy a few years older both start walking towards us. The girl is wearing a tie-dye shirt with a heart in the center and jean shorts; the guy is wearing khaki shorts and a collared shirt.

The girl with fiery red hair breaks into a run and throws herself onto Sydney, with her arms open wide. Syd embraces her, and picks her up off the ground, spinning in a circle.

"Delia, this is... um... Oh my God I never got your name!" Sydney turns to me, shocked at herself.

I chuckle. "I'm Abby, nice to meet you," I put my hand out to shake Delia's. "I love your hair." She smiles shyly and blushes.

Sydney puts Delia down, and rubs her thumb along the guy with white hair and hazel eyes' forehead, getting a bit of soot off. "Archie, are you ever not covered in ash?" she laughs and places a brief kiss on his lips.

A half smile on his lips, he retorts "Babe, do you ever not have leaves in your hair?" as he pulls one out of her ponytail. It's a cute scene to watch.

He then turns his attention to me, and it's his turn to put his hand out for me to shake. "Archie," he stiltedly announces.

His skin is as pale as anything, but his touch is warm. Actually, his hands are hot. Like, really hot. I let go of the handshake and try to subtly wave my lightly burned hand to cool it off. Sydney notices and laughs.

"You get used to it," she chuckles. "Anyway, I was just showing our new member around. Want to come with?" she asks both of them, and wraps one of her arms around Archie. Delia grabs her hand.

"Sure, I've been getting bored with the people here. I'd be happy to get to know the fresh meat," Archie snickers. Sydney makes an annoyed face and slaps him playfully.

Two new people added to the group, we make our way to what I can infer is the water room. I try to picture what it's going to look like before I actually see it, and I'm almost spot on with a pool in the center with an area in the back with a small amount of water up to the ankles. Two guys, one medium skin tone, light brown hair and dark green eyes, the other darker with dark brown hair, almost black eyes, and massive height immediately walk over.

"Hey guys," the tall one says. "Who is this?" he eyes me, and winks. I blush.

"I'm Abby," I mumble.

Delia steps in. She points at the taller one first, then the other one. "This is Rider, and Khalil."

Khalil ruffles her hair. "Thanks, Dee." He turns his attention to me. "So, are you lucky enough to have an element feature and that's why your eyes are green? Or are you just genetically that beautiful and are a fire?"

I can feel my blush growing darker. "Um, I don't know what an element feature is, but I'm nature."

"An element feature is like your eyes, and Dee's hair. It's an aesthetic aspect of you that has something to do with your powers. People with them are really lucky. It makes their natural powers stronger, though of course people without them can train to get their full abilities," he explains.

Rider speaks up. "Hey, you said you're nature? Now the group is even! Two fire, two nature, and of course," he pretends to vainly flick his hair back. "Two water, which is the best, obviously."

Khalil puts him in a playful headlock and digs his knuckle into his scalp. "You're so annoying," they both laugh.

Sydney squeals excitedly. "I'm not a minority anymore!" and everyone bursts out laughing.

Our jokes and laughter are interrupted by Alex's loud voice calling everyone into the information bay. Dozens starts filing in, whispering about what this could be.

"If I could have everyone's attention for just a few minutes, please." Alex is projecting his voice, and it echoes off the massive white walls. Prashanti is biting on her index finger nail nervously next to him.

"Elders, your training sessions with the kids are off for today, we need you out in the field." Everyone younger than 18 quietly "yes"s, while the "elders" groan. "Youngers, your training is finished for today, you can-" he's interrupted by a loud chiming ringtone. I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. Everyone turns to look at me, confused.

I pull out my phone, and see it's Mom. Quickly, I silence it, and look back at Alex to tell him he can continue. It dawns on me that Mom has no idea where I am. I turn to make my way out of the crowd of people, but I remember there's no exit door.

"Sydney, how do I get out of here? My mom doesn't know where I am."

"Just walk into the wall. It's a portal, it'll take you underneath the bridge."

I look at her skeptically, but she has no reason to make me walk into a wall so I trust her. I start weaving my way out of the crowd, but hear Alex stop talking again.

"Abby, you can't leave," his booming voice echoes in my head.