Black Tattoo

Earth

Looking up I see how the afternoon sun's rays are being blocked because of the leafs on the tree I'm sitting next to. I am trying to pass the time but Nadel is seriously making it hard. He has to be the most annoying person that I've ever met, and I've met quite a few. After the air test was over we moved on to the water test, so right now we are next to the lake. At least Alex explained more this time, Mich is supposed to get into the water and hold his breath. If he lasts for a period of time then it means that water might be his element.

"Why do you speak Japanese? I mean, it's obvious that he is Japanese but how can you speak Japanese?" Nadel asks. He is leaning on the same tree I have my back to. Sokaku's standing in front of me, his back to me. Paul is on his knees looking at something on the ground, I think it's ants.

"Hello, Kara! I'm talking to you!" He waves his hand in front of my face, blocking my view of the leafs. For some reason I found that bad. Slapping his hand away I say, "What do you want?". Holding his hand and rubbing it. "That hurt! Man, I just wanted to know." He exclaims.

I say nothing and just smirk.

Paul walks up to Nadel and grabs his hand, Nadel hesitats for a second. Paul lets go if his hand and from within his jacket he pulls out a small bottle full of green and black slime. He opens it, he squeezes a finger inside and it comes out covered in slime.

Paul puts his bottle back in his jacket before grabbing Nadel's hand with his clean hand. Without a word Paul starts rubbing the green and black slime on the red mark I left on Nadel's hand.

"What is that?" Nadel asks, tears welling in his eyes because of the smell the slime had.

After a while, Paul stops rubbing and locks eyes with Nadel. "I-It's for the pain, something new I'm working on." Paul says it with so much innocence in his eyes. That it made me smile.

"Thanks." Nadel whispers quietly. He is looking at his hand when a tear fell from his eyes.

"There is no need to cry, you'll be okay." I say to tease him, a laugh escaping my lips.

"Their finished." Sokaku says over his shoulder. Mich and Alex walk over to us, Mich has a towel around his head drying his hair. He takes a seat next to me and he gives me his back, I start helping him with drying his hair.

"How did it go?" I ask.

"Okay, I guess but water isn't my element either..." He says. "Does that mean that earth is my element?" He asks with doubt. I have no idea.
"I don't know, I never did this test." I say truthfully. He moves so he could look at me in the eyes. From behind me I can feel Alex take a step closer.

"It's very possible that earth is your element but just so were sure I want you to take of your shoes off." Alex tells him. Mich does what he is told and takes his shoes off. 

"Now stand up please. Tell me what you feel." He keeps saying. Mich stands up his bare feet touching the ground, he closes his eyes.

After a while. Mich says. "I feel the earth in between my toes but I don't feel dirty. I don't feel sad or happy I just feel..comfortable?" He opens his eyes and is looking at the woods, it looks like he hadn't notice he was turning around slowly and was now facing the woods.

"Congratulations! Your element is earth." Alex says smiling. Everybody gives him a hug with a smile and even Sokaku is happy for him.

I'm looking at Sokaku now avoiding everything else and for some reason I feel extremely happy just seeing him there, smiling. A feeling of warmth spreads all over my body.

"Kara?" Alex calls my name. Hearing him say my name made me snap out of my thoughts about Sokaku. Something is definitely happening to me and he is the center of it.

"Yeah." I say. Everybody else is already going back to the cabin probably to eat diner. Alex and I are the only ones left.

"I was wondering about what you said." He says looking at me in the eyes, he looks like he is looking for answers. I probably have them but keep them to myself. I keep a lot of things to myself and when I finally tell you something about me it's mostly in riddles. Yeah, I enjoy that.

"About?" Although I say it, I am pretty sure of what he wants to talk about, it's obvious. 

"You've never done this test, how?" He asks. I pass my hand trough my hair.

"Nobody was there to show it to me." I say simply. I hope my voice sounds normal. 

"What about your parents?" He asks.

I take a couple of steps in the direction of the cabin, but hearing that question makes me stop and slowly turn back to him. 

"They didn't have the chance" I say. I continue walking without looking back.

"How did you noticed?" He asks one more question. Once again making me stop.

This is feeling more like an interrogation.

I lock eyes with him. I sigh. "A while later." I don't move this time. I'm waiting for another question but none came. Slowly I start walking, again.

"I am sorry." He says. This time I don't stop walking, I keep going until I reach the cabin before I turn around and find that Alex, who still hadn't moved. He is still looking my way.

It could be that he is just looking this way but who am I kidding he's looking at me. For some reason the hairs on my neck stand up giving me shivers.