ELEMENT

Part 1- Chapter 2 (Contact)

Sam and Ben walked to school on Monday ready for the day to be over before it had even began. Neither one of them had gotten much sleep the night before and Sam was a special case. They got to school and Ben went off to class with Zach, and Sam went off with Jack, Max, and Shannon. "So how was your weekend, Sam?" Asked Shannon. "It was really boring, and I didn't really get any sleep," said Sam. "How was all of you guys'?" She asked the rest of them. "Really exciting actually. I got to hang out with Josie some more," said Max. "I kept working on my tornados," said Jack. "I kinda just stayed home and did nothing but unpack some more," said Shannon. They went on to Jacksbill's class and endured the suffering once more. At lunch, Sam, Max, and Jack told Shannon about their secret place that they would go to and hang out at as kids. "Wait so you guys are telling me you have your own sentient fort that serves you ice cold drinks?" Asked Shannon. "Yeah we had Zach stop by once and do some mechanical work. He's a real genius, just not with toasters," said Jack. "And you also said it's what?" Asked Shannon. "Covered in some of the toughest metal there is. Curtesy of me tempering it over and over for several weeks," Sam added. "That's awesome," said Shannon in complete awe. After lunch, they went on about their day until school was over. When they got to Shannon's stop, they said goodbye and Sam and Jack walked on home. When Sam got home he went to his room and started working on a chemistry project. After a while there was a knock on the front door and when Sam went to answer it he saw that Ben was already there. When Ben opened the door he let out a loud cry of "Uncle Ruskin!" Sam ran to the door and both boys hugged there uncle. Their parent came into the room as well and their dad greeted his brother. "So, Ruskin, on the phone, you said you had something big planned to tell us. What is it?" Their dad asked, "I have a big surprise but I can't tell you here. I want it to be special. De Pepe's at six? You remember all the great food they have," said Ruskin. "I do, but this is so sudden," said their dad but, then something caught his eye and he understood. "Don't worry brother I understand. We'll be there," said their dad gave his brother a hug and whispered something in his ear. "Thank you brother," Ruskin responded with that and he turned, leaving the house. "Well boys, we have our plans for tonight. You'd better go get ready!" said their father as Sam and Ben went to their rooms to get changed. Later that night when the got to De Pepe's, they were on their way to be seated when Sam noticed an unfamiliar woman with Ruskin. They sat down and Ruskin began to speak. "I'm glad that you guys could make it. I have some big news. This is Abigail, she's my fiancé." Sam and Ben stared in shock and their parents congratulated Ruskin. She was a pretty brunette woman. They talked and talked and Ruskin said that they had already invited everyone else to the wedding, but he wanted to do this in person. "When is it?" Sam asked. "A week and a half from now," answered Ruskin. They went on eating and getting to know Abigail. They found out she was studying to become a doctor and that she had met Ruskin when he came into her parents doctors office for a stomach ache. "You guys are welcome to bring your friends if you want. Sam, Ben, you two still friends with Max, Jack, and Zach?" Said Ruskin. "Yeah" said they responded in unison. "Zach's on my sparing team," said Ben "and Jack and Max are on mine," said Sam. "Good, the more the merrier. Oh, and you can invite anyone else you like," said Ruskin. When they got home that night Sam and Ben went to their separate rooms. Sam closed his door and sat back on his bed thinking about how excited he was for the wedding. "So this is exciting," said a voice. "Who's there?" Asked Sam surprisingly as he jumped to his feet ready to fight. "Come on Sam there's not need for violence, that's my job. You do remember me don't you? And also I'm behind you," said the voice. Sam spun around to see the thing of nightmares. The creature had mighty, powerful, bat-like wings resting on its shoulders. It had a tail that looked like it had a razor sharp spear at the end of it. It's eyes were pitch black and as empty as the void. It had razor sharp claws on its hand, no, its hands were razor sharp. It had three long talons for feet and one short one in the back. It had long shaggy hair and two horns on top of its head that looked like they could stab through anything. It wore a red and black striped jacket just like Sam's dad's but, the sleeves were shredded at the end like they had been stretched to far. It was the same thing with the ripped jeans it was wearing, along with the intentional rips, a little bit below the knee the jeans looked ripped from stretching. Sam thought it made sense, the creature was extremely bulky and looked about seven to eight feet tall. To top it all off it wore a mischievous smile that showed off its teeth that weren't really teeth but two rows of sharp, pointy fangs and, it was sitting crisscross on Sam's bed. "Who, who are you?" Asked Sam timidly. "Come on Sam don't you remember your old pal from kindergarten? I'm the one that told you how to punish those kids that were bullying Max," said the creature. "Embrent?" Asked Sam "is that you?" "In the flesh, well not really, you know what I mean," said Embrent. Sam replied by saying, "How are you here? I thought I got rid of you, my therapist said-" but he was quickly interrupted by the demon-like creature. "Oh, to hell with your therapist! She can go and piss off. I hear cause you wanted me to be Sam and, it's almost time," said Embrent. At that moment Ben came through Sam's door and said "Who the hell are you talking to?" "No one,"said Sam. "What are you talking about Sam you've been in hear talking to me. Well would you look at you Benny boy, you've gotten so big," said Embrent. "Well then if your not talking to anyone then what are you doing?" Asked Ben. "Just thinking out loud to myself about the wedding," said Sam. "Yeah it's pretty exciting isn't it? Abagail seems nice," said Ben. "Yeah she does, uncle Ruskin definitely hit the Jackpot," said Sam. "She's also got a fine ass body. Say do you think she would be down to get with me?" Asked Embrent. "No!" Said Sam but he remembered Ben was there and caught himself. "No way this isn't gonna be the best wedding ever". "Oh calm down Sam I'm just having fun. It's not like he can hear me," said Embrent. Sam wasn't expecting this to work but surprisingly it did. Ben paid no attention to Sams strange behavior and said "Yeah your right, this is gonna be awesome. Best part is gonna be the free day off school and the amazing food." Sam replied with a smirk, "It will be fun to get to skip school and, the best part is that we can invite our friends," said Sam. "Oh who you gonna invite? Lemme guess, it's that Shannon girl. You gonna ask her to be your special date?" asked Ben. "Would you shut the fuck up?" Yelled Sam. Ben was taken aback and said, "Calm down Sam I'm just making a joke. Come on my little brother has his first crush. Besides you do remember my wing man skills, I'll help you out". "I'm sorry for yelling, Ben, I didn't mean to. Thanks by the way, that's very nice of you. I'm just really tired," said Sam. "It's fine, Zach was the same way when I picked on him about Sue. Anyway I'll let you get some sleep. G'night Sam," said Ben. "Night Ben," Said Sam. Ben exited the room and closed the door behind him. Sam spun around to yell at Embrent but he wasn't sitting on the bed anymore. "Up here Sam," said Embrent. Sam looked up and saw Embrent hanging from his ceiling fan by his tail. "That was some very naughty language Sam. Do you kiss our mom with that mouth?" asked Embrent. "Look she's not our mom, she's my mom. Just like that's my brother, my dad, and his fiancé. There is no our 'anything'. Can you please get down, you are gonna mess up my fan," said Sam. "Sam. I thought you would have remembered. I can't affect this world physically like you can. See?" Flames erupted from Embrent's hands and went straight for Sam. Sam held up his arms as his mind raced thinking, "You mad, demon, devil thing not only are you gonna burn me, but your gonna set my house on fire, why?" "Sam I'm not gonna burn your house down. Look and see for yourself. Also, make up our mind am I a devil or a demon?" said Embrent. Sam lowered his arms, he wasn't burned nor was the rest of his room for that matter. He was completely unharmed. "See Sam?" Embrent's razor sharp tail went straight through Sam's chest. Sam looked down at his chest in horror thinking "He stabbed me! I'm gonna die! I'm gonna bleed out here in my-" Sam looked down at his chest, then at Embrent, then at his chest again and back at Embrent. "Why doesn't it hurt? How come I'm not on the floor right now bleeding out?" asked Sam. "Because I can't affect this world Sam," said Embrent as he pulled out a pack of cigarettes and lit one. "Just like how Ben couldn't hear me. Sam, remember? I'M IN YOUR HEAD, STUPID!" Yelled Embrent. Embrent threw his cigarette on the floor and stomped it out. "Sam, remember I'm stuck in there, stupid. I'm stuck in our body!" Said Embrent. "No, no, no.." Said Sam. "You're just my imaginary friend. Your just a figment of my imagination my brain made to cope with my doubt, pain, and fear. You're from my head but, this isn't our body," said Sam. "Oh who told you that load of horse shit? Was it that crack head therapist of yours?" asked Embrent. "Actually it was. You're not real," said Sam. "Of course I'm not real. Not real in this world anyway but, up there," said Embrent as he pressed his razor claw against Sam's forehead. For some reason that sent chills down Sam's back, he could feel Embrent's claw press his temple. "Up there I'm king," said Embrent. "Your just a figment of my imagination," said Sam. "I'm not real physically, but that doesn't mean I'm imaginary," said Embrent. "Yes you are, you are just an imaginary friend I haven't grown out of yet," said Sam as he moved closer to his window ready to jump out and run. Sam slowly opened the window and got ready to make a run for it to escape Embrent. "Look, I'm not imaginary how many times I gotta- SAM! DUCK!" Yelled Embrent. Sam didn't know why but he did, and right as he hit the floor something whizzed through his window and went into his wall. "Sam stay down I'll look," Said Embrent as he made his way to the window. "There's just one of them. He can't see me so I'll follow him and find out what he's doing. Go and find out what that thing is in your wall. You might not see me again for a while Sam, this is goodbye for now," Said Embrent as he jumped out of Sam's window. Sam didn't see him for a few seconds, he thought Embrent had splattered on the ground but then all of a sudden Embrent rose up on his mighty wings. "They're way bigger now. Is it because there open," Thought Sam. He watched Embrent fly off towards the trees by Sam's house. Fear shot through Sam's body as he heard someone outside his window say, "Command, test subject has not reappeared in front of his window." Sam listened a little longer, he couldn't move because his body since he was paralyzed with fear. "Thermal shows him just lying on the floor, not moving," Said the voice. Sam still didn't move as he realized the person could see him. "It appears guns do work on them Command," said the voice. Sam was confused. What's a gun? The voice spoke again and this time its words shook Sam to his core. "Command I'm calling it. KILL CONFIRMED!" The voice exclaimed, and Sam heard rustling in the trees. He took that to mean the person was gone. Sam sat on his bed confused, "Why was he trying to kill me?" Thought Sam, "What did I ever do to him?" Sam heard Embrent's voice but he didn't know from where. "Sam, it's just one person with some weird, long, metal thing in his hands. I'm going after him and I heard the whole conversation he had. Sam, I don't know why someone wants to kill you but, you better keep our body safe. I don't wanna die just yet." Embrent said, concerned. "Embrent wait where are yo-," Sam didn't say any more because he didn't know how but he knew Embrent wasn't going to answer him. Sam finally went to sleep after hours of unrest from what had just happened. He decided not to tell anyone about what happened because he knew no one would believe him. Everyone went to school the next day and had a blast. Sam told Shannon, Jack, and Max that they were invited to the wedding. They all said that of course they would come and they spent the days leading up getting ready. Max and Shannon helped with decorations, while Jack and Zach helped Sam and Ben with making sure everything was in order. The day before the wedding, Sam and Ben were sitting around and they both felt a strange wind. "Feel that?" Asked Ben. "Yeah," Said Sam "Something weird is gonna happen. I hope it doesn't mess with the wedding though." "You still think you can predict the future with your gut and the feeling of the atmosphere? Sam I was just talking about how cold it is. We should probably get inside," said Ben. "Shut up! You know my gut has never been wrong before and, yeah, you're right. We'd better get inside," said Sam. The day of the wedding everything went smoothly. "Hey Max, Jack, wanna take Shannon to the fort? it's not too far from here." Asked Sam. "Sure, why not, but you know we gotta grab Ben and Zach too?" added Max. The six friends all made their way to Sam, Max, and Jack's childhood fort. "So Sam, gonna give Shannon the tour?" Asked Ben. "Shut up," said Sam as he elbowed Ben in the side. "So this is it Shannon, that's where we hung out. It's full of cool gadgets Zach made, a couple chairs, a game system, and a drink machine," said Sam. "That sound awesome Sam, can I go check it out?" asked Shannon. "Sure," said Sam. "Will you give me 'the tour'?" asked Shannon. Sam gulped and said in a cracking voice "Y-you mean like just me and you?" "Sure why not?" Said Shannon. "Ok," said Sam nervously. Sam and Shannon entered the fort. "Remember to think with your head," said Ben from outside the fort. "So this is where we used to hang out," said Sam. "Over there is where we would take turns guarding the fort from the other kids. Right there is where Zack had his first date with Sue, and over there is where we would sleep when we had "camping" trips out here," said Sam as he led Shannon around the fort. "This is very cool Sam, and you guys built it all by yourselves, very impressive," said Shannon. "Yeah, it's not much but we're proud of it," said Sam. "And of course you're very impressive Sam for reinforcing it with hardened metal," said Shannon as she looked at Sam. Sam gulped and tried to hide how nervous he was by faking a confident voice "Yeah, well you know it wasn't really that hard, it was actually quite easy." Shannon giggled playfully "You're so modest and humble, it's adorable." "Wh-wh-what do you mean, 'adorable?'" Asked Sam. Shannon giggled again, "Mr. Big, mean, tough in a fight is a big ole softy when it comes to girls." "I'm not a softy!" Said Sam, even more nervously. "I'm just being honest." "Well I think it's adorable," said Shannon. Sam started to move closer to Shannon. "Hey, Shannon, your pretty cool," said Sam with a sudden rush of confidence. "You're not too bad your self," said Shannon. All of a sudden Embrent came out of nowhere and yelled "Sam! Get down." "What," yelled Sam. Shannon stumbled backwards. "What the hell Sam that hurt my ears," said Shannon. "Look Sam if you don't hit the deck now your dead," said Embrent. "Shannon I'm sorry," said Sam as he jumped on Shannon taking them both to the floor just as something shattered the window and went into the opposite wall. Ben came rushing in to find Sam laying on top of Shannon. "I herd a noise and came to make sure everything was ok. Damn Sammy you sure move fast but, didn't I tell you to think with the head on your shoulders and not the head between your legs?" said Ben. "Sam just jumped on top of me and something broke the window," said Shannon. "What do you mean. Sam why the hell did you jump on top of Shannon?" Asked Ben. "I had a feeling something was about to hit us," said Sam. "Oh yeah sure a feeling. Like I'm not standing right here Dumb ass," said Embrent annoyed. "Thank you! There you happy?" Asked Sam. "Why yes Sam, yes I am. It's nice to feel appreciated every now and then," said Embrent. "Oh get over yourself," said Sam. "What's going on?" Asked Shannon. "I have no clue," said Ben as they both watched Sam scream at thin air. "Awww look at us were like an old married couple. Look Sam I'd like to do this some more but right now I have something important to tell you guys. You wanna know what's going on sweet cheeks? I'll tell ya what's going on. Humans are on the island. They have these weird metal poles that blast fire like you and Ben. That's what that was just now. There here to take something, somethings important. Look I don't know what it is but we need to go. They're headed towards the wedding," said Embrent. "HUMANS?" Yelled Sam "what the fuck. Yes humans," said Embrent "that's not the point though the point is we need to move. RIGHT NOW." "Sam what this about humans?" Asked Shannon. "Look I'll explain later but right now we need to haul ass back to the wedding," said Sam. They ran out side to find the rest of the gang waiting for them. "Wedding! Humans! Now! Can't explain! No time," said Sam. Together they all started to head back to the wedding but stopped when some one dressed in weird bulky clothing came out of the woods followed by three more that looked just like him. "Night Raven do you copy? What's your position," said a disembodied voice. The man in front grabbed something on his shirt and said "Grim this is Night Raven. I copy, we are making our way towards the target location now. There is no sign of," He stopped talking and had a frightened look on his face when he's saw Sam and the gang. "Who the hell are you?" asked Sam. "Grim this is Night Raven, we have contact," said the man as they pointed their strange metal sticks in Sam's direction. "Sam move. NOW!" Said Embrent as the sticks started blasting something at them. One of the things hit Sam in the shoulder and he started bleeding "son of a bitch," yelled Sam "guys don't get hit". "Sam what do we do?" Asked Jack. "You fight dumb ass," said Ben as he started shooting flames and the strange men. Sam lit a flame in his hand and closed up the wound. Zach shot a lightning bolt that ripped through three trees, shattering them, as It made it's way towards the strange men and hit one. The man went flying and hit his head on a tree branch. He fell to the ground motionless, dead. "Stokes! NO!" Cried the man known as Night Raven. Zach looked shocked "holy shit did I just kill that guy, I only meant to knock him out". "This is no time to pull your punches Zach," said Ben as he fired a straight shot through the knee cap of another man. "Dartson! Damn it retreat" yelled Night Raven. The men ran away still blasting their sticks at them. "Crap they're headed towards the wedding!" Said Zach. They all ran after the men. "Sam u doing ok?" Asked Ben. "As well as I can be but right now I'm just pissed," said Sam. "Ok ramy calm down," said Ben. "Why did u just call Sam Ramy?" Asked Shannon. "Oh it's because when he was a little kid he would throw giant hissy fits when he was frustrated. He would throw things around his room when he was pissed. He went on his own personal rampage so, to make fun of him I called him ramy for short," said Ben. "And I hated you for that," said Sam "Yeah I know but that only made it even more funny when u would get angry at me," Said Ben. "Awwww," said Shannon. "Sam I may need you to throw one of your hissy fits if you don't mind," said Ben. "Oh if they hurt anyone up there you won't have to ask," said Sam. They followed the men all the way back to the wedding but they were surprised when the men didn't go into the building they stopped right outside. "Grim we are at target location where are you," Asked Night Raven. "Look out below," said a voice from some where in the trees. "Sam you remember how to take a punch right?" Asked Embrent. "Yeah I can take a punch. Why?" Asked Sam. "Because I have a felling your gonna wanna through a real hissy fit," said Embrent. A dark shadow fell from the trees and landed in front of Night Raven. "Well Grim nice of you to drop in," Said Night Raven. "Well I couldn't just let my favorite number two on the leader board die now could I?" Said Grim. "Shut the fuck up did you get it?" Asked Night Raven. "Does this answer your question?" Said Grim as he pulled something out of his pocket. "Hey what the hell did you take?" Yelled Ben. "And who might the runts be?" Asked Grim. "Just some of the targets that we ran into," Said Night Raven. "Oh well I guess I'll take care of them for you," Said Grim. "Hey asshole I asked you a question," Said Ben. "Yes you did but why waste my time answering you when I could be killing you instead," Said Grim. Grim started to walk towards them and pulled a long shiny metal stick out of his pocket. "Hey Sam," Said Embrent. "Yeah," said Sam. "The thing he stole, the thing he got in his pocket it's familiar," Said Embrent. "What do you mean it's familiar," Asked Sam. "Sam this is no time to be talking to your self ," said Ben. "Shut up Ben," said Sam. "You remember when you went to the capital on that school feild trip to go see all the artifacts from the war?" Asked Embrent. "Yeah of course that it was cut short and we didn't get to see all the exhibits because the building lost power," said Sam. "Do you remember when it lost power?" Asked Embrent. "Yeah of course, we were walking through the last part and then it quit while I was looking at an exhibit so we had to leave," said Sam. "Ok dumbass you remember the exhibit you where looking at?" Asked Embrent. "Yeah it was so beautiful I had waited the whole year to see it. It was the hades stone, the prized artifact of the war kept under guard at all times. I walked up to it and felt a buzzing sensation all throughout my body. I leaned on the glass case to get a better look and that's when the power went out," said Sam. "Well take a moment Sam and tell me what you feel," Said Embrent. "Well my whole body is shaking," said Sam. "No Sam your body isn't shaking," Said Embrent. Sam looked down and saw he wasn't moving at all. "Your right but then what is it?" Asked Sam. "That thing in his pocket felt familiar Sam because, remember I was at the museum too I was right next to you when the power went out," said Embrent. "Oh yeah you we-," said Sam as he fell quite and remembered the buzzing sensation that day. "I'm not shaking," Said Sam "my body is buzzing". "Ding ding ding," said Embrent. Sam looked in horror at the masked man slowly and maliciously walking towards them as he realized that the man known as Grim had just stolen the Hades Stone.