The Elementals (DISCONTINUED)

Chapter 2

"I'm home!"I yelled once I passed the threshold of the house.

Following the delicious aroma of chocolate, I sniffed my way into the kitchen.

"Ally dear, welcome home! I made chocolate brownies, your fav- goodness what happened to you?" Mum stared at my wet clothing.

"Uh...would you believe me if I said it rained?"

Mum looked out the window,"It's sunny and hot out there. It rained alright, a rain of lies is what I'm seeing. What exactly happened?"

I remained silent, picking at a loose thread on my shirt.

"Did those kids do something again?"

Nothing.

Mum sighed,"Do you want to-"

"No."

"Well, why not?"

"Because there's just one term left, I can't just switch schools."

"Well, this better not happen again, or not next year I'm transferring you." Mum turned to the sink and started washing her hands.

I crept a hand towards the tray slowly,"It won't, trust me."

Mum slapped my knuckles without even turning back,"Hands off the brownies, Miss Lovett!"

"Ow!" I rubbed my hand."Dang woman, you're good."

"What can I say, momma knows best. Now, go upstairs and take a shower. Off you go now." She shooed me away.

Running up the stairs, I called,"Don't let Dad eat them all! Leave some for your poor, starving child!"

I quickly stripped off my soden clothing and made my way into the shower. I sighed contentedly, relishing the feel of the warm water on my skin. Closing my eyes, I let memories flood my head, playing one by one like a slideshow.

*Flashback*
"Momma! Look at this!" Five-year-old me showed my mum the back of my hand.

She stared in shock, face ashen and mouth hanging open wide. The expensive vase in her hands slipped on the floor, shattering into pieces.

She grabbed my hand forcefully, nails digging into my skin as she examined the snowflake on the back of my hand. I jerked slightly at the sudden pain.

She whispered something, clearly in fear and shock, and in the blink of an eye, I was strapped up in the backseat of a car.

Mum kept murmuring quickly to Dad, who was gripping the steering wheel so tightly that his hands turned white. She kept glancing back at me every few seconds, her blue eyes wide.

Soon, we stopped at a building and we quickly alighted. Mum and Dad conversed with a lady at the front desk, then passed me to her. Dad was quick to leave, while Mum stayed back and shot me one last fearful look, before following after her husband.

I remember being put with other children in a room, I remember crying a lot and asking for my parents, I remember the crushing feeling of loneliness.

However, a few days later, everything changed. A woman came into the room and crouched down in front of me,"Allison? Do you remember me?" She was actually Heather Owens, my mum's good friend and co-worker.

She took my left hand gently in hers and examined it and the mark. She remained silent for a moment, dropping my hand. She then proceeded to pull down the long sleeve of her shirt, her left hand in full view of me,"Well Allison, I think we both have the same problem here." She gave me a sad and wistful smile.

On the back of her hand was also a mark, a green leaf to be exact.