Vitality | Elementals 1

Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Simon

The day before I was going to move to Ladera Grove to be in a group home, I went to the hospital one more time to visit my mom. She was getting weaker with every visit and I knew she wasn't going to make it any longer.

It was hurting me because I just found her, and now I was going to lose her.

Her eyes were closed when I walked into the room, so I thought she was asleep, but as soon as I sat down in the chair beside the bed, her eyes opened and she smiled at me. "I knew you were going to come today," she said in a weak voice. "You're leaving to Ladera Grove tomorrow, right?"

"Yeah," I said. "I'm a bit excited, to be honest. My social worker told me that the group home is one of the best ones in this state, and how Ladera Grove is such a friendly town."

"It is," she said. "I got you something." She pointed to the drawer, so I opened it and pulled out a large envelope. "It is very important that you do not open it until you find the other three elementals. Very important."

I nodded. "Don't worry, I promise I won't open it until then." I didn't even bother asking what was inside. If she wanted me to open it after I found the other elementals, then that was when I would open it.

"I trust that you will," Mom said.

"Do you know of any signs that I can look out for to discover the other three?" I asked.

Mom thought for a bit, staying silent. "Well, a main one would be small earthquakes," she said. "When the earth elemental causes it, it will only occur within a small radius, meaning if you feel it, he or she is really close by. Same with water. It might rain in a small area. Fire might be a little harder to find, but I have faith in you that you will."

I knew it was going to be hard finding them. One way I could was if I see the mark on their shoulder, but that would only be if they discovered their element. I didn't even know if any of them discovered their element or not.

"One thing should help," she said. "All of you should have been born in the same year, so at the school, it might be easier to look for them. It is a small town after all, and I believe that even when they have a sport game, they have schools from other towns coming in."

"That should make it easier," I said. "Is there anything else that will help?"

"Well, each element has an interest or something relating to their element," Mom said. "I bet you're a really calm person."

"Actually, I am," I said.

"Because calmness is needed to control the wind," she said. "The water element will love water, of course, and the earth element loves nature. The fire element will love adrenaline and getting pumped up because they can feel the fire within."

"So keeping an eye out for people like that might help," I said. "Got it."

"It might be hard because Ladera Grove is right on the shore, so many people could love the water," Mom said. "Even nature. Those are just some things that can help. Other than that, I don't know. I wish I could be more of a help."

"You already are," I said. "Don't worry about it. I'll try my best to find them."

"You have to find them fast," she said. "What you might not know is that there is a dark side. A side that will stop at nothing to take down the four of you. You are most vulnerable alone."

"A dark side?" I asked.

"A dark side," she repeated. "They want the power to control the four elements themselves. You mustn't let them get a hold of you, let alone discover you. Once you find the other four, you must warn them."

"I will," I said. "How dangerous is the dark side?"

"Well, I believe they have no powers whatsoever," Mom said. "That is why they want the four elements. However, that doesn't mean that they can't be dangerous. I don't know exactly how, though. Be careful, Simon."

"I will," I said. "I promise I'll find the others and stay safe."

Mom gave me a faint smile before resting her head back on the bed. "Do you mind if I take a small nap?" she asked. "I'm a bit tired."

"I don't mind," I said, so she closed her eyes.

I decided to stay in the room, taking the backpack I was wearing off of my back and gently placing the small envelope inside. I took the three amulets for the other elements out of my bag and looked at each of them.

There was the faded blue amulet with the water symbol, the faded green amulet with the earth symbol, and the faded red amulet with the fire symbol.

I wondered what each of the elementals were like. I hoped I would be able to find them fast, especially with the dark side going to be after us. I had never thought about someone wanting to take us down, but now I understood why.

The four of us were extremely special and unique. We were able to control the elements, something nobody else could do.

We had to stay safe.

I put the amulets back in the bag and zipped it up before leaning back in the chair. I was really hoping I could find the other four with ease, or at least one of them. Then they would be able to help me find the others.

I looked at my watch to check the time, but luckily I didn't have to head back to my foster home for a while, so I stayed here.

I stayed until the machine Mom was hooked up to flatlined.

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Aww. :(

So, Simon will meet the others the next chapter, but I unfortunately have to go to bed. cx

Any guesses what's in the envelope Simon got? I honestly doubt anyone will get it right. cx