On this pleasant morning, a gentle warmth was cradling the metropolis of Ezora. Birds were chirping, and urban life was regaining the hustle that the night had suspended. The city center was immersed in its usual cacophony, while cars were piling up on the highways. On their part, students had deserted the schools and were proudly embarking on their summer vacations. At this stage, the day was off to a near-perfect start. Therefore, no one could guess that the atmosphere would be different at the Mitressey family home.
While both parents were bustling in the kitchen, their daughter, on the contrary, was still pinned to her bed. Clearly, the realm of dreams did not seem willing to let her go, even though the sun’s rays were flooding her room. However, the teenager had a good explanation for this situation, as one could spot a container of sleeping pills on the adjacent table.
Fortunately, it was the sound of an alarm clock that pulled her out of her slumber. As a result, Lolya rotated to the side, yawning, before stretching her arm clumsily to turn off the device. After that, she got up from her mattress to grab the medication bottle lying nearby. When this was done, she opened it and poured a mysterious pink capsule into the palm of her hand. In the seconds that followed, she swallowed it with a glass of water and took a deep breath. Curiously, a smile began to form on her face. Something was afoot.
“It is finally happening! It is today!”
An incredible feeling of joy had just overwhelmed her. Moreover, the fifteen-year-old teenager could not keep still. Her state had her bouncing with excitement. In the rush, she moved towards her wardrobe to snatch a suitcase, which she filled with clothes and various items. It was clear that her happiness was associated with an imminent departure.
Next, the city girl dashed out of the room towards the toilets. A shower was needed to remove the sweat smell that was emanating from her body. Thankfully, only ten minutes passed before the problem was solved. Consequently, she gave up the comfort of warm water to get dressed. Her pajamas were then replaced with a purple t-shirt and a blue pair of jeans. After that, it was time to dry her long amethyst hair, which reached her armpits. At the same time, she seizes the opportunity to look at her face in the mirror. Wonderful eyes with eggplant-colored irises could be observed. However, they still showed some signs of tiredness.
When she was finished, the young girl grabbed her wheeled suitcase, and then headed for the staircase leading to the ground floor. Now, the next step was to meet up with the rest of the household. On this special occasion, the morning meal would be more enjoyable in their company. Thus, she started her descent, trying not to lose control of the object she was dragging at her side. Its contents had considerably altered its weight. As a result, Lolya struggled to carry it. Moreover, her efforts were causing a certain amount of noise that echoed throughout the residence.
“Is everything okay?” suddenly came a male voice.
“Yes, Dad,” replied the adolescent in question. “I am just transporting my luggage to the hall.”
Unexpectedly, this answer prompted the arrival of a man in his forties. His crimson gaze, complemented by a pair of glasses, displayed an expression of concern. Furthermore, a nervous smile dominated his face. He was greatly worried for his offspring’s safety. Anyone could have noticed that.
“You should not be doing this alone, sweetheart. You might get hurt. Go join your mother while I take care of all this.”
A sigh was the only response from his child. The idea of accomplishing this task without help would have given her a sense of pride. Alas, with her poor physical strength, a disaster could happen at any moment. That is why she let Wyodrèd Mitressey assist her.
“By the way, I wish you a happy birthday,” the middle-aged male added as he grasped the upright suitcase.
“Thank you so much, my dear papa.”
Usually, her father’s overprotective attitude provided her with a certain amount of annoyance. In such cases, the teenager restrained herself from showing him too much affection. Luckily, on this unique day, she expressed her gratitude with a gentle kiss on his cheek. A gesture that did not go unnoticed by the man himself. His features could no longer maintain a normal reaction in the face of astonishment.
Afterward, the fifteen-year-old girl walked down the last steps ending in the corridor attached to the kitchen. A strong smell of eggs and bacon tickled her nostrils. A hint that someone was preparing food there. When the culprit finally appeared in her field of vision, the greetings were inevitable.
“Good morning, Mom!”
The woman with long purple hair, highlighted with black streaks, responded with a wave of the hand. Numerous pans were scattered over the electric stove, and these could not be left unattended. Otherwise, an unforeseen event was guaranteed.
“Happy birthday, my dear. Did you sleep well?”
“Yes, I suppose so.”
“And have you taken your medicine?”
“Do not worry. I did it when I woke up.”
“That is great. Now, just sit down. Breakfast will be served soon.”
When these words reached her ears, Lolya walked towards the dining table. Plates, along with several utensils, had been set up there. Thus, the young girl selected one of the chairs arranged at the four corners. Her taste buds were eager to savor the delicious brunch that had been prepared.
“I still cannot believe it!” she exclaimed. “We are going to the Walt Disney World Resort for the entire summer!”
Hearing this, Kira Mitressey just sketched a smile. She and her husband had gifted her a stay at the said amusement park to celebrate her fifteenth birthday. On the other hand, to get there from Ezora, a plane journey was necessary. At this point, all they had to do was to wait for the taxi, which was supposed to arrive around noon. This saved the couple from having to use the family car and leave it unsupervised in the airport parking lot.
At the same moment, the father walked into the room. He had finished moving the luggage to the entrance door. Like his daughter, he was enthusiastic to taste the meal prepared by his sweet half. The hungry man thus grabbed his usual seat until the start of the service.
It only took a few seconds before Kira began to shuttle food to the household’s plates. Moreover, she poured coffee into her husband’s cup, while her child was treated to hot chocolate topped with whipped cream. The consumption occurred joyfully. They brought up different topics of conversation that captivated the rest of the table’s interests. It was the activity that prevented silence from settling. It also helped to kill the time. As the clock hands turned, Lolya’s heart gradually beat in rhythm with the excitement.
Each bite was as delicious as the previous one. The repast had been cooked to perfection according to everybody’s preferences. Clearly, the violet-eyed mother possessed a real culinary talent. The only downside was that it had not been passed on to her beloved daughter. This would have been an advantage, given the daily absence of both parents due to their work. Fortunately, they all were available for the summer period. Their offspring would not have to feed on frozen meals.
Finally, breakfast ended around eleven o’clock. Therefore, with full stomachs, the trio migrated to the living room. Their transportation was about to arrive, and the best place to see it was through the windows, which displayed the parking lot. Kira and Wyodrèd then settled on the couch, while their teenager paced back and forth. However, something bitterly disrupted the course of the situation.
“I think the moment has come to tell her,” the forty-year-old woman suddenly began, turning to her husband.
Strangely, he replied with an anxious look. Moreover, this reaction did not escape the concerned person. Raising her eyebrows, Lolya positioned herself in front of her parents before declaring:
“Tell me what, exactly?”
With a trembling gesture, the man ran his hand through his ruddy hair. Unexpectedly, the words that left his lips were a series of apologies and regrets.
“I am deeply sorry, sweetheart. This travel plan was your mother’s idea to prevent you from being scared. Unfortunately, she did not listen to me when I tried to reason with her. I would have liked for this to happen differently. You do not deserve this on your fifteenth birthday.”
Following this statement, his wife began to explain this mystery. However, it was something to which no one could remain indifferent. A truth that resonated painfully between the walls of the living room:
“Actually, we are not going to the Walt Disney World Resort.”
These words had the effect of a slap. The gaiety on Lolya’s face turned into disappointment. She had eagerly awaited the arrival of this date, only for it to collapse bitterly.
“What? I hope this is a joke!”
If only it could have been. Unfortunately, both parents responded with slight shakes of their head. This sign of denial then crushed the part of her heart that yet wanted to believe.
“I know this is hard to swallow, sweetheart. However, we had no other solutions.”
In a panic, the young girl rushed into the hallway. Alas, reality caught up with her coldly. Touching her family’s suitcases, she noticed that they contained absolutely nothing. They were just an illusion to avoid raising suspicions about this horrible lie. From then on, disappointment turned into sadness, before giving way to a whirlwind of anger. It was clear that the purple-haired teenager was not going to stand idly by.
“How could you do this to me?” she exclaimed as she returned to her initial spot. “I have been waiting for weeks for this trip!”
“I know, sweetheart,” Wyodrèd interjected, biting his lips in shame.
Drowned in a mix of various emotions, Lolya was not able to respond. Her body oscillated between screaming in rage or crying an endless stream of tears. In such a situation, the only solution to consider was to take a deep breath. This was the technique her psychologist had advised.
“Calm down,” continued the woman in her forties. Not everything is completely lost. “We just made up this story to mentally prepare you to face your actual destination.”
The atmosphere changed upon the pronunciation of this series of sentences. What could Kira be talking about? The simple announcement of the cancellation of the much-anticipated trip was enough to implant more confusion.
“Excuse me, but what do you mean by that?”
“Well … it was rather decided to send you to … um … a…”
Ironically, the mother seemed twice as nervous. As if she was apprehensive of an even worse reaction than the one her child had just shown.
“While your father and I will stay here, you will have to spend the summer in a … a … a summer camp.”
This was the straw that broke the camel’s back. For a very specific reason, Lolya Mitressey began to hyperventilate. Horrible memories came back to her. Moreover, the poor girl had to sit down, as her legs struggled to keep her upright. It was then that the couple offered their support. The distress that the teenager demonstrated was the hardest to observe.
“Why?” Their purple-eyed daughter exclaimed, clutching her head. “I remind you that it is because of a summer camp that I must swallow all these medications!”
“I am sincerely sorry, my dear. This choice did not belong to us. It is their administration that demanded your presence. In any case, we informed them of what you have been through, and they assured us that someone will take care of you.”
“I… I… I need a glass of water.”
This request was immediately granted by the father. With hasty steps, he ventured towards the kitchen, then returned with a container filled with the precious colorless liquid. With trembling fingers, Lolya drank from it with difficulty. Fortunately, this action seemed to calm her down. Her breathing became natural once more. After that, a long and deep sigh left her quenched mouth.
“I think I would have better digested if our trip was canceled, and that I was forced to spend my days at home.”
The sarcasm used in this retort brought a smile to Kira Mitressey’s face. Alas, the mother could do nothing to fix the situation.
“If we had had the choice, it would have gone differently. You can be certain of that. However, I am sure you will have fun and make new friends. What happened four years ago will never occur again. All of that is behind you now.”
The teenager would have liked to share her opinion. Despite this, the discussion had made the time pass faster. Twelve chimes emanated from the floor clock installed in the room. It was now noon. At the same time, a mysterious black van pulled into the residence’s parking area.
“Oh, I think your ride has arrived.”
From the window, a woman in dark attire immediately exited the vehicle. The sunglasses garnishing her face gave her an intriguing look. From this vision, the young city girl was not very reassured as she moved closer to the front door.
Three knocks could only sound, and the two spouses stood up to welcome their new guest. From then on, when their eyes met, the strange driver simply said in a monotone voice:
“Good day to you, Mr. and Mrs. Mitressey. Is your daughter ready?”
Knowing they were talking about her, the concerned timidly advanced towards the vestibule, then positioned herself behind her mother. This provided her with a certain form of protection that comforted her in this situation.
“I am here,” she swallowed.
“Perfect. Then, get prepared to leave. Just tell me which one is your suitcase, and I will place it in the car.”
Following this request, Lolya pointed at the object that sported a vibrant violet hue. With this clarification, the woman firmly grabbed it by the handle, before returning to her vehicle. The scene seemed unreal. From then on, the future passenger could only look at her parents.
“What kind of camp are you sending me to, exactly?”
Unfortunately, before even receiving an explanation, the driver ordered her to hurry up. The vacationer then put on her shoes, and the small family exchanged a series of hugs. They would not see each other for a long time.
“I wish you a pleasant stay, my kitten. I hope you will introduce him to us when you come back.”
The fallout was immediate. Confusion had just appeared on the teenager’s face. She did not understand the meaning of this sentence, which had been issued by the forty-year-old female with amethyst-colored irises. Alas, all she could do was walk towards the vehicle. When the side door was opened, the silhouettes of three other occupants could be observed. They seemed to be in a similar age range. However, when Lolya got on board, their heads turned in her direction and made her uncomfortable.
“Hello,” a girl with brown hair and green eyes cheerfully greeted her.
“Hi,” her addressee weakly replied, sitting on the only seat that was still vacant.
After buckling her seatbelt, the city dweller sighed. The adolescent felt anxiety churning her stomach. She had to muster courage because it was no longer time to back out. Meanwhile, the strange adult with sunglasses, who had rejoined the cabin, started the engine.
“Just to let you know. The journey should take at least two hours. We will not make any stops unless one of you absolutely needs to go to the restroom.”
The quartet made no comment about this warning. Its members could wait to reach their destination. In the process, the van began to move, and the residential area changed into a highway. A heavy discomfort filled the atmosphere. In an attempt to dispel it, the brunette immediately turned to her neighbor in the back.
“I suppose your parents did not give you any details about the summer camp we are heading to.”
A long sigh escaped the mouth of her interlocutor. Clearly, she was not the only one in the dark. It was time to share information in order to analyze the situation. Moreover, it would allow her to build friendships.
“No. They just made me believe that we were going to the Walt Disney World Resort, then they dropped on me that it was a lie.”
“Wow!” her hearer exclaimed, surprised. “That is pretty cruel to do that. I sympathize.”
Suddenly, as the adolescent girl was about to add something else, the boy on her comrade’s left began to laugh in an amused manner. His physical features indicated that they were related, as he had the same hair color and eyes.
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“Ha, ha, ha! Disney parks are for kids. At your age, I would be ashamed to be attracted to such a place.”
Unexpectedly, his twin sister gave him a hard slap on the back of his head. This gratuitous act did not please the sixteen-year-old passenger. He refused to accept it because the pain was impossible to shake off. Consequently, he expressed his feelings with irritation.
“Ouch! That hurts like hell! Can you explain why you just did that, you toad?”
“Shut up, stupid idiot! You should think before you open your mouth! You should know that there is no age limit to have fun in Disney parks!”
The teenager merely rolled his eyes before grimacing. He remained indifferent to the words thrown at him. Then, the conversation continued between the two friends as if nothing had happened.
“Excuse my brother’s attitude. He loves to talk nonsense.”
Then a palm was extended towards the vacationer with the aubergine gaze to start the introductions.
“My name is Elie Helsing, by the way.”
“Lolya Mitressey,” stammered the main person concerned, shaking her hand.
“And this is Yuka,” added Elie, pinching her twin brother’s cheek teasingly.
After that, Lolya turned her head towards her own neighbor on the left, who had medium-length blonde hair and glasses enhancing brownish irises. Curiously, he paid no attention to his surroundings and was admiring the landscape scrolling past through the tinted window.
“He seemed to be in his private world, so we decided to leave him alone,” the second girl in the group whispered. “He was already on board when we got into this car.”
“Thomas Charleroi,” the seventeen-year-old young man suddenly replied.”
Realizing that she had been heard despite her low volume, Elie could not help but exhibit a surprised look. However, before she could say anything, Thomas returned to his previous activity. He did not want to be involved in this improvised socializing at all. So, the other three chose to satisfy that wish. Subsequently, the conversation resumed among them to hypothesize about their mysterious destination:
“And you,” the Ezorian asked to the twins. “What did your parents tell you?”
“Not much,” complained the female with emerald eyes, adjusting the straps of her whitish dress. “From the moment school ended, they were getting on our nerves by reminding us that we were soon spending our days in a fantastic place. When we demanded more details, they explained to us that it was a selective summer camp and that we were lucky to go there.”
“I see.”
Suddenly, Yuka added his two cents to his sister’s answer. His facial features took on a scary shape, and he raised both hands to mimic an animal displaying its clawed paws.
“Who knows. It is probably just a cover for a top-secret government project to send defenseless teenagers to a laboratory to be transformed into monsters.
At the mere utterance of these words, the young man received another blow to the back of his head. When Elie did not like his remarks, she was punishing her housemate by using violence.
“Ouch! What is wrong with your Neanderthal brain! Have you finished slapping me!”
“You should be the one consulting! I have never heard anything so ridiculous!”
For her part, their peer with purple hair let out a tense laugh. The situation she was witnessing made her embarrassed. As an only child, she did not know how to interpret the sibling’s relationship. Surprisingly, their exchange even made the glasses-wearing boy react. This ludicrous assumption gave him a feeling of annoyance. From that point, he left his tranquility to establish eye contact with his fellow traveler.
“Was it supposed to be funny?” he said in a voice filled with coldness.
“Uh, yeah.”
“In that case, I think silence would not hurt you.”
There was no humorous intent in his reply. However, Elie guffawed after it. A gesture that brought a small smirk to Thomas’s lips.
“Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha! You see, bro! Even he cannot stand you!”
The person in question began to sulk. His body responded with crossed arms, expressing his displeasure at the other passengers’ attitude in the vehicle.
“Pff, you just cannot grasp the magnitude of my fabulous comedic genius.”
For the third time in a row, the unfortunate one earned a slap on the back of the head. At this point, the only solution to enjoy serenity was to agree with the previous request. Under an annoyed grunt, Yuka rummaged in his pockets to take out his smartphone. Only a few seconds passed before he inserted the earphones that were wrapped around it into his auditory canals. From now on, the sound of his favorite music would keep him company.
In the hours that followed, the conversation continued by chaining various opinions and questions. Eventually, the driver was even called upon to provide information. Sadly, she preferred to remain silent. It’s clear that the group of four would only get answers once they arrived at their destination.
It had been a long time since the city had become the forest. The highway ran through a vast national park. By traversing its asphalt surface, one could reach Arcadia, the neighboring metropolis. However, that was not the objective of the mysterious journey. Without warning, the car began to slow down. After that, it entered a dirt road that plunged into the gigantic sea of conifers. Confusion then took hold of the teenagers.
“Excuse me,” Elie interjected, observing the surroundings. “Why did you leave the main route? To my knowledge, nothing has been built in this area.”
As always, the woman in the tinted glasses just kept her silence. The passengers consequentially exchanged a series of worried looks. The least she could have done to reassure them would have been to open her mouth and explain the reason for this change of direction.
Suddenly, the incomprehension reached its climax when the relief of a huge rock wall loomed on the horizon. The path seemed to stop abruptly at its foot. Therefore, it was no longer possible to continue. The driver immediately immobilized her vehicle to avoid a collision, then rummaged in the pockets of her black clothes in search of something. A phone was eventually pulled out. Subsequently, a conversation occurred.
“Hi, it is me. I’m currently in front of the gate. Can you let me in?”
Without taking the time to get confirmation from the other party, the woman in her twenties promptly hung up the line. She then put the device back in her garment. This request greatly intrigued the passengers. Ten seconds passed and what came next defied all logical scenarios. A curious crackling sound echoed, and a portion of the cliff collapsed to reveal a tunnel plunged into endless darkness.
“What the…”
The spectacle that had unfolded gave the four teenagers wide eyes. Thomas lost his desire to look at the landscape, and his attention swerved in front of him. Yuka, for his part, released his ears from the musical grip, and a smug smile dominated his face.
“Oh, oh, oh! It seems my secret lab theory is becoming real!”
Once again, after opening his mouth, the young man received a blow from Elie. Strangely, its intensity was lessened compared to the others. This was unusual.
“Stop it, Yuka! I hate to admit it, but you are starting to scare me!”
Obviously, the girl with long brown hair could not remain indifferent to what had occurred. The landslide appeared to have been triggered deliberately, ensuring that the path was spared to facilitate the vehicle’s access.
“What just happened?” Lolya wondered in turn. “It looked like something straight out of Harry Potter.”
For the very first time, their driver could not hold back a small jovial laugh at hearing these words. After which, she seized the opportunity to make a personal remark.
“Do not worry, kids. I too reacted like this when I originally arrived here at your age. I cannot spoil too much for you because it is the director’s job to explain the concept of the camp. However, you are likely to have a pleasant moment on our grounds.”
After shifting gears, the woman maneuvered the van nto the dark tunnel. No one knew how many minutes passed during the crossing, as the lack of visibility had dissipated most of the landmarks. Only the headlights allowed the car to move without snagging the walls of the natural structure. Alas, their weak beam did not cover enough territory. It was as if the place extended to infinity. Ultimately, the way out appeared after what seemed like an eternity. Regaining sunlight, the group was greeted by a sumptuous parking lot. Its wooded contours and floral arrangements beautified the landscape. For now, the driver stopped her automobile and turned off the engine.
“Alright. Everyone out.”
Upon hearing this order, the four vacationers unbuckled their seatbelts. After the side exit was opened, Lolya was the first to put her foot on the ground, followed by her friends. The quartet then traveled to the back, where the mysterious individual joined them. Later, the luggage onboard the vehicle was returned to its owners.
“OK,” the woman in her twenties resumed as she closed the van’s doors. “You will go through this arch and continue until you see one of the monitors. She will show you the way to the introductory ceremony.”
With expressions of thanks, the teenagers set off towards their new goal. Yuka took off running, with Elie chasing after him, shouting at him to wait for her. On the other hand, Lolya and Thomas stayed behind. They preferred to play it safe. Unfortunately, Lolya’s suitcase was slowing her down. Even with wheels, it was hard to pull. Though, the situation was not as bad as the next. As she walked, her left foot struck a stone, and her balance was thrown off. Her body began to tip forward, about to hit the ground. Luckily, her arm was caught at the last minute by her glasses-wearing companion. The catastrophe was averted.
“Be careful not to fall. If you need help, just ask.”
Lolya was stunned. Despite the detached attitude that her neighbor had shown during the road trip, he seemed nice. However, shyness kept her lips sealed, and she simply nodded to indicate her refusal. She wanted to tackle this difficulty without aid. After all, her parents were no longer there to protect her, and many challenges awaited her. The fear of summer camps was not the only thing that had to be overcome. On the spot, Thomas accepted her decision. Now, he moved ahead of the young teenager to let her fend for herself, before distancing himself like all the others.
The arch in question soon towered over the fifteen-year-old girl’s silhouette. Its architecture recalled that of Native American tribes, with a series of greenish, grayish, reddish, and bluish colors. In addition, the name of the place was carved at its top in a charming graphic style.
“Camp Elements,” the intrigued adolescent mused, examining it with her eyes.
Lolya then walked on the trail connected to it. A myriad of trees lined its edges, and the fresh forest scent comforted her nostrils. Originally, her favorite atmosphere was that of the city, but this change of air was not disagreeable. Only the bad experiences of the past tarnished her perception of things. Her heart rate was elevated. A part of her body desperately wanted to return to the calmness of her home, while the other desired to have the courage to act like everyone else.
After about twenty meters, the path led to an open space. Many wooden building was there. Furthermore, a woman was sitting at a table set up nearby. She was the supervisor in charge of the newcomers. Embarrassedly, the young girl then approached her.
“Welcome to Camp Elements, lovely lady. May I know your name, please?”
“Uh, my name is Lolya Mitressey.”
“Lolya, Lolya, Lolya,” repeated the employee as she rummaged through the pile of large brown envelopes that were laid on her desk. “Ah! Here you are!”
The staff member immediately handed one to her. Based on its weight, one could conclude that several documents occupied the interior. From then on, her interlocutor pointed to the structure on her right.
“That is the welcome pavilion. You just have to go there and wait. Director Greenwood should start her speech any minute now.”
“Okay. Thank you very much, madam.”
Armed with the handle of her purple suitcase, the city girl began to climb the ramp leading to the entrance. A plethora of sound could already be heard as she drew closer. It was clear that a significant number of teenagers were there. Gatherings were not her strong suit. Then, Lolya took a deep breath and penetrated the building, pushing back her stress. Once inside, she noticed that the single room was as big as a gymnasium. Mobility was consequently at an acceptable level, considering the group of forty people who had amassed there. In passing, she spotted the Helsing twins and decided to join them.
“Hi. Would you mind if I stay with you?”
“Not at all!” Ellie exclaimed joyfully, placing her hand on Lolya’s shoulder. “It will change my mind. I was tired of listening to my brother’s voice.”
“Hey!” the latter shouted, insulted.
A muffled giggle came from their friend. She didn’t know what else to do to avoid the awkwardness. At the same moment, the amplified sound of a throat being cleared echoed. A woman with long red hair and green eyes had just used the microphone on the stage set up in the room.
“Ahem. May I have silence, please?”
At the mere utterance of this sentence, the cacophony subsided. Calm had become the sole master of the place. The public could have heard a fly flaunting in the air. The female was proud of the success of her plan. Therefore, she addressed her audience again with a confident demeanor:
“Thank you. To start this opening ceremony beautifully, Let me introduce myself. My name is Elizabeth Greenwood, and I am the director of this summer camp.”
A brief presentation followed this announcement. The host explained how her family had been managing the establishment during several generations. Furthermore, she listed a range of activities offered within the various pavilions scattered throughout the property.
“Cabins are also available for your accommodation. I will give details about their allocation later. I just want to clarify that they are co-ed, so I hope you will be mature and decent there.”
“Eh, eh!” Yuka thought immediately, waggling his eyebrows. “That means I will get a chance to have a good time with pretty girls!”
At the same moment, a hand forcefully smacked the back of his head. The sixteen-year-old boy then squinted his orbs before looking at his twin sister with a hint of weariness on his face.
“What is wrong with you? I did not say anything!”
“No, but it was easy to guess what you had in mind.”
A swear word was the only response from him, then his attention returned to the presenter. The speech continued for several minutes until it eventually took a particular turn.
“Now, I will not beat around the bush. I can see it on your visages. A good majority of you are still uncertain about why we demanded your presence. Some of you may even have experienced some far-fetched staging by your parents.”
These words made Lolya sigh immediately. The term hardly qualified to describe her situation, as she was rather the victim of a deception. The wound caused by the cancellation of her trip to the Walt Disney World Resort would not heal for many weeks. The time had finally come to get some answers. Her aubergine gaze intensely fixed on the person who was about to reveal the truth.
“You may already suspect it after observing our tunnel, but Camp Elements is a unique place. Today, if you stand before me, it is not for nothing. Allow me to give you a demonstration.”
With a slow gesture, the woman in her thirties raised her hand to the level of her nose. After that, she positioned the other underneath so that her palms could face each other. As she gently closed her eyelids, she then took a deep breath. At first, it did not show, but something began to form in the space between them. The more seconds ticked by, the more perceptible the phenomenon became. Pebbles and sand had just appeared there. They levitated as if by magic, and the audience reacted with amazement.
“Since my adolescence, I have developed the ability to control what is related to earth,” explained the director. “If you are here, it is because you possess a power similar to mine.”
Suddenly, Elizabeth moved her hands away from each other. One going to the right, while its semblable shifted to the left. The rocky stream seemed to follow their motion in an exquisite choreography. However, the spectacle soon came to an end. The heap evaporated, leaving no trace. From then on, a slide emerged on the projection screen located behind her.
“There are four elemental types. These are the earth, the air, the fire, and the water. If you check the documents that my colleague gave you outside, you can find out your affiliation. Refer to this image to better identify it.”
image [https://i.ibb.co/qyBjYDF/4-elements-english.png]
The group’s response was instantaneous. The sound of ripping paper annihilated all other noises. Forty individuals had just opened their envelopes at the same moment. Afterward, astonished voices rose, in contrast to a minority who preferred to demonstrate disgust. Lolya Mitressey was not spared. As she delicately lifted the edge of hers, the city girl extracted the first sheet of the lot with a trembling gesture. She could not believe that all of this was occurring. The symbol printed on its surface bore a recognizable color and lines. Based on Miss Greenwood’s pictograms, the element she could supposedly control was water.
“Earth!” The Helsing family’s boy abruptly interrupted. “Who dared to assign me this crap? Everyone knows that with my godlike body and my flamboyant personality, fire would have been more suitable!”
“Shut up!” Ellie yelled, delivering the usual slap. “You should not complain! Are you aware of the extraordinary events happening around you? I am associated with air and I am totally dumbfounded! All of this is practically impossible! It is a dream coming true!”
“It is me who got fire,” suddenly echoed a voice from behind them.
Thomas Charleroi had just joined the trio, showing off a sheet with a scarlet image. At first glance, the revelation left him expressionless. However, he was hiding a feeling of pride that he preferred to keep to himself. From that moment on, the imaginary had assimilated into reality. There were still things to clarify. Therefore, all gazes turned to the redhead in her thirties, who had not finished speaking.
“During your stay, you will learn to control your gift. This is why a training schedule is among the documents you have acquired. Your cabin number is also there. Now, I would like to introduce you to someone. This is the person to whom I owe my amazing powers.”
Immediately after this sentence, another woman manifested on the stage. She had long chestnut hair, accompanied by a pair of eyes with gray-blue irises. Just like her colleague, she exuded a confident attitude that was reflected in her way of communicating.
“Greetings, everybody. My name is Samantha Alester and I am Miss Greenwood’s associate. Honestly, it is quite complicated to verbalize with words. Therefore, I must adopt my second form to better explain it to you.”
Evidently, the camp still had surprises in store. The mysterious abilities of the director could not compete with what her co-host demonstrated. Her metabolism began to undergo a remarkable transformation. Her skin put on a hardened appearance resembling polished quartz. Moreover, a series of stalagmites sprouted along her back. From now on, the being standing before the audience was no longer human. It was something else.
“Here, my species is known under a specific designation. It turns out I am an “Element”: a force of nature with a human physique. I can shape my body according to my desires and do things even more breathtaking than my colleague. If she can use her powers, it is thanks to me. Our destinies have been linked by Mother Nature and we now have access to the same power gauge. Of course, this is the case for each of you. A partner has been assigned to you and will accompany you during your training. The more you interact with them, the more you will be able to control your capacities. ”
“At this time,” her associate cut in, looking at her watch, “they should already be waiting for you outside the building. A sheet in connection with them is in your envelopes. I doubt you will have trouble identifying them. Now, I believe we can stop here. If you want to learn more about what we just revealed, there is also an information booklet placed in your documents. Take the occasion to familiarize yourself with our environment. I leave it to your future friends to show you around our facilities and to escort you to your lodgings. You can dispose of the rest of the day, as tomorrow will be a big moment. Your training as an elemental master can begin!”
Following that energetic conclusion, Lolya did not know what to think anymore. The vacationer had reached her emotional limit. It was all too good to be real. However, she had truly set foot in a place where its inhabitants possessed extraordinary abilities. Her fingers then slid into the object she was carrying. In a single motion, she removed all of its contents. Upon examining it, a camp map appeared. A tool that would be very useful to her. Later, a photograph caught her attention. It was held by a paperclip on the surface of a sheet where a name and various information resided. There was no doubt about it. It was her supposed partner.
“Seth Onaya,” the teenager murmured, contemplating the myriad of data.
The young man was posing joyfully in front of a lake. Black hair, partially disheveled, and pretty amber-colored irises were his most contrasting characteristics. Upon looking at the dossier, he was sixteen years old. He also seemed to be celebrating his birthday, as the date was the same as that of his observer. The grimace he wore gave him a mischievous aspect. Not to mention the V-sign he was making with his right hand. Despite everything, curiosity overcame Lolya. The time had come to meet this enigmatic boy. According to Elizabeth Greenwood, he was waiting outside the pavilion. The water mistress therefore gripped the handle of her suitcase. This was the point of no return. Drawing in a breath, her steps led her towards the crowd heading to the exit. The afternoon was far from over. Many mysteries still hoping to be unveiled.
To be continued…
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Author’s note(s)
- There you go, people! This was the English version of Chapter 1 of Elements! Thank you so much for reading it. If you liked it, feel free to leave likes, comments, or subscribe to me. It encourages me to continue writing stories like this.
- I know we’re still at the beginning of the story, but I wanted to tell you that I drew my inspiration from a dream I had a few years ago, from the series Avatar: The Last Airbender, the manga Soul Eater, as well as the game Genshin Impact. Elements is therefore a mix of all these things.
- Many thanks to @SitoraCada on Wattpad for the proofreading.
- I won’t hide from you that I’m curious to see how many slaps Yuka is going to get from her sister throughout the adventure. XD
- Out of pure curiosity, if you were invited to stay at Camp Elements, what would be the element you would control? 😜 For me, I would probably choose water or air.
- Lastly, feel free to join my Discord server. You’ll find exclusive information and bonuses about my stories. Plus, you’ll have the chance to make friends, participate in various activities, and benefit from some writing-related support resources. To access it, all you have to do is take a look at this page that gathers all my social media. Just make sure to choose the right one, as I also have one for my French-speaking readers.