Chapter 1 The Beginning

THE FIFTH ELEMENT 🌊🔥🌪️⛰️☯️.

~Chapter 1~

Blood.

It was everywhere. Soaking the dirt, painting the stones, running down my arms like I’d tried to hold it all in and failed.

I was supposed to be the savior. The one who ended it.

Instead I stood there, not standing.... But trapped. Every muscle locked like clay, every breath burning my lungs. A statue with a pulse.

And I watched them die.

A boy went down first. Fire flickered around him, then went out when the spear hit his chest. He looked at me as he fell. His eyes... Begging me to do something.

A girl was next. She reached for me, green light dying on her fingertips, before her eyes went empty.

One by one, they fell. I knew them. I loved them. But their names wouldn’t come. My mouth wouldn’t open to say them.

I had the power to save them. I could feel it clawing under my skin, begging to get out.

But I couldn’t move. Couldn’t speak. Couldn’t do a damn thing but watch

The man who did it turned to me last. His face was shadow, but his voice slid into my skull like ice.

“See, Cassidy? This is your doing. All which could have been avoided if you didn't try to be a savior.”

Then he smiled a menacing smile before the world went black.

~~~~~~~

~Cassie’s POV~

My name is Cassidy Fairchild. For eighteen years, I’ve been a normal teenage girl living a normal teenage life with my mom.

Until a week after my eighteenth birthday.

That was the day everything changed.

My mom and I were always moving. New city, new apartment, new school , rinse and repeat. She said it was because of her job.

It’s why I suck at keeping friends. Every time I managed to make one or two, we’d pack up and leave. Phone numbers got lost. Messages went unanswered. Then I’d start over.

Now we’d moved again. Again, I’d be the new kid. Again, I’d have no one.

It was exhausting. Like I didn’t belong anywhere.

~~~

“Cassie, baby, will you be okay at your new school?” Mom asked. Worry pulled at the corners of her eyes.

“I’ll be fine. Like always,” I sighed. “I just wish I didn’t have to start over again.”

“I know, honey. I know you’re tired of moving. But trust me, everything I’m doing is what’s best for you.” She put her hands on my shoulders, steady and warm.

“What’s best for me, or what’s best for you? You’re the one getting paid.” I rolled my eyes and stepped out of her grip.

“One day, and I hope it’s not soon, you’ll see that everything I do is for your own good, pumpkin.” She grabbed her bag and keys from the counter.

“Right. Whatever you say, Mom.” I held the front door open. “Are you driving me, or should I take the bus? I don’t want to be late on my first day. Bad luck.”

“Sure, I’ll drive you. Be right out.”

She scrambled for her keys. I went to wait in the car.

~

We made a stop at the parking lot of Westview High. The very school I enrolled in this time around.

I got out of the car and slammed the door harder than I meant to, and Mom gave me an encouraging smile before driving off.

The hallway swallowed me whole. Lockers, noise, stares. Being the new girl had perks and downsides. Mostly downsides.

“Hi. You must be Cassidy Fairchild. The new girl.” A brown-haired girl with kind eyes stopped in front of me. “I’m Veronica. I’m your assigned guide for the week.”

“Oh. Hi,” I gave her an awkward smile. “Thanks. And you can call me Cassie, by the way.”

Everything about me screamed awkward.

“Oh, sure. Cassie.” She flashed braces. “Do you have your printed timetable? I can take you to your first class.”

“Yeah. Here.” I handed her the crumpled A4 paper.

She scanned it. “Biology first. Same as me. We can walk there together, if you want.”

She seemed nice. But I wasn’t ready to make friends yet. Not until I knew if we’d still be here next month.

“Sure,” I said.

Veronica led the way. I followed.

The one thing I dreaded about being new happened immediately.

“Cassidy, would you like to introduce yourself?” the bio teacher asked and I knew I couldn't say no.

I introduced myself briefly and Awkwardly.

After bio class, Veronica walked me to English Lit. She wasn’t in this one with me, so I was on my own.

I slid into a seat at the back. No attention. That was the goal.

It lasted three minutes.

The teacher noticed me a new face and asked for another introduction.

I got through it. Barely. On my way back to my seat, someone stuck out a leg.

I stumbled, caught myself on a desk, and looked down.

A honey-blonde girl with fake lashes and doe eyes smiled at me. “Oops. Sorry. You should watch where you’re going… new girl.”

Moving to a lot of different schools made me aware of different characters in a school. I’d met her type before and I knew exactly how to handle her.

“Apology accepted,” I said, keeping my voice level. “And you should learn to keep your legs to yourself… old girl.”

A few people snickered and I went to my seat without looking back.

~

The bell rang for lunch and I quickly shoved my books into my backpack.

“Hi. I’m Jamie. Welcome to our school.” A boy stood by the door, grinning.

“Oh. Hi. Thanks.”

“So, Cassidy. Your name is Cassidy, right?”

“Just Cassie.”

“So, Just Cassie, want to grab lunch together?”

Veronica appeared in the doorway at that exact moment, waving me over.

“Sorry. Maybe some other time. I have to go.” I slipped past him and joined Veronica.

“Do me a favor, Cassie,” she said as we walked. “Don’t talk to that boy. He’s bad news.”

“Oh?” I just nodded.

I wasn’t planning to get involved with anyone yet. My Rule was: know them for a month before getting attached. Just Incase.

We headed to the cafeteria to get some lunch when all I wanted to do was go home.

~