Elements

It seemed like ages since I was at my house last. Standing there in front of the two-story white house, with rose bushes and a fresh cut lawn, I felt like I was just returning home from college.

“What are we going to tell them?” I asked Raven.

“Well we obviously can’t tell them the truth,” he said. “Just tell them we were in hiding until Toxic Shadow was gone.” We walked up to the door, and rang the doorbell. My mother answered almost immediately.

“Oh!” she cried. She embraced both of us in her arms. “Are you two alright? We heard about those evil villains at your school!”

“We’re fine mom. We were just in hiding. We had to wait until they were gone,” Raven said, his voice muffled from our mom pressing us against her.

Our dad came rushing to the door. “Kids!” he exclaimed, and came to join in on the hug. “We’ve been worried sick.”

For the rest of the evening, Raven and I went back and forth to tell the story on what happened, glancing at each other every now and then to make sure we were in sync with our lies.

“And then, a boulder came flying to us, and we quickly ducked behind a fallen tree,” I exaggerated.

“We ran inside of the school, just in time before another rock came at us,” Raven said. “But when we were inside, they didn’t attack us, and moved on someplace else.”

“We saw on the news that there were these four people who had powers and were fighting back,” our dad told us.

“They looked so young, but we couldn’t tell too much because of their masks,” our mom added. “They were able to make the bad guys retreat.”

“Your mother and I are just glad you’re safe from any harm,” my dad said as he turned on the TV to the news.

“A small tornado was formed on the inside of a small hill in Orchid Park. After a while, you could see three of the heroes we saw earlier fighting at the school crawl out of the hill up some roots that somehow sprouted at the top. It seems that they are missing one of their members from before, but are with someone new, wearing a black cloak. They were brought down the hill with some more roots working in their favor. The figure in the black cloak disappeared out of nowhere, and reappeared, holding their lost member in his arms. The tornado eventually died down, but ended up destroying the hill it was in. The four heroes from before were dressed in the colors of the four elements, but those costumes were replaced for normal clothes. Their once-masked faces were now showing, and we can tell they’re quite young. These are average people living among us. Who are they and when will this Element Squad return? I’m Selena Alker, and you’re watching Dawn News.”

Raven and I looked at each other in terror. Our faces were shown, and now everyone knows who we are.

“Yo...you are th...them,” our mom stuttered. Both of our parent’s eyes were bulging out of their sockets, and their jaws were on the floor.

I ran. I ran out of the house, not caring where I would end up. I kept running until I came upon a birch tree with a branch leaning down. I loved this tree. This is where I always went when I needed to clear my head. I brought the branch down far enough so I could step on it, and lifted myself into the tree.

My watch was vibrating like crazy. Leo, Michael, and Carina were calling me at once. I answered all three.

“Everyone knows who we are now,” I whispered.

“We need to meet now. Where are you guys?” Leo said.

“I couldn’t deal with my parent’s questioning, so I got in my car and just drove,” Carina said. “I can pick you guys up if you want.”

“I ran,” I said.

“Where are you?” Leo asked again.

“In a tree.”

There was silence on the other end.

Carina finally spoke. “I’ll pick up Michael and Leo from their house. Jade, I’ll meet you. I have a feeling I know what tree you’re talking about.”

About twenty minutes later, I saw three people walk up to me.

“Give us a hand?” Carina said, stepping onto the lower branch.

One by one, I lifted each of them up onto the tree.

“What are we going to do?” Michael said.

“There’s nothing we can do,” I responded.

“What did you tell your parents?” asked Leo.

“Nothing. I just ran.”

“Yeah, I didn’t really tell them anything either. I just left. I feel kind of bad now,” Carina said. She turned to the guys. “Did you guys tell them anything?”

“I had to. I told them everything,” Michael said.

“Same here,” Leo added. “You guys should go explain to your parents. They must be in shock after finding out the news. You guys just left them hanging.”

“I feel kind of bad, now that I think about it,” Carina said. She nudged me with her elbow. “Let’s go back home and tell them. And let’s show them what we’re capable of doing.”

“Sure, but can we just stay here for a bit?” I leaned on Leo’s shoulder, and he rested his head on mine. “I like it out here.”

“Of course, girl.”

There we sat, four teenagers with powers up in a tree, watching the stars shine in the sky. It may have seemed odd to some, but to me, it was the most perfect thing that’s happened in a while.