Chapter One

 

I flew up in bed, my heart pounding in a cold panic that drenched my hospital gown. Instead of the scenes of chaos that flooded my mind, the sterile white surroundings of the hospital room enfolded me. A simple pair of lithograph prints of generic foliage decorated the off-white textured wallpaper, and a small flat-screen TV hummed with the city’s latest news.

Outside my door, the nursing staff complained about the havoc of the tempestuous storm that hit the city only two days before. I strained my ears for more details. With no view of the outside, I couldn’t guarantee the threat had truly passed.

My injuries from battling The Three had healed with astonishing speed. Better yet, the danger had diminished with Hydros gone. The Elementals didn’t present as great a threat toward humanity. And for that, I allowed myself a sigh of relief.

But another thought clouded my mind. If the threat was gone, why would the lava woman call me back to finish my work? What more must I do? Everyone should be safe—I should be safe—at least for the moment.

I removed my blankets and pulled up the hospital gown to survey my wound. A thin crescent of shiny skin remained, barely perceptible across my belly. I vaguely remembered the nurses say they couldn’t understand how I’d recovered so quickly. But the details of their conversations eluded me, blurred into a fuzzy memory from the effects of the prescribed painkillers that allowed my body to rest and heal. Remnants of nasty olive green and purple bruises surrounded the scar, but I surprisingly felt little pain. Almost like magic or a miracle had intervened, allowing me to survive and finish my task. I placed my gown over the wound and covered my body in the hospital’s warm blankets, trying to forget the echo of the lava woman’s words that sent a chill up my spine.

On the television, a newscaster reported, “Emergency efforts are underway as search and rescue teams have uncovered twenty-six survivors trapped under the collapsed freeway spans of the Bay Bridge to date. California Governor Burnham recently announced the city has been granted federal aid damage relief, though he estimates the bridge will take several months to repair. Commuters should expect considerable delays as higher volumes of traffic congest other routes into San Francisco.”

I folded my hands, praying those individuals were not seriously hurt. A new wave of guilt consumed my soul when the news report shifted from the full screen aerial view of the bridge to the homes crumpled in Gaia’s sudden quake. Had these images instigated my most recent nightmare? Or was it the TV station’s repeated airing of black and white archived photos from the legendary 1906 quake?

I wasn’t sure, but one thing I knew. I alone could have prevented the damage.

I cursed my injured arm, trapped inside a cast for too many weeks. And my impressionable heart that craved normalcy. Why did I have to grow so attached to Sully, Micah, and the Trudeau family? It would’ve been much easier if I’d lived alone.

A short rap on my door distracted me from my thoughts. “Come in,” I automatically replied in a rough and scratchy voice, realizing I’d barely spoken since my battle against the Earth, Water, and Air Elementals.

“Why are you listening to that junk?” Sully blurted. He barged into the room, crossing its length in a few long strides to turn off the TV. Despite his harsh tone, I smiled, pleased to see Shayne Sullivan, who preferred everyone (including his teachers) call him by his nickname “Sully” instead.

His pale blue eyes surveyed me with disapproval. Short hair poked out the sides of his baseball cap, reminding me of the color of coffee with cream brought to my bedside with breakfast. “No one blames you,” he reassured me. His hand subconsciously grazed the back of his head, remembering the pain from his concussion when the bridge trusses collapsed upon his sister’s car.

How I wished his words were true. I closed my eyes, sniffling softly while scenes of destruction replayed in my head. Horrible memories rang in my ears: the crunching metal of the weakened Bay Bridge before its collapse, the screech of tires swerving to avoid collisions, Cam’s cries when the car frame crushed his small body, and Sully’s staggered steps down the street in search of help.

“Scientists said they already determined the location of the epicenter of the quake,” Sully continued, “and blamed the weather for the storm surge along the coast.”

My glossy eyes met his, a frown deepening across my lips.

“Hey, it’s not your fault. You tried to warn us, we just…didn’t listen.” Sully cautiously sat on the side of my bed and placed a gentle hand upon my shoulder. By the expression on his face, I suspected he’d forgiven me, for most of what had happened at least. Still, I couldn’t help but feel guilty for letting him and Cam get hurt.

Noticing my despair, Sully quickly added, “I mean really, Jordan. You have to admit, your stories seemed kind of far-fetched.”

He was right. They did sound unbelievable. Concerned with his safety, I tried to blow him off after that long kiss we’d shared, even though he insisted he could take care of himself. He had never believed an ominous threat existed or that I was that different from everyone else.

Until it was too late.

A fat teardrop rolled down my cheek. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to forget the horrors. Still, my body heaved, shaking with uncontrollable sobs.

“It’s okay. Really,” Sully said, leaning in and wrapping me in his warm embrace. His short hair tickled the side of my cheek, but his arms felt strong and secure. In that moment, I wanted them to protect me from all I’d endured and all that was still to come. The smell of his cologne filled my nose. I breathed in deeply, letting him hold me for a long time to quiet my tears.

I slipped my arms around his back in return, comforted in his embrace. All of a sudden, I wanted to tell him how much I had worried about him. How I was confused and scared, and how uncertainty had clouded my emotions. Because now that it was just us, I quickly forgot all the reasons I had forced myself to avoid him in the first place. Had I actually liked Micah more than him? Or was it an easy excuse to prevent myself from getting too close to Sully and risk losing him?

Maybe I’d made a huge mistake. Deep inside my heart, I knew I’d never stopped liking Sully. It was safer to keep those thoughts locked inside, in case the other Elementals returned once more. I couldn’t chance placing him in danger again.

With a heavy sigh, I unwound my arms from his back. Sniffling once to rid the flood of emotions from my mind, I said softly, “So Cam’s really okay?”

Sully slowly released me before replying, “Yeah. He really is.”

“But how? Yesterday, I thought Cam was in dire condition. Are you saying he actually doesn’t need a transplant anymore?”

Sully’s mouth widened into a broad smile. “Nope. He’s all good. No transplant, nothing. I guess it’s kinda like a miracle. The doctors are keeping him to run a few more tests, but Micah said it’s strange. He’d been bumped up the list of recipients, then all of a sudden, the doctors couldn’t find anything wrong with him.”

My brow crinkled. “Is that normal?”

“No. Not at all. Cam claims he had some angels visit him in his sleep and they healed him,” Sully explained.

“Angels?” I repeated. All my previous thoughts and concerns vanished in an instant. I focused solely on that single word—angels. Under different circumstances, it sounded innocent, pure, and heavenly. But used in this context, it dredged up fear within the recesses of my soul. Could that explain my remarkable healing, too? I hid my trembling hands beneath the hospital blankets. I swallowed hard, my stomach knotting with dread, before daring to speak, “How is that possible?”

Sully shrugged. “He’s six. Six-year-olds say funny things sometimes.”

It was possible Cam witnessed real angels from Heaven. But more likely, it was something—or someone—else.

“I want to see Cam,” I announced impulsively.

Sully shook his head. “Y’know, I’m not so sure you’re supposed to leave here yet. I don’t think the nurses would want you to…”

“I want to tell him I’m sorry,” I interrupted, “for what happened on the bridge.”

I did want to apologize to Cam and Micah and Celia. But I also realized that if Cam had fully healed and the doctors released him, I would never know the truth unless I visited him right now.

Sully’s face clouded. “Um, I’m not exactly sure that’s a good idea.”

I knew that look. He hid something from me. “Seriously, Sully. It’s my fault he ended up here in the first place. The least I can do is apologize.”

“If you say so,” Sully mumbled, his eyes unable to meet mine. He stuffed his hands deep into his jeans pockets. “But don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

“Warn me about what?” I wondered aloud.

Sully didn’t answer, but hesitantly offered me a hand to sit up in bed. Instead of a bolt of pain piercing my abdomen when I climbed out one side and slipped on a robe, the action caused me no discomfort and I suspected I knew why.

Outside my room, the hallway felt chilled with the air conditioning running at full blast. I wrapped my hospital robe tighter around me, partially from the cold and partially from fear that Cam’s story would confirm my suspicions and leave me in more danger than I imagined.

A few doors down, we reached Cam’s room. Inside, a woman’s high-pitched voice sounded agitated. Suddenly I began to think that I should have listened to Sully and stayed in my room. When he moved to knock on the door, I grabbed his hand in restraint. He shot me a puzzled look.

“Wait a minute,” I whispered and pressed my ear to the door. Inside the room, Celia’s voice sounded strained so she wouldn’t wake Cam from his slumber.

In hindsight, I should’ve walked away. But in that instant, a desperate urge to hear the truth grabbed me. I had to know what Celia thought of me, now that my actions had revealed my true identity to her.

Sobs contorted her broken voice as she spoke. “I thought I did the right thing, Micah. You understand, don’t you? I couldn’t imagine leaving her alone on the streets, not after what happened.” She paused to heave a deep sigh. “How was I to know that something like her even existed?”

Shock registered on my face. Her words stung my heart like salt rubbed into an open wound. Instantly forgetting my concerns about Cam’s angels, I bit my lip, unable to stop the tears from pooling in my eyes.

I’d never be able to regain her trust, not after what had happened. My head dropped into my hands while her unforgettable comment echoed in my mind, tearing my heart in two, those three words defining my entire existence: something like her. And to be honest, I couldn’t say which realization hurt more—the fact that she’d never forgive me…or that I’d never be normal. Ever.