Sorry about my delayed writing. I had MissGnomie reopen the thread for me. I hope to write every weekend or so from now on, but, y'know me, I'm not quite good at this timekeeping stuff... We can only hope.
Prologue
I remember the first time I was introduced to my other siblings. Hailey was fourteen, Grace was sixteen, and Cameron was eighteen.
I've known Grace since I was born. Grace was six. She was way to eager to hold me and cuddle me, having felt left out and dejected by Hailey and Cameron. But she was sworn to secrecy about me when my parents discovered that I didn't have an Element. Grace still liked to be with me, but I was kept away from the others for ten years of my life. It didn't give me any idea of what the real world might look like. After Hailey and Cameron's Journey, Mom and Dad decided it was time for them to know they had a little brother.
They didn't like it.
They were both angry at Mom, Dad, and especially Grace for keeping me a secret.
"Why didn't you tell us earlier?" they fumed.
But it didn't last long. Hailey started acting sort of sarcastic around me, and I assumed she was getting a big head because of her victory earlier in the year. Cameron basically ignored me or treated me like any new Elemental.
One day they asked what my Element was. My parents told them that I didn't have an Element. That made my two siblings even madder. They thought Mom and Dad were keeping more secrets from them. I couldn't blame them.
So there I was, with no Element, two siblings who hated me, one busy sister, and two preoccupied parents.
I think it's life.
Chapter 1
A year later, it was still like that. I was eleven. We weren't in any danger from the Shadows any more, and life became too peaceful. I would sit on the edge of Cameron's pond, staring into the water at my reflection and thinking about what unknown Element I might have. Then Grace would come sit next to me, and I'd smile, but underneath I was still hurting.
Once, Cameron sat down with me inside while I was getting ready for bed. "Listen, kid," he told me with a serious expression. "Hailey and I are curious about your Element. We know you have one. You've been born into a completely Elemental family, so you do have an Element. You, Mom, Dad, and Grace are keeping it from us."
"I've told you, I don't have an Element." I sighed. "I'm like a Squib."
"So it was you who took my Harry Potter books," Cameron exclaimed angrily.
"Actually Grace got them for me," I replied quietly.
Cameron thought for a few moments. "Okay, kid, you're off the hook--for now." He wagged his eyebrows warningly. "But you will be hearing from Hailey and I both."
I smiled sheepishly and raised my eyebrows. "Okay then. Good-bye."
I did have John for company sometimes. He was a thirteen-year-old Earth Elemental. He told me about how disappointed he'd been when Hailey had told him he wasn't Water. I told him about my Squib-ness and he laughed. "Tough luck, Jake," I remember him saying. "But remember, sometimes miracles do happen."
I suppose miracles really do happen. The following day, we were called in for a brief family meeting. Cameron, Grace, Hailey, Dad, Mom and I crammed into the dining room for a discussion.
"The stars have told me that there is a new Journey to come." At this, Hailey and Cameron got eager expressions and stared at Dad hungrily. Grace and I glanced at each other, knowing exactly what the two bigheads were thinking: more glory.
"Two will go on this quest," Dad continued. "Those two, I am sure, will work well together."
Cameron caught me staring at his expression, and both their faces became forcefully casual as Dad went on. "These two people will be Grace and Jacob."
At this, both Cameron's and Hailey's mouths dropped open. "But Dad--"
"Silence, children. The stars never lie. Hailey, you must stop taking advantage of being the youngest. You may bask in the glory of having saved us all, but Jacob is your younger brother. You should respect him, even if he doesn't have an Element," my father scolded.
"But Father, aren't the Journeyers supposed to have an Element? Surely he can't go, he's too young and he can't even defend himself!" Cameron replied hotly.
"Jacob is entitled to this," Mom cut in. "If he wants to go, he will. The stars never lie."
"When do we leave?" Grace asked quietly. I could tell that she didn't want to go immediately.
"Oh, tomorrow or the next day. We didn't get an exact date. Since we don't know, we think it best to start soon."
Grace and I nodded slowly. "Tomorrow'll work," Grace decided.
"Hey, Jake," Grace said, pulling me into her red and orange-patterned room.
"Yeah?" I answered, taking in my surroundings.
"This Journey... d'you think you can do something for me? Stay out of the way. I don't want you to get hurt."
"Grace...," I said softly. "I'm not helpless."
"For all we know," she pointed out, "you could be."
I sighed in complaint. "I was invited to go. That must mean I'm going to be of some help, otherwise you'd be going alone."
"I suppose. But please, if you don't see any way to help, help by staying out of danger." She hugged me and told me I should go pack my stuff.
In my room, the supposed guest room, I looked at my reflection in the mirror. I had dirty blond hair that was really messy. My almond-shaped eyes were a nice shade of yellow. I guess that's the color my family's eyes would be if we weren't Elementals.
I bit my lip thinking about it. What if the stars had been wrong? What if I wasn't supposed to go on this quest, what if Hailey or Cameron or John were? Would I be useless?
I shoved those thoughts out of my mind and grabbed a backpack. I don't know where I got it, it just appeared in my hand or something. That was the first time I noticed anything that might have something to do with any Element I might have. But at the time I couldn't think of anything that might give me the power to make things appear out of thin air. So I put that thought, too, out of my mind and stuffed some clothes and toiletries into the backpack. And after that, I collapsed onto my bed and slept like a log.
Chapter 2
I hugged Mom and Dad. We were at the airport. Cameron and Hailey had refused to see us off. I suspected Cameron was examining the star charts for a mistake.
"Bye, Jacob," Mom whispered in my ear.
"Bye."
"I know you will succeed. Both of you," my dad added proudly.
I sighed, knowing what they were thinking.
Stay out of harm's way.
"Let's go," I suggested. I was, of course, attempting to get away from the awkward situation.
"Bye." Grace took the handle of her suitcase and waved and Mom and Dad. I grabbed mine, too. We were officially on our Journey.
"Okay," I said in realization, "is it just me or do we have any idea where we're going?"
"I think," Grace said thoughtfully, "that we're supposed to get on Continental and fly to Brazil. That's where the remaining Shadows have set up their base."
"Ohh."
The next few minutes were a blur. I hardly remember checking in, going through security, and sitting in the waiting area. I just suddenly found myself boarding the plane with Grace. Our parents had scored us first-class tickets, so I relaxed in my seat while the coach class passengers filed on. I was nervous, for some reason.
And then it happened.
I was just sitting there looking around. My eyes focused on a little bracelet Grace wore around her wrist. I liked it. It had flames engraved into the thin band of metal. I was just looking at it, and suddenly it disappeared.
"Oh, stars," I gasped.
"What, Jake?" Grace said worriedly.
"No, it's not me." I avoided her eyes. "Your bracelet is gone."
Grace gasped and looked. Sure enough, no bracelet. She felt her wrist with her other hand. "I can feel it all right, but I can't see it."
"Weird," I replied. It must have been some trick of the light. "Grace, move your wrist around a little."
She complied to my strange request. As she moved her wrist up the bracelet came back into view, but as she moved it down to the exact position where she had it before, it left our sight again.
I relaxed a little and closed my eyes. Stars, I was tired.
That was the second occurrence.
I was, yet again, asleep.
I woke up in what I thought was violent turbulence.
If only I knew.
I heard screams up and down the plane. I blinked a few times.
"Jake, get up!" I heard Grace yell.
"What…?"
"Jacob, now!"
I sat bolt upright in my seat this time, knowing something was wrong. "What's going on?"
"There--is--another--Elemental--on--this--plane!" she answered, enunciating each word clearly.
I unbuckled my seatbelt and stood up. I turned around, and there he was. He was standing with dark gray eyes and a swirling tornado or pure wind circling him. It lifted his hair, and my knees buckled. He was an Air Elemental.
"I thought Hailey was the only one!" I yelled over the sound of the commotion.
"So did I!" Grace yelled back.
"What's he doing?" I inquired. Loudly.
"I think he's a Shadow! He's looking for us!"
He glanced in the direction of us. "Sit!" I said, so that only Grace could hear me. She sat. I sat.
"Hide your eyes, Grace. They're Elemental color." I was surprised at how calm my voice had suddenly become.
"Okay," she said, putting on a pair of sunglasses.
Of all the random humans there were on the airplane, he snatched me.
He walked toward us in his mini-tornado and gripped my arm. He started pulling me out of my seat.
"Resist, Jacob!" Grace screamed. But I couldn't. This guy was older than Cameron. No way could I keep him off of me. "Resist!"
The lights flickered off and I gave Grace a pleading look.
I can't, it said.
You'll find me.
She sent me back a short quick nod and stood up to go to the front of the plane. The pilot definitely would need help.
The unknown attacker whisked me out of an emergency exit, and we hurtled toward the Earth.
I Think It's Life - Chapter 2 is Up! 
This is really super amazing!
Linear Mode
