2 Elements EDITING IN PROCESS

Chapter 1 Xia

First, there was a large fire, someone was screaming and I reached out to help but every time I moved it seemed as if they were getting farther and farther away. It was as if I was only making the situation worse. Suddenly the screaming stopped and I saw an image of dark blue eyes before a fruity voice jarred me out of my nightmare.

"Xia, Xia, Xia!" Having my name called over and over again was something I had just grown to get used to. Groggily I took a small peek at the person who was trying to wake me and groaned when I realized it was just my best friend Dylann.

"Gosh Xia, how long can you sleep?"

Dylann was only a few months younger than me. From an outside perspective, she would like just like any normal 16-year-old. Light blue eyes, short blonde hair, and rather tall for her age. Despite being my polar opposite, she was still great to have around, except for the moments when she insisted in shaking me out of my beauty sleep.

Unfortunately, she was scolding me, "Up."

"No," I groaned in protest as she demanded me to move. I pulled the covers over my head in a desperate hope that she would go away. She didn't, instead, she grabbed the blanket I was using to cover my head and threw it on the ground.

Determined for more sleep I grabbed my pillow and repeatedly continued to hit her in the head. My tactic was working until she stole the pillow from my tired grasp and started to return the favor. I grabbed another pillow from the bed beside me and started to attack her back. Soon we grew tired and collapsed on the floor in a fit of giggles.

"Look who decided to finally get up," the voice was low and tight, and I recognized it immediately.

"Asher, nice of you to be joining us," I said looking up at my older brother. His jaw was locked and his usually green eyes had turned to a hard color of steel. His slightly auburn hair was a bit unkempt but he had at least managed to keep it from sticking up.

"I'm serious, who knows what punishment would have happened if you were caught not at the table, Xia you were supposed to be awake two hours ago to help me with breakfast. Not to mention Mrs.Callehall is already on your tail. Luckily, I covered for you, again.

"Okay, I get it. Were coming."

I followed Asher through the door knowing the path to the kitchen by heart.

The orphanage was small but tidy. The rooms were separated by one wall. The boys on one side and the girls on the other. There were more girls than boys so our side had bunks while their side had single beds all lined up in a row. The room beside the sleeping quarters was for school work. Desks lined the walls, along with a chalkboard in front, and a cupboard for books where Mrs. Callehall always threatened to keep us if we got out of line. Her threats were always pretty empty. We all knew that she would never punish us that severely.

We passed the two bathrooms and finally entered the kitchen. Many kids were already seated around the circle table. Favorably our mistress had her back turned and we were able to take a seat without her noticing that we were ever absent.

I quickly began a rather meaningless conversation with Dylann, the talk of the morning was Melissa, as it usually was. She was one of the older girls and had dark brown hair that fell to her shoulders in loose curls, sure she was beautiful, her personality definitely wasn't.

We were just about to comment on her pink sparkly slippers when Mrs. Callehall moved from the sink towards the table, making sure every single chair was full. Once her mental head count was taken, she gave us all a welcoming smile and wrinkles formed at the corner of her eyes to show her old age, "Looks like we are all accounted for, let's eat."