The Four Elements

-Chapter 1-

I gaze at the sun, as it's about to set. A perfect shade of orange and yellow. I sigh, contentedly. All alone.........No one's here. My mother and father died, when I was 3. They just........died. Our house caught on fire and it burned them down. My neighbor saved me, Mrs. Agnes. I was brought up in an orphanage. I stayed there, for almost all of my life but I am finally moving away now. I'm a legal adult, 18. I'm moving to Murkville, to my grandmother. Grandma Josephine. She's my father's mother. I call her Grandma Jo. My family was pretty weird, I mean that's what I thought. We were very polite, in our neighborhood, though. My skin is, strange, to say the least. If I get bruised or I get injured, it recovers incredibly. I just wash it off, with water and it's gone! Like, magic! Plus, I have this weird birthmark too. It's on the bottom of my right wrist. It's a perfect sketch, of a droplet of water. It feels as if, someone sketched it. I try to remove it, but it never works. I think, I was born with it. All I know about my parents, is their names. My father's name was, Altus. Weird, right? My mother was, Atlantana. I didn't have a sister nor a brother..........I was alone.

Anyways, I'm half way there to Murkville. I've never heard of this town before, but the rumors make me shiver. People say, that this town has a very unusual legend behind it. They say, that this town was a whole kingdom, hundred years back. It was controlled by gods, which is very strange. I don't believe in these rumors, but I'll ask Grandma Jo for sure.

I look around. Finally! After miles of barren land, there is a gas station. I get gas and park my car. A little snack wouldn't hurt now, would it? I got out and clung on my jacket for warmth. It's a little cold out here. I open the door and walk inside.

"Hello?", I question. No reply. Hmm........Strange. I walk around, searching for anyone. Why is it so deserted? Aren't gas stations usually crowded? Suddenly, frightening thoughts started to invade my mind. What if a thief is hiding in here? What if this place is abandoned? What if-

"Ahhhhh!!!", I screamed. "Gosh! You startled me!" I tell the man, as I try to lower my breathing pace. "Sorry, mame. You see, not many people come here anymore. To be honest, you startled me too.", he replied back. Oh! Um......my apologies, sir.", I said smiling at him. "No problem, need anything?", he asked me while walking towards the cash counter. "Yes. Can I get a bag of cheese balls and a bottle of water?", I ask looking around. "Of course. That'll be $3". I hand him the money and took my stuff. I got in my car and looked in the rear mirror. The man was looking at me, signaling me not to go ahead, but I ignore it. I start the car and drive away. I open the bag of cheese balls and munch on it. The only thing I can hear, is my own munching. So quite.........alone. I look at my birthmark. It assures me, somehow, that I'm not alone. Mom and Dad, are up there in heaven looking down at me. Telling me that, I'm not alone, that there is hope for a better life, that good times will come soon. I lightly shake my head and look up at the sky. Suddenly, the sky changed to a dark shade of grey. What the actual heck?!?!?!?

I looked ahead. I've entered Murkville. The road is not so clear, due to fog. What if I crash into something? I immediately parked the car, to a side and got out. Shivering, I wore my jacket. The weather seems unusual........It's like misty. I wave my hand, trying to remove the fog. When, I saw a very old board. "Murkville.", I read it out loud. It seems very old. My fingers traced it. It's rusty. Ew.......I just touched rusty metal. I quickly wiped my hands with a tissue. I move forward. Hmm.........It feels really quite, like nobody lives here.........poor grandma, she has to live here every day. Grandma once told me, that mom and dad grew up here. I wonder where they lived........Suddenly, a black cat jumped up out of nowhere. "God!", I said clutching my heart. What is up with things scaring me? The cat hissed at me and ran away. Humph! Stupid cat. I slowly started to walk towards the main gate. It was half open. The name banner looked like, it was half burned........? It opened with a creaking sound. Something tells me, this is the beginning of a horrible experience. I got back in my car and drove inside. Woah............This town looks like hell. There are no green trees, just trunks with huge branches, not even a single bird just crows. There are not even proper house, they look like huts. I slow down. Grandma lives at St. Seymour, Street No. 4, Here is Street No. 3.................Here's Street No. 4. I park the car and got out. Why does it feel like there's no air or oxygen? My eyes went towards grandma's house. Well............it could look worse. I took my suitcase and placed my finger on the doorbell. Here goes nothing.............I rang it.

DING DONG, went the bell. "Coming!", came a female voice. I smiled at myself. My jolly ol' grandma. Soon, the door was opened to reveal............a girl?

"Yes? How may I help you?". What the-"Um.......Is this house number 359?", I asked in a rather confused manner. "Yes..........You are?", she raised her eyebrows at me. "I'm Amphitrite Altus. Does Julianne live here?". "Oh........You mean, Grandma Jo?", she asked me. "Yes! I'm her granddaughter.". "Let me just inform her, Come on in!". I gave her a genuine smile and walked inside. Why is a girl in my grandma's house? I stepped inside, closing the door. The house looks old.........a little too old. I walked inside. The staircase looks very unstable. Hmm...........a little renovation would help, i think. "Right this way!", She said leading towards a small kitchen. "Someone's here to meet you, Grandma Jo!". "Who is it, dear-". She turned and looked at me.

She gasps.

'Grandma........'

'Amphitrite.........'