Chapter 1

A/N: The italics at the end of the chapter are a flashback, so are placed in that font as to distinguish from her normal narrative.

Chapter 1:

For people that are my age, Avatar the Last Airbender was one of the most popular shows that Nickelodeon had to offer at the time. But considering what was on at the time, wasn’t hard to do. I mean for us back then, it wasn’t very often that we got to watch a “kid” playing the role of the hero and barely ever was it in a such a role that was to save the world. A thirteen-year-old kid destined to control all four elements and eventually save the world from the Fire Nation’s control. The ability that everyone wanted to have, just wishing it would be without the saving everyone part.

Just writing this on a personal whim, meaning I’m being made to, I can tell you that it is not fun at all. At the age of ten, I found out that I had an older brother who was sent away when I was born; I was told it was because I had a “talent” that could prove to be dangerous. Though I was confused on why they sent him away but allowed my baby sister and me to stay together. I never understood that and I doubt that I ever will.

I was fourteen when my “talent” became apparent. I found out that I have the ability to control all of the elements. I felt like I had just walked straight into the world of Avatar Aang and his companions. I was scared and very angry. This stupid thing is what took my brother away from me before we even knew each other, and why I was never allowed to be alone with my sister.

No one trusted me enough to keep my emotions in check. I know why that was now. If I wasn’t happy. My “semi-conscious” control was gone and whatever element was released from the break would be destructive. Everyone would hate to see the day that the walls that I so carefully placed would break because of my sister doing something to make me mad.

I have felt like my Mother hated me for always being the trouble child. I mean it wasn’t my fault that I was in the wrong place at the wrong time or that my friends were just bad people who always dragged me places with them. I think that the worse thing of it all was when I was sixteen and was placed in police custody for three days for something I didn’t do and had no knowledge that it was going to be done. To explain this I think it will just be easier to take you back to that night.

**

‘Kili, come on, we’re going to be late,” someone yelled towards me.

‘Krystal, stop being so melodramatic. We still have time!’ I shouted back to the person I thought was supposed to be my best friend.

‘If you are just going to be a chicken about this Kili, you can just stay behind. The party life with complete strangers isn’t for everyone, you know?’ said another voice, as I climbed into the car.

‘Wouldn’t like to see that wouldn’t you Connor?’ I asked. ‘You just want to win your bet with Benny that I will just chicken out.’

The teenager in the driver’s seat scoffed, ‘I did not make a bet with him Ki!’

‘Well y’all are trying awfully hard for me to stay home instead of going out,’ I argued.

Shaking his head, Connor throw the car into drive and drove away from my house, my parents watching from the window, with Elissa standing between them. Sighing I let go of my worries for the night and let my self enjoy the freedom I would have while it lasted, which I never knew how long it would be.

I frowned as we drove into a clearly abandoned neighborhood. Thoughts were whirling through my mind, I was so confused but I forced myself to keep calm.

‘Kili, stay here. We are going to be right back,’ Conner said, looking me straight in my eyes.

‘Okay? What are we even doing here?’ I asked, crossing my arms.

‘Don’t worry about Ki,’ Benny said. ‘It’s nothing bad, I promise.’

I just waved them away to do whatever they had planned. Apparently, it involved everyone but me, as Krystal was going as well. I decided to sit back and play on my phone.

Five minutes passed, ten minutes, and finally, twenty minutes passed by. I was worried by then remembering that they shouldn’t have taken this long. It was then that I looked out the windshield and saw the first traces of smoke coming over the tops of the nearby rooftops. I swallowed, panicked. What had they done? With shaking hands, I dialed 911 talking with the operator till help arrived at the scene.

Immediately I was pulled from the car by a female officer, demanding me to put my hands behind my back. She was arresting me for what? Calling the police on a situation like this? While she handcuffed me she read me my rights.

‘Do you understand why we are taking you into custody Miss?’ the officer asked.

‘No ma’am,’ I answered, being careful. ‘I mean all I did was call to inform y’all of the fire. I never started it, I swear!’

‘It is oddly suspicious that these friends of yours disappeared when the fire started and that you are still here,’ the officer said. ‘And with those powers of yours, it makes us wonder if you lost control and took it out on the buildings, meaning harm to your friends.’

‘Ma’am! I would never try to harm another person! I hate these powers and sometimes I wish I could just die to be rid of them,’ I snapped, bitterly. ‘To think that I would purposely use my powers against a human being in any way is beyond me. You have known me since I got these powers have you not?’

‘That is not what matters here Ms. Johnstone!’ Officer McCaine snarled. ‘We are taking you into custody until we find out if this was your doing or if it was the actions of your missing friends. Do you understand?’

‘Yes, I understand,’ I defeatedly sighed.

I just couldn’t help thinking as they put me in the back of the police cruiser, what a cruel fate I had. Would I ever be destined to be happy, or would something always come up to ruin it all?