Hello readers.I'm back with a new story, and more ideas. This is the first book of a trilogy you will never forget. It's a bit new for me, so bear with if it's suck-ish.I also have another story going, called 'Lotus', be sure to check that out too.Sorry if some of the updates are boring, but the storyline took me forever to come up with. So, I give you... Spark The first book of the Fire Trilogy. ???????????????? Preface Can you imagine having two brains? Two souls in one body? Something inside you, waiting to come out. I know what that's like. As soon as I feel that one emotion, there she is, ready to harm. A killing machine. She doesn't think, she attacks. She takes over when I'm vulnerable, she lashed out, and forgets who are her friends and who are her foes. Chapter One The curtains were drawn and the light from the cold, winter morning falls? upon me as I wake. I open my eyes to see the neighbourhood covered in a blanket of pearly-white snow. I smile as I remember playing in it when I was young. Young. When you have no worries. When the worst pain was a grazed knee. I get up slowly and walk over to the window. I see my best friend, Carl, standing in the street, looking up at my window. He knows exactly what time I wake up, and is always outside to greet me. He says it's to make sure the first image I see in the morning is a good image. So I can start my day in a good mood. I smile down at him, then put up my index finger, meaning 'one minute'. I then turn from my window and go to get dressed. I brush my dark ginger hair thoroughly, then throw on a pair of black skinny jeans, a green sweater, my signature blue beanie and a pair of red Converses. We walk silently down the road, my iPhone bleeping every minute or so. Most of the messages say 'Happy birthday, Claire' or 'Have a good one!'. I smile, then turn my phone off as we reach the park. Carl sits on the bench and I plonk down next to him. He takes off his Nike hat, and reveals a box that must have been resting on his head. He smiles at me, then places it gently in my hand. "Happy birthday, Ninja." He cheers. I smile at the use of my nickname. He used to call me 'Ginger Ninja', but now it's just 'Ninja'. "Thank you," I reply, and open the box. Inside, I see a silver chain, and a small charm attached to it. I bring to closer to my face to see it better, and notice that the charm is shaped like a spark. Before I can do anything else, I pull Carl into a tight hug. He rests his head on my shoulder and pats my back. He stands up, and helps me up too, and we continue walking, through the forest, down the streets, up the alleys, until we reach Lake View High School. We walk through the front doors together as we always do. The Entrance Hall is full of Year Sevens finding their way. They eye us like we're a couple, but the Year Eights, Nines, Tens and Elevens all know better; even when they haven't met us. Carl steers me into our tutor room, Room 215, and sits me down. Ever since I woke up with that agonisingly-painful burn on my leg one morning, Carl has helped me sit and get up. Just as the class settles, our tutor, Mrs Farrar, enters the room, wearing the most ridiculous pencil skirt I have ever seen. Our tutor is a short, plump woman, who wears pencil skirts (to make her look skinny, but they really show off her fat), and sits on her desk (which is disturbing when you sit at the front). Carl nudges me and points at her shoes. Egyptian-style sandals with a pair of bright-green knee socks. I can't help but burst out laughing, but Mrs Farrar doesn't notice, she's nearly deaf. She calls the register in her deep voice, coughing every now and then. "Alicia Ward?" "Here." "Jason Web?" "Here." "Claire Wright?" "Here." I say. "Carl York?" "'Ere!" Shouts Carl. Several girls in our tutors group turn to face him. He's always been the most desirable, but has always said that he's waiting for that one special somebody. When we were little, we used to pretend to get married, and act as if we had a child, using my Jack Russel as the baby. I think back to that conversation ten years ago... -Flashback- Carl and I sat on the grass verge by the river, it was a beautifully sunny day, not a cloud in sight. We had just been Kayaking with my parents, so we were soaking wet. I lay down on my back and stared at the blue sky. Shortly after, Carl lay next to me and asked me a question. "Do you ever think about the future?" He asked. "Like hovercrafts?" I replied. "No, I mean getting married, and babies and houses." "Not all the time. Why?" "Because, we could get married, you know. We have to be big though, when you're eighteen you can. My mummy told me." He sounded so proud of this piece of information. "We could! And we could have a big house with lots of expensive cars and two children!" "A girl and a boy. The girl called Noella and the boy called Noah!" His face lit up with excitement. We spent the rest of the day planning out our future as husband and wife. We were only five, but it seemed like we really knew what we were talking about. -End of Flashback- I guess a part of me does want some of that to come true, but it never will. Carl is a rich lad, good-looking, and kind, he already has girls lining up for him. But he's not interested. He says I'm the only girl in his life. Which is sweet. ???????????????? Before you start predicting, this is not a romance. There may be a sprinkle of it, but other than that... zilch.
Update! ???????????????? Mrs Farrar finishes the register and tells us to go to our first lesson: Science. Carl helps me out of my car, and I feel a sudden twinge where the burn is. It's nothing, I tell myself. We walk the quietest route, because I can't get bumped into. The corridors this way are nearly always empty, and clear of any graffiti. Carl pulls me into a side corridor and puts the necklace round my neck. Our Science class is only a few doors down, so we sit on the small steps until we hear the bell. But when we do, I can't stand. Normally, I'm able, but now Carl has to help me. He stands behind me and lifts me from the waist, but he can't do it alone. He finds Robert Alexander, and he helps, but when I'm standing, I fall again. The pain in my leg is suddenly too much to bare, and I'm twitching and rolling around on the floor. I see only the necklace on the floor beside me before I pass out completely. My temperature is rising, and I can feel it. I feel weak in one part of my body, but it's like another brain is shoving mine to one side, shouting "I'll take it from here!". I can feel hands on me, trying to keep my still, then there's a hand on my burn, and I let out a scream of pain. This helps me open my eyes and I notice that I'm in the Nurse's office, foaming at the mouth. Carl sits on a chair by the bed, an ice-pack on his head. I must have kicked him. I feel a pain in my neck and look in the mirror. There are large red marks from the necklace, from where it strangled me. My burn is fresh, like it's brand new. It glows, as if embers are still inside, and I hate that feeling. I tap it lightly with my index finger, but the pain is unbearable. I scream again, and Robert comes to my aid, dabbing a wet cloth on my head. Soon, I'm passed out again, but this time I can only feel the occasional poke on my leg. It feels weird; not being able to see, or hear. It makes me uneasy. An uncomfortable chill now fills the room and I awake. I'm sure my eyes are open, but all I can see is black. It's everywhere. It's still cold, freezing even. I feel sick to my stomach nut try my best to hold it back. My necklace is banging against me as we move forward. Then I realise something. We are moving. But where. It's all black. I try and wriggle out of the arms that restrain me, but I'm getting weak. The other brain in taking over. I can feel myself getting hotter. ???????????????? I wake up at home, in shorts and a vest-top, Carl sitting at the end of my bed, watching my intently. I open my eyes and smile faintly, he grins and gives my hand a reassuring squeeze. He hands me a glass of water and I gulp it down in one, not caring about what he thinks. I want to ask him what happened, but I might sound crazy. I resolve to just sit on my bed. After about an hour of reading Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins, I think I can stand up. I swing my legs round the front of me and rest them on the floor. Carl puts an arm round my waist and helps me up. To my dismay, I don't fall, and I walk around. I see my burn is stitched up and bandaged. That's what the poking was. I wall over to the window and see the same black mist I saw in my dream. Except this time it isn't a dream. ????????????????
HOLY MOTHER OF CHEESE MUFFINS . That's some intense stuff right there ?. I'm getting scared for her.. Burning up sucks. I would know. My cheeks get red all the time ?
Update! ???????????????? The black mist is moving closer, but now I can see that it isn't mist. It is a line of cloaked people, all gliding over the ground, the bottoms of their cloaks brushing along the floor. I panic for a split second and draw the curtains, not wanting to have another look. I can now hear footsteps outside. Lots of footsteps. Hundreds. Maybe thousands. I look through the curtains once more and see the black figures rising, getting closer and closer to the window. I shut the curtains again. You're concussed, I try to assure myself. This is all an illusion. You're Claire Wright, and you are perfectly sane! The more I say that last phrase, the less I begin to believe it. The uncomfortable chill that I experienced earlier is back. My temperature is rising, and dropping. I look around and notice Carl has left the room. I shrug my shoulders then turn back to face the drawn curtains. However, instead of seeing bright yellow fabric, I see one of them. It's boney fingers reach up to it's hood and pulls it back. I shut my eyes, for I do not know what I'll see. ???????????????? I must've passed out again, because I awake in the forest that I walked in with Carl just this morning. The sun is directly above me, so I take it to be midday. I scramble to my feet and look around at the empty surroundings. I sit back down and listen carefully. In the distance, I can hear the gentle flow of a river. In a nearby tree, I can hear a Woodpecker. I can hear the gentle crunching of leaves under a foot. Leaves under foot. Footsteps. I curl up in a ball, and suddenly, the sound stops. I look up and see four hooded figures, but I don't cower away. They just stand there. Then they take off their hoods. I prepare myself for the ugliest, most horrible sight I will probably ever see, but instead, the faces are a normal colour, with full lips and high cheek-bones. They look stunning. Two boys and two girls. The girl on the left stands perfectly still, studying my features. She has pale-white skin and amazing brown hair. Her eyes are a brilliant green and she's quite tall. Next to her is a boy who looks almost identical, same brown hair, same green eyes. But he is slightly shorter. They have to be related! The next boy is even more stunning. Golden-brown hair falls down his forehead in curls, and bright blue eyes pierce my soul. He is of a muscular build, and at least five years older than me. The last figure is another girl. She has waist-length black hair that covers one eye. Her body is stick thin and you can see almost every bone in her body through her clothes. I stand there, mesmerised by their gorgeous features, for a moment, trying to take it all in. Surely they're not human, I think. After a few minutes, the boy with the blonde hair steps forward. She clears his throat, and offers me his hand. "Hello, Miss Wright. I am Danny. Danny McAler. These are my associates. Shannon," − the scrawny girl steps forward − "Liam," − the other boy nods his head − "and his sister, Aishling," − the beautiful brown-haired girl smiles − "and each of us has a Flipside-Charm." He announces. I have no idea what that last sentence meant. I'm guessing he saw the confused look on my face, because he began to explain. "You see, we are different. Many people think we have split personalities, but it is much more than that. When we feel a certain emotion, a whole other person takes over our brains and controls us." He signals to the burn on my leg. "How did you get that?" He asks. I don't know how to reply, so I merely shrug my shoulders. Danny sighs and the girl called Shannon steps forward. "Each of us has a different Flipside-Charm. For example, when I am annoyed, a merciless and power-hungry woman takes over and my appearance changes depending on how strong the emotion is. When the emotion is extremely strong, I fully transform. When I am only slightly pissed off, only my personality will change." She explains. "So... how does that relate to my burn?" I ask them. "You, girl, are a Firecracker," begins Danny. "It means when you feel angry, your skin becomes lethal to anybody who touches it. One day, your Flipside probably backfired and you burned yourself instead of your target." "So, what are you guys if I am a 'Firecracker'?" I ask. Liam steps forward. "Me and my sister are Veils. It means we can disguise ourselves easily when we feel vulnerable. A defensive technique." Liam explains. Aishling nods. "I am a Channeller. It means I can read and control your thoughts when I am annoyed. An offensive technique." Says Shannon. "And I am a Rapid. It means I am unbelievably fast when I feel threatened. Both an offensive and defensive technique." Says Danny. "And I am a Firecracker. It means my touch is nearly fatal when I am angry." I explain to myself. ???????????????? ??I know it seems like it's moving quickly, but there is a lot more to come!Keep reading and commenting, guys. I love hearing from you all!
I thought you'd like that. Shannon's character I think will be developed a lot more than Aishling, Liam or Danny's, and you'll find out why.?The next update is coming soon.
Update! ???????????????? When I go to sleep that night, I am nestled in a tent with Shannon, Aishling, Liam and Danny. I am the last to fall asleep, and when I do, I have an odd dream. ???????????????? I'm standing in a desert. There are no plants. No buildings. Just me. Me and the sand. I look up and the sky is a clear blue with no clouds. It had to be at least fifty degrees celsius, because I am drenched in sweat. I look back down and see that I'm wearing only a vest top and shorts. The dream becomes so realistic that I begin to strip them off, then I lie in the hot sand. I let the grains runs through my fingers for a while before I notice something. Something very strange. My hands are crimson. Not because they ate hot. Because I'm angry. Angry because I'm alone. Angry because Carl isn't by my side. Suddenly I'm running, running, running for my life. It's one of those dreams where you are never quite fast enough. Now I hear footsteps behind me. I look back and see the others, all running to keep up with me. Now I see something behind them. A large, white banner, with a black 'O' painted in the middle. Ten white horses and behind the banner. The others look petrified, but I can't seem to understand why. ???????????????? When I wake, I am sure enough drenched in sweat. I sit up and rub my leg where the burn is. It still hurts. I notice the others have deserted their sleeping bags and I can hear them whispering outside. I decide not to disturb them, and go through the past twenty-four hours in my head. My name is Claire Wright, and I am a Flipside-Charm. When I get angry, my skin turns extremely hot, and my hair into flames. I am sleeping in the forest because... And that's where I stop. Because I don't know why I am sleeping in the forest. I sit closer to the door so I can hear the others talking. "But she has to do the Ceremony!" Whispers Shannon. "Do you really want to put her through that? I mean, look at you, Shan. You got so depressed afterwards that you wouldn't eat. Now look at you!" Argues Liam. "She needs to go!" "Look. I agree with Liam. However, she does need to go, so we should at least train her up first. Shan, that's your area of expertise." Starts Aishling. "You think I'm going near her?! You can think again. She's a Firecracker!" Retaliates Shannon. "Let's settle this tomorrow, please." Says Danny, he sounds annoyed. I lie back down on the floor of the tent. What is her problem with me? I think. ???????????????? This one is really short. I promise the next one will be nice and long, as more information about the dream and Shannon is revealed.