The Elements

[Gifted]

"But I saw sparks after that." Josh insisted.

[Raven]

What was she supposed to say? She was quiet for a moment. "You have to promise not to tell anyone."

[Gifted]

"I promise." Josh said immediately. "I don't have anyone, who would I tell?"

[Raven]

Lily knew the feeling, and she was suddenly glad Josh would know. "It's just me." She concentrated again and the little flame appeared, floating between her hands. "I don't know how or why, just that I can... And when I get angry or upset or scared... I can't stop it." Her voice was a whisper at the end.

[Gifted]

Josh looked on in shock and envy. Why couldn't his be that simple? His eyes filled with tears. She was so lucky. "I guss it's my turn to tell you, huh?" He sighed. "I... well, I have something sort of like that. Something impossible I can do. But..." He tried to stop crying, and he turned away, ashamed. "If it went off I wouldn't be able to stop it. It annihilates everything around me. The first time it happened, when I discovered it, it took everything I had to keep it within my room... and I still lost half my comic book collection before I could stop it. If I ever lose control of it, I could take out a city block." He sighed. "This is the only place where I can stop worrying. This half the park where no one goes is large than a city block. If it goes off on me I might make a crater, destroy the park and pulverize some trees... but I won't hurt anyone. This is the only place I can relax." He shook his head. "I only go to school... I only still live here at all because I can't bear to hurt my mother by running away... but ever since I got my power for months ago, I've lived in constant fear of letting anyone too close.. Because I know I'll hurt them. My worst nightmare is thatt my powers will go off at school... so many innocent kids..." He had to stop. "That's why I was so rude. I thought if you got mad, you'd leave me alone... you wouldn't get hurt."

[Raven]

A horrified expression came across her face. She couldn't imagine... "I'm so sorry." It wasn't like Josh could practice to get better like she could. But he couldn't live alone forever... She came forward to touch his arm comfortingly.

[Gifted]

His arm was still incredibly tense when he touched it. But judging by his expression, he didn't really mind her. "Thank you." He smiled. Even though it didn't help at all, he was glad to have one person he could confide in.

[Raven]

"Let me know if there's anything I can do to help..." Lily smiled gently.

[Gifted]

"I don't think there's anything." Josh sighed. "I just need to be alone for awhile."

[Raven]

Lily nodded, and turned to leave. Then a thought struck her and she turned back to Josh. "Do you think there are others?"

[Gifted]

Josh frowned. "I hadn't even thought about it. But it hardly makes sense for there to be just two. Unless we shared some kind of origin story experience, and I don't think we have..."

[Raven]

"There's not some science lab accident I'm forgetting?" Lily joked weakly.

[Gifted]

Josh smiled genuinely for the first time in four months. "No, I don't think so."

[Raven]

"We should try to find them. Maybe someone knows something we don't."

[Gifted]

"I can't afford to go looking for other people. I hope you find them, though. How will you know where to look?"