Page 4 of The Lost Elemental

Lainey made a turn towards the performing arts center we had been instructed to report to. “I’m manifesting that shit.”

“If anyone could, it would be you.”

She pulled into a parking spot at the back of the parking structure. “Don’t want anyone dinging my baby.”

I snorted as I climbed out of the car. “How would you ever know if anyone hit it?”

Lainey sent a dark look in my direction. “Betty is perfect in every way. Her scratches only give her more character.”

Warmth spread through me at her words. That was Lainey. She saw every uniqueness or oddity as a gift. Which was likely why she’d befriended me in the second grade. I wrapped an arm around her and gave her a squeeze. “Love you more than life, Lainey Loo.”

Her scowl deepened. “Do not call me that in front of potential members of my hottie harem.”

I made a locking motion in front of my lips. “To the grave.”

“Damn straight.” Lainey tugged me towards the building.

There was already a huge line. I recognized a few kids from our massive high school, but there were far more I’d never seen. Graduating seniors from the entire county were required to attend. Even the elementals who went to fancy private schools had to show up and go through the testing like the rest of us measly humans.

They weren’t going to risk anyone with elemental power accidentally going thermonuclear on the human population. So, they had created these testings at the end of our senior year. And now we all had to sit through them for hours on end even if we knew we didn’t have elemental parents.

One girl with perfectly styled brown curls sneered at a girl from our high school. She turned to her friends, laughing and whispering something I knew was ugly.

“Oh, hell no,” Lainey mumbled. “We’ll never get a good seat.”

“I’m pretty sure they just call us by alphabetical order.”

“No, I heard that things got too complicated that way. This year you go in the order you’re seated. Come on.”

She grabbed my hand again and we were off around the corner of the building.

I rubbed at my neck. “It’s a miracle I don’t have permanent whiplash from being your friend.”

Lainey snorted. “You’re just lucky I take you along for the fun stuff.”

“Fun stuff, breaking and entering—what’s the difference, right?”

She pulled open a side door. “It’s not breaking and entering if the door’s unlocked.”

I groaned but followed her inside. I wasn’t up for waiting in line with mean girls for an hour before this thing started. The door shut behind me, plunging us into darkness.

Instantly, my breaths came quicker. The phantom scent of smoke tickled my nose. Blood roared in my ears. I couldn’t grab hold of my next breath.

“Shit! Sorry, Aura. Let me get the flashlight on my phone.”

Lainey scrambled in her bag and then a tiny light illuminated her face. My lungs released a fraction at that one visual.

“You okay?” she asked, rubbing my back.

“Fine,” I croaked.

“We’ll be out of here in no time. Just gotta find the auditorium.”

Lainey started down the hallway, and I followed quickly behind her. I stayed focused on that tiny beam of light guiding our way.

Shadows crept in around us, but I did my best to ignore them, trying to stave off the panic. Footsteps echoed behind us. Or was that my heartbeat? I whirled around.

Someone slammed me up against the wall, gripping my throat. “What the hell do you think you’re doing?”