The Elementals: Awakening

By Lukas P. Threlfall

In the town of Sysmith, something has awoken, a mysterious power that has revealed itself through four average college students, whose lives will now be changed forever. Fire, water, electricity and rock, these are the abilities of the group who will become known as The Elementals, as they are brought together to contend with an enemy who threatens not only the team and their town, but the future of civilisation as we know it. This is the story of The Elementals, and this is their awakening.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Austin Macauley Publishers
• Release date: May 31, 2019
• ISBN: 9781528960748

Lukas P. Threlfall

Lukas P. Threlfall was born in Liverpool, before moving to London at age seven, where over the next decade he grew to become interested in writing stories about superpowered heroes and otherworldly monsters, stories that over the years he would use as a basis for short stories and web series. Eventually, this passion for storytelling led Lukas to write the first draft of a book which would eventually become The Elementals: Awakening. Now, living in Australia, Lukas continues to write, always working on the next story he has to tell.

Book preview

Twelve

About the Author

Lukas P. Threlfall was born in Liverpool, before moving to London at age seven, where over the next decade he grew to become interested in writing stories about superpowered heroes and otherworldly monsters, stories that over the years he would use as a basis for short stories and web series. Eventually, this passion for storytelling led Lukas to write the first draft of a book which would eventually become The Elementals: Awakening. Now, living in Australia, Lukas continues to write, always working on the next story he has to tell.

About the Book

In the town of Sysmith, something has awoken, a mysterious power that has revealed itself through four average college students, whose lives will now be changed forever.

Fire, water, electricity and rock, these are the abilities of the group who will become known as The Elementals, as they are brought together to contend with an enemy who threatens not only the team and their town, but the future of civilisation as we know it.

This is the story of The Elementals, and this is their awakening.

Copyright Information

Copyright © Lukas P. Threlfall (2019)

The right of Lukas P. Threlfall to be identified as author of this work has been asserted by him in accordance with section 77 and 78 of the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior permission of the publishers.

Any person who commits any unauthorised act in relation to this publication may be liable to criminal prosecution and civil claims for damages.

A CIP catalogue record for this title is available from the British Library.

ISBN 9781528903714 (Paperback)

ISBN 9781528960748 (ePub e-book)

www.austinmacauley.com

First Published (2019)

Austin Macauley Publishers Ltd

25 Canada Square

Canary Wharf

London

E14 5LQ

Chapter One

It was a Saturday afternoon in early March in the British town of Sysmith and a cold wind blew through a group of old, waving trees.

A flock of birds circled in the skies above a local park and as time passed, the Sun finally came out from behind the milky clouds, and the air warmed up as the sky became bright again, transforming the grassy field from a dull, dark shade to a magnificent, bright green wonderland.

Groups of children rushed into the park and played on the slide and swings, while a large Golden Retriever ran across the grass, jumping around happily with his tongue hanging out of his mouth. The dog’s owner threw a short stick through the air, to which the hound barked and hastily pursued it with joy.

Sitting on a bench and with his messenger bag lying next to him, a seventeen-year-old, named Isaac Starky held a sketchbook and pencil in his hands, while wearing headphones and listening to some music on his phone.

Isaac had green eyes, pitch-dark hair with a long fringe that hung over his face and was dressed in all black with a shirt, a knee length leather coat, trousers and combat boots.

Looking forward, Isaac’s eyes were set on a blackbird that stood on a large rock a few meters away. Putting pencil to paper, Isaac began sketching the bird and the scenery of rocks and trees around it.

As Isaac looked up from his sketchbook, his expression became one of annoyance as he recognised someone walking into the park. Oh, for God’s sake … and that’s the day ruined.

Known for being cruel and violent, the person Isaac was so bothered to see, was a seventeen-year-old by the name of Trent Williams, one of his fellow college students and an all-out bully.

With blond hair that was shaved at the sides, and a crooked nose as a result of a previous fight, Trent wore his usual attire of a tracksuit and trainers as made his way towards the swings, eagerly looking for someone to torment.

Ignoring five empty swings, Trent headed for the six, and only occupied one, which was being used by a small girl. Hey, girl! He loomed over the child.

The young girl looked up at him. I’m not allowed to talk to strangers.

Trent sneered. Well then, my name’s Trent. There, now that you know me, get off that swing, I wanna use it.

But my mummy told me to stay here while she talks to her friend. The girl pointed to the right.

"Listen girl, get off that bloody swing or I’ll kick you off!" Trent barked.

You said a bad word! the girl gasped.

Yeah, well, unless you want me to kick a bad word into your damn skull, you’ll get off my swing!

Having taken out his headphone to hear what Trent was yelling, Isaac shook his head. God dammit, Trent. I gotta a help that girl.

Go on, get lost! Trent ordered.

But I … as the girl began to cry, Trent quickly looked around to see who was watching, before he raised his fist, ready to strike the girl, then suddenly, Trent was knocked to the ground.

Getting to his feet, Trent roared, Who the hell did that?

I did.

Stopping in place as he saw the scene unfold, Isaac sighed in frustration. Robert, he sighed in frustration. Urgh, I’m getting out of here, this park is full of arseholes. Isaac shook his head, before walking off. Whatever.

Robert Mason was another seventeen-year-old. He had brown hair, blue eyes and wore a white shirt under a dark blue jacket, with jeans and some old sneakers. Known for his kind personality, Robert was the type of person who always tried to stand up for others, something which had now placed him in a confrontation with Trent.

You! Trent yelled. What the hell, Robert? I’ve told you before, stay out of my business!

Robert shook his head. "Business? Is this what you call beating up children?"

Not just children, you know me, I’ll hit anyone, including you!

Oh, crap, what have I gotten myself into? Robert thought,

preparing to defend himself as Trent got ready to strike, before the confrontation was suddenly interrupted by the young girl’s mother.

What’s going on here? the woman yelled as she ran over, before grabbing her daughter’s hand. What happened, hunny? she asked.

With tears in her eyes, the girl pointed forward, leading the woman to look to Robert and Trent.

Okay, what did you two do? she asked in anger.

Trent shook his head. Sorry, ma’am, we were using the swings and your daughter came over to ask if she could use them, but my friend here just told her get lost or he’d hit her, I couldn’t believe it.

What? No, I – Robert shouted in shock.

Oh, is this true? the woman asked, glaring at Robert.

No, look, I didn’t do anything, it was him! Robert pointed at Trent.

Trent laughed. Now come on Robert, you’re a bit too old for the blame game, don’t you think?

The mother wasn’t at all amused by the situation. Okay, look you two, just stay away from my daughter, okay? Or do I have to get the police involved?

Robert quickly agreed. Yes okay, whatever you say, we won’t come here again, isn’t that right, Trent?

Whatever, I don’t like it here anyway, I can’t handle the amount of stupid kids! Trent shouted in the woman’s face.

What? she exclaimed.

Trent laughed and pushed Robert to the ground. Later, losers! he yelled, before running off.

The woman shook her head, before turning to Robert. Are you okay?

Robert climbed to his feet. Yeah, I’ll be fine.

Okay, good. So, I’m guessing he’s not your friends then.

No, Trent doesn’t have any friends, he’s always too busy picking on people to make them, that’s what happened here, he was bullying your daughter, I came over to stop him.

Oh, well then, thank you.

No problem, I was happy to help, Robert said, with a smile.

#

It was around an hour later when Robert was on his way home. Walking down a street at the edge of the forest, Robert looked down at his phone, while occasionally glancing over his shoulder, wary about the possibility that Trent could be following him, hoping to get Robert back for pushing him to the ground back in the park.

Walking around the corner, Robert spotted Isaac sitting on a bench. With his headphone in, Isaac had his sketchbook on his lap as he added some finishing touches to his drawing of the blackbird.

Isaac, hey, Robert said, walking over to the bench.

Looking up, Isaac let out a sigh of annoyance. What do you want, Robert? he asked, pulling out his headphones.

Oh, nothing, I just walking past, so I thought I’d say hi.

Okay, well, now that you’ve done that, you can keep walking, I’m busy. Besides, you should get home as quick as you can, Trent’s probably looking for you as we speak.

Huh, so you saw what happened at the park, then?

Yeah, he was shouting at that kid, looked like he was gonna hurt her.

Yeah, I thought so too, that’s why I pushed him to the ground; looking back that might not have been the best idea. I mean, maybe I should have just talked to him, but in the moment, it seemed like the right option.

Yeah. Isaac shook his head. So, let me get this straight. You pushed Trent to the ground, and that’s fine, but last year, when I tried to fight him, to teach him a lesson not to hurt people. Well, that just wasn’t okay, so you had to interfere! Am I getting this right?

Oh, come on, Isaac, we’ve been over this, that fight was crazy; you broke Trent’s nose.

Yeah, so clearly if you hadn’t gotten in the way, I would have won.

Yeah, maybe, but I still had to stop you. I mean, you were throwing chairs around, one of the people watching could have gotten hurt.

"Okay, yeah, but I only did that because you got in the way, you pissed me off," Isaac stated.

I don’t know, you looked kinda out of control before that.

Yeah? Well, as far as I can see, when you do something good and you’re a hero, but when I try, I’m just some loner freak, and you’re to blame. You know, I was about to help that kid in the park, but then you showed up before I had the chance.

Isaac, I –

Whatever, I have better things to do than talk to you, Isaac said with disdain, before putting in his headphones and continuing his drawing. See ya ’round, Mason.

Robert sighed. I was just trying to help, he said, before heading home.

Around twenty minutes passed, before Robert reached his house, a standard looking two-storey home with a small brick wall and a few bushes and plants in the front garden.

Walking up the path to the front door, Robert pulled out his key and let himself in. Mum, I’m home, he called out as he took off his shoes.

Cindy Mason, Robert’s single mother, walked into the hall and smiled. Hey Rob, hope you had a good day, did you have anything to eat while you were out?

Robert nodded. Yeah, I had a burger about an hour ago.

Okay, well, if you’re still hungry, there’s some apple pie in the fridge.

Okay thanks. Anyway, I’m gonna head up to my room, watch some TV.

Okay, see ya later then. Cindy waved to him.

See ya. Robert waved back as he headed up the stairs.

Opening the door, Robert switched on the light as he entered his room, inside of which was a small television sitting atop a desk, and two shelves of DVD’s and video games that covered one of his walls, with the others displaying a few movie posters in the once bare spaces around his wardrobe and draws.

After hanging up his jacket, Robert grabbed his laptop, switching it on, before he sat on his bed. Spending around an hour checking his social pages and watching random YouTube videos, Robert’s attention was then drawn to a chat box that appeared at the bottom of the screen while he was scrolling through Facebook. Looking to the box, Robert smiled as he saw the name of his best friend, Tim Douglas, and so clicked to read the message and respond.

Hi Robert!

Hey Tim, what’s up?

I just came up with the best joke in the history of jokes, that’s what’s up!

Really? Okay, tell me.

All right, get ready. Where does a bug go when it gets hurt?

Where?

The hosbeetle! Get it?

Oh no, I think I’m gonna die of a laughing overdose, help!

Just call me the joke master!

Okay, lol! So anyway, you do much today? Besides coming up with top quality jokes, I mean.

Ha, and no, not much, just watching movies, playing games, the usual. How about you?

Mostly the same, although I did go to the park for a walk, which wasn’t that much fun because Trent was there, and he almost beat up a little kid! I told him to leave her alone, then he wanted to fight me, but luckily, Trent left when the kid’s mum showed up.

Well, I’m glad that kid’s okay, but standing up to Trent, that’s risky. You remember what happened with Isaac?

Yeah, how could I forget? But I mean, the kid was in danger, so it was worth it.

Yeah, true.

Robert rubbed his eyes and yawned.

Okay Tim, it’s getting late, I had better head off, I’m getting kinda tired.

Okay then, see ya later!