The Hunt for Elemental

By K. R. Brown

It’s been seven months since the Defenders, a team of heroes responsible for protecting the city of Charlotte, North Carolina, had their great battle against the monstrous Amphibian. However, their old teammate, seventeen-year-old Isabel Honeycutt, is still in hiding.

Worried for the safety of her loved ones, Isabel let everyone believe that she died in the fight. However, she actually fled the city to learn how to better control her powers over fire and ice on her own. Her training gets cut short though when her old teammates find her and bring her home. They have a new, dangerous mission: helping a mysterious organization called the Future Leaders of America (FLA) track down a fugitive with superhuman abilities. As the Defenders become more involved with the FLA though, Isabel begins to learn that there may be more to the organization—and its fugitive—than they were told.

In this science fiction novel for young adults, a young woman must learn to trust in herself and an unlikely ally to save her city and reveal the truth about two secretive organizations.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Abbott Press
• Release date: Jan 21, 2021
• ISBN: 9781458222886

K. R. Brown

K. R. Brown has always had a passion for stories and writing. She is a rising senior in college and from a small town near Charlotte, North Carolina. This novel is the third installment in her series beginning with “The White Dove.”

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Copyright © 2021 K. R. Brown.

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ISBN: 978-1-4582-2290-9 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4582-2289-3 (hc)

ISBN: 978-1-4582-2288-6 (e)

Library of Congress Control Number: 2020911264

Abbott Press rev. date: 01/12/2021

To my super par

ents

Thank you for always supporting me and encouraging

me to make my dream come true.

CONTENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Chapter 13

Chapter 14

Chapter 15

Chapter 16

Chapter 17

Chapter 18

Chapter 19

Chapter 20

Chapter 21

CHAPTER 1

My eyes were glued to the TV as the same familiar voice reverberated around me well over a dozen times in unison.

How many times do I have to tell you? No loitering! A loud voice interrupted. He was back.

I turned away from the wall of TV displays quickly, causing my light brown braid to whip around and over my shoulder. The salesclerk of the electronic store tried to look menacing as he stood a few feet away from me with his arms crossed over his chest, but his bush of curly hair and oversized glasses ruined the attempt.

At least one more time, I answered, smiling at him playfully. I’d spent enough time in the store to know that the employee was too good-natured to actually start yelling at some random teenage girl, especially in front of a crowd of customers.

Just be gone by the time I get back, He demanded, pointing at me before he walked away.

Yes, Sir! I called after him as I returned my attention to the TV.

I had heard that somebody was going to interview one of the Defenders, a team of heroes that protect my hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina, and I wasn’t going to miss this unless the police showed up to drag me away. Fortunately, I wasn’t disappointed. As the interview started, I saw a reporter sitting in the lobby of a recently repaired skyscraper. She was interviewing David, the leader of the Defenders and my old friend from when I had been on the team. I had been hoping to see all of the Defenders, but my other three friends, Delilah, Michael, and Danielle, weren’t there.

So Mr. Knight, what do you think of the new United Corporate Center? The reporter asked, smiling at him. I nearly cringed at the building’s name. It reminded me of fire and monsters and my final battle with the Defenders before I had run away seven months ago.

David paused unsurely before answering. Although he had been the leader of the Defenders since soon after that battle, he still wasn’t the best at public speaking. As an inventor, he preferred to hide away in his lab and build things that ended up exploding half the time.

I think it’s amazing that they managed to fix the top of the building so quickly, He observed jokingly.

The reporter replied by laughing in a bubbly, over-exaggerated way. Well, the builders were able to use your designs to make the top floors that were destroyed in battle into a new Defenders Headquarters. Are you looking forward to the location change? She asked with an eager grin.

I have a lot of memories in that old basement of the Charlotte Convention Center. It’s where I’ve been going to work every day for nearly four years. It’s hard to imagine that we’ll be at the top of a building now instead of the bottom, David explained.

Do you think the other Defenders share this feeling, seeing as you’re the only one that’s been on the team for more than two years? She questioned.

We might not have been together for very long, but we’ve been through a lot in that time, David pointed out.

I couldn’t help but feel guilty as it occurred to me that if I hadn’t run away, I would’ve been on the team for three years by this point. That would’ve made me the second most experienced Defender, but now there was a wide gap between David and the next member.

The reporter didn’t miss a beat as she instantly stopped smiling and began nodding sympathetically instead. I know, the deaths of so many team members in so short a time must make things difficult. The whole city misses those we lost, She consoled, but David looked slightly insulted.

The city may miss them, but the other Defenders and I are the ones who actually mourn for our friends. Things haven’t been the same without them, He explained sorrowfully.

I looked away from the TV and David’s crestfallen face. I wanted to return to Charlotte every day, but I knew I couldn’t. My parents had always known that I was a Defender. That was a very public affair. I hadn’t however told them how I had managed to get onto a team meant for 18-year-olds when I was only 14 years old. In a freak lab accident, one of David’s inventions had given me the ability to change into Elemental, a superhero with a completely different appearance and the power to control ice. If I got upset or threatened while using my powers though, I would switch to having dangerous fire powers with a violent personality to match. It was like becoming a completely different person as I lost all control over myself, yet it somehow always felt right at the time.

Before the Defenders defeated the Amphibian, another superhuman named Ashton with powers even stronger and more dangerous than mine, Fire Elemental had willingly returned control to me so that I could help my friends. I knew that she still longed to be in charge though, and any time that I turned into Elemental, I risked the chance of becoming Fire Elemental by accident. That’s why I couldn’t go back to Charlotte. There was no way I could explain to my parents how I had survived the explosion we had caused at the United Corporate Center unless I revealed the truth, and my powers were still too out of control to put my friends and family in danger.

Thankfully, I didn’t have to turn into Elemental completely to have limited control over ice. Although I had to change form to have full powers, I could have reduced powers in my normal state with the only side effect being my eyes and hair lightly changing color. Just to test myself, I held out one of my hands and watched as trails of snowflakes appeared on my skin. I wasn’t worried about my ice powers, but I didn’t want to see the city burn.

Don’t make me call security! A voice suddenly cut into my thoughts. The salesclerk was back, yet again. I shook my hand to get the ice off and stuck it in my pocket before turning around.

I was just on my way out, I explained as I walked past him and out the front of the store. Once outside, a blast of wind immediately hit me. I couldn’t see it, but I knew my eyes turned a lighter shade of icy blue as I used a fraction of my powers to make myself immune to the cold.

Hi, Belle! Ms. Joanne called out to me from where she sat on the sidewalk, leaning against the brick wall.

Hi, Ms. Joanne, I replied cheerfully as I walked over to her.

Any spare change? She asked, extending her arm toward me and rattling her tin cup.

No, do you have any? I responded jokingly.

Not yet, She answered as she continued to somehow rattle her cup without any coins in it.

Okay… Well, good luck with that then, I replied, glancing between the two.

As I walked away, I heard Ms. Joanne repeat her question to a passing couple, and one of them dropped a bill into the cup. I had gotten used to seeing Ms. Joanne around this particular section of the city, so by now, she knew that I didn’t have any money to give. When I ran away from Charlotte, I didn’t really have much of a plan either. I had accidentally turned into Fire Elemental to survive the end of the battle against the Amphibian, and I was barely able to turn back to normal. I stayed in Charlotte just long enough to attend my own funeral (a strange experience), but then, I fled. I eventually ended up in Salisbury, a city northeast of Charlotte, and decided to stay here until I could come up with a better idea, finding work wherever I could. Since it was February when I first arrived, I was able to shovel snow for money, but that didn’t last long once the weather warmed up.

My new home was a condemned apartment building that wasn’t scheduled to be demolished for another year. With all of the ice I had added to the structure, it was actually safe now, but no one could tell from the outside. Using the fire escape as usual, I reached a third story window that I had broken and replaced with ice on my first trip inside. The rickety stairs creaked like they were about to drop out from beneath me during the entire climb.

Although the outside of the house was made of worn and faded bricks, the inside was my own personal ice castle. The frozen structural support was obvious from the inside, and I had managed to make most of it seem decorative. Swirls of ice trailed away from the main beams, and sheets of ice covered most of the walls. A variety of assorted furniture pieces, mainly consisting of extra chairs and tables that I didn’t need, dotted the rooms and made it seem more like a home. I gazed around my glittering apartment, beautiful but cold, with some amount of pride until I happened to notice my own reflection in one of the icy panels on the wall.

The hairs that stuck out of my messy braid were stringy, and my skin was paler than usual despite the fact that I wasn’t using my powers anymore. My jacket helped cover it up, but I had lost some weight off my already thin figure. I quickly shifted my focus away from my appearance and back to the apartment.

The problem with my building technique was that it made the apartment permanently cold, even in September. It didn’t help that it was unusually cold this year, so I had to use a lot of effort to keep partially using my powers without fully shifting into Elemental. I was busy throwing snowballs at the wall out of boredom when I suddenly heard the fire escape start rattling. Since I didn’t want to reveal that the window was only ice now, I forced it open in a series of short jerks. Before I stuck my head out though, I already knew who would be at the bottom of the stairs.

Are you trying to bring the whole building down on me? I called out.

It’ll fall down if someone sneezes on it! My friend, Jessica, responded through cupped hands.

That makes me feel better! I replied, smiling at the irony.

So are you coming out of your fortress or not? Nick, Jessica’s older brother, asked.

I don’t know. It’s pretty nice in here! I answered playfully, but I was already climbing out of the window. Then I made my way down the fire escape, pretending to be more worried for my safety than I actually was. As soon as I reached the bottom, Jessica threw me a wrapped-up burger from a fast food restaurant. You’re keeping me well-supplied, I stated, smiling as I unwrapped the burger. Then the three of us started walking away from my supposed death trap of an apartment.

Jessica was the same age as me, and Nick was about two years older than her, making him the responsible adult of the family. I had told them multiple times that they didn’t have to keep bringing me food, but they were actually my most reliable food source, and I think they knew it. Jessica and I met while working together for over a month as waitresses in the same restaurant before it got shut down for having a rat problem. Although I was kind of glad that the restaurant had closed for sanitary reasons, it still left me without a job. By that point though, Jessica and I had become close friends, and she had introduced me to Nick. It turned out that she wasn’t usually good at making friends, so I became an honorary member of their family.

Hey, want to go to the top of the Plaza building? The view is awesome up there, Jessica suggested during our walk as she pointed to a tall apartment complex nearby.

I think I’ll pass, I responded quickly, staring up at the seven-story-tall building with apprehension.

Belle, you live in an apartment building and go up the fire escape every day. What’s the problem with this one? Nick asked.

I usually don’t go past the third story, and when I do, I stay away from the windows, I answered hastily.

You know, having a fear of heights while living in a city might not be the best combination, Jessica pointed out.

I used to be more impressed than afraid, but that changed a few months ago, I explained as the building in front of me continued to stretch itself taller in my mind.

What happened? Jessica asked, sounding a bit concerned.

I nearly fell off the edge of a skyscraper, I stated simply, which was the truth, but it was vague enough not to be connected with the death of a Defender in Charlotte. Jessica and Nick both stopped in their tracks.

What? How on Earth did that happen? Jessica asked in shock.

I was a bit clumsy… I trailed off uncertainly.

It sounds like clumsy nearly got you killed! Nick remarked.

That’s an understatement, I muttered in response.

I wasn’t aware that anything was conspiring around me, but I should have noticed the differences. Several of the people I was used to seeing around the city disappeared, but I figured they must have simply moved. Ms. Joanne never failed to be sitting in her usual spot, but she grew quiet and stern like she was afraid to speak to me.

Then the police began to frequent the streets at night, which made me feel both safe and anxious. Every time I heard a police car come speeding up while I was out after dark, I would dart into the nearest alleyway and press myself against the wall. There was a good chance they would question why a teenage girl was out late at night, alone, and I didn’t need to be taken in for questioning. The conversation was bound to get awkward after they did a background check on me and found both a date of birth and a date of death.

Despite these problems though, I was determined to keep going to church, so I found a big one where people didn’t really know each other. I even sat in the back row every Sunday, so I could escape quickly without having to talk to anyone. The brown leather jacket I wore every day got some odd looks, but it was the only jacket I owned.

Near the beginning of the service the next Sunday, a woman wearing slacks and a business jacket entered and sat down on the pew next to me. Although she was blocking my quick exit, I smiled lightly at her to be polite. I didn’t think much about her at first because a lot of people came in late, but then I caught her watching me out of the corner of her eye. I glanced over and realized that she was sitting tensely, ready to jump up at the slightest provocation. Her expression was cold and stern as she faced the pulpit, but her steely eyes were constantly on me. Sensing danger, I stood up to leave (unfortunately in the middle of the preacher’s sermon on forgiveness), but she immediately moved her legs out and blocked my path.

I’m going to have to ask you to come with me, She whispered as she slowly turned her head to look at me. Now that was threatening.

Can it wait until the end of the service? I whispered back nervously.

You’re not waiting, She pointed out in a stern voice.

I have to go to the bathroom! Watch my bag, I replied, pointing to the white, sparkly pouch I had left lying on the pew.

Still suspicious, she just barely pulled her legs back, and I had to awkwardly inch past her and out of the pew. As I left, I took one last look at the vast sanctuary, filled with red pews and quiet, well-dressed people who had no idea what was happening behind them.

I tried to look normal as I walked toward the entrance of the church, but I turned away sharply when I spotted a uniformed police officer guarding the door. It was time for Plan B: actually go to the bathroom. I remembered there being a window in the back of the restroom, and I had to move quickly. It was only a matter of time before the officer back in the sanctuary got curious, tried to look in my purse, and discovered that it was just a lump of ice I had shaped to look like a bag.

Once in the bathroom, I headed straight for the window. Even though I tried to open it gently, it still creaked uncomfortably loudly due to lack of use. Then I created an ice pedestal to climb out of the window, making sure to melt it again behind me. Outside, I zipped up my jacket and stuck my hands in my pockets as I let the cold hit me. (It would help me blend in better with the rest of the chilly civilians walking around outside.) I kept my head down as I walked purposefully away from the church, actively avoiding looking at a police car parked nearby. Just after I turned a corner though, I heard a siren start blaring somewhere behind me. They knew I was gone.

CHAPTER 2

I bolted toward my apartment building. I had evaded police before as Elemental by skating across sheets of ice I made, but this was the first time I actually had to run. Luckily, they had no idea where I had gone, and I wasn’t nearly as easy to spot this way. I stayed on the balls of my feet as I raced ahead with light footsteps. I practically launched myself forward with long strides, but I stopped short when I saw my apartment building.

The sidewalk around my fortress was crawling with police officers. My feet were glued to the pavement as I stood by and watched them kick the door in and start flooding into the building. I raised my hand to melt the ice inside, so there wouldn’t be any proof I had been there. My hand started trembling though as it occurred to me that my frozen structures were the only thing keeping the building from collapsing in on itself with the officers inside. Melting the ice would mean risking their lives. I shook my head as I lowered my hand again. It was about to become very clear very quickly that Elemental was indeed alive.

I suddenly felt a large hand grab my arm and yank me back into an alleyway. My reflexes instantly kicked in, and I swatted the hand away as I assumed a fighting position. I turned to see Nick’s startled face staring at me with Jessica next to him as usual, and I awkwardly relaxed my stance.

Guys, do y’all know what’s going on? Why are there police officers invading my building? I asked, starting to get