Marco & The Elements: Crim

By Melia Fragapane

Would you be able to pick up the shattered pieces of a world that abandoned you?



When the element of hatred breaks out of its prison in the elemental realm and crosses into Earth, a real problem arises in Marco’s hands. A seventeen-year-old humble individual was now forced to be something completely different as he learns to lead a rebellion against hatred. You can understand Marco’s displeasure as he wakes up in a burning building with a broken ankle and some missing memories. Fortunately not alone, Marco is in contact with the elements. He is the only one with this gift. Marco can rid people of the hatred that has consumed them. With the help from his new-but-old friends, Marco is able to banish the element of hatred—Crim—learn his role in destiny, and free his love. Only to learn of a new, more tantalizing threat not only to the world but to him and his team individually.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Fulton Books, Inc.
• Release date: Apr 23, 2020
• ISBN: 9781646541447

Book preview

Chapter 1

Hello? the same woman’s voice echoed in the darkness. Can someone help me? I’m lost. Is anyone there? He heard the voice begin to weep. He was trying to keep from weeping himself.

Hello? I’m here. My name is Marco. I can help you! Please don’t cry. Just tell me where you are. I will come to you, he responded out into the darkness.

Hello? The woman seemed surprised. Marco, I’m over here. Follow the sound of my voice, she told him.

Okay, great! Stay there. I’ll come to you. Keep talking, he told her, trying to navigate in the darkness. He held up his hands, feeling through the pitch-black air.

I knew it! I am glad you’re back, she said.

Keep talking. That way I can follow the sound of your voice, he told her.

Marco. Her words became blurred.

Hello? Wait, are you still there? I’m coming. Don’t worry! He began to rush in the direction he thought she was in, unsure of whether she heard him or not.

Marco? another voice came in. It was another lady’s voice. Marco? Is that his name? Are you sure? She paused. Can you hear me, Marco? she asked him. Then a bright light was emitted into his eyes. He brought up his hand to push out the light and immediately it turned off. It was just a nurse holding a flashlight to his eyes. He was wincing, but his eyes were opened. He came up with a gasp.

Where am I? What is this? He angrily started ripping off wires that were attached to him. The doctor came in and saw him ripping off his wires.

Wait! Wait! What are you doing? Leave those there! This is an EKG, the nurse replied. The doctor stepped in once the commotion had begun.

What! Who are you? Why? Marco asked.

My name is Dr. Crimson. I am the one who’s taking care of you. You can’t take those wires out because you haven’t completely healed yet. We have to get a reading on you so that we can see what your status is. You’re not allowed to leave until I’ve given the okay. As your doctor, I’m letting you know that you are not clear to leave yet, Dr. Crimson said.

Back to life. Wyatt, Marco mumbled in a circle of confusion. Dr. Crimson was a tall Armenian man with black hair. He had a cerulean-blue button-up shirt and black slacks. He was wearing nice, shiny, and black wing tip shoes. He had glasses on with black frames.

I’m not the guy you need to save! You have to go back! You have to find Wyatt. He has blond hair. He’s about the same height as me, brown eyes. Marco was giving a description and trying to get up.

I need some help in here! Dr. Crimson yelled out. Two big men and a nurse came in. The men held down Marco, and the nurse prepared a general anesthetic. The doctor backed away.

Marco, if you don’t calm down, I’m going to be forced to give you something. Do you understand? the doctor said. Marco was distracted and preoccupied with trying to get the two men off.

I…I know. Marco was trying to respond, but he was running out of breath rather quickly. Y-You…mean…well… He threw out into the air. Unsure if they could even hear him. I…I really…need…to…go! Marco kept trying to belt out these words for dear life. He wasn’t strong enough to yell yet.

All right, Marco. You’ve left us no choice, Dr. Crimson told him. The nurse walked over and found Marco’s vein due to one of the men straightening his arm out. Then she injected the medicine into the vein she had found. It didn’t take effect immediately. Marco kept struggling for about three minutes and then relaxed in his strained position. His eyes were red and glossy now. The men then let go of him and walked out of the room.

I know you’re just trying to help. But you have the wrong guy. I’m okay. These were Marco’s last words before he entered the void again. Marco attempted to stay awake, but his eyes were too heavy. They shut like a garage door, and he was out like a light.

Thank you. Dr. Crimson nodded to his coworkers as they exited the room. His arms were on his hips, and he held furrowed brows. He wiped his mouth discreetly. I’m sorry, Marco, but you’re not cleared to leave yet. You’re under my care, and I won’t let anything happen to you, the doctor said, catching a quick breath. Get some rest now. I’ll be back to check on you, Dr. Crimson told him and left the room.

Chapter 2

Marco, a soft, familiar voice called to him.

Wake up, Marco. He breathed in deeply. Suddenly, he gained a flashback of the sound of crashing waves. He heard seagulls in the distance and felt the warm embrace of the sun. His hair and clothes were whipping back and forth from the wind. Then Marco coughed. He was happy to have fresh oxygen, though. He opened his eyes to the present and saw yellow light coming in from the morning sun. It was bright, very bright, so Marco was wincing. He saw who he thought to be a nurse, sitting on the bed to his left and caressing his dirty black hair. He sat up and felt a world of pain from his torso; he clenched at his shirt where his heart was. Marco forgot about his injury.

Marco, tell me, how do you feel? the familiar voice asked him while picking up his wrist to hold his hand. He liked that and recognized the soft palm now touching his. It wasn’t a nurse.

A little light-headed. Where am I? Marco asked her.

They’ll take care of the pain soon. I’m Helena. Do you remember what happened to you? Do you remember me? she asked him. Helena was a small woman who wore the most wonderful smile. That smile just swept Marco right off his feet. His eyes were still making everything blurry, though. She had brown hair that fell passed her shoulders and always wore a heart necklace. She was five feet, five inches tall. Her personality showed her to be kind, smart, and helpful.

Marco tried to think for a minute. He remembered, but every time he jolted his memories, it triggered pain. Everything was cloudy and inconvenient. Marco wasn’t aware that no one else could see or hear her.

Helena. Vaguely familiar, Marco said. Suddenly, he remembered the heat of the room in the burning building. He remembered how dirty the air was immediately and began coughing repeatedly, trying to get clean air.

Hey! Hey, Marco, it’s okay. Helena touched his upper arm for reassurance. He stopped coughing and saw her face clearly for the first time. He paused, astounded by her beauty, in which he couldn’t see before. So distracted by her rosy cheeks and wonderful smile, he caught himself staring.

Wow, he said, looking into her blue eyes. She was smiling.

Tell me what you saw, Marco, she asked him.

Well, I think you’re beautiful. If, if that’s what you mean. He paused and looked away, confused. Did I just say that out loud? Marco thought aloud. Then he had a flashback, and it surprised him so much that he sat up in bed. He gasped when he remembered his crushed friend. My friend! He is still in there! Marco yelled, jumping up, but then he crumpled in pain.

Whoa! Relax, Marco. You’ve just been through a traumatic event, she told him, helping him back down. Take a few deep breaths, and then tell me what happened. She showed him a deep breath, and then he did it with her. Now, Marco. She smiled, reassuring him. He was just staring into her blue eyes again.

Yes, he said declaratively. He looked down to see if there was anything he could fix on himself to make himself look better. Then Marco coughed to clear his throat and looked up at her again, but she was gone. Like in a movie, she had vanished. His eyebrows creased in confusion. Then Marco heard a nurse walk into the room.

Chapter 3

Oh. You are awake. Good morning. You gave us a real scare two days ago. I’m just glad you’re okay, she said.

Yeah, sorry about that. What? Two days? Marco replied. He began looking for Helena, behind the other nurse, and he looked back to the window. No sign of her, though. He began to think he was losing it, so he didn’t mention anything about it to the nurse. She placed an armband around his right arm and retrieved his pulse, blood pressure, lung capacity, and heart rate.

So, Marco, right? she asked him.

Yes, ma’am, he answered.

How are you feeling today? she asked him.

I’m not entirely sure, he said with a discerning face.

Any pain? On a scale of one to ten, can you tell me where you would rate? she asked.

No pain, a zero, he told her.

Good. Well, my name is Annie, and I’ll be back to check on you occasionally, okay? Annie told him. Before I go, would you like any water or anything? she asked. He shook his head from left to right with a soft smile.

Thanks, Annie, he said and took a deep breath, which wasn’t easy. Thinking about Helena’s beautiful, glowing blue eyes, Marco was helplessly in love. She was probably the most beautiful thing he’d ever seen. She was gone just like that. He was wondering if all of it was fake. He heard a knock on the door, and Dr. Crimson stepped in with a clipboard.

Hello, Marco. I’m Dr. Crimson. We met two days ago, but you were kind of busy, he said.

Oh yeah, sorry about that. I think I reacted like that due to shock, Marco said.

No problem. How are the lungs? the doctor asked.

I don’t really know. I’m able to talk, Marco said, then offered a smile.

No, no, that’s great. We have a lot of cases where our patients won’t ever be able to talk again. Let me see you take a deep breath. Can you sit up? the doctor asked him.

I think so. Marco tried to sit up but felt a world of pain forming a sphere shape in his center. He was able to, but it hurt very much, and he showed this by clenching his eyes shut.

It’s okay. If it’s too much, you can lie back down, the doctor said. Marco took that okay and immediately fell back down.

Sorry, Doc, Marco said.

Don’t worry, Marco. Just rest for now, okay? I didn’t get to formally introduce myself last time. I am Dr. Crimson. I am a respiratory doctor, so we will get you up and running in no time, Dr. Crimson said. Marco nodded his answer in agreement.

Chapter 4

The doctor left the room, and not a few minutes later, a new face rushed in. Marco recognized this guy. This man had a sneaker on one foot with no sock, and the other foot had a shoe with holes; it looked like a puppy had a grand time with it. His pants were torn on the ankle of one foot, and a gaping hole surrounded the other knee. The pants were gray, but it seemed like the color was faded due to some kind of wet substance falling on them. The man was wearing a red Hawaiian shirt, with yellow-and-white flowers. Marco noticed the strong scent of carrots. The man was certainly noticed immediately due to his stumbling entrance, knocking over a cart with some food on it for another patient’s room. The man paused for a moment to catch his breath and hide in Marco’s room. Then suddenly, a black smoke came crawling from behind the man and consumed him.

No, no, no! the man cried out, but it was too late. The smoke had gotten to his face. Suddenly, his demeanor changed. He took a deep breath and looked straight at Marco.

So this is the infamous Marco I have heard so much about, the man said. Leaped his way out of death yet again by escaping the dastardly burning building. Am I right? the man asked him. Then he cleared his throat. His eyes became dead black for a second then came back to their normal brown.

Sorry, that doesn’t usually happen. The man’s voice had changed to a nervous one.

Are you okay? What the hell just happened? Marco replied.

Ah! Where are my manners, haha? He paused a second to look down at his name tag, ignoring Marco’s question. Marco could tell that he was reading it but didn’t say anything. Then trying to play it cool, the man pulled off his whole shirt and handed it to Marco.

New name tag, check it out. Name’s Doug, Doug said. Marco nodded and handed the shirt back.

Nice to meet you, Doug, Marco replied, still confused at everything that just happened.

No, no, really. The pleasure’s all mine! I mean, you don’t remember me? Doug said, seeming as though he was excited to be talking to Marco. He placed his shirt back on. His demeanor changed back to the way it was before.

We gotta get you out of here. It’s not safe. Forgive my appearance. I had quite the experience trying to get here this morning. We’re not going to talk about that. He mumbled the last part. I’m here to get you out of here, Doug said then hiccupped. It was a big one, and it made him pause. Suddenly, Marco noticed Helena standing there on the other side of the bed. She was wearing a nurse outfit.

Helena? You’re a nurse? Marco asked her. She only returned a smile then looked straight at Doug with a confused look.

Right, Doug said slowly. Well, listen! I’m with the resistance, Marco. We gotta get you out of here, Doug whispered, looking Marco in the eyes. He started to unplug some of the wires attached to the bed so he could move Marco. He kept the bag, which was attached to Marco’s IV. The bed started to move, and Marco had to say one last