The Shifters: Katrina

I didn't miss the worried look Aaron kept on his face as he led me toward Coraline's building. My exhaustion was far from my mind now. I followed the fox shifter into the first floor, and for once, we didn't go straight up. Instead, the elite wandered to the wall beside the stairs, laying his hand against it. The wind around us swirled, pushing hard against the smooth section of plaster. It would've been invisible to me, not that I knew where to look. Aaron's ability revealed the stairs leading downward, and as I walked past, I heard the soft hiss of the wall sliding back into place.

Oh, I'm doing this alone, am I?

Instructions on how to get to Marie's cell filled my mind. Each section had a decent quality bed, a table and two chairs, as well as a few roughed up books. Hers was the only one with a light on, the others remaining quiet and empty.

What a horrible place to be stuck in. The quiet would drive anyone insane.

Marie looked up as I strode toward the bars. Her green eyes were filled with boredom and distaste. She sat at the table, a tattered book in her hands.

"Hello, Katrina. Are you the reason why I got woken up?"

"Guess so," I muttered, staring at the bars. There was no door, and I was starting to assume I had to use my element to get in.

I reached out, brushing my hands against them. When three consecutive bars struck me as abnormally cold, I wrapped my hand around two of them.

Ice.

They exploded in vapour, giving me the space to step through. The three of them materialized behind me once again.

What a neat trick.

"Fast learner," Marie muttered. "Maybe you would've done better in school if you paid attention."

I winced, picturing all the times I'd gone to the principal's office. All the fights I had ended up in.

I have to admit, I thought, my grades were kind of terrible... But you never acted like this, Mom.

"That's different," I said defensively. "I wasn't meant to be taught like them. I'm a shifter, not a regular person."

"You're right. My regular daughter should've been better at school -- you, you monster, have an excuse. Monsters do not belong among children."

"Monster, huh?" I asked, sitting across from her at the cell's table. "You need a new insult, Marie."

She scoffed. "I should kill you where you sit. I'm a huntress -- you're just a freak."

"You would fight a dragon?" I asked, crossing my arms.

Marie eyed me cautiously, her eyebrows forming a frown. "You can't transform in such a small space. You're just a girl in confined areas like this."

Fire exploded out from one of my arms, as well as water from the other.

"Remember what I am, Marie."

She opened her mouth to insult me once more, and I cut her off.

"So, huntress, what can you tell me about the other Guardians? If you had me, then you must know something about--"

"They're dead."

I faltered.

Dead?

The others are... Dead?

My eyes slowly dragged upward, glaring daggers into my mother's. Her smug expression drilled holes into my soul.

"We killed them," she told me, her expression too pleasant for talking about murder.

I'll wipe that smile off your face...

I'll destroy the hunters for killing those two...

Rage built up under my ribs. I was shaking, my hands trembling. The bars of ice exploded, my mother flinching out of her skin. The huntress fell out of her chair, her eyes wide as fire and water began to curl around my body. I stormed out, unable to control the strength of my water as I restored the bars -- instead of three bars, a wall of ice boxed her in. I heard her yelling, pounding against the ice as I stormed out of the prison. The wall burned without me needing to think, fire leaping off my skin and onto the hidden doorway. People began yelling as I appeared, my steps leaving ice and fire as I broke into a sprint. I was angry, hurt, and wanted nothing more than to be with the other Guardians.

They're dead! They killed them!

Fire spat from my fingertips, scorching the ground. Shifters from all around stared in horror, watching as tears dripped down my face. Blue and red glow was splotched all over me, my fire and water leaching outward. I couldn't control them, and soon I was encased in the two. Flames blasted outward, water splashing the ground. I wanted to cry, wanted to hurt someone.

The Guardians being dead meant that I was an outsider once again. I was the weird one, like how I had been all throughout my childhood. The one on the outside. The one left behind.

I was an orphan, after all.

An orphan who had only wanted one thing after getting kidnapped and taken to somewhere I was supposed to belong.

I wanted for them to be alive. For the ones who were actually like me to be alive.

I wanted to feel like I belonged. I wanted to know that I wasn't the only 'special one' that was tasked with protecting the compounds. I wanted to have loyal comrades, and a team I could trust.

But they were dead. Even if my dream was true and one was alive in captivity, we were still missing half of the Guardians.

If the last living ones die, we're reborn, a darker side of me whispered. Why don't they just finish us off?

Gritting my teeth, I forced that thought away. Heat boiled the air, pouring off my shoulders where two large flames rested, constantly pulsing larger.

"Holy crap -- Katrina, what's wrong?!"

My eyes flicked left. Luke was standing outside a chocolate store, his arms filled with several bars and containers. The earth shifter gently set his purchases to the side, carefully walking toward me. As he approached, my flames burned hotter, the water around me creating a swirling barrier.

"Katrina, you need to chill out," Luke said firmly. "What happened?!"

"The hunters killed the Guardians," I seethed, wiping my eyes with the back of my hand. "They're dead."

He pursed his lips, watching my elements dance dangerously around me. Several people were watching, keeping their distance as I curled my fists. One was covered in ice, and the other had a glove of fire.

"Listen, I get that that sucks, but you didn't know them, Katrina. Why are you so upset?"

"Because I wanted to know them! But they killed them, for nothing!"

"So you're going to kill us?"

I faltered, a glow flickering along my body as I nearly lost my hold on my power. "What?"

"Look."

I followed his finger, staring at the scorched ground all around me. Flames were crawling along the ground, patches of ice blocking people's path. I had been destructive without even meaning to be.

Monster.

My shoulders sagged, the elements flickering twice before vanishing with a poof. Shifters all around me watched warily before going about their day, whispering amongst themselves.

I flinched when a warm hand touched my shoulder, rubbing it comfortingly. Luke leaned me into him, letting me hide my face as my breath remained shaky.

"I was just looking forward to meeting them..," I murmured, "even if it was only for a second..."

The boy hugged me, squeezing tight. Luke had helped me transform for the second time way back when, and had stuck around since. He was laid back, kind, and a good friend.

Not to mention he was pretty cute, but that was beside the point.

"Are you sure they're all gone?"

"One might be alive still," I answered, picturing the girl in my mind.

"Maybe you should ask Coraline to help you rescue her, once things have calmed down, of course."

I pulled away, looking up at Luke. He smiled, stuffing his hands in his pockets, his head tilted.

"Do you think she would?"

He shrugged, nudging me with his elbow. "People are pretty worried about this Guardian stuff nowadays. I don't think she'd leave one behind."

I bit my lip, trying to hide the small smile that threatened to grow.

I can't save those that are already dead.

But I might just be lucky enough to save one of them.