prologe

Duncan's POV

I laid in my bed silently tracing the metals bars of the bunk above me. There was a rather large dent in the frame. I couldn't help but smile at the memory of how it happened. It was how I got one of the most reckless and dangerous reputations here. A week into my first…experience I had gotten jumped several times. After all it was tradition to gang up on the new kid, as I now know. I didn't however know that when I first got there. During bathrooms breaks, meal times, and free time, I would get jumped. In a short week though I got sick of it. I couldn't just stand still and pray until God knows when for some kind of relief, that wasn't me, so I started to fight back and hard. I was a good fighter to begin with, being that my entire family was in the force and taught me a few moves, plus I got into a lot of fights after school with loud mouths that got on my nerves. So I was pretty well off when I got in my first "fight"there. Sure I lost but I had expected to start off rocky. I had to get my bearings and figure these guys out. It was around my fifth "fight" that I finally came on top. Soon I was taking on anyone no matter the size, if they messed with me they weren't going to walk out of it in one piece. Word was starting to spread that I was a fighter, and that apparently wasn't ok with a few of the older guys who thought it was their personal duty to make every newbie's' life a living Hell.

Their so called "leader" especially didn't like it. He did every stupid thing he could think of just to get me ticked, so that I would "stay in my place".

"Ha!"I looked at the dent once more tracing the inward curve with my fingertips, my smile growing even larger as the scene continued to play in my mind.

One day he thought it would be funny to screw with my food at lunch time. So he walked over to me very calmly and spat in my food, as if it were nothing. Like he was adding salt instead of his nasty saliva, and then he just looked at me with his stupid snarl daring me to do something about it. I couldn't back down from that, there was no way I could walk away from such an insult. Before he could even blink I knocked him out of his chair with a right hook. The guards were quick to throw me off into solitary confinement but not before I could get in another good swing or two. Once I got out the guy tried to get me back, but I was ready for it, I was prepared. I did push ups and sit ups until my body couldn't move while I was in there, to make sure I would make a statement. When I was sent back to my small cell that night he followed after ready for a fight. It was a short fight and I was able to pin him after a few exchanges of blows. And even though I won and he was pretty much knocked out I didn't stop. This guy was going to remember who he tried to mess with, so for extra effect I slammed his head into the side of the bed creating a large dent. He was in a slight coma for a week, and my status was accelerated, it was a win/win situation. Ever since then I've run juvie, I'm known and feared by all, even by those outside of center.

"Duncan, you awake?" my parole officer Jimmy was squinting in the dark to see if my eyes were cracked opened or shut. I knew if I didn't answer then he would leave me to my peace. He was one of the few officers here that I liked; the others were just power pushers. They did anything and everything to make them bigger, to show they had more power. They would have rattled at my bars until I woke up, or they would come barging in and shaking my bed. It was for that reason that I answered him.

"Yeah, is there a reason you callin' this early Jimmy? I know I'm an amazing person but God, I need my space!" I said sarcastically. Jimmy was also one of the only few officers I could throw sarcasm at and not get in trouble for it.

"Well as much as I do love your personality, I'm not here for a social call D, you got a guest" Jimmy threw back jokingly. He had already turned on my cell light and I could see that he had rushed into his clothes.

"What time is it?" I couldn't help but ask I usually woke up earlier then everyone else but since I didn't have a clock I could never be sure.

"6:30" was all he said as he started walking back down the hall. He knew I would follow, so he didn't have to keep a close watch on me. Sure I busted out of this place a lot but it was never under Jimmy's watch. I didn't want him getting in trouble or anything-not because I cared but the other officers bored me.

"Who would be coming here to visit me at 6:30? My family doesn't love me that much", my joke echoed down the empty hallways as I quickly pushed my sneakers on and ran after him.

When we got to the visiting area there was a man that looked to be about 40 years old sitting at the table. His build was lean and average and his snow white hair was brushed back into a ponytail. It looked like thousands of feathers were just sitting on top of his head, and it was completely out of place. Going just by his hair I would have guessed him to be maybe 70 or 80.

"Hello Duncan", he calmly said gesturing to the seat across from him. Raising an eyebrow at him I took my seat cautiously. This guy somehow knew my name, and seeing how I didn't know his name yet I wasn't really liking the situation. I carefully watched and assessed this stranger before me. His face stayed calm as I openly scrutinized him, he didn't fidget he didn't look anywhere else, in fact it looked like he was doing the exact same thing to me except a lot more subtly.

"Ok so he's pretty smart", I thought quietly as I continued my assessment.

He didn't flinch away when I sat down so that means he wasn't afraid, and didn't want to judge my character by just my outfit. Dumb, but still I had to appreciate that. He seemed to be the type of person that held back an opinion until he was absolutely sure. His shoulders were relaxed (which was a surprise because nobody was relaxed around me at first meetings). In fact his overall posture was relaxed so he must be laid back-down to earth, but not poor. His clothes looked expensive, but not flashy expensive so I knew he wasn't just some poser. There was a slight crease in his brow that suggested he had a lot to think about. And his hands were calmly folded on the table, not fidgety, so he probably wasn't looking for a fight. Good he wasn't a threat.

I finally looked up to meet his eyes and he kept contact. "So he's got balls", I thought to myself as a slow smirk appeared on my face.

"So you know my name but what's yours" I asked him leaning back in my chair showing him I wasn't threatened by him. You never want someone to think that you're threatened by them, it made you look vunerable.

"I'm Professor Waters, and I have some news for you" he started, but I cut him off. I heard this speech a thousand times before.

"Don't tell me, you want to be my new therapist so you could cure me of my bad and evil ways" I seen guys like him come by the dozens. Someone always wanted to get inside my head. See why I was the way I was, how I got to be such a hard ass when every single person in my family was in law enforcement. They thought I was an interesting case, and saw an opportunity to claim they did a good deed for the world by steering a harden criminal on the right path. The lessons and sessions were so annoying that I would end up showing them that I wasn't that bad of a guy, just to shut them up. I hated showing people that side but the long talks of "how did that make you feel?" nearly killed me. It's not like it actually changed anything, I still did what I wanted and broke the law, eventually getting sent back to juvie. It never changed.

"Actually I'm a dean at Stonewall Academy", he started again hiding a small smile, "I'm here because I would like you to attend our school, so we're giving you a full time scholarship". He paused for a second so I could catch my breath.

"What!...alright I'll bite...but what's the catch. There's gotta be a catch here" I stared him down waiting for him to break. Money bags like him didnt waste thousands of dollars on a kid like me unless they wanted something. Like i said guys like him came too many times for me to think otherwise. First they said they just wanted to help so they would offer a job or a scholarship and then months later they were getting money and prizes. Yeah of course they were only concerned about me.

"No catches, and I'm not in it for the money. We just think you'll be a perfect addition to our school", his face was still smooth and calm. Either this guy was telling the truth or he was a really good liar. .

"Don't look so sure Professor I didn't say anything yet"I looked over to Jimmy who was waiting for my answer- "You knew about this?" He of all people wouldn't lie just to get rid of me.

"Yeah and you should take the offer", he stated laying back into his chair. His hands were folded across his pot belly and kept giving me that- Don't do anything stupid-look.

I looked back over at this dean guy. Jim's statement had piqued my interest; He would never say something he didn't mean. And if he thought it was a bad idea he would've never gotten me from my cell to begin with.

"What kind of school is it?" I asked him, I needed every little bit of information that I could get. I wasn't gonna get punked into going to some kind of reform school for boys.

"It's a school that will help you…" he paused for a moment before turning back to Jimmy and asking, "could you give us a second?"

Jimmy at first looked a little hesitant but recognition lightened his face and he obliged, giving me a quick pat on the back and walking to the doors, "I'll be back in 5", was all he said over his shoulder as he headed back down the hallway, leaving us alone in the empty visiting room.

I stared back at the man across from me, not concerned in the least that Jimmy left me. For some reason I wasn't worried for my safety, I somehow knew he wouldn't do anything to me.

"What's your favorite color?" he asked me as if it was common to break off one sentence and randomly start up another one.

"What?" He's question took me off guard but I still answered him. Or at least I tried to answer him before he calmly said, "red". And it wasn't a question either it was a statement that said he had no doubt in his mind.

Stunned by curiosity I remained silent… "How did he know that?" was the only question hanging in my mind.

"You're not the only one with a gift Duncan", he replied.

"What? How do you know about that?" This was definitely getting weird. How did he know about the-

"The accident?" he answered my thoughts.

"Yeah…what's going on here?" I slowly started to back away from the table. This guy was starting to look like the stalking, murdering type.

"Ha! I'm not going to stalk or kill you Duncan, it's my gift. I told you that you were not alone Duncan. We've been keeping an eye on you for a while lad and let me tell you, you're not the only person out there that can handle fire."

I just sat there not sure how to respond, or if I should. This couldn't be real, he was lying. Yeah that's it he was lying. He probably got this information from Jimmy; he's the only one who knows after all. Yeah Jimmy was the one who told him.

"Jimmy didn't say a word to me, he kept his promise to you", he said trying to prove his point.

"OK my face is just easily readable…" I thought to myself.

"If you could really read my mind then you should know that I dont buy this bullshit. I mean come this is the stuff that happens in movies",I thought to myself still not able to grip the reality of the situation in full.

"Well then this would be one hell of a movie then", he smiled at me with sincerity. The feeling of victory was eminent on his face already.

Ok so he was telling the truth. "Alright… I'll believe you, but still why should I go to some school just because Jimmy or you think I should?"

"It'll help you tone and refine your skills so you won't lose control again and you won't have to hide your talents because all the other students are like you" he started but seeing the look on my face he quickly added, "and your parole and records will be put in our hands. And since we don't really know you that well...as far as I'm concerned they mean nothing."

"Say no more, because I don't care. As long as I don't have to be here I'm game, this place is starting to bore me" I laughed to myself as Jimmy came back into the room to take me to my cell. Once there I combed through my new school's glossy pamphlet that the Waters guy left for me.

I was supposed to be leaving Friday-three days from now. So I still had some time left to wreak as much havoc as I could. I went through that entire day with an evil smirk plastered on my face. Which scared a lot of the inmates, they knew that when I had that look that I had trouble spelled out for them.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Courtney's POV

I turned the mail over in my hands. There were a couple of bills and a few spam letters declaring that we only had a month to respond before the opportunity to get a new multipurpose brush that combs, trims, and straightens runs out.

"Oh yeah wouldn't want to miss out on that one", I mumbled to myself before throwing it out along with the other junk mails. I set my mom's bills on the white marble table. The only mail left were two letters addressed to me. I went to the kitchen to get a glass of milk before I sat down to read it. The first letter looked to be normal, so taking another sip of milk I started to scan the letter. It read:

Dear Ms. Anderson,

I am pleased to inform you that you have been accepted to Stonewall Academy. We have kept an eye on you for quite some time now, and believe you are more than qualified. As I am sure you must already know, our reputation of being one of the worlds best school's does precede us. We take a great pride in our superior criteria, that offers only the most challenging and demanding courses available.

Along with our excellent and numerous courses that we proudly offer, our school is also considered one of the country's top art and sport school. We demand only the best out of our students and know that we can count on you in that field.

We here at Stonewall guarantee a promising career to each and every one of our elite and gifted students. This is a once in a lifetime opportunity and hope that you consider taking another step to success.

Yours truly,

Darren Waters

(Head master)

Attached to the letter was a small pamphlet. The cover image was of a bunch of students laughing and joking with each other, looking genuinely happy to be there. Looming behind them was a large castle like building that held a sense of class and elegance. Like a king's castle. I continued to look through the rest of the pages stopping at the courses section. I had to admit I was impressed with the selection, this place seemed to offer every course and major that I was considering for my future. And since it was one of those early schools that started accepting students when they were in their junior year I would be able to get a head start in life and still be able to attend a different school after! This was obviously a once in a lifetime opportunity and I was chosen to be one of the lucky few. Of course I don't really blame them I am the top of my class, and a sure in for the spot of valedictorian of my class. I deserved this! Swelling with pride at my newest accomplishment I laid the note on the table for my mom to see when she got in.

After I rearranged the letter just right on the table I picked up the second one and filled with expectation broke the seal of the vanilla envelope. A whiff of a strange cologne burst out the pocket as I retrieved the note. There was no return address on the letter or envelope so I was puzzled as to who it might be from. My questions were solved though when I began reading it.

Ms. Anderson,

I assume that you have already received my previous letter seeing as you are now reading my follow up. But I felt the need to explain both the letter and your acceptance that I'm sure you think have just come out of nowhere. I want to reassure you that everything that you have already read is entirely true. We are very impressed with your scholarly accomplishment and we do believe that you will make a fine student at Stonewall. Our reputation does precede us, and we are known to be one of the world's most prestigious and exclusive schools that this earth has to offer for several reason.

You see only those who possess certain gifts and talents come to Stonewall. It is for this reason that we ask you to accept our invitation. Ms. Anderson you are not alone. There are other people in the world such as yourself that hold incredible gifts, some being that of the elemental nature, such as the one you have obtained. But you need not feel alone because we offer each of our students a place of refuge at Stonewall. A place that our students can seek help in controlling and refining their skills. While also gaining a high degree in whatever field you wish to involve yourself with. After all our teachers are the brightest on this planet…and others.

Along with this letter we have included a first class ticket for the 7 pm flight on Friday the 19. We look forward to seeing, and wish you a fond trip.

(We have also included a list of things you should think to bring with you)

Sincerely Yours,

Darren Waters

I stared in disbelief at the letter that I held in my hands. How did he know? I never told anybody besides Paulina what happened that day.

Flash back

I was sitting on my porch steps during the summer just watching the sunset. It was that kind of day that silence was welcome, where you just sat there because you wanted to watch the beauty of the sunset. So there I was doing just that, I had just come back from my volunteer reading job at the kindergarten school, so needless to say I was in a good mood. Something about being around those children took away my edge, they smoothed my rough edges.

I was softly humming a song into the quiet and empty street in front of me before I was interrupted by a low sputtering engine. It took me a while to figure out who this mysterious stranger was that decided to park in my driveway. At first I thought that maybe it was one of my mother's clients but they didn't look nearly as…scruffy as he did. I knew I should have been weary but there was something about this person that kept me calm. Something about him was familiar to me though I couldn't really be sure.

"Hey pumpkin", the use of my childhood nickname brought back scores of memories (not all of them pleasant).

"That couldn't be…" I thought to myself not sure of anything yet, so I questioned my theory. "Dad?" I asked the stranger that was steadily approaching.

"Oh my God…is here to stay this time. Is he trying to get back on the right track and finally become a father?"Multiple questions were whizzing through my head as I watched him walk over.

"You look beautiful pumpkin…is your mom home?" he got straight to the point after giving me a quick hug. The over powering scent of alcohol and cigarettes bathed me and I couldn't help but release a small sigh. It was going to take at least three cleans to get the smell out permanently.

"No, um why?" saying that I was confused was an understatement. It had been at least 7 years since I had last seen him. After he left us to marry his skanky secretary he all but disappeared form our lives. He stopped visiting me and Paulina, stopped sending us gifts and stopped all child support payments. He occasionally stopped by, but it was only right after the divorce and the visits lasted a total of five minutes. I counted. He didn't even send a card to us on our birthday. It was like he was never there. And now he was standing in front of me asking for my mom. This man hadn't seen me for several years and all he could ask was if my mom was around.

You could say that I was getting a little mad.

"Uh well, I just needed to talk about some grown-up things with her", his speech was slightly slurred and I could tell he was border lining drunk. But there was something interesting that I picked up while he was speaking.

He was talking about having a conversation with her as if it wasn't going to be awkward. As if they had talked before, and this was just a follow up. The gears in my mind started to move at a lightening speed now. And if this was a follow up, then that means he could've stayed awhile to talk with me, to let me know he was at least alive. I looked him over in disgust. His head was hanging down and it seemed that he didn't want to make eye contact with me.

"Good he should be ashamed, if only he knew all the nights I cried over his sorry behind. How many times I had taken him for dead, or how many times I blamed myself for his and mom's divorce. Ugh!"The voice in my head screamed out in rage.

I looked back at him not caring if my anger showed. His light brown hair was slightly shaggy and disheveled. And not in the, I-planned-for-my-hair-to-be-this-way, style. He wore a dirty looking trench coat over a pair of slacks and a white button down shirt that was covered in stains and hanging out of his pants. There was a piece of paper showing from his right pocket and I could see the words "eviction notice" in the right hand corner.

"He's trying to get money from mom? Are you serious?" I thought to myself. "He probably doesn't even want to talk to me right now. What kind of father is he?"

I could feel my cheeks get warmer as I mentally went over my boiling point. Here I thought he had somewhat changed. I thought he was trying to make everything right or at least try to be a real dad. But he was still a greedy opportunist who would do anything that he wanted to get anything he wanted.

So I vented. I screamed out everything that had built up over the years. Everything I wanted to tell him before and everything I thought he deserved. And when I had finished venting, I stared at him expectantly. This was about the time when he was supposed to break down and cry, fall on his knees and beg for forgiveness, say that he was coming home for good and was always going to be there for me. But he didn't, instead he just got into his car wordlessly and drove away.

I stood there in disbelief. He left me, again. I could feel my face flush with anger and my body tremble. Why couldn't he just face the facts!? Why couldn't he admit that he was wrong!?

I stared angrily out into the silence of my neighborhood no longer seeing it as peaceful but annoying. I tried to clench my fist harder but I couldn't move my fingers deeper into my skin. I looked down and to my surprise my hands were covered in a thick sheet of ice. And it was steadily stretching up my arm.

"Ahhh!" I shrieked trying to stop the ice from growing with my other hand. But it was pointless the ice just coated itself over and over again on my forearm until all that was there was a block of crooked ice. I could barely see the outer lines of my arm under it all.

"Oh my God, oh my God, oh my God! What did I just do?" I whispered violently running back up the steps of my house and into the bathroom. I spared no time at all and hooked up my blow dryer to the socket, barely waiting for it to heat up. As the ice started to melt my nerves settled down and logic somewhat reclaimed me enough that I could think again.

"What's happening to me…more importantly what if somebody saw that?" a voice in my head screamed, as I searched the houses nearby for any people with their windows open or joggers running by in astonishment.

"I have to be dreaming", I muttered to myself as I ran inside and grabbed a bag of ice salt to put on the sidewalk. There was the tiniest patch of ice just laying in front of our house as if it belonged there, and seeing as it was the middle of summer it would be a little noticeable. When I was certain there was enough salt on the ground (I made a small pile of it on the ice sheet just to make sure), I headed back inside to calm myself down.

I sat in my clean and crisp living room. Looking at all the expensive vases and pictures that my mom said added culture to the house. My mind was for once in my life blank not sure how to process things.

"Wait a minute you are Courtney Alvaro! You've won more awards then anybody in your school's history; you are the class president two years running and a sure win for valedictorian! You are not going to let this get the best of you! You're going to find out what's going on here and take control of this situation!" I scolded myself. There was no way I was going to be put down because of a little mishap with my body. This was probably just some crazy teenage hormonal thing.

Satisfied with my conclusion I headed upstairs for a much needed nap. I looked down at my still blue tinted hands before drifting off to sleep.

It was a year ago when that had happened. That night it took nearly an hour for my skin to return to it's natural state, but I didn't complain I liked a challenge. Since then i had gained some control over my "gift" but it was nothing special. A few long minutes of looking at my hands and they would begin to frost. I looked down at the letter once more skimming through it over and over again. The school sounded promising, and it did have all the classes that I wanted to partake in during college. My other school choices couldn't offer the same. And it sounded extremely exclusive.

"Mom will definitely approve of that", I thought to myself chewing my bottom lip.

"On top of all that, I'll be able to figure out what's going on with me", I thought out loud. This year had been a hectic one. Whenever I got mad or frustrated my hands would start to ice over, which led to a lot of awkward moments of hiding them last minute in a punch bowl, or quickly sitting on them-which left water stains on my pants.

With that final thought I made up my mind, I was leaving for this school in five days. My senior year didn't start until a week from now so there was no problem with me leaving before hand anyway. Sure I was going to miss my friends but this opportunity was too big to pass up, and I would be a straight fool if I let it slip through my fingers.