Chapter 20

Mia decided to go back to her home in the forest. She wanted to check if the man was telling the truth and so she got on the bus. The drive back home was long. She was extremely nervous and wanted to know if the man was telling the truth.

The bus dropped her off at the bus stop that was closed to her home. She hikes through the forest to the place she once called home but as she got to the last hill she stopped when she saw her home. Nothing has changed, it was still burned down and laid in ruins because of the recent storms.

Mia felt tears coming down her cheeks and wondered what the man was talking about. "Did my parents really fake their own kidnapping?" Mia wondered out loud. She turned around and walked back to the bus stop. There she waited for the bus wondering what she was supposed to do now.

A group of cars drove down the road but one turned around and stopped next to the bus sign. Mia recognized the woman as Sam's ex Sally. "Mia, what are you doing here?" Sally asked. "This is the place my parents went missing. Someone told me they faked their disappearance because I am apparently a spoiled brat. They didn't want me anymore, Sally do you think my parents hated me?" Mia asked.

Mia didn't notice but Kevin got out of the driver's seat. "Does Mike know you here?" he asked. Mia looked at Kevin and asked, "What use is it? We can live on the same base. I took the ranger test to try and get permission but a man laid charges against me for cheating." Kevin picked up his phone and looked at Sally. "Did you cheat Mia?" Sally asked. "No, unless you call my dad training me cheating," Mia siad.

"Why dont you show me where you grew up?" Sally asked. "I don't know Sally it's all in ruins from the fire and the storms," Mia siad. "Come on show me, we want to see?" Sally said. Mia finally agreed and said, "are you okay with walking through the forest?" Mia asked. Sally took out the GPS locator and looked at Kevin.

"I dont have a problem hiking at all," Sally said with a smile. Mia walked through the forest but found Sally was confused on several occasions as to where they were going but on the last hill, Mia stood looking at the house. "That was our home," Mia siad. Sally turned on the GPS locator and Mia walked down to the house. It wasn't a big home with two bedrooms two bathrooms an open plan kitchen and a porch.

She was standing on the porch at the back when Kevin walked into the house. "Was the house destroyed in the explosion?" Kevin asked. "No, dad I think destroyed it. Mom always said if the elemental hunters ever showed up. He would never go without a fight," Mia siad as her tears fell to the ground.

Sally looked at Mia and said, "Mia it's going to be okay. We will find them?" Mia looked at Sally and asked, "what am I suppose to do in the meantime? I am not allowed to stay with my uncle Mike. My uncle Zack has something to do with the whole story and well uncle Kevin told me to forget about him and I have never been alone in my life. My father never told me what to do in cases like this," Mia siad as the tears fell down her face uncontrollably.

Sally pulled Mia in for a hug and siad, "They raised you to be strong Mia and they trusted that you would know how to use your skills when the time came," Sally said.

Kevin walked through the house before asking, "what were you thinking coming here alone?" Mia looked at him and said, "it's not like anyone cares about me, why should I care about going somewhere alone. Mike has the base to run he does not have time to look after me," Mia siad.

The storm clouds started to gather and soon there was wind, rain thunder all around the home. Kevin looked at Sally and asked, "Is this her doing?" Sally looked at him and siad, "yes, she has the mega ability to create any type of storm and it can get worse since her emotions can trigger the storm," Sally said.

Mia calmed down before saying, "I need to head back dont I?", "That would be a good idea," Kevin siad. Mia went back to the bus stop and boarded the bus. She looked through the window at Sally and Kevin as the bus drove away.

She was sitting at the window in the bus and watched as the trees flew by. The sun went down the moon came up. The stars brought their memories that seemed long forgotten. Her eyes closed as she gave in to their call for sleep and awoke as the first rays of sunlight hit her face.

The bus came to a stop and Mia paid the bus driver. She knew her uncle would be worried about her and that she did agree not to run away again. Mia walked down the road as the early wind breeze blew through the town and she found herself sitting at the lake staring at the water.

A truck came to a stop behind her. She didn't look behind her but its sound told her that Sam's truck was now standing behind her. "Where were you?" he asked. "What does it matter Sam? I need to make decisions, uncle Mike was right. I am an adult now and if I keep relying on you and everyone else I am just going to prove to everyone just how much of a spoiled brat I really am," Mia siad.

Sam came to sit next to her and asked, "Is this about what that boy said about your parents?" Mia took a deep breath and said, "in a way what he said was the truth I mean. My father never let me work or leave the house without permission. Now that they are not here I can enjoy life but I don't even know where to start," Mia siad.

"The threat is very real Mia. Rare elemental users are disappearing everywhere," Sam siad. "and yet I have been alone for a while and they haven't come after me?" Mia siad.

"Dont be so overconfident it can be dangerous Mia," Sam siad. "What do you mean Sam?" Mia asked. "I mean if you are too overconfident you will not see danger coming. When you realise you are in trouble, you won't be able to handle it," Sam said.

"And yet my father believed he should train me for every scenario possible," Mia said. "Your father was right to prepare you but you were right for taking the ranger test. It showed us what you can do on your own," Sam replied.

"What use is it Sam? I pulled out remember!" Mia said. "They didn't accept it and your uncle Mike agreed. Jasmine saw the test results for her self and needless to say. They didn't know your father would train you so well," Sam said.

"Yes and I cheating since I already have the training they lack," Mia replied. "That's just because they are trying to pass the test as a team and that is something your father never thought you," Sam replied.

"What is going to happen now, Sam?" Mia asked. "What do you mean Mia?" Sam asked. "Well, I suppose I can't stay on my own for too long. I mean I should try to get closer to the base at least. The truth is I have had a few unwelcome visitors and well I just don't ready being that far from the base and alone," Mia answered.

"Come Mary-Anne wants to talk and so does Jasmine. It seems they have come to some agreement. Mary-Anne needs more rangers and you are qualified. The problem is you can not work alone so they have a decision but it's up to you if accept," Sam said.

"What did they decided to do Sam?" Mia asked. "Did you ever had any animals?" Sam asked. "No dad always said that it cost too much money to keep a pet," Mia said

"How do you feel about having a dog for a partner?" Sam said. "What do you mean?" Mia asked. "I mean becoming an elemental ranger that is also a dog handler. There smell is a lot stronger and your vision and hearing might make you a good team," Sam said.

Mia's was quiet for a while before saying, "the hotel does not take animals, Sam. If I say yes and I do get a dog I will have to stay at the base," Mia said. "Yes that's true and that's why Jasmine and the council have been asked to compromise on their decision," Sam replied.