Finding ELE (ELE Series #2) Written By: Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels

by Nuckels, Courtney

  I hadn't really considered what would happen to all of the belongings and material items we all left outside of the shelter. I just figured it would all be there waiting when we got out. "Um, I don't know. I guess you have to do what you have to do out here."

  He gives me a half smile. "Yeah, they left us outside. We certainly weren't going to sit around and rot while holding on to our moral code of ethics. They aren't using them so it's fair game." He turns to the table and says, "Got it." He pulls out a thin box about six inches long and hands it to me.

  I look down at the cover on the box. It shows a gnarly looking blade that despite the hot pink handle seems intimidating even to me. I open up the box and pull it out of the packaging. Pulling the blade out all I can do is stare, turning it over a few times in my hand. I look up to see Tony giving me a funny grin. I try to close it back up but I can't get the blade to budge. "It's broken."

  Tony laughs and holds out his hand. I pass the blade to him and he says, "Whoa! Watch it tiger. You don't ever hand a knife to someone blade first. Hand it to me handle first, please."

  Feeling a little silly for not having thought of that, I quickly turn the knife around and hand it to him by the handle.

  "These have a safety catch that keeps the blade open when it's in use. You press this tab here and close the blade at the same time. It prevents the blade from collapsing when you shove it into something." Tony demonstrates how to close it.

  "Wow, shove it into something? That seems innocent enough." I say joking.

  Tony takes on a serious look. "Weapons are anything but innocent." He opens the knife back up and hands it to me handle first. "Knife 101: you always hand a knife back to a person in the same way they handed it to you. So if the blade was open, you hand it back open, if the blade was closed, you hand it back closed."

  "Thank you oh wise one." I joke and that seems to lighten Tony's serious mood. "So, now I know how to open, close and pass a knife. How exactly would I use it? Do I just 'shove it into something'?"

  Tony laughs. "We don't have time for a formal training. Until then, your instincts will tell you pretty much what to do. You could slice at them or stab them, whatever you have to do to get away from them. You don't need to finish the job, just scare them enough to give you a chance to run. Also a tip someone once told me is that when you go into a knife fight, go into it knowing you are going to get cut. This will help mentally prepare you to deal with your fear of the blade. If you are ready to be cut you won't be as scared when it comes time for you to defend yourself."

  The thought of using a knife or getting cut in a fight makes my heart race. I must look terrified because Tony adds. "Don't worry though; I won't let anyone get close enough for you to have a chance to test your skills anyway."

  "Well, that does make me feel better. Oh, and if you get hurt defending me I can always heal you." I give him a half smile and he returns it.

  "Sounds like we will make a great team then." He turns to start leading me out of the room.

  "Oh, should I take one of those guns?" I ask looking at a pile of firearms.

  "Do you know how to use it?"

  "Well, no..." Of course I don't know how to use it.

  He laughs and when I give him a frustrated stare he adds. "Don't worry Willow. I'll teach you these things in due time."

  I wonder what due time is. I don't know if there will ever be enough time for me to get used to handling a gun, or any type of weapon for that matter. I stick the pink knife in my pocket and follow Tony out of the room and all the way to the parking lot. Is it sad to wish the knife handle had glitter or shiny things stuck to it? Bah, I'm such a girl.

  Outside everyone is huddled around my mom who is doling out orders. My mom looks up at me as I approach and waves her hand calling me over. Most everyone disperses, except for four burly looking guys.

  "Did Tony get you some gear?" She asks me.

  I pull out my hot pink knife. "Yep. Girly, yet deadly." I smile.

  She raises her eyebrow. "Looks good. Hopefully you won't have to use it." Concern flashes in her eyes.

  "She won't." Tony offers confidently.

  My mom nods her head then gestures to the big manly foursome. "This is Mike, Tom, William and Henry. I've assigned them along with Tony to be dedicated to your protection. It is their top priority."

  In unison, the fearsome four nod their heads. I give Tony a funny look and he smirks.

  My mom must have caught it because she gives me her famous mom stare, which tells me that I'm being rude. She continues looking directly at me. "You will need to listen to their orders and stay close to them at all times. Don't try to be brave or go out on your own." She seems to be waiting for a yes ma'am response or something so I nod my head. "I mean it Willow. You saw what it was like on your first day outside. The Reapers are dangerous and while I'm not sure if they can take your powers or not, they can still kill you just as easily with their weapons."

  "I understand mom." I shiver at the memory of all of the heartless red eyes I saw. What my mom should truly fear more than my death would be what would happen if the Reapers take my powers. Nobody should have the amount of gifts I have. I have trouble holding in the reigns and keeping it all from going to my head. I can't imagine what someone who can't differentiate between right and wrong would do with all of my abilities.

  My mom looks satisfied that I'll be compliant. "Alright. Let's get going."

  "Where are we going?" I ask her.

  "To the mountain. You said they came out at the same place you did right?"

  I nod my head.

  "So we are going to comb the forest around the mountain's base. If I were on the run from those monsters that's where I would hide." Her expression turns sadly thoughtful. She reaches out and runs her fingers through my hair. "You do need to prepare yourself though honey. We may not find them today. Or, we may only find what's left of them. It's a crazy world out here and their chances for survival could be low, especially if they go at it alone."

  My heart lurches in my chest. I know she already warned me once of that possibility, but I can't let myself accept it. I don't know what I would do if anything happened to my friends, what I would do without Alec. Everything in me wishes that I could be in his arms right now. I blink back the tears that threaten to build. "I know mom. We will find them though...and alive. We have to."

  She doesn't confirm or deny my statement. She just pats me on my back and says, "Let's move out." She turns on her heel and heads to lead the group.

  As I move forward to join the throng of soldiers I am immediately flanked on all four sides by the fantastic four. They pull their automatic rifles off their back and hold them in position, prepared to shoot any threats. Tony walks to the right of me, inside the small diamond formation that the other four guys make. While I'm a little creeped out about leaving my comfort zone, something about Tony makes me feel safe. Well, as safe as one could feel when being led out to a possible slaughter.

  We walk out of the parking lot and follow a gravel road for what seems like miles. The sun beats down on us mercilessly as we walk. Sweat starts accumulating on my forehead and I wipe it away with the back of my hand. Tony pulls a bottle of water from his hiking pack and hands it to me. Feeling like a wimp, I guzzle down half of it and hand it back. He takes a small sip then puts it back in his bag.

  I'm grateful when the tall thirsty looking evergreens greet us at the end of the road. Perhaps some protection from this unrelenting sun will help me to cool off. I glance at a few trail map signs. I wonder on a normal day how many hikers would be out here exploring. My heart yearns for some sense of normalcy.

  When we step into the forest my mom calls us all to a stop. We stand silently, listening to the nature around us for a good five minutes. I guess she is assessing the area and listening for threats. When she deems it clear, she allows us to proceed. We repeat the same stop and listen procedure every half mile or so.

  I place my hand in my pocket and stroke the smoo
th texture of the knife's handle. I'm not sure why, but the gesture comforts me. We continue marching for several hours through the woods with no signs of my friends or anyone. All this marching on and on is making me antsy and bored. Looking around at the fab four and Tony, I get an uncanny itch to pull a little prank. I can't help myself. They look so stoic and...and constipated or something. I go invisible counting the seconds until they figure it out. Heck, while I'm at it I might as well practice using my multiple powers. I try Connor's power on for size while still invisible and pass through the caboose guy, I think it's William, and stand behind him. I try and stifle a laugh as I watch them continue marching.

  Alas, it doesn't take long before Tony finds me gone. He stops abruptly looking for me, causing William to crash into him. The other three turn around with guns drawn aiming all around them. It's in this moment I realize this might not have been the best time for a practical joke. As their guns swing around, I panic and duck, hoping they don't mistakenly shoot me. I let out a small screech and let go of my powers so they can see me.

  Tony is the first to come barreling towards me. He grabs me by the arm and hauls me to my feet so fast my head is swimming. "You think that was funny?" He spits in my face.

  My eyes go wide in fear. I didn't know he had it in him to be so forceful. I guess that's why my mom must have put him in charge of me. "Sorry Tony, I was just bored. We've been walking for what seems like millennia and are getting nowhere. Shouldn't we stop and talk about other options?"

  Tony's eyebrows rise into a questioning look. "Are you questioning your mother's authority?"

  I let my eyes wander; anything is better than meeting his scolding gaze right now. Realizing I’m not winning this argument, I relent. I shake my head no. "Sorry, that was uncalled for. It won't happen again."

  A second later I hear my mother shuffling through the crowd of soldiers that has gathered around. "What is going on here? Willow are you okay? Why did you stop?"

  Before I can answer her myself, Tony steps in for me. "We're fine. Willow just had to stop and tie her shoe. She neglected to tell William behind her, which caused a small collision, slash scuffle.”

  My mom narrows her eyes looking from Tony to me and back to Tony again. She relents. "Okay then, let’s get a move on. We don't want to be caught out here past dark." She turns on her heel and marches back to the front.

  The fearsome four gather around me again enclosing Tony and I in the middle. I bite my lower lip. "You know, you didn't have to do that." I say, and I really mean it. He doesn't owe me anything.

  "I know I didn't have to," he says. "But, I wanted to. Just don't do it again." He turns his head back forward and continues his march.

  "I won't. Thank you. I owe you one." I say.

  He shoots me an intense look. "Just stay out of trouble and that will be enough."

  My cheeks flush as I nod my head. I look away quickly, embarrassed. I'm sure my joke made me look like an immature child to Tony. Not that I care what Tony thinks...Well, maybe I do, just a little. But, really I do want to be taken seriously, especially if I want my mom to allow me to fight by her side. I make a mental note to be on my best behavior from now on.

  My stomach starts feeling unsettled as we walk back. I don't know if it's the forest's eerie quietness or the long shadows cast by the slowly setting sun. I find myself inching closer to Tony. He must have a sense of unease because his back is rigid and his jaw is clenched tightly.

  A piercing scream erupts from somewhere to the East. A clattering of startled birds disperses into the air not far from us. Everyone brings their weapons to attention and the group seems to form a blockade surrounding me. My heart launches into my throat. I try to look over the throng of protectors that surround me to see what's happening. The scream was high pitched and it sounded female. I pray that it doesn't belong to Claire.

  I catch sight of an injured girl breaking through the trees to my left. She's limping so badly that she falls every few feet. My mom and several other soldiers jump out, not to grab her but to fight the figure who steps out after her. A man about six feet in height with crimson red eyes stands there staring at us. At first he seems shocked to see such a large group waiting for him. I can almost see his mental wheels turning, trying to make the decision between fight or flight. He decides on the former and turns back into the woods. My mom, along with eight other soldiers, runs after him. Worry for her consumes me and I immediately try to take a step forward but Tony stops me by putting his hand on my shoulder.

  "She will be fine. Your mom can take that Reaper out by herself. With her backup, they are more than capable." He says. In confirmation, I hear two gunshots. "They got him."

  I nod and then look down at the hand that's on my shoulder.

  He follows my gaze and then pulls his hand back down to his side. He clears his throat. "Where do you think the girl went?" He scans the area around us.

  The group seems to relax a bit knowing the Reaper situation was handled so they give me a little breathing room, which allows me to look for her. I catch sight of her long flowing black hair first. She's lying on the ground cradling her leg. "There!" I point to her. "She must be injured." I start moving her way but Tony stops me again.

  "Where? I don't see her." He asks.

  She's out there in the open, clear as day. How could he not see her? "She's right there!" I say pointing to her, irritated he's playing games. She looks like she's in pain. I shrug Tony's hand off my shoulder and speedily walk towards her.

  Tony runs up to my side. "Willow, are you okay?" He pulls me by my arm and turns me around so I will look at him.

  "Yes, but she's not!" Annoyed now, I yank my arm from his grasp and jog the rest of the way to the girl.

  "Hey, are you okay?" I ask the girl, kneeling down next to her.

  When she looks up at me, I gasp. Her tear filled eyes are the same shade of purple as Claire's. She barely shakes her head.

  I look down at her leg and see a gash running down her thigh. Examining it, I find that it's so deep that I can see the muscle tissue. My stomach rolls with nausea as I try and get ahold of my bearings. I move my hand over her leg and focus my healing ability on her.

  "What are you doing?" Tony squats down and looks at me like I'm certifiably insane.

  "Shut up Tony. I need to focus!" I tell him.

  The girl groans and Tony straightens up. He looks in the girl's direction but doesn't seem to see her.

  "She's invisible." I say realizing the same thing myself. I look back down at the gash to see it's healed nicely. All that's left is a light pink scar.

  The girl sits up and looks at me with sad, purple eyes. "Thank you."

  Tony reaches out towards her and touches her head on accident. The girl cringes and moves away.

  "It's okay, he's not going to hurt you." I say to her, though she still looks scared.

  "How are you able to see her?" Tony asks me.

  I'm not entirely sure. I can't even see myself when I go invisible. "I have no idea." I answer him. Then I look to the girl. "Can you make yourself visible?"

  She shakes her head, her eyes still look frightened.

  "You're safe now. Nobody here is going to hurt you." I say earnestly.

  Catching on to what's going on Tony adds, "We killed the Reaper. He won't hurt you. We need to get out of the woods though before dark. It's not safe."

  "Please." I ask her.

  Still looking intimidated she takes a deep breath and I don't realize that she's visible again until Tony tells her thank you. I didn't notice the difference since I could see her in her invisible form already.

  "Will you come with us?" I ask her.

  She shakes her head. "I have to go home."

  I look around the woods. "Where is home?" She can't possibly live out here with those monsters lurking about.

  She shakes her head and tenses up.

  "It's okay, you don't have to tell us." I say realizing she's scared, possibly even in shock.

&nbs
p; "We do need to get out of here now though. You can come with us and tomorrow during the day we can take you home." Tony tells her.

  She shakes her head again and tears start flowing from her eyes.

  "You have to come with us. I promise, I will make sure you get home tomorrow but for now we have to leave. More of them may come." I am focusing so hard on getting her to come with me that I didn't even realize that I am using my compulsion. She stands up abruptly and reaches her hand out to me. I take her hand and lead her back to the group.

  Having seen what just happened my mom doesn't ask any questions. Instead she just says, "Head out."

  We all start walking. I continue to hold the girl's hand. Every once in a while I look over at her to make sure she's still breathing and okay. She seems so delicate and young. She can't be more than thirteen or fourteen. Other than her age and the dark hair, she reminds me a lot of Claire. Perhaps it's her small stature or the purple eyes that resembles my best friend. A pang of longing hits my heart. I pray my friends make it out of this safely.

  I hate using compulsion but when we step out of the tree line and onto the gravel road, I feel confident that I made the only decision I could under the circumstance. We make our way to the Holiday Inn just as the final rays of sun vanish behind the mountains.

  CHAPTER 4 (SMORES)

  We wind up getting back to the hotel just before sundown. We didn't find my friends and the only thing we brought back from our mission is sore feet, hungry stomachs and a random girl with purple eyes. On the way back I managed to find out her name is Molly and she's fourteen. Apparently there is another group of survivors like us beyond the valley. Molly still hasn't told us how she managed to get here. I'm guessing she's still too shaken up to talk about it. She did briefly mention that the boy she was with, ran away from the Reapers and left her there in the woods. She started shaking when she talked about it so I didn't press it. All I know is that the guy who left her in the woods deserves to turn in his man card. That is true cowardice at its worst.

  We enter our 'compound' as others have been calling it, to find clamoring and ample activity going on in the dining area. Everyone is seated around tables relaxing and talking. Steaming piles of food await us buffet style in the corner. Tony cues me in that the people that stay here during the day cook dinner and always wait for the ones that went to 'the outside' to get back before eating. Apparently it shows a kind of respect.