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

by Nuckels, Courtney

  After we all wash our hands and faces, my mom takes Molly to eat with her at an isolated table away from everyone else. I guess she wants to ask her a few questions. I pray she has more success getting her to open up than I did. Deep down, I'm hoping that Molly has seen my friends. I know it's a long shot but I have to hold on to something.

  "Well it looks like this place is full. Do you want to sit over there with me?" Tony asks.

  I follow his pointer finger with my eyes and find an empty table for two pushed up against a window in the corner of the dining hall. I shrug my shoulders, "Sure."

  On our way to claim the table I pass Sebastian. I stop and give him a big hug and a tickle, which makes him squirm with delight. "Wuv you Wello." He says with a smile.

  "Love you too." I ruffle his curly hair. I briefly catch Tony staring at me with an interesting expression out of my peripheral vision.

  Feeling the heat of his gaze I head over to the table and take a seat. Not caring what Tony thinks, I immediately take off my shoes. I know it's not the best table manners but my feet are killing me! I thought being on my feet doing errands all day was killer...come to find out it's a walk in the park compared to the hiking we did today.

  Tony doesn't judge me. Instead he lets out a light laugh, shrugs his shoulders and removes his shoes too.

  A burly man busts through the swinging doors carrying an enormous bin filled with plates and silverware. No normal human could ever pick this thing up, let alone carry it with such ease and finesse. No one gives him a second thought as he trots through the dining hall balancing the large container on his shoulder. Tony must see me gawking because he begins to smirk.

  I give him a look, "What?" I question, like I don't know what he's smiling about.

  He just shakes his head. "Remember? Yellow eyes equals strength and speed." He points to his eyes.

  I nod my head. "Yeah, I know. It's just bizarre and inhuman to see it in action." A line begins to form by the buffet and Tony and I waste no time hopping into it. At this point I notice that the table where Sebastian is sitting at is where all the kids are seated. I'm guessing that most of their parents work outside during the day. Several of the people go over and serve the kids, getting them situated and eating; then the line starts to move for us. It doesn't take long until I'm piling things on my plate that I can’t identify for the life of me. But I don't care; I'm starving! I hadn't realized how hungry I was, but the smell of the food makes my stomach roar loudly. In response, the second I sit down at the table with Tony I begin shoveling food in my mouth. I don't even bother tasting it as I shove more in.

  "Hey," Tony interrupts. "Chill on stuffing your face. I'm gonna have to give you the Heimlich if you keep eating at that pace...or hold your hair back when you vomit."

  My face blushes. "Sorry," I say in embarrassment. "I'm just so hungry!"

  Tony shakes his head and laughs under his breath. He seems to be doing a lot of that around me lately.

  I look away and keep stuffing my face. Although this seating arrangement isn't ideal it does allow me to take inventory of all the people staying here. I find Sebastian in the crowd again. He's throwing what looks like peas at another little girl beside him. Then I watch as he gets scolded for throwing his food. I laugh; it's so good to see him again and to see him happy.

  "Penny for your thoughts?" Tony says breaking my wandering thoughts.

  I nearly answer that I will sell them for a dollar but my heart squelches remembering Alec using that same expression. I let my head drop, trying to hold it together. I miss him more than words can say. But it's not like I can tell Tony this. He's a guy; he couldn't relate. "I was just thinking how nice it was to see my brother happy again." I give him a semi believable smile since this is a partially true statement.

  He nods and goes back to eating his chow, or whatever the hell this mush is.

  "So," I say between mouthfuls. "What happens after dinner?"

  Tony wipes his mouth with a napkin. He does it in such a well mannered way that it's hard for me to hold onto the bad boy persona image I originally had of him. "Well," he begins. "After dinner, we usually like to have a little fun. Tonight we're having a bon fire in the inner courtyard. I heard rumors about smores being served. They must have found some marshmallows and such down at the boarded up corner store."

  I raise my eyebrows. That really does sound like fun.

  "What? Do you think that just because there is a war out there we can't have fun?" He smiles and it's one of the most genuine smiles I've seen him give. "Our motto is, 'you work hard, you play hard.' Well, not too hard.” He points to some guys at a nearby table. "You see those guys over there?" I nod my head so he continues. "Jack and Will were good friends before this all went down and they were in a band together. We were able to scrounge some guitars and small drums on one of our outings. So on nights when the weather is cool we like to have a bonfire and they play some music while we dance, sing or just chill out. It's very relaxing. Takes your mind off things if you know what I mean."

  I do know what he means. And that sounds like the thing I need right now. I would give anything to ease this pain in my chest that seems permanently etched there.

  I look outside the window to keep Tony from seeing the emotion in my eyes. With the sun almost completely set it makes it harder to see in the room. Right as I notice that, a skinny teen comes out from the kitchen carrying an armful of candles and matches. He sets one on each table with a match. Within seconds the dining area takes on a romantic ambiance. It kind of makes me uncomfortable being as though I'm sitting at a table for two with Tony under candlelight. Yeah, this is a bit awkward.

  Finally full, I begin chewing on my thumbnail hoping for Tony to finish quickly so we can get out of here. I spot my mom in the opposite corner of the room still talking with Molly. They're both smiling and talking animatedly. I'm immensely glad that my mom has a way of putting people at ease...especially scared, fourteen-year-old girls.

  Tony tosses his silverware and napkin on the empty plate and stretches his arms up above him. He leans back and asks in a semi-yawn, "So, you ready to go?"

  I pile my fork and napkin on my plate and nod my head. I follow Tony to a bin with dirty dishes and put mine on the top of the heap and Tony follows suit.

  "Do I have time to change?" I ask Tony.

  He looks me over and I feel a little flush. "If you want. I think you look good though."

  I laugh looking down at my tank top. "Um, thanks. It would be nice to wash Molly's blood off you know."

  For once it's his turn to blush. "Oh, yeah that makes sense. Just come down when you’re ready." He grabs a candle off a table and hands it to me so I can find my way back to my room.

  The bed in my room seems to call my name but I don't listen. I head straight to the bathroom. I turn the water on, which is completely cold since the boiler runs on electricity, set the candle on the counter and hop in. Shivering, I wash off as quickly as I can. Even though I'm covered in goose bumps from head to toe when I get out, I still feel refreshed. Plus the cold water gave me a second wind. I towel dry my hair and look at myself in the mirror.

  I don't know if it's the candle light or how worn out I am, but I look weary and older. I lean in closer to examine the bags under my eyes. That's when I notice the shade of my eyes is no longer navy. Instead they are a light baby blue color that I haven't seen before. All of the other colors are still present in that sort of prismatic way but this color is definitely a new development. The red spot stands out boldly against the lighter background.

  Forcing myself to look away, since there's nothing I can do about my freaky eyes, I towel dry my hair and change into some clean jean shorts and a green tank top. I try running my fingers through my hair but settle on just scrunching my wet curls. There's no way, I'm going to tackle all of these tangles tonight. I throw on a pair of flip-flops, grab my candle and head down to the party.

  Tony wasn't kidding about these people knowing how to have fun. T
he bonfire has the courtyard lit up in a warm glow. All around people are talking in groups and swaying to the live music. Kids are running around playing tag and giggling happily. A few people have already started making smores. I look around for my mom but can't find her in this huge group of partygoers.

  Not paying attention to where I'm walking I run into the back of a girl. "Sorry!"

  "It's okay." She says.

  When she turns around I gasp. I stare at her long blonde hair, tanned skin and perfect Barbie doll looks. Everything about her other than her neon eyes and the fact that she wasn't a total jerk, reminds me of Candy. She gives me a strange look, most likely because I'm staring at her in horror, then she walks away.

  I have to tell myself over and over again that it's not her. The thought that Candy may have changed her mind about letting me get away almost gave me a heart attack. I force myself to take a few breaths and then I push all thoughts of the horrible Hastings family out of my mind.

  A hand lands on my shoulder and I nearly jump. "Wow, skittish tonight?" Tony asks me as I turn around.

  I push my wet hair out of my face and shake my head. "Sorry, I guess I was just lost in thought."

  "What's on your mind?" He hands me a soda pop and leans against the brick wall of the hotel.

  I could say: I'm just thinking about the family who tried to dissect me, my missing friends, my dad still being on the inside and how much I would give to have Alec hold me and tell me everything is going to be alright. But, I don't. "Nothing." Is all I can manage saying.

  A slight look of hurt hits his eyes, I'm not sure why though. Maybe he expected me to bare my soul to him, but we barely know each other. I wouldn't put that type of baggage on him. "Do you want to get a smore?"

  "Chocolate and marshmallows smushed between two crackers? I'd be crazy to say no!" I joke. He smiles at that and then takes my hand to lead me to the supply table.

  Following behind him I stare at our hands with wide eyes. I don't want to jerk my hand back, but it seems weird holding someone else's hand. Not that I think Tony means anything by it, he's probably just trying to not lose me in this crowd, but still. When we stop in front of the table I let go of his hand and quickly grab a metal hanger that has been turned into a roasting stick. As I begin pushing marshmallows onto it, I have to fight the urge to flex my hand or look at Tony. I don't want him to feel bad or to think I'm grossed out by his touch. I'm not, it just makes me think of Alec and how I wish he were the one here holding my hand.

  Thankfully Tony doesn't seem to take notice of my slight discomfort. He makes small talk as he prepares his marshmallows. "So do you like them golden or burnt to a crisp?"

  "I'm too impatient to make them golden, I set them on fire as quickly as I can." I say moving to the fire.

  "Me too." He agrees. We both smile at each other then head over to the bonfire to put our marshmallows in. "So, I've been wanting to ask you. Do you know how in the world you were able to see Molly out there? Can people with the gift of invisibility see others when they use the same gift?"

  I look up at him. "I've been thinking about that too. I can't see myself when I go invisible so it wouldn't make sense as to how that would allow me to see Molly." I catch a glimpse of blonde hair on the other side of the fire and that's when I finally connect the dots. "Candy." I say.

  "Candy? Like chocolate? It's back at the table." Tony says a bit confused.

  I laugh at his assumption. I shake my head and remember to pull my marshmallows from the fire. I have to blow several times to put the flaming sugar out. They turn out blacker than night and charred to a crisp. "No, Candy is a girl back in the shelter. She can see through people's gifts. I can't believe I didn't think about this earlier! That must be how I was able to see Molly through her invisibility."

  Tony still seems confused. "How would another person's power mean anything to you?"

  I hadn't realized that we never really discussed how I've gotten my abilities. "I am not completely certain about this, but it seems that when I'm around someone with a different gift, I kind of soak up the ability to use their gift." His eyes go wide and I quickly add, "I don't take it from them though; I'm not a Reaper Tony."

  His eyes soften at that statement. "I would never think of you like that Willow. You are the polar opposite of those evil monsters."

  I let out a sigh of relief. I hate having anything similar to what those horrible things have.

  "So, you kind of absorb just a small part of people's gifts. Do you know why you are able to do this?" He asks me.

  I shake my head. I don't know for sure, although I have a feeling it has something to do with the red shot I accidentally pricked myself with. I don't want word to get around too much about that. Alec is the only one who knows the truth about it. The last thing this world needs is for someone to hear about my abilities and to go experimenting with the same shot that created those atrocious Reapers.

  "Well, you are very special Willow. You know that?" He smiles at me and instantly I feel a strange tension between us. He reaches up and brushes a strand of hair from my face.

  "Willow?" A small voice calls from behind me.

  Thankful for the interruption from whatever was just going on with Tony, I turn around. "Oh, hey Molly." Her black hair is wet and with it brushed so perfectly straight behind her ears, she looks even younger than fourteen.

  "Your mom told me to come find you. She had to take your brother up to bed. Can I stay with you?" She looks around at the huge crowd of people.

  "It’s kind of intimidating right?" I say to her.

  She nods. "I haven't seen so many of the same kind in a long time." She looks to Tony and then leans in closely to whisper in my ear. "Can he be trusted?"

  I look at her confused then say. "Yes, of course." I don't know Tony that well but if my mom trusts him, then I certainly do too. I wonder why Molly would ask me that. I turn around to Tony. "Hey, do you mind getting Molly a soda?"

  "Sure, do you want one too?" He asks me.

  "No thanks." I reply. I wait until he heads off in hunt of a drink before I turn back to Molly. "Why do you ask if Tony can be trusted?"

  She looks from side to side as if making sure the coast is clear. "I don't want you to think anything... I mean, I know your mom is one of them and she seems great and all, but...." She looks like she's going to clam up.

  "But?" I ask, truly curious as to what she's getting at.

  "They aren't all safe." She says.

  "What do you mean they aren't safe?" That doesn't make any sense.

  She looks down and pulls at the hem of her shirt. "We used to all be with these people but then many of them turned. How do you know that they aren't going to turn again?" She looks up at me in question.

  "Do you mean turn as in turn into a..." I'm cut off when a hand lands on my shoulder.

  "Ahhhh, well if it isn't the Reaper!" A slurring voice calls out from behind me.

  Molly's eyes go wide with fear. My blood runs cold as I turn around quickly to knock his hand off my shoulder. I find Chris swaying and not to the music either. A near empty bottle of beer in his hand tells me that this is not going to be good.

  "Go away Chris." I'm not looking for a fight tonight.

  "Awe, is Willow upset because her mum isn't here to defend her?" He lets out a slight hiccup.

  I roll my eyes. "Leave me alone."

  "Why, because if I don't you are going to make me?" His eyes are drooping. He sniffs and wipes at his long nose with his hand.

  "You’re drunk, Chris. Go to bed or something." I give him a disgusted glare then turn to walk away. His filthy hand lands on my shoulder again, this time it grips tighter.

  I try to brush his hand off but he only grips harder. "Get your hand off of me." I turn towards him and grab his hand at the same time.

  "Ahhhhh!" He bellows and yanks his hand away. He hunches over cradling his hand and moaning.

  I jump back, not sure what I did.

  He falls over onto his b
utt and continues to sniffle and hold his hand. "She broke my hand!" He cries out.

  "No I didn't!" I yell at him. Panic wells inside my chest as people start gathering around us.

  He looks up at me with hateful, drunk eyes. "You piece of..."

  "Watch it!" Tony steps forward looking ready to pummel Chris.

  Chris looks up at him. His eyes are rimmed with red and his head wobbles a bit as he yells. "She broke my freaking hand!"

  Tony laughs, which surprises me. "Then she probably had a good reason to."

  Chris lets out an angry huff.

  "I couldn't break his hand even if I wanted to." I call back in defense.

  Tony turns around to me. "Don't worry about him, he's just a..." He stops cold, looking at my eyes.

  "What?" I ask. My hands immediately go up to them.

  "Let's get you out of here." He says. Whatever he noticed he doesn't want to bring up around the crowd.

  "What about Chris. I can heal him." Even though I really don't want to touch him, if I did in fact break his hand then I should do what's right and fix it.

  "I would never let you touch me! How would I know you wouldn't suck the life out of me? Reaper!" He spits at me.

  Tony spins around so quickly that I barely have time to register what he does next. He socks Chris straight in the eye. A big burly guy that I recognize as one of the fearsome four pulls Tony off Chris. Chris is blubbering and holding his eye with his good hand and cradling his broken one to his chest.

  "Don't you ever call her that again!" Tony's face is red with anger. "I swear, it will be a thousand times worse if you do Chris! Don't test me."

  "You should go now." The guy, I think it's Henry, says to Tony.

  Tony nods but his posture remains stiff and rigid as he turns around. "Let's get out of here Willow." He waits for me to turn and start walking towards the building.