"Willow no!" Tony yells to me. I hesitate and the next moment Tony has me pulled up and away from Chris. His eyes catch mine and he's taken aback for a second but then he pulls me into an all out run. We run with all of our speed into the woods. He holds my hand and doesn't let go as we dodge fallen trees and get slapped with hanging limbs. We don't know where the others have gone, but we head in the general direction, knowing that we will catch up with them eventually.
We stop for a second to verify that we haven't been followed. Tony listens and all I can hear is our heavy breathing and the blood pumping in my ears. He turns back to me after he's sure nobody is around.
He stares at my eyes and then he lets go of my hand. I look away hurt. He's realizing what I am, what my eyes tell him. With his hand under my chin he moves my face to where I'm looking at him again.
I try to look away and he commands in a confident voice, "Heal me." He holds out his left arm that has a vicious cut across it.
"What?" I ask him yanking away from his hold. I don't know why he would want me near him at all, not when I'm like this. "You don't want me to touch you. What if..."
With yellow eyes full of certainty he tells me. "You are not a Reaper."
"How do you know?" I cry out. My chest is heavy with pain from what I just saw, who I left, what I am becoming.
"Because I know you. You could never be one of them. Plus, we just held hands for a mile. You didn't do anything to me." He looks so confident that I feel compelled to believe him. He puts his right hand up to my cheek then says. "So, heal me. You need to focus your mind on something good."
I look down at his arm that has the cut on it. I place my hand over it gingerly and channel my healing ability. I don't breathe again until I pull it away and see that his arm is completely healed. I slowly look back up into his eyes and we both let out a sigh of relief.
"Please don't tell anyone." I beg him. I have to blink away tears. This new part of me is so scary and shameful that I can't bear sharing it with the world.
"Never." He tells me and I believe him. Then he grabs my hand and we continue running.
We run untill we reach the top of a small hill that allows us to see a panoramic of the area. I spot a small, almost insignificant light in the distance. I point it out to Tony. “There they are,” I declare.
He grabs my hand once again and we run to catch up to the others. It doesn’t take us long until we see their light through the branches of the trees. I instinctively let go of Tony’s hand, hesitant to see what Alec would think.
I find Alec who’s holding Sebastian in his arms. His little cheeks are tear-stained and he sniffles in his sleep. My heart nearly breaks in two. I swallow hard trying to keep the tears at bay. I rest my hand on Alec’s and he turns towards me. Relief fills his eyes as he realizes I’m safe. With his free hand he reaches for me. He pulls me into a hug gripping me tightly.
I let one, and only one tear fall. I keep thinking this may be all Sebastian has for a family now. I never envisioned myself as a mother this young in life but I’m willing to do whatever has to be done to protect this little guy from harm.
I link my arm through Alec’s and we walk in motion with the others. During our walk Alec’s arms begin to get tired so I take Sebastian in mine. It takes me a few moments of coaxing because the compulsion is still telling Alec that he can't let go of Sebastian. I have to assure him that we are safe now and with that he relinquishes him.
Sabby's tiny head nestles in between my neck and shoulder perfectly and I feel his pudgy little hands holding on to my hair.
He whispers, “Wello,” in his sleep.
“It’s okay little guy,” I whisper back. “Everything’s going to be okay.” I rub his back feeling his body go limp as he falls back to sleep.
A few hours later we arrive at a large estate. The grass is quite a bit overgrown and the topiaries are undistinguishable. All of the windows are boarded up and locked. One of the adults in the group begins working on the front door. He uses some sort of saw and starts chipping away at the wood.
Alec and I take a seat on a porch swing. I’m still holding Sebastian as we begin a light sway. I rest my head on Alec’s shoulder allowing myself a small reprieve from the stresses born of this night. Alec wraps his arm around my shoulders. Even if I am physically strong I truly believe that Alec is ten times stronger than I am on a mental level.
As we sway I spot Claire and Connor, each holding a small child in their arms. Candy and Jake are together on the steps watching the man with the saw jimmy the handle of the door.
Before long the door swings open. We all get up and shuffle inside. The children are exhausted as we all uncover the plastic furniture laying the children on any soft surface we can find. Some lead the children up the stairs to find beds.
All of the people ages sixteen and over are asked to meet back downstairs in the formal dining area once the children are put to bed. Alec and I find a nursery and uncover a small crib off in the corner. Alec removes the sheet and I place Sebastian on the tiny little mattress. He hasn’t been in a crib for a few years but this makes him look smaller than four. I run my hand through his curls and kiss him softly on the cheek. When we’re sure he’s asleep we tip toe out of the room. I place my hand in Alec’s and we walk down to the formal dining area.
We find Connor, Claire, Candy and Jake in the opposite corner talking amongst themselves. We make our way towards them.
One of the adults has a clipboard in one hand and a pen in the other. “My name is Chloe. If you’ll all form a line so I can get all your names and information that would be great.”
Alec and I take our place in the back of the line waiting our turn. We end up giving Chloe our names and tell her what gifts we possess. She takes a while to jot mine down, much longer than anyone else. I feel a little embarrassed as people stare at me with stunned expressions as I name one gift after another. I make darn sure not to put down my reaper gift…if you can even categorize it as such.
“I’m sure you all are extremely tired. It has been a long night. Thank you to everyone who helped get the children to safety,” Chloe states. “I’m sure you all are wondering what the plan is and to be quite honest we don’t really have one. The only orders I was given was to get the children to the safe house, which is here, and wait for further instructions.” Chloe pauses looking around the room. “A few months ago some rations were brought here along with clean water in case this facility had to be used. They are in the large shed at the rear of the home. With as many people as we have, I’m not sure how long the rations are going to last so please, no wasting.”
We all nod our heads in agreement. My stomach growls but I ignore it.
“Now, if you all will find a place to sleep near a child or two, we can all rest. I have a feeling tomorrow is going to be another big day.” Chloe is the first to leave. I walk across the room and bid my friends goodnight.
Tony is standing near the door watching me. I give Alec’s hand a squeeze and ask him to give me a few minutes. He kisses me lightly on the cheek and leaves. I watch him walk out of the room and then turn towards Tony. Most of the others have gone now, only a few linger about.
Tony meets me halfway and gives me a small smile. “You were great tonight.” He says.
I let out a small snort, not sure if he’s being serious or not. “Sure, now that you know I’m part monster,” I retort.
“Willow,” Tony chastises. “You are not some kind of monster. You took on one of the monsters. You didn’t lose your mind like a true reaper would. You used it for good! You can’t be so hard on yourself. You are doing the best you can with the cards you were dealt.”
I let his words sink in. “Thank you, Tony.” I tell him simply. “And thank you for protecting my secret. It means a lot to me.”
He nods his head like a true soldier would.
“So, I guess I’ll see you in the morning,” I tell him.
“See you then,” he replies.
We
part ways and I make my way back to the nursery. Alec has made a small cot next to the crib.
I lay down on the pillow he placed for me and nestle into his arms. I’m so thankful for his rock in the storm attitude. It’s easy to lose it in situations like this. I rest my head on his chest and he strokes my hair. I listen to his heartbeat slow down until I know he’s fallen into a deep sleep.
I must wait for some time before I get up. It’s just before dawn now as the moonlight is gone, replaced by a very dim morning glow. I carefully move out of Alec’s arms. I take time before I go to study him like this. He’s so peaceful right now, looking years younger.
I stand up and take a peek at Sebastian. “You’ll be okay little guy,” I whisper. “Take care of Alec for me.” I give him a small kiss and watch as he rolls over.
Before we even left the compound I made the promise to myself that I would make sure my parents were okay. I knew no one would agree to it so I kept this information to myself. Deep down I know I may be the only one who can help them and I’m not going to let them down. I inch my way to the door making sure not to wake Alec or Sebastian. I tip toe down the stairs and out the front door.
There’s a guard walking around the perimeter of the property and he almost sees me. I push my body against the house and thankfully he doesn’t shine his light on me. I wait until he walks to the side of the house before I take off in a run. I run as fast as I can through the woods praying that I’m headed in the right direction. My memory seems to be spot on as I round the familiar places I saw just a few hours ago.
I stop at the top of the hill and take in my surroundings. The view makes it easier for me to plan my assent. After making a mental plan, I sit down on the ground and catch my breath.
My stomach is growling so strongly now, I can hear it over my heavy breathing. The sun is just starting to peak over the mountaintop. I place my hand down on the ground and get pricked by a plant. I put my finger in my mouth trying to soothe it when I see that I’m sitting next to a blackberry bush. Laughing at the irony, I take a few berries and pop them in my mouth. This is just the thing I needed. More fuel for the fire that is burning within me, keeping me going. After a few minutes the berries have stained my hands a deep purple. I try and wipe them on my pants, but to no avail.
I hear a rustling in the bushes behind me and immediately hunker down. My heart rate doubles as I listen for noises. The rustling happens again, closer this time. I’m about to attack when I hear my name. Completely dumbfounded I rise up off the ground and see Tony crouched down about twenty feet in front of me.
I look into his eyes, which look angry as heck, and know it would be useless to ask him what he’s doing here. He’s doing his job. I finally get it. Tony is like a loyal puppy. He’s never going to stop coming to help me. Not when he’s been told his only directive is to protect me.
I pick off a few berries and offer them to Tony. He comes over and his angry glare softens a touch as he accepts them. “Out of all places you stop, you come across a blackberry bush? Someone up there must be looking out for you.”
I give him a small laugh. “I guess you’re right,”
He shakes his head and runs his hand through his hair. The sun hits it in such a way that it shines like a penny. "What are you doing Willow?" He sounds exasperated.
"I am going back for them." I cross my hands over my chest and firm my stance. "I am going back for them and I will not allow you to stop me. I will not leave them."
We stare at each other for several seconds. The vision of Tony throwing me over his shoulder and taking me back to the safe house runs through my mind. Luckily that doesn't happen. Instead I see a strange sort of pride and relief display on his face. "If you are going to do what you want to do no matter what....And if I can't change your mind....Then we better get moving. We're wasting time."
I let out the breath I had been holding. It takes a lot to force myself not to say, 'really?' Instead I say, "Let's do this."
We both start moving again in the direction of the hotel. We stop every so often to listen to our surroundings. When we near the tree line that borders the hotel, we pause to survey the area. The land is completely silent, which is starkly different than when we left.
We move closer to get a look at the back door. A few bodies are lying cold on the ground, motionless. I don't know if they are ours or the Reapers.
When we are certain that there is nobody alive from as far as we can see, we begin moving silently towards the hotel. I grab ahold of Tony's hand and turn us invisible just in case. We walk through the open door and find more bodies in the hallway. I turn and heave, throwing up the blackberries I just ate. Tony rubs my back but remains alert as he tries to comfort me. The smell is over whelming, the coppery stench of blood permeates the air.
Knowing we need to get moving I tell myself that these people are just sleeping. We walk through the downstairs area, checking each room, looking for any sign of life. Dread fills me each time I see a new body and I pray that they are not my mom or dad.
We see a lot more lifeless red eyes than I imagined we would. It looks like our people held their own well. Feeling confident that there is nobody around that's alive, I let go of Tony's hand and we both become visible again. "I think we should split up, that would make our search quicker."
Tony shakes his head. "I don't like that idea."
"We need to get moving now! If my parents are here, if they are hurt, I can help them if I find them in time." I yell at him.
He considers it for a second then reaches into his back pocket. He hands me a pistol. "Use your powers and get out if anything happens. Keep this ready for backup. Your powers are more useful than any weapon, so be ready." He tells me.
"Okay, I will call to you if I find anything on the third floor." I tell him.
"Ditto." He confirms.
With that, we head up the first flight of stairs. Tony and I separate as he heads down the hallway and I go up another flight. There are fewer bodies up here. Most of the doors are either open or have been kicked in. I turn invisible for safe measures as I search room by room. I don't find my parents anywhere.
At least fifteen minutes has past when I head down the flight of stairs to find Tony again. He's been silent as of yet and the anxiety of being separated from the only other living thing in this building is starting to wear on me. I search the rooms looking for him and find him in one of the rooms on the far end of the hall.
"Tony?" I ask as I watch him hunched over.
"He-elp...Th-eemmm." A male voice croaks out. I hear one final labored breath and Tony's eyes turn to me. They are rimmed with tears. I can't see the person that he is hovering over and my heart bottoms out.
"Dad!" I cry as I run to Tony's side. I look down at the man Tony is kneeling next to expecting to see the lifeless eyes of my father. Guilt overruns me as the relief fills my veins. I know I have no right to feel such relief when another man has died, but I can't help feeling it. I let out a shaky breath then I put my hand on Tony's shoulder.
He rises slowly and turns to me. Seeing the pain in his eyes I pull him into my arms. He holds me tightly and his hands clench at the fabric on my shirt. I feel a few tears soak onto my shoulder before he pulls away.
"We have to go now." He tells me.
"Why? Did you know him?" I point to the man who is one of ours.
Tony nods, "Yes. He was a great fighter."
"If you had called me, I could have helped him." I say softly, not wanting to make him feel worse.
Tony shakes his head, "No, he was near death. We both knew it. Healing him would have taken everything out of you for a while. We need to get to the mountain."
"Why?" My heart starts to race and panic sets in. "My mom and dad? Are they there?"
He nods. "Yes, this attack was a decoy. That's why there weren't as many Reapers around as there could have been. Only a quarter of them attacked this place. The rest are at the mountain. Your mom thinks they found a way to get inside. Along
with many other survivors, she went after them."
"Let's go!" We grab each other’s hand and run out of the room and out of the hotel. Our energy is spent by the time we make it anywhere near the mountain. I can see the top of the peaks rising up from a mile away. That gives me the push to keep on going.
A loud explosion rings off nearby and the earth shakes. We run faster and another explosion sounds off. The earth rumbles with it and I lose my footing. Tony scoops me off the ground and we look around. Through the tree's I can see smoke rising up in the distance.
"What the heck was that?" I ask out of breath.
"Don't know!" Tony says looking in the distance. We start running again and another explosion sounds. I have no idea what is going on! It sounds as if a war is breaking out and my stomach twists in response. My parents are out there, not to mention the hundreds of innocent people outside and inside that shelter right now.
When we near the clearing we hear the chaos of screams, fighting and gunshots. We break out of the tree line and another explosion goes off. I lose balance again and go down, taking Tony with me. From the ground we both look up at the fiery red balls of flames coming from different points around the mountain. Thick charcoal smoke filters up to the sky. Fire seems to be everywhere, engulfing the area in a deadly orange glow.
The sound of hundreds of people screaming fills our ears as we watch them filter out of the shelter into the sunlight. The Reapers pillage and our people fight off as best they can. Chaos is everywhere. People run around crying and screaming and soon the entire clearing is filled to the brim with people fighting and trampling their way over others in their efforts to escape this nightmare. The ones coming out of the shelter have no idea what they've run into. They don't know who is bad and who is good. Some of them try to fight our people, with the yellow eyes, but they only get pushed away.
Finding ELE (ELE Series #2) Written By: Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels Page 19