I left the trail, running again. I kept trying to use my own air to propel me up and over – an arc straight to Susan and Bee. It didn't work. Twice I was shot down by branches I didn't see. The third was a hard knock to the head. The fall took my breath away.
By the time I recovered, I was completely disoriented. My head pounded, and my ribs ached with each breath. I could set up a shield around Bee, if I could just get close enough. I closed my eyes, seeking her out again. It was easier this time.
She wasn't too far; maybe ten yards away. Susan had stopped moving. And Bee wasn't crying. My stomach dropped.
Are they okay?
My heart pounded in my chest as I struggled to stand. Right away, I realized why they were quiet. Three members of One Less stood in front of me. Two men, one woman, all Fires. They had me back on the ground, face down, with my arms behind my back before I had time to think. If only my head would stop pounding.
Behind us, a twig snapped.
"What was that?" I felt a pair of hands come off me while one turned to investigate.
Bee, no!
I struggled, attempting to get my legs underneath me. "I'm one of you!" I shouted.
That caught their attention. I felt Susan backing away slowly. She needed to get further. "I mean, I'm with you. I'm part of One Less."
Someone tugged at my arm. "You're not wearing the band."
I craned my neck to see a bright blue piece of material wrapped around his bicep. Uniforms were hard to come by, without direct shipments from factories in China and all. "Got torn off while I was just scuffling with an Air. Got her good though – her nose will never look the same," I laughed. It sounded fake to my own ears.
I heard rustling a few feet from my face. I looked up to see Alex peeking out from some foliage. I shook my head, then motioned for him to go around. He nodded once. The three behind me were oblivious to the entire exchange.
The woman grabbed me at my collar and yanked me to my feet. She was stronger than she looked. "Yeah? Prove it." She had a British accent.
Damn – is there a secret password? A code or sign or something?
Susan was far enough away now to move more quickly. Alex was catching up. Bee would be okay. All I needed to do was get rid of these guys. Air would do the trick again. As I started to call for it, a searing pain shot through my head. Had it not paralyzed me completely, I'd be on my knees throwing up.
I let go, and the pain dissipated in waves. My hands went to my temples.
"Well, prove it fast or it's into the cuffs you go," said one of the men, waving a plastic zip-tie in front of my face.
A new sensation of pins and needles took me, as I realized magic would not get me out of this one. "Okay, okay," I mumbled. "Just give me a second."
I dropped my backpack and turned away from them. I pulled down on the neckline of my shirt, exposing my right shoulder blade.
"I can't see it; it's too dark. Can you see it?" one of them asked.
"No – wait, I have a flashlight." Material rustled as hands searched pockets.
I looked over my shoulder. "No need to waste batteries."
"Shush, you. We have to be sure."
I sighed, keeping the shirt yanked down on one side. It didn't matter, the more time we wasted, the more time for the others to get away.
"Here it is."
Light flashed over my shoulder for a brief second while they studied the scar Shawn had left with his Athame.
"Ok, yeah. You're clear."
I pulled my shirt back down. "Oh, goodie," I said, mustering as much sarcasm as I could.
"Come on, they're regrouping on the trail." The three of them started walking opposite the direction of Susan and Bee.
"You go ahead, I think I lost my…my…" I had to think quick, some excuse to separate from them.
"Your what?" the woman asked.
"I think my armband must be here, somewhere. Don't want to be baring my shoulder every five seconds." I managed to muster a nervous laugh.
There was a click, and a beam of light darted around the ground at my feet.
"Nope," she said. "Here, I have an extra one."
My hand went to the air to catch the piece of blue material she tossed. I grimaced at the pain in my ribs and managed to turn it into a smile. "Thanks, lady." I bent to pick up my backpack.
"The name is Laura," she said. She put her arm around my shoulder, leading me back to the path. "You must be new here – that scar looks fairly fresh."
Chapter 25
Muscle Memory
For the next two hours, we walked the way I had just come. Every step was one in the wrong direction. My head still hurt, as did my ribs; all compounded by the fact that the woman next to me with short brown hair, continued to talk my ear off—mainly about the men around camp.
"…but then he started to bed down with Sheila. Mike told me they went through several condoms a night. Tent mates couldn't handle it so they moved out – one of them was Jack and I offered room for him…"
In five quick minutes I had learned enough to know that camp at One Less was sexually active as long as two rules were obeyed; condoms and no rape. There was no way that could be one of Shawn's; at least not under his direct control. My ears had strained, trying to catch his voice among the quiet chatter of fifty people, with no such luck. I relaxed a little.
"…but he was a Water and believe me, opposites do not attract. With them it's so gentle and soft and they always want to talk after, and I'm like 'Bugger off – I need my three hours of sleep 'cause I got sentry duty in the morning'."
I smiled, nodding my head, and regretting it instantly. My hand went to my temples again.
"Hey, you okay?" Laura asked.
I tripped over a rock.
She steadied me. "Be careful or you'll be arse over elbow!"
"Thanks. I'm fine." I risked a sideways glance.
She looked at me, expecting more.
"It's just – you know – that isn't my thing."
"Ooooh, I get it." She removed her hands from my arm.
I sighed, relieved that she could understand sex wasn't top priority in everyone's mind. But no.
"Then you must be part of Erika's group. No wonder I didn't recognize you. You all do keep to yourselves; don't catch you around the prophylactic distribution tent, if you know what I mean." She laughed, nudging me with her elbow.
I forced a laugh in return.
Oh great, I have just come out of a closet I didn't even know I was in.
But it worked. Her chatter ceased until she found someone else to 'talk shop' with. There were no protests when I began to fall behind. As soon as I was clear to concentrate, I reached out, searching the electrical waves around us, honing in on those with the telltale signature that screamed human. I could do that much without causing an earthquake in my head.
Bee was behind us, accompanied by a Water and a muggle. I smiled. They were alone putting a safe distance between them and One Less. I fell back further until something else caught my ear. Crying.
I picked up the pace, making my way forward among the ranks until I was almost to my very hetero female companion. Just ahead of us were ten or so Elementals they had caught from my group. I recognized the one crying, an eighteen year old female who had joined us in Evansville.
"Shut it, will ya?" One of the guards grabbed her arm, pulling her into him as they walked. "Once you get to camp, there'll be plenty more to cry about."
She recoiled from his breath. He laughed and shoved her away. The rest of the prisoners instinctively crowded around her, shielding her from more bullying.
"Quit messing with them," another guard whispered to his coworker. "You're just jealous because the prisoners eat better than us."
The man grumbled, but didn't outright protest.
The girl stopped crying, but her hiccups and deep, shaky breaths continued to float back to me. I couldn't just abandon them. It was because of me they were here. Apparently, they weren't the only prisoners
. How did One Less manage to hold Elementals?
Somewhere up ahead, a dog barked. I flinched at memories of my penguin guard dog on Galapagos Island. The feeling of my power drained, heavy limbs, and the bitter taste of hopelessness raced through my body. Whether there was a place like that close by or not, I couldn't let that happen to anyone else, much less my people.
Without thinking, I reached for my powers. By now it was muscle memory. They didn't come, only pain greeted me. My head spun, splitting open as I fell to my knees. I just managed to crawl to the side of the trail when I vomited, spewing my insides all over the flora and its annoying, consistent buzzes of electricity.
Desperate, I reached for my powers again. Like a drug locked away from me, I panicked at the absence of magic. I felt hands on my back, but the voices around me were drowned out by the roaring in my head. I threw up again, dry heaving stomach acid now. The puke-covered plant life raced up to meet me.
* * *
"Easy there, princess."
I took two steps forward and manipulated the gun out of Shawn's hand in a lightning quick move Alex showed me once. I turned off the safety, took aim, and pulled the trigger.
Chapter 26
Camp
A mullet swayed in front of me. All business in the front and a party in the back. The mullet disappeared as a head swiveled. Overgrown eyebrows and a square chin greeted me.
"You must be Erika," I said. My mouth was sticky and dry at the same time.
She smiled. "They brought you in yesterday, and you've been asleep since. Must've been one helluva fight – wish I’d been there."
"No you don't." I tried to shake my head; a sharp stabbing pain shot through it.
"Here." She held a canteen of water to my lips. I took a drink before she eased it away. "Doctor said not too much."
"The prisoners." I tried sitting up. My head felt like it would split open.
"Whoa, whoa, easy there." She pushed me back down, it didn't take much.
I blinked away the pain.
When Erika came back into focus, she was looking over her shoulder. She turned back to me, whispering, "What business do you have with the prisoners?"
I didn't answer. My hands went to my head, making sure it was intact.
"Listen," she said, "I don't care – but other people will. All I'm sayin' is be careful who you say things around."
I tried to nod, but then thought better of it. "Sure, thanks."
She put a blanket over me. "They said you was one of mine when they brought you here. I went along, but I ain't never seen you before – at least not in my camp."
She stared at me, unblinking. I was going to have to tell her something. "It's…I'm new here – and there are…things…going on in camp that I don't want to participate in."
She held up her hand. "Stop right there – no need to go any further. Several of us that run with a different crowd, but the majority of my group is just seeking shelter. You’re welcome to bed down with us. There are just a few rules."
"Okay." I could handle rules.
"First, we follow the rules of camp. Everyone pulls their duty – I can't protect you from that."
"Okay," I repeated.
"Second, no drama."
I liked her already. "Is there a third?"
"I think the second rule covers pretty much everything else. Now, I've got clearance to keep you on bed rest for another two days, but then I gotta put you back on rotations. What were you on before?"
"Um…" I couldn't think clearly. What duties was the camp likely to have? "Kitchen." I pressed my lips shut. Kitchen? I couldn't think of a worse duty – which was why it probably popped into my head. "But I hate it." I added.
She raised an eyebrow. "Could be worse – could be latrine."
I crinkled my nose.
She sighed. "I'll see what I can do – someone will be in every few hours to check on you. In the meantime, stay put."
Erika left before I had a chance to thank her.
I surveyed my surroundings. I was in a large tent, but just how large I had no idea. My small corner was blocked off by a sheet draped over a clothesline. I heard activity outside the tent, and kept my hearing on alert for the sound of Shawn's voice. Three hours later, and no Shawn. Instead, I caught clips and phrases of other helpful information.
I heard a working party returning for the day.
"The river was choppy today – gear kept rolling around on the boats."
"Good thing half the plant was disassembled before we got here."
"Job will be done in a week. Then we can head back to Utah."
"Only half of us will fit on the boats, the rest have to walk."
I racked my brain, and came up with Captain Carl's voice, Fort Calhoun's Nuclear Power Plant. The activity we’d seen was One Less. I shivered at how close we had come to Shawn. I shivered at how close I was to him now. And if he ever found Bee…
Bee!
Where was she? I closed my eyes and reached out. The sounds around me dulled and the barely audible buzzing of electrical signals became more prevalent. I followed each one, systematically eliminating each Water I came across. Finally, I found them – almost too far to detect. They were on the other side of a hill, sheltered by thick brush. Safe for now.
Do I run to them, or stay?
I opened my eyes and the buzzing in my head disappeared. I took a deep breath. Someone came in, smiled at me, and set an aspirin on the table next to me.
Aspirin?!
I hadn't seen aspirin in months. I sat up. Waves of pain gripped my head again. I reached for the aspirin and swallowed, without the water. As she left, pushing back the hanging sheet, I caught a glimpse of shelves and shelves full of medication.
I lay back down, taking more deep breaths until the pain passed. I'd be no use to Bee this way. Maybe I’d stay until they could help my concussion; maybe even help me get back my powers.
The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. Perhaps putting a little distance between me and Bee would help with the energy. No more earthquakes; nothing to tip off Shawn. Then we could regroup and figure out what to do.
* * *
My first trip out of the tent was necessitated by my full bladder. The late morning sun was blinding after two days of sleep and a dimly lit tent. I stumbled forward, feeling awkward and out of place, like the word 'spy' was tattooed on my forehead.
No one seemed to notice. I adjusted the blue band on my arm, spreading it out. Slightly more confident, I took a deep breath, and followed the smell to the latrines.
I watched the Elementals as they worked around camp. They all looked like normal people. Fat, skinny, old, and young. Diverse nationalities; I even heard several languages. All were intent on some task. And all were…happy, or seemed so, anyway.
There were hundreds of them. Shawn had been busy. I passed a tent with a dozen or more people standing in line just outside. "New recruits, stay in line! Have an ID ready if you have one. You will be marked—" The man barking out orders cut off at the screaming inside the tent. All eyes shot to him, people straightening their backs and fidgeting, on edge.
He held up his hands. "This is the price of admission. It will be clean and quick. You'll get a local anesthetic before and an aspirin after."
More than I got, I thought.
I kept walking, strangely more secure with the knowledge that One Less had several new recruits. Maybe it wouldn't be so hard blending in.
"Whoa, there." I felt a hand pull back on my upper arm. "Don't want to be stepping in there."
I glanced down at my foot, hovering over a ditch. I threw my arm over my nose and mouth. "Oh, man – the smell!" I turned to face my savior as he pulled me back to even ground.
"I know. They’re behind on their digging." He nodded to a dozen people with shovels a few yards away, excavating more ditches.
Latrine duty. Suddenly the kitchen didn't sound so bad.
"The women's bathrooms are over the hill." He pointed in the
opposite direction. "Much nicer facilities from what I hear." He smiled.
I forced a laugh. "Yeah, well – thanks for the rescue."
He shrugged. "No biggie. Maybe we could meet up later – eat chow together?"
"Oh." My eyes went wide. I hadn't had to turn a man down in a long time.
"I'll come find you – where do you camp?" he asked.
"I'm – well, I'm over there." I pointed in the general direction we had both come, fumbling around for an excuse – an answer – something. "I'm with Erika. Er, not with her – but I'm from her. Camp, that is."
I groaned. Screwed that one up.
I put my hand on my hip and said a little louder. "I'm part of Erika's camp."
"Oooohhh," said the man. "Sorry – didn't realize. Well, have a nice day!" He turned and walked away.
That was easy. Already Erika was proving useful.
The sound of his zipper and a steady stream of liquid hitting dirt got me moving. Up and over the hill, another ditch greeted me. There was at least privacy from the camp. I chose one end of the area and hesitated. My bladder, aching with the need to empty itself, suddenly turned shy.
I waited until the women that were there left, then relieved myself. No splashing – score. I stood and zipped up my pants. I turned, planning a route back that avoided my puddle and any other suspicious wet spots, when a procession of prisoners crested the hill.
Tethered waist to waist with actual shackles and chains, they were all Earths, guarded by other Earths at a ratio of two to one. I recognized the one on the end as the girl crying after she had been captured in the forest. More specifically, she was one we had picked up in Evansville.
After they made their way down the hill, finding their spots in the ditch as best they could, I walked over to them. I jumped, pretending to avoid a nastier part of the ditch, and ran into her.
Akasha 4 - Earth Page 12