“Fredric,” I whispered in relief, running over to him.
I ripped my mask off and tried to undo the ropes, but they were tied too tight.
His face was brutally beaten but he didnt look like he was in a critical condition. I put my hand on his arm but I wasnt trained enough to feel what kind of state he was in. Dammit!
“Step back,” Sam said.
I looked over at him and his eyes were black.
I moved back and watched the ropes explode into pieces, and I ran back to Fredric and took the blindfold off mouth gag out.
“Fredric, are you okay?” I asked, tapping the side of his face lightly.
His brown eyes fluttered open and I saw to my relief that he was alive at least.
“Lays... Sam? What are you doing here, you have to leave before they get you,” he said in a raspy voice.
It sounded like they hadnt given him anything to drink or eat since he was here.
“Were going to get you out of here,” I said, Sam was already helping me get him onto his feet.
We stood him upright and Fredric weakly groaned in pain.
“You don't understand, it's a trap,” Fredric moaned.
I looked at Sam wide-eyed in panicked.
“We're getting you out of here first,” Sam said, pulling him towards the door.
One of Fredrics arms was around the back of my neck and the other was around Sams neck, so we were both supporting his weight.
“Elane, we have him,” Sam said into the receiver.
“Good, now leave Layla in the room,” she replied.
We stopped and we looked at each other in confusion.
“That's right, I said…” Elanes voice started, but a strangers voice finished. “Leave Layla in the room.”
I almost forgot to breath I was that stunned. Sam ripped the earphone out of his ear and threw it on the ground, and I did the same.
“It was a trap, we have to move now,” Sam said, already on the go.
“But we can't go back that way, and what about the others?” I asked, frantic.
We were running back through the corridor and desperately trying to figure things out.
“They have been onto us the whole time, and I think they led us here to find Fredric. I'm not sure if Elane was guiding us through most of the way but we have to find another way to escape,” Sam rushed out.
As we were heading towards the door that exited the corridor, we saw shadows moving across the walls ahead and we stopped. I knew this wasnt going to end well.
“Get behind me,” Sam warned in just a whisper, his hands already projecting light.
He pushed Fredric and me behind him, shielding us with himself. We waited for the strangers to come, and we watched the shadows get closer and closer until…
“Sam, Fredric, Lays,” Jane said, rushing towards us.
I started breathing again and I saw behind her were Hunter, James and Elane.
“They're onto us,” Sam informed them.
“We know, they impersonated your voice and tried to lead us away from each other. Elane knew it wasn't you so we ditched the earphones and followed after the way you came,” Hunter explained, taking Fredric off of me and onto him.
“Fred, are you okay?” Hunter asked his brother tenderly.
My heart missed a beat. He reminded me so much of Adam.
Fredric nodded in response to Hunter.
“How do we get out?” I asked, looking around me in the dark.
“The only way is down,” Jane said, she sounded really worried. “Unless we take a window, but we could all get hurt.”
“She's right, I wouldnt be able to catch us all,” Sam agreed.
We stood in the tense silence for a second while someone thought of something.
“Then we go down,” James said with a smile.
“But what about the no shooting people thing?” I asked.
James pulled out the two swords from his back holster. “New rule: Do whatever you can to get out alive.”
I nodded and so did everybody else. We all pulled out our guns or bows and arrows and had them at the ready, except for Hunter and Sam who were supporting Fredric.
“James watch our backs, Elane watch the right, Jane; the left, and Lays; upfront. Every keep focus and concentrate on your direction no matter what,” Hunter said.
We organized ourselves around Sam, Fredric and Hunter, then we started for the stairs, quickly and swiftly as a team.
Everything was going alright until we were on the stairs.
“Elane, it's Izzy!” Jane yelled towards Elane.
We heard a grunt and then a thrashing noise but we couldnt turn away from our directions or it could ruin the entire plan. We all had to be focused.
“He's out of the way,” Elane said, coming back into position and bringing her bow back to the ready position like an archer.
We were down the stairs now and heading for the front door this time, there was no time to back track, it was straight down the middle.
“James, Toby!” Elane shouted to James.
We heard the swords slash though the air, a thump and grunting again, then two gun shots and silence. “He's down,” James said.
I didn't need to look behind me to know that James was smiling.
We finally made it to the door, and before we knew it, Sam had ripped it off the hinges so we could keep walking as fast as we could.
“Keep going,” Sam said to all of us.
We kept walking, our eyes darting around in the darkness, looking closely for enemies. I remember passing all these trees on the way in so I knew we were heading in the right direction. I kept walking with everyone on my heels, Pistol forward until I heard a voice from behind me.
“Hey, watch out,” they said jokingly.
I stopped walking and turned around to see Thora and Christein; the element twins, behind us. One of them had frizzy blonde hair and the other straight short blonde hair.
Jane and Elane started shooting at them with all they had, so James and I followed suit because we knew arrows and swords would be too slow.
A wall of fire built up in front of them, melting the bullets and protecting them unfortunately, not one of the many rounds fired hit them.
“Sam,” Jane said in panic.
We watched as the fire was blown out, and we shot off more rounds and used more and more clips, but they kept evading the shots until we were all out of ammunition.
“You know we can't just let you all leave, and we can do this all night,” the one with short straight blonde hair said, intrigued by our escape so far.
She fired a string of fire at us in one swift move and I saw it come towards us. Hunter had his barrier up in an instant and it stopped just before it hit James. The fire was unable to penetrate Hunters blue barrier. My guess; that was Thora, and the frizzy haired one must have been Christein.
“Whoa!” James said, stumbling back and standing beside us.
They laughed. “Is that the best you got? Thora, let's take them down before Tommy gets here,” Christein, I assumed said.
“We were supposed to wait until he got back though,” Thora argued.
“I bet he'll like you better if you take them out now,” Christein said, trying to persuade her sister.
“Umm… alright,” Thora said.
She instantly threw a ball of fire at us but it couldnt break through Hunters barrier just yet. As the wind instantly picked up pace, and was blowing my hair around me, this was when I knew what I had to do. I knew it would give the others a chance to get away but I didn't know if I would make it back. I had the power to stop them, but it was a long shot because I hadn't had years of practice with my ability, or much training.
“Hunter, you have to drop the field,” I said, turning to face him.
“Are you crazy, we'll all die!” he replied confused.
“Drop it when I say so, then all you guys make a break for it!” I yelled to them.
Thora was attacking twice as ha
rd now. I could see Hunter flinch every time the fire hit the field.
“Lays, no!” Sam shouted over the noise, the light of the fire was impacting the barrier making his green eyes spark. “I can take them out if―”
I cut him off. “No. Go Sam, you have to,” I said sadly.
He knew what I was going to do and I knew he would object, but it was the only way to stop Thora and Christein without them killing all of us.
“I'm the only one who can stop them.”
“No, I'm not leaving you behind... not again,” he argued, his face was mortified. “I swore!”
“You've got no choice,” I said darkly.
I already had the blue light projecting from my palms and was walking towards the edge of the barrier. I turned my attention back to the element twins. I could see the fire, feel the warmth of the flames practically hit me, but Hunters wall got the attack first. The wind was blowing my long hair around crazily now and I was ready to save everyone here, I was willing to risk my life for the safety of my family. I had to, this was my fault. I had to at least try to fix what I had done.
“Lays! Layla!” Sam yelled, but I ignored him.
He had to get Fredric to safety, and I needed him to survive.
“I love you guys,” I said, facing my doom.
“I will come back for you!” Sam yelled determinedly.
I couldnt see his face but I knew he would somehow come back for me. He wouldnt leave me here.
“Drop it now!” I yelled back, and I felt the barrier disappear a few seconds later.
I had to strike now while she was re-cooperating.
I faced both my hands palm up by my sides and I felt my body acquire both of the elementals energy. My eyes could see the microscopic energy particles rush through the air and into my hands in a blur. It kind of looked like blue gel toothpaste rush into my body.
“Lays!” Jane yelled, fighting off someone.
“Go!” I yelled back, without turning.
“You have to leave!” she shouted back, pushing them to the ground and hitting them in the head.
“Just go, now!” I yelled, seeing her hesitate but run off.
“What's she doing to us?” Christein said with difficulty.
I was gaining more energy from her than Thora, she was somehow resisting.
Soon enough Christein was on the ground unmoving. I tried to concentrate on Thoras energy more but suddenly I heard a voice. It was the voice that made my heart ache, and I lost my concentration for that split second. I unfocused to look around for Adam but I discovered it was not him, it was someone else with his voice. I had been tricked.
I turned back to look at Thora and she had flung a fireball at me with the last of her strength, and I couldnt stop it in time. I could feel the heat get closer and closer until I got knocked to the ground by the sheer force of it. I could feel the searing pain on the right side of my body. I had turned when her attack had hit me because it was my bodys natural reaction. I opened my eyes and looked up from the ground, struggling to breathe. Thora was on all fours, struggling to breathe as well, but at least I had weakened her.
“Layla!” I heard Sam yell.
God no, my heart missed a beat.
I saw him run over to me, throwing something dark on my body as he skidded to the ground on his knees, cradling me as softly as he could.
My heart continued to beat abnormally. He had come back for me, he shouldn't have, but he did, just like he said he would.
I looked over at Thora and she was about to fire at Sam. I was absolutely horrified, but I would not let her harm him. I conjured up the last of my strength and I snatched Sams gun from his belt, swinging around instantly and shooting her twice in the stomach. I knew the sharp bullets with the cut off venom in them would take her down. I watched as she fell to the ground, a petrified look on her face, but I was relieved. I blacked out but I knew I had done one last good deed. I had saved Sam and that was what mattered.
I could feel I was in a car and Sam was with me in the back seat or the boot of the Hummer, his voice in distress. How did I know it was the backseat, well there was no steering wheel and he was hovering over me, unless it is in the huge boot. I was just sure he wasn't driving.
“Lays? Layla?” he said, his voice sounding strangled.
No, don't cry, I wanted to say but I couldn't find myself, I couldnt speak even if I wanted to.
I was fading in and out of darkness and I felt numb all over. I couldnt answer his call to me but I wanted to so badly, just to tell him my last words.
I saw lights flash all around me but I couldnt move at all, I was hopelessly powerless, even with my feeble attempts to move. All I could do was watch what was happening around me. Sam was frantic, hovering above me, and I saw he was on the edge of tears. I knew I was horribly burnt but I couldn't feel it… yet, but I was prepared for the pain, I was bracing myself for it. I tried to concentrate on Sam and his face, it was the only thing that I wanted to see at the moment and luckily I couldn't feel anything because I knew my pain would hurt him to see. So that's what I had to do, try to keep sane for the next however many hours until my body healed itself eventually.
21. Scorching
I opened my eyes to a brightly lit room and I was suddenly hit with a wave of searing pain on my right side. I started panting and tried to move but I didn't have enough strength. I couldnt do anything except endure the god damn insane scorching pain! I could have cried out, but I didn't want to because I felt Sam was sitting next to me. I didnt need to hurt him further.
“Lays? My love, are you okay?” I heard him ask softly when he saw me breathe abnormally and my eyes open.
I went to answer but when my lips parted they started quivering, and I knew I was about to scream.
“You are in my bedroom. You were severely burnt on the right side of your body, but we have something the Warrigal coven might want back. You are going to be okay,” he said, his voice breaking twice.
I tried so hard to move, just an inch so I could touch his hand, see his face, feel his warmth, but all I could feel was pain eating me alive. It felt like hot acid was melting one side of me and I wanted to scream out so badly.
“I'm so sorry,” I heard Sam murmur in my ear. “I should have never left you, even if it was to save Fredric. Jane could have helped and I should have stayed.”
I felt like I was going to cry, he was blaming himself again and his voice... the way he sounded was tearing my heart apart. I had to be careful though, one wrong move and I could become out of control.
“Please heal well, I love you,” he whispered, my heart was literally breaking on the inside.
His voice was agonized with pain and such strong emotions. I couldnt stand him to be like this, I had to do something to get through to him somehow. I just hoped this wouldnt last much longer.
Sam leaned in to kiss my forehead then he started to disappear out of my sights. I tried to move to stop him, so he would stay with me.
Oh crap, wrong move...
I felt a sudden burning rush run through the entire right side of my body and before I knew it, and before I could stop it, the uncontrollable shrilled high pitched scream I was trying so hard to keep down, bubbled to my lips and came out.
I felt myself shake uncontrollably, screaming at the top of my lungs at the same time. I heard people rush in, many of them yelling but I didnt know what, I was distracted by the pain I was in and trying to get myself to stop screaming.
I saw Sam above me, he was hovering over me, holding down my arms and legs with his, tears in his beautiful green eyes.
“Peter, the morphine!” Sam was yelling, trying to keep contact with my eyes.
I felt a small sharp pain in my left arm, along with my pain that was eating me alive, and Sams pain that I could see in his eyes. I was literally in pain in every way possible; physically, emotionally and mentally. It was all too much and I was close to passing out. I felt the burning numb on my side and I stopped screaming, my musc
les relaxed as I think the morphine kicked in. I saw Sams eyes fill with relief but the hurt and responsibility was still there, along with the few tears that slid down his face as he held me down. I wanted to wipe his tears away, he didn't need to cry, he never cried, and that was how I knew how much I was hurting him. He pulled my limp body close to his and I knew he was crying quietly into my hair. Oh god please let this pass, please.
My sense of feel subsided and my eyes drooped, as Sam laid me back down gently he slid his hand down the side of my face. I felt I was drifting off to sleep again. I squeezed my eyes closed to help the process and concentrated all of my energy on the right side of my body and tried to heal myself from the inside out. It was just an idea, but I had to try, just so I could heal myself enough to move one hand or at least to speak without screaming hysterically.
“It's my fault you are like this, but you will always be the most beautiful thing in my world,” he said into my ear.
Thats when I drifted into the darkness, away from his voice, but I still kept trying to heal myself faster, I had to. I kept going in and out of hearing what was happening around me. I once heard Fredrics voice, and Janes voice, they were talking about Thora. But most of the time I would hear Sam talk to me, he would apologize and blame himself over and over, and every time it killed me to hear it. But I needed his voice to get me through, to keep me sane, even if he was torturing himself.
I was alone in the darkness most of the time, floating nowhere, aimlessly. It felt like a falling sensation was running through my body, but yet I knew I was inside my own head. I didn't know how long I had been inside my own head for, but it was starting to feel like forever to me. I missed everyone, and I missed food especially.
****
My senses suddenly revived, instantaneously pulling me out of the darkness, it felt like someone had pulled me out of the thick water and I could breathe again. I felt myself acquire power, sweet warm and powerful energy so strong. I didnt know where this was coming from but I could suddenly feel my fingers and my body come back to me. I got stronger and stronger until I opened my eyes and saw Sams lips were against mine. I pushed him back using as much force as possible, my eyes were wide with shock and he was gasping for air. I knew my body had accidentally taken energy from his body when he touched me, that had helped the course of my excruciating burns pass faster.
The Hidden Revelations: First Light Page 38