Finding ELE (ELE Series #2) Written By: Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels (15 page)

Hardy-har-har! He thinks he's so funny does
he? I give him a good rolling of the eyes. Not that the light in
here is good enough to notice, but still. “Zack, I’m only going to
ask you once. Let me go.” I say calmly looking down at his hand
that encircles my wrist.

Zack pulls me into him even closer and
stares down at me over his nose. I feel him chuckle against me
which is totally revolting. “One more time, huh? I was gonna put
money on it that you’d continue to ask me all the way down to my
dad's lab. No can do though sugar. There’s a bounty on your sweet
little head and I intend to collect on it.”

I give him an innocent smile. “Oh really?” I
ask. “You’re going to turn me in are you?” I squint my eyes at him
for effect. “Well by all means, take me in then.”

I watch as Zack’s facial expressions turn to
confusion momentarily as he wraps his mind around what I just said.
It doesn’t take long before he barks back at me, “Whatever Willow,
enough of these childish games. Let’s just get this over with.”

He turns slightly to the side and while
holding my wrist he begins to start walking but I ground myself in
place. He struggles against my weight trying to pull me along.
Sweat starts beading around his forehead as he struggles. “What,
did you gain an extra…ton since I last saw you?” He grunts trying
to get me to budge.

I just smile innocently at him. “What’s the
problem, can’t handle a little girl anymore? Why don't you just
pick me up?”

I'm amazed when he actually tries. He tries
so hard that he can't stifle the grunting sound he makes.

I look down at my nails and pretend to
examine them while he tries. I sigh, “What is this world coming to
when a man can’t be chivalrous anymore and carry a girl off to her
mean old captors?” I ask with extreme blaze holding out my free
hand to show him my manicure.

This infuriates Zack and he begins pulling
with all his might trying desperately to get me to move. When he
realizes it’s a physical impossibility, a fear, unlike none I’ve
seen before, takes over and his eyes become hollow. “You’re eyes,”
he says. Then he stutters, “They’re, yellow…”

I give him a smirk. “Well, if you say so. I
don’t exactly have a mirror on hand.” I retort.

He must figure out this is a power he has no
idea exists because he begins to slowly walk backwards towards the
cave exit with his hands raised. “Alright, you win Willow.” He
backs up a few more steps before I cock my head to the side giving
him a sly smile.

“
Why Zack, I think you underestimate
me.” I glace over my shoulder and see Tony rocking back and forth
in the corner sucking away at his thumb like it’s the worlds
tastiest popsicle. I then turn my focus back towards Zack. “Do you
honestly think I’m going to just let you walk out of here after all
you’ve done for me? Why, I think the only gracious thing to do
would be returning the favor. After all, you did teach me the art
of being a lab rat.”

And with that Zack is off to the races. He
runs with all his might towards the exit…and I let him run.
Because, let’s be honest, I know it won’t take much to catch
him.

I let him get a few feet from the tunnel
then I use my speed ability for the first time. I catch up to him
in a startling speed and throw him to the ground. He lets out a
grunt and then a wail as he clutches his right arm.

I turn him over to his back and get in his
face. “Aww, did the baby hurt his arm?” I stick out my bottom lip
and cock my head to the side. I’m still not sure where the menacing
capabilities of mine are coming from, but revenge tastes so
sweet.

“
Get off of me.” Zack manages to
grunt.

I click my tongue at him four times. “Now,
now. Why are we in such a hurry?” I ask letting the false sweetness
drip from my lips.

Zack tries to wiggle against me but I have
him pinned to the ground. He’s getting nowhere unless I say it’s
okay.

“
What are you…you…freak!” He yells in
my face.

Enough with the pleasantries. I take one
hand and put it over Zack’s mouth making him unable to speak and
the other I use to pull Zack to his feet. I wrap my arm around Zack
keeping my other hand firmly placed on his mouth. I have no desire
to hear anything this idiot would want to say. With Zack in my hold
I take him back towards the rubble that leads into the second cave.
In the rubble I find several things Zack has stashed. Including a
rope, some duct tape, food, water, and a flashlight. I guess he did
plan on kidnapping me to collect the reward one way or another, or
to try out more of those Hastings experiments on me. I shiver.

Zack continues to struggle but his efforts
are fruitless. From nearby I hear Tony say, “What the hell?”

I know it shouldn’t be funny but I can’t
suppress the small laugh that threatens to escape me. The
compulsion must have worn off. “Hey Tony,” I call. “Can you come
over here and give me a hand?” He brushes his thumb on his pants,
which must be pretty wet, and comes running towards me. “Help me
tie him up with the rope. Then we’ll use the duct tape for his
mouth.”

Tony scratches his head probably still
trying to figure out how he got in the corner in the first place.
We bind Zack and gag him with the rope and duct tape, then lay him
not so gently on the cave floor. "What the hell did you do to me
punk!" He yells at Zack on the floor.

Zack actually has the nerve to laugh. Or at
least to try and laugh, what with his mouth duct taped and all.

This pisses Tony off even more and he lands
a kick into Zack’s side.

Zack curls up and groans. I should tell Tony
that kicking a man when he's down is not cool. But, Zack isn't much
a man, now is he?

“
Willow,” Tony begins.

I put a finger to his lips before he can
apologize. “Don’t,” I say. “This is one of those secrets that stays
between friends. We won’t ever talk about it again…considering it
could alter your manhood for life.” I can’t help but tease him a
little but his face doesn’t do anything but stay serious.

His face is red with fury. “It’s not about
that, don’t you get it? Something could have happened to you and I
would have been to blame. I do NOT take my duties
lightly…especially when it comes to you.” His voice becomes soft at
the end.

I quickly look away not wanting to meet his
eyes. “Well, nothing did happen, okay? Let’s just forget it. For
me?” I look back at him with pleading eyes. I don’t want this to
become a bigger deal than it already is. For goodness sakes I can
handle my own. I’ve done it before and I’ll probably have to do it
again.

Tony ponders this for a moment and then
takes a deep breath. “Fine. But just this once.” I nod my head in
understanding.

Zack grunts from the floor and I not so
gently kick him in his other side. Hopefully that’ll shut him
up.

“
So, what are we going to do with
him?” Tony asks.

I put on my best sly smile. “Oh, I have an
idea…”

Tony cocks his eyebrow.

“
Just help me with this bag o’ bones,
would ya?” I ask him.

Tony heaves Zack over his shoulder
effortlessly and I lead the way. Recalling the path that Dr.
Hastings and Zack took me last time we were here, I follow it
without error. Not bothering with the door locks I walk us through
the steel enforced doors. Thankfully nobody is around in Dr.
Hastings lab.

A feeling of nausea nearly overwhelms me
when I see the examination table that they put me on. I remember
the feeling of helplessness and the sheer terror that ran through
my blood that day. Anger builds up in me at the memory. I point to
the table and Tony throws Zack onto it hard.

Zack makes muffled noises as I pretend to
mess around with the needles and sharp instruments. I try my hand
at letting off an evil laugh.

Tony eyes me and chuckles. He grabs some
more rope and secures Zack firmly to the lab table. "You're not
going anywhere buddy." Tony slaps him on his shoulder and walks
over to me to check out what I'm doing.

I found a sharpie and a blank piece of
paper. Drawing out a sign I write in big block letters: SOMETIMES
LAB RATS BITE BACK! WATCH YOUR STEP HASTINGS, ‘CAUSE WE ARE COMING
FOR YOU!

"Wow, that's intense." Tony says.

"No, this is nothing compared to what they
deserve. Dr. Hastings is lucky to find his son alive and in one
piece." I say coldly as I tape it to Zack's chest. "He certainly
didn't have the decency to grant my father the same privilege when
he tried to dissect me.

Tony doesn't say a word, he just nods in
silent agreement as he looks at Zack with pure hatred. Tony knows
what they tried to do with me and if I weren't here with him right
now, Zack would be in a much worse position.

"We better get moving." I tell Tony.

"Where do you want to look next?" He
asks.

"Stupid Zack interrupted us. There's another
cave in the back of the first one. I want to check there. That's
the best place for them to hide out if they couldn't find me." I
tell him.

He gestures for me to lead the way. I take
his hand and walk him through the doors and back out into the
hallway.

"Ah!" A girl screeches as we appear on the
other side of the door.

My jaw drops open as I stare into Candy's
light blue eyes.

She looks at me as if she's seen a ghost
then she looks behind her to make sure nobody's around. "What are
you doing here? I told you to leave." She looks up at Tony in
surprise. "Who is this?" She asks in a curious way that also tells
me she's a tiny bit frightened.

"This is Tony and I did leave. I'm back to
get my friends." I tell her.

She looks at me worried. "They aren't here.
I went back after my father told me what he had done. I called to
them for hours and got no response. Either they found a way out or
they didn't survive the explosion." Her expression actually looks
sad and sincere. I can't believe this is the same Candy who was
such a total jerky face when I first met her.

"They got out. I went to the cave that day
and they were gone." I tell her. "I have reason to believe they
made their way back here looking for me. I haven't found them since
I left this place." I don't know why I'm giving her this
information. Something strange tells me that I can trust her. I can
almost sense that she regrets how she treated me and she hates what
her father has done. "Why did you help me Candy?"

She looks conflicted as she decides how to
answer me. "While I didn't really care for you, you know cause of
Alec and stuff, I didn't want them to hurt you. Plus, I hate my
dad. I would never help him with his monstrous plans!" She curls
her hands up into fists and takes a deep breath.

"Why do you hate him so much? He's your
father." I mean, I know why I hate him but I can't imagine loathing
my dad that much. I can literally feel the hatred seeping off her
in intense waves.

"He killed my mom." She looks surprised that
she shared that tidbit with me. I'm too stunned to say anything. I
watch her eyes tear up. "I never told anyone that before."

"I'm so sorry Candy." I tell her.

She wipes at her eyes and clears her throat.
"Don't be sorry. I'm not weak and I don't need pity."

"But..." She cuts me off as I try to defend
myself.

"Look, I think my dad might know that I
helped you. He's been acting very suspicious lately. You're not
safe here. Heck, I'm not even safe! I think you should leave as
quickly as possible." She seems to notice my eyes for the first
time. "Whoa, your eyes are crazy! They are nearly black!"

I look to Tony who confirms with a head nod.
That's how I must be sensing Candy's emotions, Erik's gift. I think
about asking her if she has seen Alec or Connor but I recall that
she didn't even know they had escaped the cave. When I sense the
underlying fearfulness in her I ask, "Candy, I've been on the
outside. It's crazy and dangerous. It's not hot though, not like
they said it was going to be. We can survive out there. If you feel
like your father is a danger to you, we can get you out."

Her face melts and she gulps back a sob that
threatens to escape. "Thank you Willow. I don't think I should
leave though." I can tell she has mixed feelings about it.

"If your father is a danger to you, then you
should. We can protect you." Tony says gently.

She looks up at him with a sort of kindness
I haven't really seen her reveal before. "That is very sweet, but I
don't think I can leave."

"Think it over Candy. If you decide you want
to come with us, meet us in the cave tonight at nine pm." I tell
her.

She catches a tear on her fingertip. "Okay,
thank you for the offer. I don't think I ‘ll be there, but I
appreciate that you’re thinking of me." She says. "It was nice to
meet you Tony. Good luck Willow." She walks past us and punches the
code to get into her father’s lab.

"Um, maybe you shouldn't go in there?" I
tell her really quick.

"Why?" She eyes me suspiciously.

I decide to shoot straight. "I tied your
brother up and put him in there with a note to your father."

Her eyes widen and her jaw drops. "Is he
hurt?" She asks.

"No," I shake my head.

"Well, I guess it's a good time to go check
out a movie then." She laughs which totally surprises me.

I give her a half smile and we part
ways.

I lead Tony back to the cave and then back
over to the blown up entrance. “Are you ready?” I ask him.

He grabs my hand in response and I begin
moving us through the thick sediment that leads to the special
cave.

We step out into the cave. The sunlight has
it lit pretty well. I don't have to look around too long because
from the other end of the cave I hear my name being called.