Surviving ELE (ELE Series #4) (22 page)

“Why would they do that?” Claire asks, her blue eyes wide as saucers.

“I have no idea.” Marya shakes her head. She looks at me with a worried look. “They’re looking for someone specific though and it sounds like they still haven’t found them.”

“What do you mean?” I ask, not liking the way she’s looking at me.

“He called for a SITREP on Whiskey Mike. That stands for a situation report and Whiskey Mike would be the initials W.M.”

I gasp. Willow Mosby. “They are looking for me,” I say quietly.

I sit there stunned by this new revelation.

Claire puts her hand on my knee and tenses up. Her eyes are wide. “Do you hear that?”

My muscles tense and I pull Sabby closer into me. That’s when I hear the sound of vehicles approaching.

Marya leans out of view for a second to look around the tree. “Vehicles, lots of them!” she whispers frantically.

We huddle together as they approach. Their headlights light up the forest around us. Truck after truck zooms past us along the road. Unlike the SUV, these trucks aren’t looking for anyone. They are headed out. Memories of my parents and Tony being shot and taken away not too long ago, send my mind into a panic. I count the vehicles as they pass, twenty-one in all. I cringe at the odd number.
Please let the guys be safe!

After the last vehicle passes, we finally allow ourselves to breathe. None of us knows what’s going on but all we can hope is that whatever threat was here is gone now.

We wait for a while in silence, hoping the guys will return soon. Sabby stirs beneath me, resituating himself. A rustling in the trees sets me on edge. I look at Claire and Marya and they return my gaze. Nobody dares move or breathe out of fear of the unknown.

Sabby’s head bobs up and he looks
around. “Daddy?” he questions aloud. I hold my finger to my lips and shake my head. He squints his eyes at me. “What’s wong, Wello?”

I grit my teeth and put my finger to his lips, desperate for him to stop
talking. I hug him to my chest and the rustling continues, getting closer and closer still.

When a man emerges from the bushes, I almost lose it and scream… until I see that the man is my
father. He kneels down and takes Sabby from my arms. My heart is still pounding in my chest as Connor, Alec, and then Tony, joins us.

The sound that had been resonating around us suddenly goes
silent. We wait for several long seconds before my dad breaks the silence.

“We think they’re
gone. “All three of us girls breathe a sigh of relief. I let my head go back and rest itself on the tree trunk behind me. Tony takes my hands, pulls me to my feet, and into a hug. His comfort and warmth makes me feel safe. He strokes my head as my dad gives a full report.

“We saw several vehicles down on the other side of the camp loading in all of Lee and Eric’s
people. They seemed to be going willingly. We assume it was because they had no abilities to use to defend themselves. Eric and Lee were the last to get loaded into the trucks. They’re the only ones who looked as if they’d been in a scuffle. No doubt, they didn’t go down without a fight. As to where they’re going…that we aren’t sure of. We overheard some talk on the walkie-talkies but couldn’t make out what they were saying.”

“Marya can,” I say, almost cutting off my dad.
“Marya’s dad was military. She heard what they said and told us what it meant.”

My dad looks
impressed. “Well…what did they say?” he asks, almost losing his composure. I can tell he’s irritated and on the verge of panic. He desperately wants all the puzzle pieces so he can fit them together.

“They’re looking for Willow,” Marya says quietly.

The look in my dad’s eyes is fierce as understanding flashes before him. “Impossible,” I hear my dad whisper.

“They’re taking all of the people they gathered to a nearby base, probably less than twenty-five miles from here based on what they
said. That’s all I really know. I’m sorry I can’t be of more help. “Her voice becomes quiet as Alec comforts her.

I swallow hard, realizing the situation seems to be going down the
toilet.
So much for peace, harmony, or happily ever after
, I think to myself.

“Tell me about it,”
I hear a voice say in my head. I look up to Tony and shine my flashlight on his face. I see his eyes have changed back to the wide array of colors they were before.

“Powers,” I say
aloud. “Our powers are back.” I look at the others around me. Their eyes changed back to the colors that correspond to their gifts. I watch as they each test their abilities and come away with satisfied smiles.

“Why they looking for Wello?” Sabby asks as if he just clued in to that detail.

Tony smiles at Sabby. “Because your sister is a very special girl.”

My little brother nods his head, his bright yellow eyes showing adoration for me.

Snow starts falling again. Unlike the last time, this moment isn’t exactly filled with excitement. The night is cold and the events that have unfolded within it leave us feeling shaken and scared. “We should find shelter,” I say.

“The camp isn’t safe anymore. They may have left a few of their troops behind to see if you show up. Let’s go back to the cabin,” Tony suggests.

“That’s not exactly a safe place. We were abducted from there, you remember?” Connor adds.

“Yes, but that was Zack’s men. I don’t think what’s going on here is part of his operation,” Tony says. “This was a military takeover.”

“Still, it might not be secure,” Alec agrees with Connor.

“Maybe we should go to the other safe house. Where our people went. You said that Lee came here to inform you when Sebastian and I were taken, but I doubt he would have brought everyone along. Did he?” my dad asks me.

I shake my head. “No, he only had a group of no more than twenty people.” A memory comes moving into the forefront of my mind. “Lee had said that they found a way to make contact with the Department of Defense. Do you think that could be what prompted this military takeover?”

My dad considers it for a moment. “It could very well be. It wouldn’t explain why they would be looking for you though.”

“It doesn’t,” I say. A small inkling of hope fills me. Perhaps they aren’t looking for me. The initials W.M. could stand for a lot of things. What things? I don’t know, but I’m sure if I think on it for a little while, they will come to mind.

“It could stand for whacko-maniac. Or woman-man. Maybe Wal-Mart?”
Tony says inside my head.

“Listening in, huh?”
I raise my brow at him.

“I can’t help it; your voice is like a siren’s song.”
He wags his eyebrows back at me.

“Suck up,” I say aloud. My dad looks between the two of us. I quickly get back to the subject at hand. “Do you know how to get back to the safe house?” I ask my dad.

He nods his head. “I believe so, but it’s a long way from here. It could take half a day.”

“Then it’s settled. We will go back to the cabin to take shelter tonight. Then tomorrow at first light, we will try to meet up with the others,” Tony says.

I try my best not to shiver when I nod my head to agree. “Let’s get moving. I don’t like being out here.”

When we arrive at the cabin, everyone is exhausted and cold. Tony and I perform a perimeter search and see no signs of any danger in the immediate area. We rush inside and Tony begins making a fire to warm the living room. I grab all of the blankets and coats I can find and we make a large pallet on the floor near the fire.

My dad tucks a large, down jacket around my sleeping brother. He lies down at his side and looks up at me where I lie on the sofa. “What I don’t get is why I didn’t see any of this coming.” My dad seems lost in thought.

I’ve been thinking the same thing. “I know. I would have assumed that between the two of us, we would have at least had an inkling of what was about to happen. I got nothing.”

“I know,” my dad says.

Tony comes over and makes a spot for himself on the floor, directly below where I lie on the sofa. He pulls the Sherpa blanket up over my shoulders before
he lies his head down on a sofa pillow. “My guess is that it has something to do with the fact that we lost our powers. Something caused our powers to turn off back there. I don’t know what it was, but it had to do with the military being there because when they left, we powered up again. That’s not a coincidence,” he says.

“Yeah, that was some freaky crud. Heck, these past few months have been filled with nothing but Twilight Zone-worthy events,” Connor chimes in. He’s lying between Claire and Alec on the floor.

“Dude, stop trying to play footsies with me.” Alec scoots further away from Connor.

“Sorry, man.” Connor laughs. “I couldn’t help myself.”

Alec groans. I can tell he’s tired. Marya lies next to him, closest to the fire. Her eyelids are fluttering heavily as she tries to stay awake.

“Boys,” My dad chides and Connor and Alec quiet down.

“What do you think they are going to do with everyone?” Claire asks in a worried whisper.

“I don’t know,” I say thinking of Erik, Morgan, Audrey, Molly, Candy, Jake, Lee, and all of the people who have helped me survive out here. “We will find a way to help them though,” I say with confidence. That’s what this life is about now. It’s all about trying to survive on the outside and helping others when you can. Everyone agrees with me sleepily.

I stare into the fire for what seems like hours, while everyone else falls asleep. I’m physically exhausted but I can’t bring myself to shut my eyes. I wait until I hear the soft sounds coming from everyone sleeping. I gently shake Tony and watch his eyes flutter open. “Tony,” I whisper.

He gives me one of his spicy smiles and I nearly
melt. “I want to try something. “His eyes perk up and I quickly realize how he must have taken that. I slap his arm playfully. “You are such a goof.”

He closes his eyes and gives his head a playful
shake. “You’re killing me, Willow,” he says impishly.

“No really,” I try again, ignoring his
playfulness. “I can’t sleep.”

“I’m sorry, babe.” He reaches his hand up and rubs my shoulder. “Is there anything you need? I could compel you to sleep if you want.” He gives me a half smile.

“Actually, I’ve been lying here thinking about a gift that neither of us has used yet.”

He furrows his brows, trying to connect the dots. “Which one would that be?”

“It’s a bit hard to explain but if you would let me, I’d like to try it out with you.”

“A bit vague I see, but I’m always up for spending time with you, Willow. There isn’t anyone I’d rather spend my sleepless nights with.” He sits up and places his hand on my cheek.

“I agree completely.” I place my hand over his.

I can tell what I just said means a lot to
Tony. His eyes bore into mine in that bad boy sort of way that makes me crazy about him. He looks around us, making sure everyone’s asleep, and then helps me to my feet. He grabs a candle and lights it, using the fireplace. Then we creep upstairs so no one will be able to hear us. It’s noticeably colder up here with the absence of heat. I shiver and he puts his arm around me.

“So, are you going to tell me what this new gift is?” He pulls me closer to him. We take a seat on his bed.

I wish I had brought a blanket up with us, since we stripped all of the bedding from his bed to make the pallets downstairs.

“I’ll get you a sweater,” Tony says, reading my mind. He jumps up and opens a closet. He pulls a navy blue fleece off a metal hanger, shuts the door, and brings it to me.

“Thanks,” I say as I start pulling it on over my head.

“So?” He smiles at me. I can see the multitude of colors swirling in his eyes and the candle flame reflected against the colors. It makes his eyes look like they are on fire.

“Well, first I need to take your hand,” I say. He holds his hand out but I don’t pull it into my grasp just yet. “Don’t freak out though, okay?”

He furrows his eyebrows. “Is it going to hurt?”

“No, but don’t freak out if my eyes look crazy,” I warn him.

He momentarily drops his hand since I’ve still yet to grasp it. “Like?” he asks, prodding me to explain more.

“They turn white. And, well, I won’t be able to see,” I answer.

He gives a nervous laugh and shakes his head. “I guess that’s all I’m getting out of you. It’s a good thing I trust you with my life.”

I smile big. “Yes, and your heart. This won’t be dangerous, just relax.” I hold my hand out for him.

He doesn’t hesitate putting his hand in mine.

I gasp when the world goes black. I can faintly hear Tony gasp too. Then the memories start flooding in.

I see Tony as a young boy. He’s sitting at the table in the cabin, anxiously waiting for his parents. The lights dim in the dining room. Then his mom and dad come walking in, holding a cake topped with five lit candles.