Surviving ELE (ELE Series #4) (5 page)

“I will. You too.” I try not to get emotional.

He pulls me into his arms. “I will never get tired of telling you that I’m proud of you. You are just like your mom.”

“Thanks Dad, that means a lot. I love you.”

“Love you too, sweetie,” he says one last time.

I give them another hug and, instead of saying goodbye, this time we tell each other, “I’ll see you later.”

Next, I find Lee, who is giving some directions to a group of soldiers.

He turns to look at me. “You don’t look like you got much sleep last night, Willow.”

I shrug my shoulders. “I must look hideous since I’m getting that a lot this morning.”

He doesn’t answer me. Instead, I follow Lee’s eyes, which are looking just behind me. I turn to see Alec approaching.

He nods to me and then says, “Good morning, Lee.”

“Morning.” He looks from Alec to me as if asking me if he should continue talking in front of him.

“Yes, Alec will be one of my next-in-command now.” It hurts knowing that, in a way, Tony is being replaced. Alec looks in my direction and a look of honor crosses his face. I can tell what I just said means a lot to him.

Lee doesn’t look too surprised at my
decision. With that out of the way, he begins his strategy session again. “We’ll be going to a safe house about fifteen miles northeast from here. I know you wanted all of the people that we rescued recently to go with you, but I fear that they aren’t trained enough for that. They’d be more of a liability than an asset. I’m sending the few that volunteered to go, but the number is minimal.”

“You do understand that you have to be on the lookout for changes in them.” I don’t like the idea that we don’t know who is at risk of being controlled by Zack. Especially not when my father and Sabby are put in possible harm’s way.

He nods his head. “I understand. Their eyes will turn red, right? Any other signs?”

I shake my head. “To be honest, Tony’s eyes only turned red for short periods of time. Basically only when Zack had control of him, then his eyes turned back to their normal color after the episode. In most cases, Tony didn’t remember anything he did while being controlled.” I think about his apology last night. Obviously, that is changing since he remembered chasing me. He never had an inkling of recollection after any of his previous episodes. That has to be the worst part for Tony, the feeling of helplessness, of being
trapped. “I would just say to keep a close eye on the recent prisoners that we saved at all times. It didn’t take long before Tony started exhibiting signs. I would think that you’ll notice something change in the next day or so if it’s going to happen.”

“Do you think Zack can control more than one person at a time?” Alec asks.

I hadn’t thought of that. If Zack literally had full control of Tony, so much so that he actually controlled his thoughts and I could hear his voice, then I doubt that he would be able to control another person at the same time. “I don’t think so. But that’s not saying anything. What if he has his other goons controlling people while he personally keeps Tony in check?” Except, he didn’t have control of him last night. I wonder what he was doing then.

“That’s twisted,” Alec declares.

I agree full heartedly. “Yep.”

Lee continues with his debriefing. “In addition, I have a team going back to the prison. They had electricity back there and I believe they may have other forms of communication available to us. Our hope is that Zack has abandoned that station. If we can get inside safely, we have plans to try and make contact with F.E.M.A. or the D.O.D.”

My eyes widen. Like wheels in motion, my brain starts processing what he’s implying. With everything that has happened, I haven’t really had time to think about the other shelters, the rest of the world. With no electricity or means of communication, our world got a whole lot smaller out here. What is going on in the other shelters? Do they know that Project ELE didn’t work? Will they come out of this with powers as well?

“The D.O.D.?” I ask, not sure who they are.

“The Department of Defense.” He lowers his voice so it won’t travel much further than Alec and me. “We’ve uncovered some fishy stuff over the past few days. A man we rescued was familiar with one of Zack’s henchmen. He said that the man’s name is Derrick and that he served in the Army with him. Apparently, Derrick had been promoted into a very secretive Special Forces unit not too long ago. We don’t have much more information than that, but this tells me that Zack’s people aren’t small potatoes.”

I think about everything that went down outside the shelter. “You’re right. How else would he get his hands on helicopters, vehicles, and electricity?” I can’t believe I hadn’t questioned this further before now. I guess it had something to do with just trying to keep my head above water.

Lee puts his finger to his lips, reminding me to keep it down. Chances are high that if people see me panic, it’ll start a chain reaction.

Alec chimes in. “I get that, but how can the government not know what’s going on here? Wouldn’t they know that one of their shelters basically blew up?”

Lee nods his head. “Exactly. They have to know what’s going on, or at least a part of it. I want to know why they haven’t stepped in. That’s why we have to find a way to make contact. If we make contact, they will be forced to recognize what’s going on out here. They won’t be able to ignore us any longer.”

“Do you think that the people in the other shelters have powers like us?” I ask.

“I don’t know. For our future’s sake, I hope not. I can’t imagine a world where everyone possesses these powers,” Lee answers.

I think that no matter what, this world will never be the same. We fall silent for a second, each of us lost in our own thoughts.

“Are you ready?” Lee asks.

“Yes, I am,” I tell him. “Good luck.”

“Good luck to you too, Willow,” he tells me. I can see the pain in his eyes…like he’s scared of leaving me. I watch him take a deep breath and he gives me a slight nod. I guess he’s come to terms with needing to let me go out on my own.

We shake hands and then go to our respective sides of the room. I can’t help but notice that the number of people on my side is much less than Lee’s. I feel better about that though, less people to be responsible for.

I hear Lee speaking to the group behind me. He gives a short hoo-rah speech that has everyone clapping in the end. I turn around and watch as the hordes of people exit the room.

I look back at our group who is left in this cavernous dining hall. Everyone seems to have their gear ready to go. They look to me for further direction. Alec nudges me lightly and whispers, “Don’t you think it’s time for a speech?” He laughs when I groan.

“I really don’t enjoy public speaking,” I complain to Alec.

He smiles at me and in that smile, I see our friendship at work. A few puzzle pieces have been pieced together overnight, I guess. “I know, but you’re good at it. They look up to you,” he states, giving me the reassurance I needed.

I’m only sixteen, not necessarily an age that deserves much respect. Even still, I know my mom saw something in me and so did all of the people who nominated me to take charge. It’s her legacy that she leaves behind that urges me to carry on. I want to know that if she were still here, I would make her proud. I reach down and touch the pocket of my jeans, feeling her final words tucked securely inside.

I look around at everyone on my team. The number isn’t impressive by any means. I count thirty-three people on our side. Since I hate odd numbers, I decide to add myself in the mix to make it thirty-four. I know pretty much everyone on my team. I notice Marya, the girl I met who has telekinesis. A man, who looks to be twenty or so, with bright yellow eyes, is standing close to her. He possesses the same strawberry-blonde hair and good looks as she does. I can only assume that he’s the cousin that saved her.

I scan the rest of the group and end up locking eyes with Jennifer. She stares at me with her untrusting, silvery-grey eyes. When I first met her, she looked much older than she does today. Her hair has been pulled over her shoulder and secured in a braid. She tied a small piece of ribbon to the bottom, giving her a child-like quality. She looks to be the same age as Marya, around seventeen or so. I haven’t yet figured out what powers those grey eyes hold. I can only guess that they provide some sort of shield since nothing I did worked on her back in the maze.

I take a deep breath and clear my throat loud enough to gain everyone’s
attention. It takes a few tries but eventually everyone quiets down. I look around the area at each one of my team member’s faces. I pin them to memory, knowing that if anything happens to any one of them, it’ll fall back on my shoulders. Without the safety net Lee provided me before, I feel naked and insecure. Leading a group of this size, even if it’s considered small, sets me at unease. I begin questioning my motives and quickly resolve all the negativity. I have to remain focused and positive…it’s what my mother would have done. I stifle a small cry in her memory and address the individuals standing before me.

“I want to thank each and every one of you for being here with me
today. You don’t know how much it means to me to know that we share the same vision. We all share the desire to bring Zack Hastings to his knees and to take down his minions too. The risks are great and the road will be tough, but I know deep down that all of you possess the strength needed to survive this journey. As God is my witness, I pledge to do everything in my power to bring each and every one of you home to safety. In order to do this I need us to stick together and never lack in communication. It is essential that each one of us knows exactly what’s going on at all times. The odds are against us, as you already know. There are Reapers lurking in the shadows and people we will run into whose loyalties lay elsewhere. Never underestimate Zack’s hold on his men. They have been brainwashed into believing that Zack’s vision for power is one that will enable them to take complete control over the area…and possibly over the world. “I have no idea where the speech emanated from; possibly my mother gave me the words. I can tell by the faces of the people on my team that I have won them over. They are ready for whatever life throws their way.

“The proposal we have is one of
simplicity. We plan on hiding out in a central location while sending out teams to scout the area. If we have any hope of beating Zack at his game, it will be that we have outsmarted him. We have to think critically and intelligently. We have to work together. Each of your opinions count, more than you’ll ever know. One of us could hold the key to bringing down Zack and his army. If we keep our values in place, we should have no problem beating Zack at his own game. “I finish my speech.

The silence in the room is
deafening. One could hear a single pin drop. Then, when I think I’ve lost everyone, a single clap emanates from the back of the room. I notice that it’s started by Connor but the point is that it’s followed by another and another until the entire room is enveloped in applause. A smile etches itself across my face. I try to suppress it but am unable to do so.

I feel Alec placing his arm around my shoulder and he gives it a
squeeze. “Your mom would be so proud,” he says to me so quietly that I’m the only one who can hear it.

This time, at the mention of my mother, I no longer feel
sad. I feel blessed. Blessed that I am the one chosen to carry on her legacy. Blessed that she made me believe in myself and made me into the person I am today. I would be nothing without her. “I love you, Mom,” I whisper into the air. Hoping it will drift until it reaches her…wherever she is.

***

We take to the woods like a fish takes to water. Each of us is on high alert as we head back towards the mountain. It’s a long shot but I’m hoping to enlist the help of some acquaintances for our mission. That is, if they don’t send us away immediately. Our reception the first time we met wasn’t the most welcoming one.

As the mountain comes into view off in the distance, thoughts of Reapers cloud my
vision. I find it especially odd that they’ve seemed to disappear altogether. As if they’ve never existed. Could they be lurking in the woods closer to the mountain?

After a few hours of walking in hushed silence, Claire trots up to my side, along with
Connor. “Hey, Willow,” she says, linking her arm in mine.

“Hey, Claire,” I answer, patting her
hand. She hesitates for a moment, cluing me in that she has something on her mind that she wants to tell me. “Spit it out,” I say to her playfully.

She feigns hurt and puts her hand to her
heart. “Willow, why would you think I had something on my mind?”

I laugh, answering her
question. “I just know you.”

She smiles up at
me. “Well, okay. I did have something to ask you. “She hesitates for a moment before asking. “Is it going to be hard for you going after Zack like this? I mean, Tony is bound to come into the picture sooner or later if Zack has control over him. How are you going to handle that? If push comes to shove, will you have the strength to fight him?”

I knew the question would be brought up sooner rather than later. I just didn’t expect Claire to be the one to do
it. “I don’t know. I’m not going to say it’ll be easy, because that would be a complete lie. But, I’ll deal with it when it happens.”