The Wanderers Beginning: The Wanderers, Reborn, & Unforgiven (108 page)

             
“I don’t have time to explain. We have to get you to safety.”

             
“Where’s Justin?”

             
“He was right behind me. You know, for a wolf he’s pretty slow.”

             
“Actually, he’s not. Something must have happened,” Riley said worried. When we reached the outside I had found out why Justin never made it. He was fighting off threats and he was in wolf form. That is how I made it to the tower unscathed. Justin made sure no one would get to us. I pushed Riley back inside to help Justin fight off the rogue vampires. Once it was clear, I signaled for Riley to come out.

             
Things were worse than before. The school was on full attack and students were running everywhere trying to find safety. I kept Riley tight to me as I pulled her across campus. Justin stayed close to us and helped fight off any threats. We were half way to the gym when I saw a few students trying to defend themselves against some of Jack’s army of rouge vampires and failing. I thought quickly. “Justin, take Riley to the gym. Riley stay close to Justin and don’t stop running until you are safely inside. Got it?”

             
“Yes Ella but –”

             
“Go!” I yelled, taking off to help the other students. I took on the rouge vamps without even thinking. All I knew is that I had to get them away from these students. I managed to knock out one of them right before I was attacked by another. I fought with everything I had, taking out everyone that came at me. I was blindsided and knocked to the ground. Before I had the chance to recover, my attacker was on top on me, ready to strike. I brought my hands up to block his punch when someone else held my hands down. I braced myself for the pain. The second before his fist was about to make contact with my face he was sent flying into the air and the girl behind me was ripped away by a wolf.

             
I wiped the rain from my eyes to find a hand held out for me. “I told you I got your back,” Billy said, helping me up.

             
“Thanks,” I smiled, relieved. I looked at the students bleeding and cowering on the ground. “We need to get them back inside.” I heard a growl and turned to see Riley and Justin hadn’t made it back to the gym yet. “Can you get them back inside while I help Riley and Justin?”

             
“I got this, go,” Billy said, waving me off.  I ran over to help Justin who was fighting off three vamps on his own while Riley tried to stay out of the way. Once I joined the fray, more of Jack’s army appeared. I was struggling with fighting two and trying to keep them from Riley.

             
My attacker was knocked out from behind. I looked up to see Roman.  “Go, take Riley. I’ll help Justin,” he said. Before I reached Riley, Roman grabbed me, and crushed his lips to mine leaving me breathless.  “I love you.”

             
“I love you too.” I grabbed Riley and took off running again.

             
We had a few more close calls. Riley could not run as fast as I could. She was having a hard time keeping up because of her asthma and slipping from the rain. I managed to get her safely to the gym just as I was struck from behind. “Riley, get inside now!” I yelled as I attacked my opponent. She didn’t move. “Riley, go now!”

             
It was hard fighting back. With all the rain, anytime I tried to get a grip on my attacker my hands slipped. Roman and Justin were busy keeping the rest of the vamps away from us so I was on my own with this one. I fought hard, but I was losing.

             
All of a sudden, time started to slow. I watched confused as my attacker was moving in slow motion. “Ella your shoe,” Riley shouted over the screams. I looked back and saw she had her hands up. She was the one slowing time. “Your shoe!” she said again. I took off my shoe and pierced my attacker’s heart with it. I knew it wouldn’t kill him, but it would take him out of the equation for the moment.

             
As soon as I hit him, time returned to normal speed.

             
“Inside now!” I said. I knew she didn’t want to go, but Billy and Dean showed up with more students stuffing them into the gym.

             
“Ella, come on!” Roman called, holding his hand out for me.

             
I looked back out at the chaos and that’s when I saw him.

             
Jack.

             
He was standing by the entrance of the maze, staring right at me. That’s when I knew how he got in. There were no guardians at the other side of the maze. It was too big and they felt no one could make it through without getting lost. But Jack was fast, smart, and he figured it out.

             
He smiled when he saw me and turned back to go into the maze. I knew he wanted me to follow him and I knew I had to. I ripped off my other shoe and tossed it to the side. “Ella, where are you going?” Roman called as one of the guardians pushed him into the gym. He tried to fight his way back out but it was hopeless.

             
I didn’t have time to worry. I had to get Jack. Knowing that Roman and my friends were safely inside the gym, I took off. I ran across the grass and into the maze dodging guardians and rogue vampires as they passed. I had no idea how I was going to find him. I had no idea where Gabe was and if Dean and Billy were safely in the gym and I didn’t have time to worry about it. I knew they could take care of themselves. I had to get Jack. I had to find him and take him out before I lost all my nerve. No more hiding. No more running. Now was the time to take him down.

             
I took a deep breath as I entered the maze. I had no idea where to go. I took a moment and closed my eyes. I tried to remember what Ms. Kraft had taught me. I opened myself up to the elements around me and asked them for guidance on where to go. The wind picked up and a breeze rustled the bushes on my left. My gut instinct told me to follow it.

             
As I walked through the maze following the wind, I slipped a few times on the gravel. One point I thought I twisted my ankle, but I fought through the pain. Halfway through I had decided to take off the headband Josie had made for me. I broke it into pieces and dropped one every so couple of feet. I thought this would help me find my way back out or at least help them find my body if I didn’t make it.

Chapter twenty-seven

I didn’t realize how large this maze was. It felt like I was walking forever. Not to mention the rain was making me cold and the dampness was making my muscles ache. I reached a part of the maze where the ground changed from gravel to grass, giving my feet a reprieve from the sharp stones.

              When I finally reached the center, I saw it was exactly how it was in my dreams. Soft black pebbles covered the ground, a large fountain stood in the center of a wide open space. And Jack stood by it, with his back to me. I stood there, frozen. Not sure how to approach. Jack lifted his head and turned around. “Ella,” he said with a creepy smile. “Oh, how I’ve missed you.” He took a step away from the fountain. “Don’t be shy,” he said, egging me to come closer.

             
I walked a few feet away from the archway. I kept my distance and stood across from him. “I hear you’ve been busy. My spies kept me very well informed,” he said.

             
I narrowed my eyes at him. “What are you talking about?”

             
              “It was so easy. Once I found out where you were, you did all the rest for me. What’s the matter? Have a hard time making friends…poor Ella. You’re not very well liked here, are you?” I crossed my arms annoyed. “All I had to do was wave a few dollars and they were all too happy to spill about you.”

             
“Figures you’d have to pay someone to talk to you,” I quipped.

             
He just laughed, making me cringe. “Oh, how I missed your clever wit,” he said, taking a casual step toward me. “From what I heard, you’ve been a very bad girl. Flirting with teachers, stealing boyfriends…”

             
How could he have possibly known all this? Spies he said. He told me he had spies on the inside. I will find them and they will be dealt with. “I’m not really in the mood to exchange words with you so how about we just get to it.”

             
“Very well then. I was hoping to end this cat and mouse game.” His eyes glowed and he flew at me, knocking me to the ground. “This is going to be easier than I thought,” he grinned.

             
I picked myself up off the ground. I didn’t wait for him to attack again. This time I went after him and I wasn’t holding anything back. We fought back and forth.  I could tell Jack was surprised at how well I could keep up and at this rate I could probably take him. The only downside was, even if I took him down, I had no weapons to kill him. “I have to say I’m pretty impressed. I see someone wore their big girl panties to the party,” he taunted.

             
I socked him in the jaw. He laughed, spitting blood from his mouth. “You know this is getting tedious. I don’t see why you don’t just give up. I’m never going to give you my powers and it’s pretty clear you can’t beat me.”

             
“That’s what Tristan said too. Right before I threw his ass into a pole.”

             
That really pissed me off. Jack noticed and took advantage. He had me pinned to the ground and was reaching for my neck. “I’m going to enjoy this even more than I did when I ripped your little blond friend’s throat out.”

             
“And I’m going to enjoy watching her rip your heart out,” Josie said, coming in from behind the hedge.

             
Jack’s head jerked up in the direction of Josie’s voice. “But you’re…you’re dead,” he stammered.

             
“I may be dead, but I still look good, which is more than I can say for you,” she smirked. That was enough of a distraction for me to kick him off of me.

             
He recovered quickly. “I’ll take great pleasure in killing you again,” he said, charging for Josie, but she was gone in the blink of an eye. He spun in circles, confused, looking for her everywhere. I started to laugh. He glared at me and started to come after me again.

             
I was ready. He let his anger get the best of him and I was able to take him down. Once again realizing I didn’t have a weapon to finish the job. So I did what I could to knock him unconscious. It wasn’t as easy as I thought. We struggled back and forth until I threw him hard enough he cracked his head against the fountain. It wasn’t enough to knock him out, but enough to slow him down. I ran up behind him and pushed his head in the water. He only struggled for a moment and then he stopped.

             
“Ella…Ella,” Josie said, tugging at my shoulders. “He’s gone. You did it. He’s gone.” I hadn’t realized I was still holding him under the water. I let go and fell back. Josie pulled me away from his body. “It’s over Ella. It’s finally over.”

             
“Why don’t I feel like it is,” I said, still staring at Jack.

             
“Ella! Josie!” Billy called.

             
“We’re in here,” Josie said. Billy came rushing in followed by Justin, Dean, and Riley.

             
“Ella, are you okay?” Dean asked, helping me up.

             
“Yeah,” I said, still stunned. “Where’s Roman?”

             
“Still in the gym. He’s safe.”

             
“How did you get out?”

             
“I was still helping people get inside and when I found Justin he told me you came in here.”

             
“Ella, oh my god, are you alright?” Riley asked, coming up next to me.

             
“Riley, you shouldn’t be here. You should be inside where it’s safe.”

             
“I tried but she refused. She insisted on coming with to find you,” Justin said, coming out from behind one of the hedges in a t-shirt and jeans. I hadn’t even noticed he walked away until now. “I had to change,” he said. “It’s too cold to stand around naked.”

             
I nodded still in shock. “What’s going on out there?”

             
“Most of Jack’s army was apprehended…well those that survived,” Billy said. “They’re still searching the grounds for stragglers. They’re keeping everyone inside until they know it’s safe. It shouldn’t be much longer.”

             
“What about students?” They looked away not wanting to answer. “How many?” I asked. They didn’t answer. “How many?” I demanded.

             
“So far four dead that they found, too many injured to count,” Dean said, being the only one brave enough to answer me. “Come on, let’s go.” He pulled me away to leave.

             
Just as we stepped through the archway I stopped and turned around. “Wait, what about…” I ran back over to the fountain. “He’s gone!”

             
“What?” Josie said, running over with everyone else. “What the…but how?”

             
“He’s not dead,” I said, looking around. “Bastard!”

             
“Ella, let’s get out of here,” Riley said.

             
“No! I’m tired of running and hiding. Enough is enough! You hear me!” I screamed. “Come out here and show yourself you coward!” I spun around, screaming in the air.

             
“Ella, he’s gone,” Josie said.

             
“No, he’s not. I know he’s still here!” I turned around and Jack was behind me, smiling. “Let’s finish this,” I said.

             
“Gladly,” he replied as five of his flunkies stepped in from behind him. I heard a ripping sound and growling and knew Justin had changed back into his wolf form. “Take care of these other fools, but remember, Ella’s mine,” he hissed and they all charged.

             
              I saw people flying in every direction.

             
I didn’t have time to worry about anyone else. I was concentrating on Jack.

             
We danced around each other. I heard a whimper in the corner and so did Jack, but I refused to take my eyes off of him. He smiled and flew to the left and I knew he was going after Riley.

             
I leapt, but I was too late.

             
He reached her before I did.

             
Riley screamed as he held a knife to her neck. “Don’t move or I will slit her throat,” he warned.

             
“Let her go. She has nothing to do with this!”

             
“Oh, but she does. You will give me your powers or she dies!”

             
Justin was now standing next to me, growling and snarling, ready to attack. “Let. Her. Go.” I demanded.

             
“A trade. You for her,” he said.

             
“Ella, it’s a trap. Don’t do it!” Josie yelled.

             
He pinched the knife closer to her neck, piercing the skin. Riley squealed as blood trickled down her neck. “Fine. Let her go first,” I said.

             
“I will when I have you,” he countered. I put my hands up in surrender and walked over to him slowly. “But first, a taste,” he said, sinking his teeth into Riley’s neck.

             
“No!” I screamed as Justin took off leaping in the air.

             
Jack threw Riley to the ground and struck Justin in the chest with the knife. He instantly fell, collapsing. Riley crawled over to his side and now Jack had the knife by my throat. “Let them go or I spill her blood and you all can watch her die,” Jack yelled. Billy, Dean, and Josie slowly backed away from their attackers. Jack’s people retreated behind him. Dean took a step forward. “Eh-uh, I wouldn’t do that if I were you,” Jack warned.

             
“Take me instead. We have the same blood,” Dean said.

             
“Yes, but your powers I don’t want. They’re kind of pathetic, but Ella’s…I’m going to enjoy those,” Jack said, biting into my neck. I gasped from the pain he was causing me. Everything happened so fast I had no time to react. I was tired, battered, and beaten, and I was losing the strength to fight back. I started to feel woozy, weak. Jack was draining me and there was nothing I could do about it. My eyelids were too heavy to keep open. I vaguely heard voices in the distance; people screaming, loud cracking noises, like bones breaking. Slowly it all started to fade away.

             
The first thing I saw was his eyes, then his smile. Visions of him were coming to me in flashes. I saw him at the party, where we first officially met, art class, and everything in between, up until the moment he died. I saw Gabe carry me away from him. Then I was hovering over him with my hands on his neck. I flinched. These weren’t my memories. Where did they come from?

             
I felt myself fading away. The visions, no longer my own, were dimming. I held on. I held on to these visions to try and find something. A blond haired girl...Cadence, no… someone else…a man with an accent…an angry man.

             
Everything was coming so fast and then it was gone. All of it slipping away.

             
I was so weak I could barely hold my head up. I fought to open my eyes. I saw Dean and Billy trying to rush Jack, but more of his people had appeared from behind us and held them back. I thought I was going to pass out. I heard muffled screams as I watched Jack raise the knife above my heart.

             
This was it. He was really going to kill me this time.

             
I saw a bright, white flash, and the next thing I knew I was on the ground. When I looked up and saw his face, I knew I was dead. I knew Jack had killed me.

             
My vision was blurry and I could barely move. “Kyle…Kyle…” I called out to him. I focused on him. I pulled what little strength I had left to get up. Why was I still so weak? If I was dead I should be able to move. Feel no pain, but my body was screaming in agony. I fought through it.

             
Dazed, I tried to stand back up, but I wobbled, falling back to my knees. “Ella, stay there,” Kyle yelled, but I didn’t listen. I managed to get up. I was standing between Jack and Kyle.

             
“You know, when you kill a person, you expect them to stay dead,” Jack said as he wiped blood from his lip.

             
I looked around confused. My hands were covered in blood. There was a long thin line of it down the front of my dress. Everyone was still here and they were all watching me with wide eyes. I didn’t understand what was going on.

             
I looked at Jack and he smiled. “Good, now you can watch me kill him all over again,” Jack said, charging. I somehow managed to stop him. It took everything I had but I stopped him. I brought up my shield, too weak to fight. Jack pounded and kicked, trying to break through it. I found the knife, but I had to let go of my shield to get to it. Jack saw my eyes and we both dove for it. He climbed on top of me trying to pin me. The knife was so close, just within reach of my fingertips, and then it was in my hand. I struck, elbowing Jack in the face. He rolled off of me. I knelt down on top of him, pinning his arms down by his side. I raised my hands above my head ready to end this once and for all. “This is for Tristan.”