The Elementals

I stand there numbly until I realize I’m being pushed along to a helicopter. My brain is screaming at me to fight back but my limbs refuse to move, frozen from shock.

I watch Coal disappear into the cockpit with Shylock and the clone as I am shoved roughly in back. My hands are clenched but I can’t feel the nails digging into my palms at the moment.

I thought he loved me. I stare straight ahead, not really processing anything. I thought he freaking loved me.

I guess I was wrong.

The helicopter takes off and less than twenty minutes later we’re landing again, this time on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean. Guns at my back, I’m led below deck and through maze-like hallways into a cramped white cell.

As Shylock approaches with Coal trailing behind, I turn my back so I’m scowling at the opposite wall.

“Just like old times, eh?” Shylock drawls, chuckling darkly to himself. “Except for one thing…or should I say person?”

I clench my teeth.

“You have made me very rich, my dear,” he continues. “Very, very rich.”

“Well I don’t know about you, but I’d rather not have my face be firewood.” I reply harshly, imagining Coal wincing at the words. “But I guess since you’re so rich now you can get plastic surgery.”

I’m satisfied at the silence, and even more so at the angry footsteps that stalk away.

It’s another moment before a voice I know all too well says, “Flippers.”

I ignore him, blinking back the tears.

“Flippers-”

“Do not call me that ever again.” I growl.

“Just listen –”

My back goes rigid. “Listen? You want me to listen? You want me to listen, like you listened when I called your name?”

“Flippers –”

“I said, never call me that again.” My voice is stony and cold, devoid of the heartbreaking emotion that’s twisting my stomach. “I would suggest that you leave, before you burn the ship down. By accident, of course.” I snarl, digging as deep as I possibly can to hurt him.

There’s no answer. I can tell I’ve hit home. It doesn’t feel good, but the churning ache in my heart is lessened for a moment.

“Tide,” his voice is soft, broken, pleading with me. I don’t let him continue.

“Go away Anthony.” I say slowly, biting out the words with as much malice as I can, becoming pleased and sickened at the same time when he obeys and footsteps walk sullenly away.

I wait a few minutes just to be sure, and then I start to inspect my cell. There are about three more identical ones stacked on top of mine, and I’m boxed in on my left and right. The door is locked with a keypad. Trying to push it open proves pointless, and also painful on my rib.

Defeated, I sigh and sit back against the wall. I didn’t really expect to find a way out, but at least looking took my mind off of Coal. Now I have all the time in the world to wonder why.

It’s different than the anger I felt at Caelum. Sure, if given the chance, I would still punch both their lights out, but now there’s this hurt inside my chest that won’t go away. I clench my teeth, annoyed at how pathetic I’m acting.

My thoughts are cut off as I see a guard walking briskly down the hallway outside my cell, pushing a cart with a couple gallons of water on it. I jump forward and pound a fist on the glass, desperate to make her stop.

To my surprise, she does, and then she asks warily, “What?”

I scramble to find a suitable lie. “You idiot!” I hiss angrily, and the guard looks indignant. “You can’t even watch a girl for twenty minutes! She escaped and locked me in here!”

The guard steps forward. “I’m supposed to be delivering the water to Izila and #23 for a trial experiment.” She says, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.

I jump on it. “Well obviously one of you inept morons failed miserably at your job, because I’m #23 and you’re about to give the enemy a weapon.” My voice drips with contempt and I roll my eyes for good measure. “Now let me out and maybe you’ll keep working here!”

I hold the guard’s gaze angrily for a few seconds and then she reaches out and taps in a code to the cell. The door unlocks with a hiss and then I’m out, dashing to the cart and feeling satisfied as the water explodes out of their containers.

I sprint down a few hallways and press my back to the wall, side throbbing with every gulp of breath. I can’t hear the any alarms or anything, so I think I’m good for now.

“Tide!”

I jump, barely holding in a shriek, and the water bubble beside me drops to the floor in surprise. I turn and see Terra waving erratically, racing down the hallway with the others behind her, and few new people that I assume are the Elementals we were looking for.

“Hey…Terra.” I wheeze. “Long…time no…see.”

As they reach me, Stella steps forward, eyes narrowed in concern. “What happened to you?”

“Uh,” I check around the other corner as I try to catch my breath. “You know…the clone hit me in the side with a block of ice…may have broken a rib…the usual.”

“Clone?” A small, tan skinned kid, with short, super curly black hair repeats nervously.

“Usual?” Another teenager, looking like the polar opposite of the first one – tall and pale – asks.

“Yeah…” I shrug, eyes fading in and out of focus. “Life is great.”

Stella’s frown deepens, and she steadies me as I sway. Her fingers brush my side gently and she nods. “It is broken.”

“Perfect.” I mutter.

“Wait a moment.” She says firmly, and closes her eyes, palm flat against my side. I breathe in sharply as a tingle runs down my spine, but then sigh with relief as the pain fades to a faint ache.

“I do not have enough time to heal it fully,” Stella warns. “But you should be safe for a bit longer.”

I smile weakly. “Thanks.”

“Where’s Coal?” Steel asks, looking around. “I thought he’d be with you.”

I stiffen, smile vanishing off my face. A snarl bubbles up inside, threatening to spill into my voice, but instead I take a breath and try to keep my tone neutral. “I don’t know.” There’s not enough time to explain the whole betrayal ordeal, and I’m not sure if I can do it without crying or possibly punching something.

I get a few suspicious stares, but I shake them off and do a head count. “You guys find Maple, Sparky and the twins.” I instruct, noting their absence. “Then get off this ship no matter what.”

“What are you doing?” Oh’Rian questions dubiously.

I peer around the corner, collecting the water off the floor and gearing up to start running again. “I have some stuff to settle.”

Still hesitant, Oh’Rian eventually nods and then they take off down the hall in the other direction. I watch them until they’re out of sight, and then I follow the path that the guard was delivering the water to. I have a plan.

It may be suicidal, but I have one.