What Lies Within

What Lies Within pt15

-A week later, at night-

"Tori… hurry up!!" a low familiar voice whispers urgently. Who the…? Being the light sleeper I am, my eyes pop open instantly. Oh, it’s only Liz, no need to get up… Oh crap! It’s tonight! I spring out of bed like a cat, scurrying around for my pre-packed bag. Stealthily pulling my purple hoodie over me for warmth later on, I jam into my thick black hiking boots and nod towards the surprisingly patient Liz. Within minutes us four guardians and John are rounded up at the meeting point, the shack. 

"Let’s go" John somewhat declares, sounding tired and worn out. He’s been up all night, making sure there are no holes or glitches in our plan. John leads, hacking through the thick leaves of the right side of the forest. The forbidden side. Ten excruciatingly painful minutes later we're at a river that's about ten meters wide. There are already two small boats waiting in the thick, murky water. It looks unsettlingly like black tar. I've got an awful spine chilling feeling about this 'water'. Its instinct I suppose. 

Justin moves forward and Ethan immediately snaps "whatever you do don't go near the water!" that one sentence, filled with urgency, warning and even threat is enough to make Justin pull back instantly. John calls us in and explains "that water is thicker than honey. It’s not the everyday water that you're used to. There’s no telling what dwells in it, although there are horrendous rumors. We have two boats. On the first one will be Ethan, who'll navigate and lead the way plus protect the front and Victoria who will thin out the water in our path so the boats can move through. On the other boat will be me, Liz and Justin, protecting the rear while Liz gives us speed, sort of like an engine. Understood?" we all nod obediently. No wonder John spent the last three months teaching me how to thin liquids. I am now capable of turning something as sludgy as tar and honey into something as thin as skim milk and water. Although it's works in a very intricate way and is extremely exhausting. I've got a long night ahead of me. 

Is it bad that I’ve forgotten how to thin liquids? Oh my gosh, what if I mess up? What if I stop mid way and cause us to drown? What if- Ethan clears his throat, interrupting my mental panic attack. “Let’s go” he mumbles, helping me on the boat. Once all five of us are set I close my eyes, taking a deep breath. I go through my usual ritual, slipping into guardian mode. It’s reassuring to know I get just a bit faster at it each time I try.

I open my now dark storm blue eyes, gazing at an alert Ethan. I sit on the rough wood of the boat, relaxing myself. Unlike the method for anything else I’ve learnt to do so far, this one doesn’t involve standing and holding out my palm. Rather, I have to just sit and concentrate. Within the first twenty minutes, I already begin feeling signs of exhaustion. This isn’t good, I have about another forty minutes left ahead of me. 

Somehow I manage to safely get us there, almost collapsing towards the end. “You okay babe?” Justin asks, concerned. I nod, managing a small smile. We get into our line formation, slithering through the thick undergrowth and trees. After a short fifteen minute hike, we stop abruptly, coming across an eerie clearing. Looks like we found one of their oldest, almost ancient hideouts. Instead of solid steel, it’s made of wood and cement. Instead of the usual eighty to three hundred guard there are roughly thirty. This is sad, pathetic even.

“How’re we getting through this time?” Ethan asks, clearly amused. I would somehow contribute to the harmless banter but I barely have any energy left to do so. “I’ll go” he states, noticing my lack of strength. We all stare at him blankly, confused. How is he going to get rid of a guard with fire? He knows we can’t hurt them or do anything too flashy to draw attention. He grins and adds “I’ve been working on a little something”

With that he slips into guardian mode at top speed and just steps out into to the clearing, in plain sight! What’s he doing?! “YOU! OVER THERE!!” the burly mammoth guard shrieks, making his way over. Once the guard is close enough, Ethan conjures up a tiny fireball the size of a penny.  It floats in front of the guard, enchanting the giant. The fireball mimics the movement of Ethan’s fingertip, swaying from side to side. Just like that, the guard falls to the ground in a heap, fast asleep.    “That’s amazing!” Liz coos, chuckling. “Agreed, nice hypnosis trick” Justin mumbles, smiling lightly. It really makes me happy when the two get along, just because it’s such a rare sight. 

We all gasp once we see the inside of the building. This is really something. So many passageways with all these twists and turns. What is this? “Split up, find Lindsay then tell the others” Ethan commands calmly, strolling through the hall to the very left. Liz follows him like a little sister, unsure. Around the same time, both Justin and John head into the same hall, the one to the far right.  

I feel like I should either go with Ethan and Liz or Justin and John but I don’t want to. It would be a lot safer, considering I’m drained dry in terms of energy. I just don’t want to. I can come up with no other reason. That’s why I sigh, strolling into the middle passageway. What’s the worst that’ll happen? At most, the very few guards in this ancient hideout will toss me in the dungeon. If that happens I can always mentally contact the others.

At this point, I’m halfway down the hall and consumed with guilt. We’re all supposed to be trying our hardest to find Lindsay. Yet I’m not, I am actually hoping not to find her. I know it’s an awful thing to think. That girl, she’s done nothing to me. Why? Why do I not want her to be saved? I… I don’t know. I’m so confused. I don’t want to think like this! I don’t want to be one of those clingy girls that automatically hate any female that comes near their man. I feel so bad. I won’t even be able to face Lindsay, especially since I’ve heard of how kind she is and here I am, hoping something good won’t happen to her.  I’m not wishing for bad things to happen to her, but I am wishing good things won’t happen- which is just as bad. Oh lord, I really hope I can be forgiven for this.

Suddenly I stop. There’s no reason for it, my feet just won’t move forward all of a sudden. I wonder why. Maybe it’s a sign? Haha okay, now I sound plain psychotic. I look around the hallway anyways, to make sure. For the most part it’s empty, but there is a door up ahead in the right wall that blends in so well I would’ve missed it completely if I didn’t stop. 

My feet move on their own, carrying me to the door. Unlike in the facility that held Ethan, the doors here are normal. They’re wooden rectangle doors with a sleek golden doorknob. There are no touchpads to enter secret codes in, no eye scanners, no DNA testers, nothing. Just a doorknob to turn. I’m shocked at how easy this is. I’m half expecting an army of guards ready to gun me down once I open the door. 

I expected everything except what I see now. I stand there in shock, eyes wide open. This is beyond surreal. Before my very eyes, there’s an angel. So this is Lindsay. Great, now I feel worst than before. This girl, she’s so gorgeous. Her gentle, pale, creamy face is glowing with kindness. She’s laying in the bed, wires attached to every part of her body. Soft dark brown hair frames her perfectly sculptured face; thick luscious lashes coat her closed eyes. Her cheeks have a beautiful rosy tint to them, so do her full lips.

I groan, taking a seat on the stool beside her bed. I guess I can’t deny it any longer. I’m jealous. No wonder Ethan liked her, she puts angel’s to shame. I mean come on; she’s got flawless skin and an adorable small nose! She’s perfect. Plus, just by looking at her you instantly feel calmed, soothed. You can tell she’s kind. There goes my self esteem, not that I had a lot to begin with.

That’s when I notice it. It’s sitting there, gleaming away on the tiny steel stand beside her bed. The fifth pin. It’s her crest. I amble over to it, hesitantly picking it up. She’s got the power of lightening. Isn’t it ironic, how such a frail looking creature has such a fiery power? 

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