Elemental

Chapter 13

The sunrise looks beautiful this morning in the forest. The horizon is painted with purple, pink, and peach with each color perfectly blended into the next.

Sadly, we can't stop to appreciate God's wonderful masterpiece. After Twi woke up last night, all of us heard footsteps in the distance. It was the Guard.

When will they ever stop chasing us, I think to myself as we sprint through the brush and trees.

The sound of dogs is heard behind us and we say a prayer before pushing ourselves onward.

"Anybody have a plan to get out of this," Twi yelled over the barks.

I shake my head and look at Agag. He looks deep in thought, then stops, turns around and shoots a line of fire in from of the dogs so it's impossible for them to get through.

He turns back to us, which we had stopped for him. "That should buy us some time to escape," he says.

Everyone else moves on ahead, but I stay behind for a minute.

"Glace? What are you doing lets go," Agag exclaims.

I stand my ground and look beyond the flames. A silhouette, walking towards the fire, becomes clearer and clearer as he comes closer.

I don't know why I am standing here, but something is odd about him. He comes into view, but I can only make out his face. He has white hair, a scar on his right eye, and a stern look in his eye.

He looks right at me, sending a cold shrill down my back. He looks oddly familiar, but I can't figure out where from.

Someone grabs my arm and turns me around, shaking my thoughts away. "Glace, the fire is spreading. We need to hurry out of here."

It is Agag. He seems worried, too. All of a sudden, I can see clearly. It's like I was in a zone where all I could hear was my own thoughts.

I blink once. Twice. Three times before I realize what is actually going on. "Sorry, you're right," I say and look back, where the scar-faced man once stood, and begin running along the others.
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We're finally far away from the dogs and the fire that we stop to rest. Catching our breath, Agag speaks up. "Glace? What happened? You were just standing there and froze."

I look towards the others who were staring at me with concern written all over their faces, especially Agag.

I don't answer at first. I don't know what to say. What can I say when I, myself, don't even know why I stood there. I could have gotten us killed.

I feel someone place their hand on my back and I look up to see Agag standing over me, worried.

"Are you okay," he asks.

"I-I don't know," is my reply.

"Why did you stop?"

I think for a minute. "I saw someone walking towards us, I could see him through the fire. I feel like God was saying something to me. When I saw his face...I don't know. I feel like I know him somehow. I just don't know how and it is driving me crazy."

When I finish talking, he says nothing and takes in what he heard me say. "You feel like you have to know" he says and I look up to him again,"You think that you need to know the answers about something in your past you don't know. It's like every time you find an answer and have it in your hand, it slips away and your back to where you started."

I can't say anything, I was so shocked. He had practically taken everything I have been thinking and said it out loud. "How did you-" I start to ask, but he cuts me off.

"Because I have been down that road."

There are a few moments of silence before Twi says something. "I hate to interrupt, but does anyone know how we were even kidnapped? We didn't exactly have time to talk before they found us again."

Agag and I exchange glances. "You should tell them," I whisper. He nods and we both walk over to them.

"Twi, it's a long story," I start.
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Once Agag and I are done explaining, Twi and Ligero are silent with shocked expressions covering their faces.

"I'm...amazed," Twi is the first to speak up,"I'm amazed at how you can be brave enough to tell us this. Next time, might want to tell us sooner so we can help." We all laugh and I'm a little surprised at how they both reacted.

"So where to now," Ligero asks.

I immediately tell them my thoughts."I want to go back."

Ligero chuckles,"You can't be serious? We barely made it out without someone dying."

"I don't want anyone to go with me. This is something I have to do alone."

"I can't believe you think you're going to make it there alone without me stopping you," Twi says and Ligero and Agag immediately agree.

"I'm sorry, but this has nothing to do with you. I have to figure out who I saw. I need to know why they were after Twi and I specifically."

"Then I'm going with you," Twi says.

"Twi, you just got shot. You need to take it easy for a while," Ligero responds.

"Alright, then you go with her," she pushes.

"No, I can't take the risk of anyone getting hurt because I'm dumb enough to go back where we were just trying to get away from because I need to have answers," I am on the verge of tears at this point, so I turn away.

"I'll go," Agag says.

All of us look at him. "They would consider me a friend, I could get the information, get Glace out and that'll be it. It would take at least two days."

Twi shrugs,"It seems like a good plan to me."

"It works," Ligero says.

Everyone waits for me to say something. I sigh and turn back to them. "Fine. Just promise me that if there is any sign they are suspicious you will get out, with or without me, as quickly as possible."

"I can't promise that," he says.

I knew he would say that. He speaks again,"Look, Glace. I understand you don't want anyone to get hurt, but that's the thing: people are going to get hurt. Sometimes there is nothing you can do about it and you can't tear yourself up over that."

"That's why I have to do my best to make sure no one gets hurt."

"Well, then it'll be my fault, if anyone else's."