Secrets in The Ashes

Chapter 13

I sprint down the halls, zigging and zagging my way to Lauren's cell. When I reach it, there are four other people in it. They each have masks on, covering their mouths and eyes. 2 are trying to untie Lauren, whilst the others stand watch. When I enter the room, they block my line of sight to Lauren. I point my gun at the two of them, sweeping back and forth. They raise their hands, but the one on the right stops. They take a step forward. They say something, but it is muffled by their mask. They reach up a hand and pull it down from their mouth and repeat what they just said.

'Will?' the girl asks. My heart pounds and I breathe quickly.

'Who...who are you?' I stammer. The girl raises her hand and vines circle my legs. With a movement, the vines tighten and I am hanging from the ceiling. I dropped my gun when I was jerked up, and I hang there, struggling against my bonds. Try as I might, I cannot reach the tight vines around my ankles. Giving up, I let myself hang. My top drops and I quickly pull it up and place a hand there, cheeks warm. Finally, the girl moves and I see Lauren unconscious. I strain and try to reach her, but the vines tighten making me lose feeling in my feet.

'The more you struggle, the worse it gets.' a boy with dark hair says, standing next to the girl with green hair. She doesn't move her arm but looks lovingly at the dark haired boy.

'Who are you? What are you?' I ask, my heart pounding with all the blood rushing to my head. the girl frowns and the boy cocks his head.

'Do you not know?' she asks, her voice laced with worry. I shake my head, which makes the room spin. My chest is tightening and I am finding it hard to breathe, I know I will pass out soon.

'Why do you not-' the boy starts but is cut off by the sound of thundering footsteps coming down the hall. A hard look falls over his face and her turns to look at the two behind them and says something that sounds like Russian. They nod and the green haired girl lets her arm drop. I manage to move so I fall onto my shoulder, but the room spins and I can barely breath. The footsteps become louder and the dark haired boy runs towards me, grabbing my arms. I jerk away from him, from this stranger. Fear grips my chest.

'Come on Will!' he yells, grabbing my arm. I shove him off.

'Who are you!?' I scream. The boy glowers and walks towards me, placing a hand on my chest.

'I'm sorry Will.' he whispers and then pain. I see sparks enter my body and I try to scream, but I am paralysed. My eyelids droop and I see another person join the dark haired boy. They grab my arms and drag me. I hear Zed's yell behind me, but I can't move. So I let darkness consume me.

I have a dream.

I am my age and running down the streets. My body burns. Like I ran through fire. People come and arrest me. I see Lauren being hurt.

'Take me!' I scream. 'Hurt me not her!' They nod and laugh.

When I wake I am in some kind of hospital. I have a Nasal Catheter helping me breath and I am sitting in a small room, coloured with only brown, white and blue. I sit up and look around. A large T.V hangs off the wall. Reaching out my arm, I see a scar running down it. Many crooked lines. I trace it with my finger. I hear a beep and look up. My breathing tubes (Nasal Catheter) connect to it. I breath in a raspy breath and pull up the sleeve. The scar continues from my hand to my chest. I barely even acknowledge it. For the first time, I remember where I am. Well, more like I see where I am. Where am I? I hear a click and look over to the large blue door. It opens and a girl walks in, hair blue. I follow her with my eyes, listening to my raspy breaths. She stops at the end of my bed. It is silent for a while until she speaks.

'Do you know who I am?' she asks, her voice soft, as though it is a secret. I shake my head.

'No. I don't know who you or any of your friends are.' I croak.

'Ok...do you know who you are?'

'Of course!' I try to yell, but it comes out strangled.

'Who are you?'

'Will.'

'Which side are you on, Will?' she says, almost a yell but not quite. I don't answer. I just stare at her and try to control my breathing. She drops her gaze and I do the same. I see my arm and start tracing my scars again. I don't look up as I start to talk.

'Who are you?' I croak. She doesn't reply for a couple of seconds.

'My name is Isabel. I am the Water Elemental.' she says, her voice suddenly loud. I jerk my head up. Both Lauren and Zed's stories about the Elementals pop into my head. 'Whose side are you on?'

'I helped the Shadow Men because...they were my family. I know you killed my family. Lauren lied to me, tried to convince me I was part of you. But I'm not!' I scream and sit up. Isabel's eyes widen as she looks at me.

'I won't do anything you ask me! I'm not going to fall into your trap! The Dell will be made! You will suffer!' I scream and jump out of bed. I am still wearing the Shadow Men clothing. I run at Isabel and pin her against the wall.

'Will. Let me go. You have been manipulated. They wiped your memory and replaced it with new ones. Will, you're one of us. We're the good guys.' Isabel whispers, eyes wide.

'Sounds like something someone desperate would say.' I growl and press against her throat. I hear the door open and footsteps towards me.

'Another step and she dies.' I spit, not looking up from Isabel. The footsteps stop. I turn my head and see a boy with grey hair. Just as I turn my head to look back at Isabel, she kicks me in the stomach. I double over I feel a weight pressing against my back. The cold, metallic weight of a gun.

'Will, they lied to you. Please, listen to me.' Isabel whispers. Rage pulses through my body, but with a gun trained on me I have no choice but to listen. 'You are on of us.' she whispers and my whole body starts to shake with rage. I close my eyes and scream. When I open them the room is covered in ice. Isabel and the boy with grey hair look around in awe.