The Potentials

Exposed

Chapter 14
Warning: includes explicit detail of horrendous situations

For many hours I sit in the cave, tending to Autumn, and thinking about Ben. We need to save him. What if what happened to Autumn's friend happens to Ben?! What if I lose him! It would be so overwhelming. I would not be able to function. I'd rather die. Autumn is very weak from the battle, and her leg is not healed on the inside. I can't do much more for her though. Donavon has been at her side since the battle. He's actually being a good boyfriend. He's been cooking the meals because she can't, and he has been making sure she is comfortable and happy. Right now, her head is in his lap. They are talking about what they will do once Solomon is dead. They don't look away from each other for even a second. Donavon is twirling Autumns hair between her fingers, and she is loving every second she has with him. No one seems concerned for Ben but me. I can't deal with Autumn and Donavon's love talk anymore. I am jealous. I wish I could do that with Ben.

I walk out of the cave and then up to the top of the cave. The flowers no longer seem to glow. Not without Ben. I need to save him. I can't do this. I pick a flower and put it in a ball of water. It glows, but the light dies as I think more of Ben. I turn the water to ice and throw it at a tree. It shatters and some ice flies back at me cutting my face.

"Uurrrrggggg." I scream. This is so annoying. I can't do much to save Ben myself. I need the others. But the others are just making out in the cave and pretending everything is okay. I hear giggling. Okay, they need to stop. Blood is oozing out of the gash in my face. It's on my cheek from my mouth area, all the way up to my cheekbone. I need to get out of here. Maybe I can go find where Ben is. With that I stand up from the depressing cave roof, and run into the forest. I'm getting out of here.

I run through the woods to the spot that I last saw Ben. The branches of the trees smack my face as I run past the tree. I have cuts all over my body by the time I get to a trail. It is wear the truck was headed. I see slight tracks from where the truck drove, but they are almost gone. The rain washed most of them away. I walk along the tracks for a couple hours until I hear some nearby voices. I freeze and run to a nearby tree. I hide behind it as I see some men walk by. They stop walking so close to me, that I could smell them. They smell of cologne and fresh sitris. They don't deserve to smell like that. They should smell like the disgusting pigs they are. They begin talking.

"What are they doing to the boy?"

"The king wants to take his powers. Make them his own so his power has no equal. He wants to drain his body, see if there's anything in the blood that could be extracted. If not, he'll die anyway."

"That's a good plan. What have they done to him so far?"

"They are starving him. They want to make him suffer and lose his strength. He has also been beaten senseless. Last I saw, his face was all bloodied and his eye was swollen. I think they also broke his leg." They both laugh. I want to strangle them. I want them to die right now. I jump out from behind the tree and freeze them in ice. Their eyes stare at me in disbelief.

"Oh yeah bitches. I hope you die a long and horrible death." With that I run closer to the building. Ben is in so much pain. They are going to take his body and torture him and drain him. Take his powers. I can't let him die. I run faster at that thought. Now I'm so close I could touch it. But there are guards. Guards who are looking right at me. Oh no. This might have been a mistake. I create a wave and thrust it towards them. Many of them dodge it, but one gets caught and is thrown up against the building. The force of the wave kills him on contact. The other men begin to surround me. They hold chains and whips. Torture devices and shackles. Knives and guns. 'How can I fight them all?' I think to myself. I put up my arms and make a bubble around myself. I then turn it to ice. It doesn't hold. They break it and come at me faster than I thought they would. They put a rag to my mouth and I am unconscious in seconds.