Children of the Elements: Prey to Him

Chapter Twelve: Children of the Elements

Chapter Twelve: Children of the Elements 

The camp was massive. Unlike the desolated Mountain Pass, this camp was full of bustling healthy life, people buzzing around the place, causing a soothing humming of conversation between them. There were temporary tents propped up against the trees, creating an open walkway down the camp, as well as half-finished brick buildings. There were also what looked like shops and recreational activities like a games house and a bar along the street, which Ash looked into as she passed.

She should have felt intimidated by the dozen gun-carrying men surrounding her and the others standing at posts across the camp, but she wasn't. In fact, it comforted her that someone was protecting her.

Eva had regained her consciousness after 10 or so minutes of walking and had managed to heal her broken leg. Ash had found it almost amusing that the second she was 'fixed', the men guarding them had been so nervous that they'd snapped on the handcuffs almost immediately.

The five of them were led towards the biggest tent at the end of the 'street'. It was red and the size of a large circus tent, painted with gold swirls. As the curtain doors opened, they revealed a spacious warm room filled with dream catchers, tables and chairs dotted around the sides, and one large throne looking chair at the very end. There was a single old man sat there, looking straight at her with blurred eyes.

"Father, we have company" one man said as he bowed to the old man.

The man beckoned him to stand again, but did not make direct eye contact. Her handcuffs were taken off efficiently and the guard guy moved to protect the doorway again. The old man urged them to come forwards. "Do not be afraid children. I will not hurt you." His voice was kindly, kind of like a grandfather's would be. He immediately reminded Ash of Uncle Joe: a calming yet authoritative aura to comfort her in times of need.

He continued. "I am Father Jonah, and I must say that it is an honour to be in the presence of Craig's newest experiments. I've heard a lot about you." Ash couldn't take her gaze off of Father Jonah's hazy eyes. They couldn't seem to look at anything properly. When he smirked, she turned away.

"No matter how much you stare at the old things, Ashley, they still will not see you."

Ash felt herself blush as the others turned to look at her. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean -"

"I'm certain you didn't." He smiled at her. "Now then, what brings the four of you to our little village?" he asked, his blind gaze skimming over them.

Ash glanced at Nathan beside her. He seemed as speechless as she did. "No offense, but we weren't looking for you. It was more that your people found us" Chris stated factually.

"Ah yes, I heard that you'd met the Children of the Elements."

There was a pause. "The what?" Eva asked.

Father Jonah shook his head. "You really have been living in the dark to politics, haven't you? This is the name we give to the monsters the PTP have been creating." Blank looks from all four of them. However, Jonah seemed to pick this up immediately. "Let me start over," he said, smiling slightly. "The PTP have been waiting to strike at the government's secret experimental facility in the Parkinson Residence, for several years now. However, they have been trying to develop a new kind of warrior for the past few years to try and top you lot, or any other successful subjects, just in case Craig managed it, which he clearly has done. So the PTP announced what they called the 'Children of the Elements': warriors which cannot be harmed by your elemental powers, but can only be killed by destroying their life source."

"What's the life source?" Eva asked cautiously.

"There's a little chip inserted into the tip of their spine. If you destroy it, you kill it."