Children of the Elements: Prey to Him

Chapter Eighteen: Rockfall Bay

Chapter Eighteen: Rockfall Bay

Nathan felt as though he were suspended in the air for hours before the ice cold surface finally engulfed him. It hit him like a slap in the face, sucking the air out of him as he sank further and further into the lake. A reflex started to kick in almost instantly, his hands getting hotter as a whirlpool of water began swirling at his feet. He found himself being violently pushed through the water by his whirlpool, his face breaking into a smile as he broke the surface, breathing heavily. Enjoying his new revealed skill, he drove himself to the opposite edge of the lake, clambering up shakily under he lay, exhausted, on the bottom step leading to Rockfall Bay. His arm muscles felt tired as though he’d been swimming the entire way across, but he ignored it and breathed deeply, still smiling. “Goddamn I hope I’m never rid of these powers” he muttered to himself happily.

It took him a minute or two to recompose himself, before he was bounding up the slippery steps with no problem, only slowing down as he reached the top. The grass was neatly cut, a few flowers dotted around the place as Nathan snuck over the path leading to the main front door and headed instead for the other side of the rocks, looking for a back way in. There was always a back way in, and it was always less protected. Somehow no-one ever thought to guard the back door, as if attackers wouldn’t think of it.

Nathan caught sight of the small door quickly, hardly hidden by small, thick bushes. However on beginning to make his way towards it, he caught a figure in his peripheral vision.

“Are you crazy?” Ash hissed, stepping out of the small cove she had hidden herself in.

“I’d just like to point out that sitting next to the door is worse than actually going inside,” Nathan retorted.

Ash’s lips tightened as she glanced nervously around the place. She then pulled Nathan towards her by his jacket until they were both squashed into the small gap in the rocks.

Nathan felt could feel her heartbeat as her chest pressed against his, her hands still tightly gripped on his clothes as she stared towards the grassy area outside, clearly paranoid. “There’s no one there,” he protested, but on her cutting glare, he shut up.

There was a pause for a minute before she finally spoke. “There were loads of them here a while ago. They all came out of the forest, heading towards the building, but once they lost sight of me they went back out.” She glanced back at him. “The other two are out there still.”

“I don’t see how hiding here is going to help,” he remarked perfectly seriously, but she still scoffed.

“Well I’m not keen on rummaging around inside a random building supposedly filled with these robot things.”

“My sister’s in there.” Ash seemed to stop her panicking on Nathan’s sentence. “I have to get her even if the rest of you run.”

Ash finally made eye contact with him, acknowledging her existence, before she stood on tiptoes, pressing her lips to his. He was surprised, to be honest, but that didn’t make him enjoy it any less.

“Fine” she stated simply, breaking from him contently.

“Fine?”

“I’ll help you. But you’d better come out alive,” she declared. She was out the cove before he could reply, following her automatically as she gently pushed the door open. There was no immediate sign of anyone being present, and the two of them slipped through the open door.

Nathan curved off to the right whilst letting Ash take the left corridor. His lips pulled into a smile as the echo of Ash’s kiss lingered on his senses. He checked behind him, but Ash had already disappeared from sight. Nathan was slightly disappointed, but quickly shook his head clear and concentrated.