Children of the Elements: Prey to Him

Chapter Nineteen: Prisoners of War

Chapter Nineteen: Prisoners of War

Ash pulled at the handcuffs restraining her wrists to the floor as the guard tightened the strap around her waist. The single bulb flickered as the guard hit his head on it, swinging in the back of the stationary van ominously. Opposite her, Will looked positively calm, ignoring the fact that he had been taken prisoner by the man who had raised him for 6 years.

When the guard was sure that she wouldn’t be able to get up from the bench on her side of the van’s storage area, he retreated, exiting the van by its back doors, only to be replaced by Craig, somehow still in a clean white suit. He smiled. “It could be a few hours depending on how many disruptions we have. I will warn the pair of you that any problems from either of you will be punished severely. I don’t have time to waste.”

Ash stared at him coldly as the van doors shut, listening as he slid the lock across the outside and leaving her and Will in silence.

Trying to get comfortable, she shuffled, each position digging in impatiently at her waist and wrists. She could feel the anger burning up inside of her, her fingers searing with heat as the van rumbled and began to move.

“You know that if you set this van on fire the pair of us will burn alive” Will stated tiredly from the other side of the van. She looked up to meet his gaze. He had rested his head against the van’s side, the blood from Craig’s punch running slowly down his cheek.

“Why are you so calm?” It almost made Ash angrier that he wasn’t feeling anything.

Will shrugged, his handcuffs clinking together as he moved. “I prefer staying calm to setting myself on fire.”

“Could you not do your whole telekinesis thing and get us out of here?”

One of his eyebrows twitched. “You think that Craig would have been that sloppy as to let us just get out of here with our powers? He’s been planning and preparing for getting on 10 years. We’d have more chance escaping from a Gladiator pit filled to the brim with lions than escaping from Craig now.”

“I’ve done it before.”

“Yes so I doubt you’ll do it again. In any case, we’re going to the Parkinson Residence. The only way we’ll get out of there is if Craig lets us out.”

“Or the others come and get us.”

Will paused. His face was blank as he looked at her impassively. “They wouldn’t come for me.”

Ash held his gaze momentarily. “We wouldn’t leave you.”

“Maybe you wouldn’t.” He sighed, closing his eyes. “Not that it matters anyway.”

Ash tried to think of something to say, but she gave it up as a bad job, instead running her nail sharply across the edge of one handcuff. Would Nathan come for her? She had thought that they’d protect each other always, but Will had put doubt in her head. It would be stupid for them to run straight into the lion’s den trying to get her. God, why had she run into Craig in the first place? If only she’d followed Eva when she’d told her to, then she wouldn’t be in this mess.

“Sorry,” Will muttered.

Ash looked up to find him regarding her through narrowed eyes. “Why?”

“You’ll be fine. Nathan would never leave you behind, even if it meant getting himself killed for you.”

“Perhaps.” Ash tried resting her elbows on her knees, but was pulled back by the tight strap holding her waist to the side of the van. She snapped. “Jesus, I’m so tired of this!” She yanked at the handcuffs in a rage, cutting them into her skin, but she ignored it. “Craig!” she shouted past the van’s rumbling, still struggling against the bonds.