Children of the Elements: Prey to Him

Chapter Twenty: Taking Chances

Chapter Twenty: Taking Chances

After what seemed like hours, the rumbling of the van finally stopped. Ash kept her eyes closed even as the door to the van opened and the cold air of night swept around her ankles, making her shiver.

She heard the footsteps of someone enter, but she refused to open her eyes out of fear. Will might be able to defend her verbally, but he couldn't stop anyone from touching her.

"How long has she been sleeping?" she heard a deep voice of a guard ask.

"A few hours." Will's voice was soft and quiet. "What are we stopping for?"

"We're camping for the night."

"Craig's camping?"

"Well," the guard sounded border-line amused. "We're camping. Craig's staying at a hotel."

"Of course. I'd expect nothing less."

There was a pause in conversation before the guard sighed. "I'm sorry we have to keep you in here."

"It's fine; it's not your fault."

The shuffle of clothing told Ash that the pair of them were looking at her. She consciously controlled her breathing under the pressure. "He's angry and upset with you, but he likes you enough not to hurt you" the guard explained gently. "He's just taking it out on her."

"Hmm. I wish he wouldn't" Will almost whispered.

Another pause in the conversation made Ash nervous. "Did you want to eat?" the guard asked kindly.

There was a crinkle of tin foil, which made Ash's stomach growl. She was so desperately hungry, enough that it trumped her fear of the guard, though from her evidence of the conversation he seemed nice enough. It was time for some acting.

Slowly, Ash moved her head from side to side, groaning slightly as her eyes peeled open. She knew that in reality if she'd just woken up, she'd be surprised at a guard in here with them, so as soon as she laid eyes on the guard and Will staring at her, she pretended to jump, her eyes widening as she pushed backwards against the wall to get away from him. Her gaze didn't, however, miss the cheese sandwich sat in the tin foil between Will and the guard.

"It's alright, I won't hurt you" the guard hushed in a soothing tone. Ash remained tense.

"This might hurt though," Will added, before he flicked his fingers effortlessly and the duct tape ripped from her mouth, falling onto the floor carelessly. She let out a sigh, slightly with shock, but mainly from relief. However, she quickly turned her attention back to the guard. "Why are you here?"

He looked almost shy. "Well I thought the pair of you'd be hungry." He gestured at the sandwich.

Ash's gaze flicked from the guard to Will's calmly expressionless face, back to the guard. "Why?"

"Well aren't you?"

Smoothly, Will flicked his fingers again, drawing a key out of the guard's pocket and sliding it into the lock securing the strap around his waist. It turned easily before it dropped limply on his lap, letting him lean forward, resting his elbows on his knees. He drew the second key out of the guard's pocket and undid his handcuffs in the same manner. Ash just looked at him coldly, unsure of whether she should trust the two of them whilst also praying that he took off her chains for her.

Will chucked the keys back at the guard, who then came to sit next to Ash. "I'm afraid I'll have to lock the pair of you back up when I leave, or all three of us will be in bigger trouble when he finds out."