Elemental

Chapter 3

Christine knew that this was a bad idea. She had been in life-preserving mode for the last six years and nothing else had mattered. She didn't owe this rebel group anything. She's was putting her life on the line and for what? Some guy that claims to be one of the good guys? It was idiotic and suicidal. The more people that knew about her location, the more likely it would be for the dictators to find her and kill her, and here she was agreeing to practically be their poster child. All her instincts were telling her to run and keep moving like she had been taught to do. But the damn, gut-wrenching want for something more in her life, prompted her to follow Damien to another house in their underground town.

There were six cabins around her, including the one she had just got out of. Two behind her and two on the left and the right. Next to the cabins were large two-story buildings that she assumed were more living quarters. On the far end, there was a pavilion with three large tables for meals. In the middle were two other buildings that she wasn't sure what they used for. It was a lot more than she had expected, maybe this operation wasn't as small as she thought. Damien stopped at the house next door and knocked. The door opened so fast; it was as if someone had been expecting them. The woman at the door looked to be in her forties, with streaks of gray in her ebony hair. She was tall with steely eyes that oozed self-confidence and authority.

"Raquel Ward, this is Christine Cooper, and she has agreed to help us," Damien said.

Raquel fixed her grey eyes on Christine and only a slight twitch of her jaw gave any indication that she knew who Christine was. Raquel stepped aside and ushered them in. The inside of the house was the same as the one she had woke up in. She sat on the couch with Damien beside her while Raquel chose to stand.

"Have you filled her in on the risks?" She asked Damien.

He nodded. "She is aware of the risks."

Raquel glared at him like she didn't believe him and turned to Christine. "Are you aware that by agreeing to join us, you will not have the luxuries that the other runaways have?"

Christine nodded. It made sense. She wouldn't be able to hide as the others do. She would need to be front and center, absorbing the spotlight to show others that the dictators weren't the only gifted ones on earth. She was to be this organization's symbol of hope that change was possible.

"We cannot guarantee your safety or survival, are you okay with that?"

"My survival has never been guaranteed." Christine pointed out.

"This isn't going to be easy. You're going to be in danger constantly, and you're going to have to show the world the powers that you have hidden your whole life. Once you do, there is no going back. The dictators will be more motivated to kill you. Your discretion in regards to your gifts is what has kept you alive for so long. Are you willing to go against your survival instincts to help us?"

Christine locked eyes with Raquel, showing her unwavering resilience. "I think it's about time that I stop trying to survive and focus on living."

Raquel nodded. "Good. The world will soon find out who we are." She walked towards the door and opened it before turning toward them. "Damien, take Christine on a tour and at dinner, we'll introduce her to the rest of the recruits."