Chapter 8, Taken:
Besides me, I could feel Trenton slowly relax, now that Alden was behind us. “Want some bread?” he asked me.
I nodded, reaching my hand out. Trenton placed in it a still warm piece of freshly baked bread. The taste of it was amazing, something I haven’t tasted in quite some time. It was much better tasting than the stale bread that Jerrard gave us.
“Can I see the water skin?” I asked.
Trenton handed me our source of water while still eating his piece of bread. I never noticed how much Trenton thinned out on our journey. His hands still were calloused and hard looking, but were clearly thinner than before as well as his arms.
I focused my mind elsewhere, Moving the fresh clean water from the ground into the skin. Trenton still showed amazement on his face, despite that he has seen me use my powers before. Before I handed it back to Trenton, I took a sip of it. It tasted fresher than any other water that I have tasted.
“I still haven’t gotten used to that. Sometimes I forget completely,” Trenton commented.
I smiled, “Sometimes I forget that you're human.”
Trenton turned to me, grinning and looked away.
“You still haven’t seen anything yet,” I told Trenton.
“I think I have.” He laughed.
“We will see.”
I tried to keep a serious look, but couldn’t hold it. Trenton couldn’t either. To show my point, I flicked my right wrist up and in front of us. The ground shifted and a boulder that was slightly smaller than me bounced into the air. With my both of my hands, I separated the rock into two. The rock on the right was forced further to the right deeper into the trees while the left I forced back into the ground.
I smiled in satisfaction. Trenton broke away from his awe and rolled his eyes. I laughed.
In a sudden force, I felt a chill run through me. Even Trenton began shivering. It didn’t seem normal that the weather could change so fast. We tried to ignore the freezing temperatures and continued walking. If we kept our pace, we could make it close enough to the Capitol that it would only be one day to pass through.
The cold began to be to strong to ignore, my feet and fingers going numb. This was abnormal. My suspicions of the servants were starting to seem logical. What if they were up to something? That’s why they seemed to take notice of me, but didn’t try to capture me. I began feeling jittery, watching the forest for any sign of movement. Trenton looked at me, confused.
“What is it?” Trenton asked.
“There is something out there.” I kept my arms wrapped around my torso.
“What is it?” Trenton scanned the forest.
My breathing became ragged with the growing cold, I said, “Isn’t it odd that we had no trouble with the servants and guards?”
Trenton furrowed his brows, then said, “You're right.”
“Wasn’t it odd that they smiled at us when we left?” I questioned further.
“Your right.”
“Absolutely right.” a soulless voice broke through my mind, turning me towards it. My head shot around, hair
whipping my face. In the midst of trees, the cloaked man slowly appeared.
“Who are you?” I demanded, trying to hide my shaking. Trenton stood slightly in front of me so that I could look over his shoulder.
The man laughed, “It shouldn’t be that difficult to figure it out.”
I glared at him.
“If you must know, I am the Darkness.” His grin showed teeth that came to a point.
Trenton pulled out his bow, arrow ready to be released. The Darkness laughed again at this. I prepared myself as well, whip of water in my hand.
“How will I ever win? Two against one.” The Darkness mocked.
I took the first shot, slicing the water through the air, coming inches from the Darkness. He caught hold of it and froze it in place. My grip on it loosened, the ice fell to the ground. When the Darkness was distracted, Trenton released an arrow, only to be deflected off into the distance.
The Darkness chuckled, and disappeared into a black smoke. My back against Trenton’s, we circled around, searching for any sign that may lead us to the Darkness. In the trees, a crack of branches and leaves alerted us to the direction. As I turned my focus to the noise, a dark smoke blanketed me, shielding my eyes and mouth. I slashed around, trying to defend myself. My voice was cut off, preventing my scream. I reached my hand out to grab Trenton’s, but it was too late. Then all that was visible was blackness.
***
I woke up to find myself in a damp cell, metal bars keeping me in. My throat felt dry and shriveled, making it hard to breathe. The stench of rot, mold, and death enveloped me, making me nauseous. My hair was slightly wet from the moisture on the stone floor. On the far wall, chains with cuffs hung for possible torture. I scrambled to my feet, taking in my surroundings. Across from my cell, there were many others as well on either side of me.
A great walkway was the center of everything. Servants monitored the halls. I knew I could take down a servant, and I had every element I could Move here. I bended a stream of water into my hand and tried to saw the metal that held me in the cell open. The metal didn’t even have a dent from my force.
Confused that water didn't even leave a mark on the bars, I try taking rock and smash a bar open; fail. My state of being rose with the panic. Air was my last chance and it had to work. Trying to calm myself, I form a ball of air in my hands, then rammed it into the metal bar to clash it open. My last hope had failed. The servants didn’t even look worried or tried to stop me, their snickers making me feel powerless, something that I never felt before. What had happened to me? I continued ramming rocks into the metal, hoping the metal would give in. Not stopping, I tried everything that I was taught, but nothing succeeded at breaking the metal barring.
Now exhausted, I slouch onto the floor, holding my legs close to me. A servant walked by, holding a tray with a half a loaf of bread; a pitcher with liquid in it. He slid the tray into an large enough opening with a flat surface in the barring. The servant didn’t even look at me before he walked back down the hallway. Skittish, I grabbed the bread. It was stale and hard. Despite that it wasn’t in a good condition, I ate it since I was famished. Next, I observed the water. I sloshed it around the pitcher, and took a small sip. It seemed fine, so I took another.
I huddled myself in a corner, knees tucked close to me. I observed my cell, noticing how their were scraps on the opposite wall from me. A minor attempt at escape. My thoughts were filled with a greater panic. Is Trenton alright? Is he here too? Unable to control my voice, I yell to no one in particular, “Trenton!” then quickly shut my mouth again.
My yell echoed through the hall, eventually coming back to me. I gripped a bar and used it to heave myself off the ground. I stick my head through the bar a tad, letting me see further down the hall. In the cells I could see, there was no one else in them. From the moisture and dampness, I fold my arms across my chest, keeping my hands warm.
Boredom then added to the mix of emotions. Unable to contain them any longer, a small tear escaped, dripping down my face. I pull my right hand out and wiped the tear away. Noticing the filth on my hand, I studied them. Beneath the dirt was clear, spotless pink skin. It didn’t bear any scars or scratches. Overrun by fright and stress, I leaned my head against my knees, crying.
I let everyone down. This is it for me. I couldn’t stop the thoughts of my death; how they would kill me. It’s my fault now for the innocent people who lose their lives for no reason. Every life. I let out another sob. Trenton must be one of those lives. In a sudden urge, I began shaking the bars, hoping to break them open. Nothing happened. I collapse my head onto my hands now while holding onto the bars.
For several hours, I continue crying. Exhausted, unable to cry anymore, I lay my head against the stone floor. Instantly, I felt the bone chilling cold. My whole body begins to shake. My legs were pulled up close to my chest while I tucked in my arms and hands. Surprisingly, I manage to find sleep.
I wake up, unsure what day it is or how long I slept. The skin around my eyes was dry from all the tears I cried, my body numb and sore. I dragged myself to the wall to prop myself up. My legs felt frozen in place, I had to force them to spread straight out.
A familiar clank started down the hall. On the other side of the barring, a servant slid a tray through the slot like earlier. This time, it held an apple and another pitcher of water. I stared at the man as if he had some form of disease. He took no notice of me and walked away. I managed to stand, hunched over and made my way to the food. Gently, I pick up the apple, careful that if I squeeze to hard it will explode.
My teeth broke through the thin outer layer of the apple, reaching the delicious, tart, juices inside. I rip a chunk out, chewing the fruit. Instantly, my mouth was filled with the sour of the apple. I took another bite. Still shaken, I only manage a few bites, and place it back on the tray. I take the pitcher in both of my hands, observing it. Slowly, I sip the water.
Not hungry, I fall to my knees. Despite that I slept, I felt exhausted and weak, making each of my movements slow and paced instead of quick. I knew that I was going to die, but I continued fighting against it, trying to reassure myself that Trenton would come soon and get me away from here into safety. He had to.
A drip of water fell onto my head, making me look up. Another fell on my forehead. I spied the moisture that collected on the ceiling, dropping in a steady rhythm. To prevent myself from getting any wetter, I crawl a short distance to escape the water.
The only thing that was audible was the drip of water. This whole chamber was silent, giving it an even eerier feeling. No voices, screams; just me. It was almost irrevocable that I will go mad if I am unable to escape. I shuddered.
My mind felt like a bees nest; constantly buzzing, working, not stopping. I felt my eyelids slowly close, showing only blackness. It didn’t help the thoughts that kept floating to the surface, making me even frightened and jittery. Sleep slowly came over me, releasing me from my mind.
My body was damp, cold, and shaking. I looked around, seeing nothing but trees. I let out a sigh of relief. Something didn’t feel right, though. Mist clouded my vision, making it harder to see. The trees towered high up, blocking any light. Moss hung off of the twisted branches, draping over the trees while hiding their bark. This place felt ghostly, a place you avoid.
I began searching for something or someone, but I didn't know who. Screaming Trenton’s name, I began running through the trees. It must be a dream, I thought. Everything showed that this was unreal. Mainly because last thing I remember was that I was far away from any forest. Also, I don't remember this place, it was unfamiliar.
“Elle?” I heard Trenton say. Frantically, I spin around, trying to find him in the fog. I heard Trenton again, calling my name. My feet take me in his direction, dodging every tree. In a sudden pull, I lose my breath and collapse on the ground. I cough, regaining any air that was forced out of me.
I scramble to my feet, trying to find the person or thing that did that to me. In an instant, I am shoved back on the ground. My hands find a base of a tree, hooking onto the bark, pulling me up. Cautiously, I turn to face whatever it may be that is attacking me. The cold bark pressed onto my back as I turned. Pressure was then on my throat and I saw the stream of water that was causing it. I followed it into the bushes then saw who was doing this. It was the Darkness. It was him.
He laughed in a menacing tone, his teeth sharper than ever. I gripped the water that strangled me, attempting to pull it away. This only made the Darkness push harder. My mouth let out a little gasp. The rest of me dangled as the only thing keeping me up was also killing me.
Joy overwhelmed me as Trenton came out of the bushes, pointing his arrow at the Darkness. My legs began tensing for the drop so that when Trenton shoots the Darkness, I would be ready for the release. The Darkness notices my smile on my face and follows my gaze to Trenton. Almost instantly, Trenton turns his arrow at me. My eyes go big, tears are dripping down my cheek onto the cold ground. I plead with my eyes, begging for mercy. He wasn't going to kill me, was he? I trusted him!
I see Trenton loosen his grip on the arrow, ready to release it. Again, I try to let out a pleading yelp. I already felt my life slip away. Trenton locks eyes with me, pulling his arrow further back. He releases it, and I let out a scream that would terrify anyone.
Spoiler
Before she is able to escape, Elle is fatally wounded. (:
