Finding ELE (ELE Series #2) Written By: Rebecca Gober and Courtney Nuckels (7 page)

I do know what he means. And that sounds
like the thing I need right now. I would give anything to ease this
pain in my chest that seems permanently etched there.

I look outside the window to keep Tony from
seeing the emotion in my eyes. With the sun almost completely set
it makes it harder to see in the room. Right as I notice that, a
skinny teen comes out from the kitchen carrying an armful of
candles and matches. He sets one on each table with a match. Within
seconds the dining area takes on a romantic ambiance. It kind of
makes me uncomfortable being as though I'm sitting at a table for
two with Tony under candlelight. Yeah, this is a bit awkward.

Finally full, I begin chewing on my
thumbnail hoping for Tony to finish quickly so we can get out of
here. I spot my mom in the opposite corner of the room still
talking with Molly. They're both smiling and talking animatedly.
I'm immensely glad that my mom has a way of putting people at
ease...especially scared, fourteen-year-old girls.

Tony tosses his silverware and napkin on the
empty plate and stretches his arms up above him. He leans back and
asks in a semi-yawn, "So, you ready to go?"

I pile my fork and napkin on my plate and
nod my head. I follow Tony to a bin with dirty dishes and put mine
on the top of the heap and Tony follows suit.

"Do I have time to change?" I ask Tony.

He looks me over and I feel a little flush.
"If you want. I think you look good though."

I laugh looking down at my tank top. "Um,
thanks. It would be nice to wash Molly's blood off you know."

For once it's his turn to blush. "Oh, yeah
that makes sense. Just come down when you’re ready." He grabs a
candle off a table and hands it to me so I can find my way back to
my room.

The bed in my room seems to call my name but
I don't listen. I head straight to the bathroom. I turn the water
on, which is completely cold since the boiler runs on electricity,
set the candle on the counter and hop in. Shivering, I wash off as
quickly as I can. Even though I'm covered in goose bumps from head
to toe when I get out, I still feel refreshed. Plus the cold water
gave me a second wind. I towel dry my hair and look at myself in
the mirror.

I don't know if it's the candle light or how
worn out I am, but I look weary and older. I lean in closer to
examine the bags under my eyes. That's when I notice the shade of
my eyes is no longer navy. Instead they are a light baby blue color
that I haven't seen before. All of the other colors are still
present in that sort of prismatic way but this color is definitely
a new development. The red spot stands out boldly against the
lighter background.

Forcing myself to look away, since there's
nothing I can do about my freaky eyes, I towel dry my hair and
change into some clean jean shorts and a green tank top. I try
running my fingers through my hair but settle on just scrunching my
wet curls. There's no way, I'm going to tackle all of these tangles
tonight. I throw on a pair of flip-flops, grab my candle and head
down to the party.

Tony wasn't kidding about these people
knowing how to have fun. The bonfire has the courtyard lit up in a
warm glow. All around people are talking in groups and swaying to
the live music. Kids are running around playing tag and giggling
happily. A few people have already started making smores. I look
around for my mom but can't find her in this huge group of
partygoers.

Not paying attention to where I'm walking I
run into the back of a girl. "Sorry!"

"It's okay." She says.

When she turns around I gasp. I stare at her
long blonde hair, tanned skin and perfect Barbie doll looks.
Everything about her other than her neon eyes and the fact that she
wasn't a total jerk, reminds me of Candy. She gives me a strange
look, most likely because I'm staring at her in horror, then she
walks away.

I have to tell myself over and over again
that it's not her. The thought that Candy may have changed her mind
about letting me get away almost gave me a heart attack. I force
myself to take a few breaths and then I push all thoughts of the
horrible Hastings family out of my mind.

A hand lands on my shoulder and I nearly
jump. "Wow, skittish tonight?" Tony asks me as I turn around.

I push my wet hair out of my face and shake
my head. "Sorry, I guess I was just lost in thought."

"What's on your mind?" He hands me a soda
pop and leans against the brick wall of the hotel.

I could say: I'm just thinking about the
family who tried to dissect me, my missing friends, my dad still
being on the inside and how much I would give to have Alec hold me
and tell me everything is going to be alright. But, I don't.
"Nothing." Is all I can manage saying.

A slight look of hurt hits his eyes, I'm not
sure why though. Maybe he expected me to bare my soul to him, but
we barely know each other. I wouldn't put that type of baggage on
him. "Do you want to get a smore?"

"Chocolate and marshmallows smushed between
two crackers? I'd be crazy to say no!" I joke. He smiles at that
and then takes my hand to lead me to the supply table.

Following behind him I stare at our hands
with wide eyes. I don't want to jerk my hand back, but it seems
weird holding someone else's hand. Not that I think Tony means
anything by it, he's probably just trying to not lose me in this
crowd, but still. When we stop in front of the table I let go of
his hand and quickly grab a metal hanger that has been turned into
a roasting stick. As I begin pushing marshmallows onto it, I have
to fight the urge to flex my hand or look at Tony. I don't want him
to feel bad or to think I'm grossed out by his touch. I'm not, it
just makes me think of Alec and how I wish he were the one here
holding my hand.

Thankfully Tony doesn't seem to take notice
of my slight discomfort. He makes small talk as he prepares his
marshmallows. "So do you like them golden or burnt to a crisp?"

"I'm too impatient to make them golden, I
set them on fire as quickly as I can." I say moving to the
fire.

"Me too." He agrees. We both smile at each
other then head over to the bonfire to put our marshmallows in.
"So, I've been wanting to ask you. Do you know how in the world you
were able to see Molly out there? Can people with the gift of
invisibility see others when they use the same gift?"

I look up at him. "I've been thinking about
that too. I can't see myself when I go invisible so it wouldn't
make sense as to how that would allow me to see Molly." I catch a
glimpse of blonde hair on the other side of the fire and that's
when I finally connect the dots. "Candy." I say.

"Candy? Like chocolate? It's back at the
table." Tony says a bit confused.

I laugh at his assumption. I shake my head
and remember to pull my marshmallows from the fire. I have to blow
several times to put the flaming sugar out. They turn out blacker
than night and charred to a crisp. "No, Candy is a girl back in the
shelter. She can see through people's gifts. I can't believe I
didn't think about this earlier! That must be how I was able to see
Molly through her invisibility."

Tony still seems confused. "How would
another person's power mean anything to you?"

I hadn't realized that we never really
discussed how I've gotten my abilities. "I am not completely
certain about this, but it seems that when I'm around someone with
a different gift, I kind of soak up the ability to use their gift."
His eyes go wide and I quickly add, "I don't take it from them
though; I'm not a Reaper Tony."

His eyes soften at that statement. "I would
never think of you like that Willow. You are the polar opposite of
those evil monsters."

I let out a sigh of relief. I hate having
anything similar to what those horrible things have.

"So, you kind of absorb just a small part of
people's gifts. Do you know why you are able to do this?" He asks
me.

I shake my head. I don't know for sure,
although I have a feeling it has something to do with the red shot
I accidentally pricked myself with. I don't want word to get around
too much about that. Alec is the only one who knows the truth about
it. The last thing this world needs is for someone to hear about my
abilities and to go experimenting with the same shot that created
those atrocious Reapers.

"Well, you are very special Willow. You know
that?" He smiles at me and instantly I feel a strange tension
between us. He reaches up and brushes a strand of hair from my
face.

"Willow?" A small voice calls from behind
me.

Thankful for the interruption from whatever
was just going on with Tony, I turn around. "Oh, hey Molly." Her
black hair is wet and with it brushed so perfectly straight behind
her ears, she looks even younger than fourteen.

"Your mom told me to come find you. She had
to take your brother up to bed. Can I stay with you?" She looks
around at the huge crowd of people.

"It’s kind of intimidating right?" I say to
her.

She nods. "I haven't seen so many of the
same kind in a long time." She looks to Tony and then leans in
closely to whisper in my ear. "Can he be trusted?"

I look at her confused then say. "Yes, of
course." I don't know Tony that well but if my mom trusts him, then
I certainly do too. I wonder why Molly would ask me that. I turn
around to Tony. "Hey, do you mind getting Molly a soda?"

"Sure, do you want one too?" He asks me.

"No thanks." I reply. I wait until he heads
off in hunt of a drink before I turn back to Molly. "Why do you ask
if Tony can be trusted?"

She looks from side to side as if making
sure the coast is clear. "I don't want you to think anything... I
mean, I know your mom is one of them and she seems great and all,
but...." She looks like she's going to clam up.

"But?" I ask, truly curious as to what she's
getting at.

"They aren't all safe." She says.

"What do you mean they aren't safe?" That
doesn't make any sense.

She looks down and pulls at the hem of her
shirt. "We used to all be with these people but then many of them
turned. How do you know that they aren't going to turn again?" She
looks up at me in question.

"Do you mean turn as in turn into a..." I'm
cut off when a hand lands on my shoulder.

"Ahhhh, well if it isn't the Reaper!" A
slurring voice calls out from behind me.

Molly's eyes go wide with fear. My blood
runs cold as I turn around quickly to knock his hand off my
shoulder. I find Chris swaying and not to the music either. A near
empty bottle of beer in his hand tells me that this is not going to
be good.

"Go away Chris." I'm not looking for a fight
tonight.

"Awe, is Willow upset because her mum isn't
here to defend her?" He lets out a slight hiccup.

I roll my eyes. "Leave me alone."

"Why, because if I don't you are going to
make me?" His eyes are drooping. He sniffs and wipes at his long
nose with his hand.

"You’re drunk, Chris. Go to bed or
something." I give him a disgusted glare then turn to walk away.
His filthy hand lands on my shoulder again, this time it grips
tighter.

I try to brush his hand off but he only
grips harder. "Get your hand off of me." I turn towards him and
grab his hand at the same time.

"Ahhhhh!" He bellows and yanks his hand
away. He hunches over cradling his hand and moaning.

I jump back, not sure what I did.

He falls over onto his butt and continues to
sniffle and hold his hand. "She broke my hand!" He cries out.

"No I didn't!" I yell at him. Panic wells
inside my chest as people start gathering around us.

He looks up at me with hateful, drunk eyes.
"You piece of..."

"Watch it!" Tony steps forward looking ready
to pummel Chris.

Chris looks up at him. His eyes are rimmed
with red and his head wobbles a bit as he yells. "She broke my
freaking hand!"

Tony laughs, which surprises me. "Then she
probably had a good reason to."

Chris lets out an angry huff.

"I couldn't break his hand even if I wanted
to." I call back in defense.

Tony turns around to me. "Don't worry about
him, he's just a..." He stops cold, looking at my eyes.

"What?" I ask. My hands immediately go up to
them.

"Let's get you out of here." He says.
Whatever he noticed he doesn't want to bring up around the
crowd.

"What about Chris. I can heal him." Even
though I really don't want to touch him, if I did in fact break his
hand then I should do what's right and fix it.

"I would never let you touch me! How would I
know you wouldn't suck the life out of me? Reaper!" He spits at
me.

Tony spins around so quickly that I barely
have time to register what he does next. He socks Chris straight in
the eye. A big burly guy that I recognize as one of the fearsome
four pulls Tony off Chris. Chris is blubbering and holding his eye
with his good hand and cradling his broken one to his chest.

"Don't you ever call her that again!" Tony's
face is red with anger. "I swear, it will be a thousand times worse
if you do Chris! Don't test me."

"You should go now." The guy, I think it's
Henry, says to Tony.

Tony nods but his posture remains stiff and
rigid as he turns around. "Let's get out of here Willow." He waits
for me to turn and start walking towards the building.

"Molly, do you want to come up with us?" I
ask her along the way.

She looks at me with her frightened purple
eyes. "Yes please."

I gesture for her to take the lead through
the crowd that's gathered for the newest version of live
entertainment.

My mom meets us at the courtyard entrance of
the hotel. "What happened out there?" She looks worried. "I was
just putting Sab down to bed and heard the racket.