Earth(101)

He removed the blindfold and blinked in astonishment at the face that glared up at him.

"This will be easier than I thought," Shawn said.





Chapter 62





Air





It was too cold – even for the bugs. But I preferred shivering over bug splatter against my face. This time when I took flight I followed the same path as the horses would've gone. Their trail led me down a main road through town. So focused on what was ahead, I failed to take into account what was behind me.

A gust of wind knocked me sideways. Another forced me lower. I barely missed a tree branch leaning over the road. I looked behind me; three Airs followed, using actual hang gliders.

Another strong gust hit me from behind. They were going to bully me to the ground, or into the side of a building.

Hell if I am going to end up like bug splatter.

I let go of the element keeping me in flight. A moment later I was in free fall. For the second time in one night; it wasn't nearly as terrifying. As the ground rushed up to meet me, I spread the jacket back out, using a wind stream to stay up. My toes scraped asphalt.

I stayed low for three quick breaths. My splayed-out black leather jacket camouflaged me against the dark street. I flew straight up behind them and smiled. They were still searching the ground for me.

I let my fireballs fly, counting out two per hang glider. It was all the energy I wanted to spare. Tears in the fabric threw off their balance, and it didn't take long for the gliders to tip. If they could gain control of their element fast enough, they'd survive the fall, but it wouldn't be pretty.

I moved on. Did Shawn know I was coming? It couldn't have been the dog fight; I was careful not to use the other elements.

I lost concentration and dipped. "Whoa."

Focus, I told myself. I can worry later.

I had narrowly missed a large billboard that read, 'Jefferson County Fairgrounds'. I tried to prepare myself. What could possibly lay in wait?

"Trailers!" I squeaked out loud.

Releasing my energy for a brief second, I dipped again, narrowly missing a large RV spinning toward me in midair. One of the bars on the side-canopy caught me on the back. I buckled, just catching a glimpse of the source of trouble. A combination of Airs and Earths were using both of their elements to send a large row of campers up and out, directly toward me. Another was already airborne. I didn't have time to dodge it. The last thing I saw were the words, 'Open Sky', painted on moldy, off-white siding.





Chapter 63





Brothers





"Put him up here." Shawn pointed to the long, rectangular table top that served as a bar on the upper terrace of the open air amphitheater. "Tie him down." Shawn took out his Athame, glancing at Micah. "You don't seem too worried."

Micah looked away, focusing on one of two 300-foot monolithic cliffs. The giant, sandstone towers provide near-perfect acoustics for the concert hall. He cocked his head, noticing a large crack up the side. Natasha had said there were some harsh tremors during Kaitlyn's dog fight, but would it have affected rocks all the way out here?

"Well it's no fun talking to you if you don't talk back, brother." Shawn ripped the duct tape off Micah's mouth. Shawn studied the prickly facial hair left behind on the gray strip of tape, then looked at Micah. There were deep lines around his eyes, and he had lost weight. "You look like shit."

Micah rubbed his cheek against his shoulder. "I could say the same about you."

Shawn shrugged, walking around to the other side of the bar Micah lay on. "It's this new world. No massage parlors. No over-the-counter drugs. No working bars." Shawn fiddled with the tap protruding from the table top, as if just to make sure. He glanced at Micah. "No fishing at the Chakra lake on Sundays."

Micah's eyes snapped back to Shawn. "Those days were long gone, even before Daybreak."

"They don't have to be," Shawn said quietly, keeping his eyes on the table top.

Micah looked up at the stars above him. "How exactly did you expect all this to turn out?"

"Oh, I don't know. Almost like this. Except you'd be right here…" Shawn took out his Athame and pointed to the empty space at his right hand side. "…instead of lying there."

"Even if Kaitlyn had never been chosen—"

"Kaitlyn!" Shawn interrupted. "She screwed everything up. She was supposed to be temporary."

"But then you couldn't resist her, and the power she held." Micah glared.

Shawn smiled his crooked half smile. "Neither could you, brother."

The Earth rumbled and basketball-sized pieces of the stone tower beside them crashed to the ground.

"You and I have different ideas of power." Micah said, looking out over the plains. In the distance, the chilling screech of twisting metal could be heard. Both pairs of eyes snapped northeast.