Earth(104)

I closed my eyes, shaking my head. "I never asked for your help."

It was Erika's face again. "Yes, you did. And I gave it! Time and time again." The black braids were back. "If I knew it was going to end like this, I never would have given it."

My face crumpled, tears streaming down my face. My heart broke in half – for Ahi and her mother, for Andres, for Zola, and for countless others. Everyone that had given their lives to help me. I'd spend eternity on Galapogos with Shawn if I could give back what I took.

Voices echoed in my head. They were all angry. I put my hands over my ears and shouted, "Stop!"

Behind me, Rock whinnied.

Erika took another step forward. "Why?"

I looked at her, eyes wide. Stripped of my lies, and all confidence – there was nothing left but the truth. "I am Gaia, and I have a daughter. She is two. I left her behind because…because Shawn is her father." The horse stopped sidestepping, calming under my voice. I put my hand to my stomach, it had nearly dropped to the ground at the mention of Bee. "Shawn created Daybreak. And it may have been better for the Earth, but…how he intends to continue, nuclear power?"

Erika looked over her shoulder at the rest of the Elementals.

I continued, "He needs a Gaia's power to run the facilities. And he won't stop at me and my daughter. The power is an addiction; he wants it for himself. And it doesn't matter how he gets it. He has to be stopped."

I glanced down the line of Elementals, trying to judge how they were receiving this. "I'm no longer asking for your help. All I want you to do is – get out of the way."

Erika closed the distance between us. "I can't do that. It's gone too far, now."

I bit my lips, squeezing my fists. "Please – I just need this one last favor."

She shook her head. "No more favors, Lucy."

My entire arm shook as energy gathered in my fist. "I don't want to—"

"What about the favor you owe me, Erika?" Someone stepped forward, out of the line of Elementals. Mike, from the group of Earths at the wheat field. I narrowed my eyes at white splatter on his shoulder. Was that—?

"And my favor?" Layla, the tattoo artist also spoke up, interrupting my thought.

"That favor was for her!" Erika pointed at me, stomping her foot.

Layla shrugged. "You asked me to use the rest of my ink – and now I'm asking you. Let's do what Lucy wants." Layla winked at me.

"Any favor asked within reason – those were your exact words, Erika." Mike moved to stand next to Layla. "All she wants us to do is let her pass."

I crossed my arms, releasing the energy in my fist. I felt awkward enough for me and Erika both. Caught between me and the Elementals, she was backed into a corner. Would she fight her way out?

We all took a step back as Rock stepped forward. He nudged Erika with his nose. She fought her smile for a moment, but another nudge from Rock brightened her face. She rubbed the bridge of his nose. "Fine, but now we're even." She circled her finger in the air. "All of us."

I laughed, wiping my own nose. "Thank you."

Erika nodded and stepped away, motioning for the wall of the Elementals to do the same. Once they were out of the way, I climbed back on Rock and squeezed my knees into him. He cantered forward.

"Lucy! What should we do now?"

I looked over my shoulder at Erika. "Run. And when you see Akasha – take cover. And just so you know, my name is Kaitlyn!"

I gripped the reins, "Ya!"

Rock sprang into action. I was getting close; I could feel the familiar, sickly taint of Shawn's power humming in my veins. Micah was with him; I was sure of it now – I could feel them both together.

There were Elementals still left; but I didn't have time to stop and convince them all to run away without looking back. I took moisture straight out of the air, driving it into the ground around each Elemental. The water sunk in, dissolving the sandstone underneath at an accelerated rate. As the small space collapsed, I poured more moisture in. Those left still standing rushed to the aide of others in the sinkholes. I was no longer their concern. I left more small walls along the way.

I guided Rock off the interstate and down a thin, single lane road until we came to a small stone building. The sign read, 'Box Office'. I stood in the stirrups and swung one leg off. I walked around the building, making sure there were no Elementals waiting. Satisfied, I turned to Rock, rubbing his neck. "Thank you, sir."

He whinnied.

I flung my arm behind me, blasting open one side of the building. The horse skittered, but I kept a tight hold on his reins. "Shh, shh. That was the last one, I swear."