Earth(98)

The Fire was still not talking. Shawn finished wrapping the chain. His fist was more than double the original size, with his bandages and the makeshift brass knuckles. For good measure, he glanced over his shoulder at his entourage. Almost instantly each of the elements were called, putting on an impressive, tiny display above their palms.

The Fire stepped back. "Ok, look – I'll show you. Just don't shoot the messenger."

Shawn smiled as the elements dissipated. "Do you see any guns?"

The Fire swallowed hard, then turned to enter the building. He led them through the hallways, past the dilapidated bar, and down to the catacombs. He explained as he went, "Dog fights. It's where—"

"I know what the dog fights are," Shawn snapped. "I also know there hasn't been any for a while – and I didn't think they would get revived right as the camp went on lockdown."

"We had a new contender."

"Who?"

"They called her Artemis – but her real name is Lucy."

"The one that brought in the wild dog?" Shawn asked.

"The very same." The Fire held the door open for Shawn and his crew; they all entered the small arena. "Don't touch the cabinets, they might still be hot."

They approached the large stones jutting up out of the ground.

"It's like Stonehenge," the Air said. He put his hands on one of the rocks, then his ear. "There’s someone inside! I hear whimpering…"

Shawn nodded at his Earth. The air stepped away and she stepped forward, sending out weaves. The stones vibrated, but didn't move.

Shawn glanced at her, then turned his attention back to the Fire while she continued. "Describe Lucy."

"Short, brown hair. Tattoos—"

"What kind?" Shawn stumbled as the ground shook. Still the rocks were going nowhere.

"Um…" The Fire scratched the back of his neck. "I don't know, a tree branch on her face." The Fire closed his eyes, recalling what he saw when she removed her shirt. "Leaves down her arms. An entire tree on her back—"

"You saw her back?"

"She was wearing one of those sports bra things." The Fire waited until another round of rumbling wore down. "A pretty cool looking compass on her shoulder blade – really detailed. Oh, and then the words Earth, Air, Fire and Water in the shape of a diamond."

"She's an Earth, right? Why would she get that?"

The Fire held out his forearm. "I have it, too. It's popular."

Shawn peered at it, then moved over to the Earth. There was a sheen of sweat across her forehead. He laid his hand on her shoulder.

She flinched.

"Don't move," Shawn said. "I'm just going to focus your power."

Shawn circled his energy around her magic. As he slowly squeezed it into a vice-like funnel, her whole body tensed. He kept a firm grip on her shoulder – and her magic.

The rock circle rumbled, bits of loose stone falling off. Shawn focused all their energy on just one of the thick, upright slabs.

She wavered. "I think it's going to explode."

"Just keep going," Shawn told her. He pulled on her, so they were taking one slow step back at a time. "Almost there. A little more…" Shawn coaxed.

The entire large stone vibrated. Shawn grabbed the Earth around the waist, pulling them both behind a filing cabinet. The rock burst, spraying sharp fragments out, following the energy path.

Shawn was the first up, heart skipping a beat, waiting to see what was inside.

As soon as the dust settled, Shawn was at the entrance to the stone circle. A large man sat in the middle, covering his ears and rocking back and forth.

Shawn's shoulders sagged. "I take it that's not Lucy."

"No." The Fire stepped up beside him, eyebrow raised. "Lucy won."

Shawn swallowed, glancing at Dragon, still rocking back and forth on the floor, mumbling about sand.

"Alright." Shawn pointed to the Water and Earth. "You and you help him. Get him to medical."

A radio crackled to life. The Fire on duty pulled out his handheld. "I think it's one of the patrols, but I can't get a good signal down here."

"So go up—" Shawn cut himself off. "What is that?"

"Well, that’s Channel 9, what you told us to—"

"Not that! Can't you feel it?"

Both Fires behind Shawn exchanged glances. By the time they looked back, Shawn was racing out of the room.

They followed him up the steps, one of them passing along information as they went, "One of the patrol groups found a cluster of Elementals east of here. Near some underground silo."

Shawn burst out of the Tivoli Center, scanning the northern skies. As soon as the Fires and the Air caught up with him, he asked, "What's over there?"