The Wastelands

Towa

As Druid finally caught up with Bryson and Statson, who was talking to someone. A woman who looked a little older, maybe mid-twenties early-thirties? She was pretty with light brown hair and bright eyes.

'Must be their guide. Oh, no matter.' Druid dismissed.

Druid was excited to finally be reunited with Bryson, even though it was only a couple of hours. She jumped on Bryson's back. First, however, making sure that she didn't touch his bȧrė skin and whispered sweetly into his ear. "Found you."

She felt the taller boy's back stiffen before relaxing into Druid's embrace. "Druid," He breathed out.

Druid snaked around to get a better look at his face. "Worried?" tilting her head in bemusement.

"No, no, I wasn't worried." Bryson denied, avoiding eye contact. "Anyway, you're too reckless stepping out like that. You could have easily gotten hurt or captured." He went into lecture mode.

Druid bit her lip, trying not to smile. He's so cute when he's trying to act tough. "So you didn't miss me?" She teased.

Bryson looked he was being insulted. "Of course, I do I…." He stopped talking as Druid burst out laughing. "What?"

"Sorry, sorry." Her laughter turned into giggles, then to nothing at all as she stared into his ice-blue eyes. "Just relieved, that's all." Druid looked Bryson over. "But I'm surprised you went outside looking like that." Then, seeing how confused Bryson looked, Druid reached out to play with Bryson's hair. "Your hair's all over the place."

Bryson's eyes widened in horror as he pulled out a mirror. Where did he get a hold of a mirror of all things? who knows. "Why didn't anyone tell me!" As he fussed around with his hair in almost a panic.

'He's so cute.' Druid couldn't help but think once more.

"Quit it with the flirting already." Statson interrupted with a roll of his eyes. "Did you forget that we're on the run?" He paused and glanced at the woman at his side. "And we're not alone."

Druid turned to the woman and replied brightly. "Hi, my name is Druid." Waving. "And you are…." The woman slowly gave Druid a slow long look, accessing her. Searching for something. Like she was trying to see through Druid's façade. Then in an instant, that feeling was going. Druid tilted her head in thought. "Have we met before?"

"No." She answered abruptly. The woman turned to Statson. "Can we get this over with? I'm not getting paid for idling around."

"Okay." Statson sighed, addressing Druid. "This is Brit. She's going to be our guide."

"I don't trust her," Bryson stated, with his arms crossed. His hair, on the other hand, looked a lot better than before.

"I really don't care. This is the only chance we've got for us all to leave." Glancing at Druid and stepping closer to Bryson. "Unless you want to go through quarantine." He whispered the part, so Brit wouldn't hear what they were saying.

Bryson and Druid glanced at each other, both seeing what Statson was trying to say. Bryson could turn invisible, so going through quarantine might be an option, but Druid would have to stay behind. "No, you're right. The sensory alone would be a nightmare to fool." He added. "And I'm not leaving Druid behind."

"I thought so." Statson nodded, turning to Brit. "So, Brit, where are these tunnels at?"

Brit was tapping her feet impatiently. Then, when hearing her name, she moved to the aluminum-looking wall. "Just go through here." She opened it up with ease, and what was beyond was a long, dank tunnel surrounded by building material and garbage. "This is the one that leads to the outside, but it's quite the trip. If you want a shorter route, there are other options, but I won't be taking you. I'm not getting paid enough."

Statson bends his head forward to get a better look. "You call that safe, and you're saying that there's more like this? I am surprised this whole place hadn't caved in. And the City council hadn't done anything about this? And what about the disappearance?"

"Why would the city council care what happens down here?" Brit laughed. "Besides, what the Council doesn't know can't hurt us."

"Yeah, Statson, you're not even a cop anymore, so quit with the interrogation," Druid couldn't help but tease Statson.

Druid felt Brit's lingering gaze once again.

"Yeah, yeah." Statson moved to lead the way. "So, let's get a move on already."

Brit gripped onto Statson's arm. "Wait! Make sure to follow me and do exactly as I tell you. We're still going into the Wasteland; although underground, it's still dangerous."

"Fine." Statson stepped aside. Allowing Brit to lead.

"And keep these handy." Brit handed them breathing masks. "Some places, the air's a little thin. "Okay, let's go." She stepped inside, and Statson followed.

As Druid was to follow, Bryson stopped her. "I don't think it's a good idea to trust her." He whispered. "Do you see the way she was looking at you?"

"Of course, I have. I'm not blind." Druid tone, for once, was grave. "But I see no other path but this one." Her tone became bright. "And I want to see where these leads. Who knows, we might be surprised." She giggled. "Exciting, isn't it?"

"That's not how I would phrase it," Bryson's tone was grim. "But I'll play along."

Druid clapped her hands together. "Excellent." Grabbing onto Bryson's sleeve. "Let's hurry. They're leaving us behind."

Although in Druid's mind, she whispered a promise. 'Bryson, this time I will not let you get hurt again. No matter the cost. Even if you don't like it.'

Wastelands

Four people were standing around the truck, relaxing. Then suddenly, one of them disappeared. Then another. Suddenly the other two became wise, but it was way too late.

Shadow was dragging the last one into his shadow world. When a popping sound came to the left, and a body fell.

"Missed one." A soft voice reached Shadow's ears as Andres stepped with her gun smoking.

"So, we're not keeping any of them for questioning," Shadow asked, as his shadows swallowed up the body.

Andres shook her head, "They're just grunts, so it'll be a waste of time to even ask. Besides their more useful as breadcrumbs anyways." Giving Shadow a long look. "Should I ask what you're going to do with the bodies?"

Shadow paused, compilating, telling her. The truth. That he needed the bodies for his Phantoms. Would Andres be horrified? Probably not, and that wouldn't be interesting at all. Instead, he just smiled mysteriously. "Would you believe I'm trying to keep predators away?"

"No," Andres answered immediately. "Keep your secrets. I don't want to know."

"Good choice," Shadow phrased. Then suddenly, a small body dropped on his head before jumping to the ground. Her hair was standing on end. "Va wants wrong?" She changed into her leopard form before bouncing off.

Andres and Shadow glanced at each other before following after the cat. Although it wasn't long to find out what Vas was so upset about.

There, in the clearing, was a small waterfall flowing down the side of a cliff, and if looking closely, something was hiding behind the rushing water. The problem though….

"Shh." Andres moved for cover in the tall grass behind a looming tree, and Shadow moved with her. Both keeping low to the ground. Watching as a group marched informally passed. Shadow's senses were going crazy; there was something very wrong with them. When the coast was clear. Andres spoke in a hushed tone. "That smell. Are they…?"

Shadow agreed that the smell was undeniable, but he closed his eyes and reached out to make sure. When he felt something responded, he opened his eyes and breathed out. "They're definitely not alive."

Andres had a thoughtful look. "Since they're dead, I don't suppose that you can do anything about them, right."

Shadow shook his head. "I don't deal with Zombies, only Phantoms. At most, I could feed off them." His gaze swept the area, and he spotted several more groups littering the clearing. "And my stomach isn't that big."

Andres sighed. "I thought as much."

"But I don't think that's the issue here," Shadow added.

"Then what is?" Andres asked.

"The way they're moving, there's no doubt about it." Shadow's gaze turned cold.

"I really don't like where's this is heading."

"Neither do I." Shadow agreed. "But I could only see one possibility." He paused with a swallow. "There must be another Death Elemental somewhere controlling them." He delivered with a finishing blow.

Andres flopped her head down in defeat. "Great, just great!"

***

Deeper within the hideout. Rachel and Stella were pushed into a room, and the door was locked behind them.

Rachel turned around, fuming and kicked at the door. "Hey, what the hell. Geeze." As she flopped around, sliding down the door. "What do they want already." When her venting met with silence, she looked up. "Stella?"

Stella was just standing there staring through the bars that separated from the room next door. "Someone's in there."

"Stay back." Rachel got up quickly and pulled Stella back and behind her. "Who's there!"

At first, Rachel could only detect something metal scraping against the concrete floor before a woman with long gray hair came into view. She had a chain wrapped around her feet. "Don't worry, child. I mean no harm." The woman looked past Rachel. "Oh my."

Rachel was still wary. "Who are you!"

But Rachel was ignored. "Are you… Melanie, is that you." The old woman leaned closer. "No, not Melanie too young, but there is no denying the similar facial features." Her brow furrowed. "And I see some of 'him' as well, especially around the nose."

Stella rallied. "Do you know my mother?" Moving forward.

"Stella." Rachel's voice commanded. "Stay behind me."

The twelve-year-old looked up at Rachel. "But she knows my mother. I need to know."

The woman faced turned to sadness. "Oh child, you shouldn't be here."

"Let me handle it." Rachel stepped closer and repeated, "Like I said, who are you." She spoke slowly.

The old woman finally took notice of Rachel. "Ah yes, introductions must be made." She straightened. "My name is Dr. Sara Ramirez, and I am… was your mother's mentor."