He turned and walked back toward the structure. As everyone followed, Will looked to his hand and imagined a gash that needed healing. It took a second, but his hand flared before returning to normal. He was ready.
Will only hoped his healing ability was unnecessary. Small cuts were one things; he had no idea what to do if someone’s life depended on him.
~~~
Petra stood about ten feet behind the two poles holding up the drawbridge structure, hidden behind a few trees and some bushes. Millie was at her side, thankfully remaining silent for a change.
Both of them waited for Kiarra to jumpstart their plan.
The wind rustled through the trees and a bird flew overhead. If the people inside the rectangular container knew of their existence, they were keeping quiet about it.
The only good thing about the weird structure was that it was easy to see who came and went. No one could escape through a hidden tunnel.
An eight-foot-high flame leapt into the air. At the bottom of the blaze, Petra could make out the dark, silhouetted figures of Kiarra and Jaxton. She had no idea why Kiarra leaned against Jaxton or how the flames licking both of their bodies weren't burning them alive. It must be yet another secret related to the Talents.
In the next second, the flame surged until it danced across the bottom of the floating container. Petra half-expected it to catch fire and burn, but while the flames surrounded the box, the exterior paint didn’t peel or change in any way as it would in a normal fire.
Still, as the only door to the structure opened and the drawbridge lowered via a remote, the magical fire must still be hot. Various voices yelled for someone named John to hurry up.
While the drawbridge lowered, a metal ladder descended from the drawbridge platform above. Petra looked to Millie and nodded. Millie gave a thumbs-up and the pair of them readied their stun guns.
The bridge clicked into place and people scurried across. Between the green glow from the orbs on the poles and the fire blazing around the rectangular structure, the six people above were as visible as if they’d been standing in broad daylight.
Two of the six remained calm and were ushering the others to safety. Petra would bet her life the two calm men were some type of guard. Turnin
g to Millie, Petra whispered, “Wait until they rush into the forest. I’ll take the two guards. You take the other four.”
Millie answered, “That’s almost fair, although I could do with another two or three.”
She glared at Millie. “I’ll keep that in mind.” Petra waved above. “Once we have this group, I’ll go above to find the magic user. You can stay here and watch over the prisoners. Make sure to cover me.”
“Of course. I’m not about to allow my new bestie to die so soon.”
Petra blinked at being called Millie’s bestie, but pushed it aside as people began to descend the metal ladder from the platform. As the first person set foot on the ground, the woman wearing a white lab coat headed straight toward them. Millie and Petra’s earlier assessment, that the researchers used the faint trail they were standing in regularly, had been correct.
Just as the escapees were coming into range, one of the guards up above raced back into the structure. Petra whispered, “Damn. Let’s take these people down. I need to ensure that guard doesn’t kill the magic user.”
Millie answered, “They’ll be in perfect range in four, three, two, one. Now, come to mama.”
Ignoring her, Petra moved a few feet to the side. Trusting Millie to take care of the researchers, Petra followed the slow, calculated movements of the guard currently descending the stairs.
Cries came from her left and the guard jumped the last few feet from the ladder. Just as the guard went to draw his gun, Petra charged at him and fired her stun cartridge. It made contact, but just as it pumped electricity into the male guard’s body, he swung his gun barrel against the wires, severing the connection.
Pocketing her weapon, Petra rushed him and landed a kick in his stomach before he could react.
Not that she had time to gloat. In the next instant, the guard regained his composure and moved to the side. Petra took a step to her right and the guard matched it. As they continued circling one another, Petra scanned for weaknesses. Each second she spent with the guard in front of her was another second the magic user’s life might be in danger.
However, the guard was in prime physical condition and didn’t appear to have any injuries. Petra had a few tricks up her sleeves, but as she noted the silence from behind her, she had an idea. Millie must have her prisoners contained. For the first time in years, Petra was going to count on someone having her back. She only hoped Millie pulled through.
Petra stopped and raised a hand out, with her palm upwards. “Stop right there or I’ll use my own magic. Given how you’ve been protecting the elemental earth user, I’m sure you know what type of destruction I can cause.”
The guard cocked his head. “Then prove it.”
She raised her voice and hoped Millie would hear her. “I’m warning you. I control lightning and electricity. Come any closer, and you’ll feel a jolt like you’ve never felt before.”
Ignoring her, the guard charged. Petra did a back flip and rolled a few feet away. “Millie. Now.”
Petra landed on her back as Millie ran out of the forest and discharged her stun guns. The guard barely had time to do more than blink before both cartridges hit their target and zapped the man full of electricity. He dropped like a stone and twitched a few times before going still.