Elijah fell to the ground, feeling his energy drain away. The atmosphere around him was dark, and all around him were tall trees. He tried to get up, but his body seemed unwilling to cooperate. He collapsed again, breathing heavily.
"Ah, shit," he hissed.
Sweat soaked Elijah's entire body. He didn't know how to keep from running out of energy in an instant, because every time he used power, it was as if he wanted to use it again and again. As a result, he couldn't control the limits of his body.
Having a premonition that the rebels would not stand still, Elijah knew they would come after him. He crawled slowly as he gathered his strength. Looking for a place to hide would be ridiculous, for those who lived in Twin Falls had known the forest well for years. The only way was to get as far away from the rebels as possible.
Elijah thought of Isaac, who knew where his friend had gone. Even now, searching for Isaac, Elijah couldn't do it. He had to rest, he had to sleep for a while, because Elijah was really tired.
Without realizing it, Elijah fell asleep.
...
[Warning]
Elijah woke up and immediately felt suffocated. His body was buried in the ground, and he couldn't move his arms or legs. However, the ground made a gap so that his face was not covered. He realized that someone with the power of the earth had captured him.
[Warning]
"I know! This is a dangerous situation! Stop telling me about the stupid program!" he shouted angrily.
Who knows if it was a program or what, but it really annoyed Elijah, who was confused in a desperate situation. Elijah tried to push the earth away from his body, but he could not.
Both of his palms were clenched and buried by the earth. He knew that all superpowered people with earth elements had to open their palms to channel their power. Except those with telekinesis.
Unfortunately, telekinesis had no effect on the earth element.
Suddenly, the ground opened up only on his face, releasing Elijah to breathe fresh air. Carol appeared not far from the young man.
"Okay, take me back to Twin Falls," Elijah said resignedly.
Carol still didn't answer. The girl took two steps closer, looking intently at Elijah. "If I let you go, will you promise not to attack me?"
"Why would you release me?"
"Promise?"
"Sure I will." Elijah nodded.
With a single sweep of Carol's hand, Elijah was freed from the floor that held him. Elijah sat up, feeling that his energy had not fully returned. He was still so tired.
Carol rolled out a compass for Elijah. "Your friend probably went north, he could get lost. If you find him, follow the compass and keep going west."
Elijah just looked at Carol incredulously.
"Oh, I almost forgot." Carol carefully rolled two apples. "Go now, Elijah."
"Why did you help me?"
"Do we have to talk about this? Hurry up before everyone comes looking for you."
Elijah just nodded and took two presents from Carol. "Thank you."
"Elijah, I don't want a war between humans. Our enemy is the aliens, you must remember that."
"I understand," Elijah replied.
"Just be careful."
"I'll leave Map with you."
Carol nodded. "I'll take care of her with all my heart."
Then Elijah walked back, leaving Carol standing as if saying goodbye. Who knows what Carol will face when people find out that the girl let Elijah go willingly. But Carol's words made Elijah very sad. Not everyone wants to be in conflict, many want to live in peace despite their differences.
*
The moon was high above the valley. It was past midnight. Elijah was still walking, heading north in search of Isaac's whereabouts. Elijah felt much better and energized, at least Carol's apple had helped.
Elijah took the lumen out of his hand and felt that his eyesight was better because he could see around. He checked the compass to see if it was pointing north.
[Warning]
Elijah gasped as a fireball from the trees rushed at him. He immediately rolled out of the way. Then, from the palm of his hand, he struck back at the branch with a bolt of lightning. There was a cracking sound, followed by a falling branch and someone screaming.
Elijah's palms were open, alert and ready for another attack.
"Eli?" the hoarse voice came from behind the leaves that covered his form.
"Isaac?"
"Damn it!" Isaac cursed angrily. "Why did you attack me?"
"You attacked me first!"
"You should have realized that my power is fire and that it was me. Do you think I can see who's down there? It's all so dark."
Elijah exhaled tiredly. An apology would have sufficed, but Isaac was looking for justification. Then Elijah walked over to Isaac and helped him to his feet. Isaac rummaged through the leaves for something, then picked up a pillowcase filled with apples.
"In Twin Falls, there are those who have the power of fire. Out here, it's not just you," Isaac said.
"What do you mean?"
"I'm running away, too." Elijah pulled out his lumen and searched for the fallen compass. "They were chasing me, so I would have attacked anyone in self-defense."
Isaac snorted. "I knew it."
"I had to, because of you."
"Hey, you can stay there if you want! Go back, I don't need your company," Isaac retorted irritably. "We're not friends."
"We are friends. You're the one who turned against me. Let's go."
Hearing Elijah's calm voice, Isaac felt uncomfortable continuing to argue. He walked next to Elijah without saying anything else.
"What's that?" asked Elijah, breaking the silence between them. "In the pillowcase."
"Apples. That's my food, you find your own."
"No problem."
"God, I don't know where Master Halsey's map is. It's going to be hard for us to find the Army or Deformity headquarters," Isaac complained.
"Actually, I don't think it's a big deal. We can still look for them, or they'll find us."
Isaac just pursed his lips. "Yes, there are aliens... our biggest problem."
"Not about that. But if the rebels keep it, then they also know where the headquarters of the Deformity Army is. What I'm afraid of is that they'll attack when we're weak."
"I told you, the rebels are lowly people! They're evil!"
"Not all of them." Elijah shook his head. "That is why we must find Deformity or Army before they do. And make a truce with the rebels."