A few days before the next camping trip I remember Jose telling me that something was

  wrong with his dad. I was acting weird and he didn't want to go with him to the camp trip.

  He also told me that my husband was helping with some sort of project out there at the

  national park. Also at the same time Sheliah had grabbed the ears of a few other women

  from the church to listen to her going ons. Jose would burn the garden out back of the

  house and Emmanuel would just grow it back but it would take longer for the flowers to

  bloom.

  I was done with both of them so I went to one of Sheliah's meetings in the women's group

  one afternoon. I was welcomed by her and other wives of the church to discuss their

  problems.

  “Hey girl, sit down,” Sheliah said lightly, hugging her with her arm outstretched.

  “Hey” I said shyly, feeling the animosity in the air toward me, some of them giving

  me dirty looks.

  “We were just sharing with each other any improvements and developments with our

  husbands and children since the start of this camp.”

  “Oh” I said, relaxing a little bit while taking a seat.

  “Your husband has been helping with the camp, what exactly does he do?” asked

  Terry, a petite blonde woman. abruptly.

  “-I think he just helps supervise the kids while they’re there.” I said, getting

  agitated.

  “ You haven’t noticed anything weird with them?” Sheliah asked gently.

  “Wha-?”

  “ A lot of us have noticed some strange things going on with our families…” Teresa

  said with a boisterous voice from the back.

  “Yeah and all this shit started when those damn camping trips started” another

  woman said.

  “At first we thought our kids were just acting out until their elementia genes

  manifested rather quickly and their mood swings.” the petite woman said.

  “Shelly I know you stay to yourself a lot but has anything like this been going on at

  your house.?” Sheliah asked.

  “Well yeah but, you know my husband's been undergoing therapy and Jose doesn’t

  completely understand that- What is this all about- I mean what do y’all think’s going on? I

  said.

  “We don’t know but we're going up there now to find out,” Teresa said.

  “Would you like to come with us?” Sheliah asked.

  “Yeah sure.” I nodded.

  We all got in our cars and headed over to the campsite. As I drove into the woods I

  started to notice how far and deep in the woods they camped. I remember driving a good

  twenty to thirty minutes after entering the park just to reach the site. When we got there

  we parked next to some of the dads cars and vans but no one was there, just the tents and

  two lonely campfires.

  “Well where the hell are they at?!” Teresa shouted. “ Shit I don’t like this I don’t like it."

  The women split up searching for the boys calling them. I headed to the lake and didn't see

  anyone. I went back to the campsite.

  “Where the hell could they be?” I thought to myself.

  I heard one mom say standing next to the cabins. “ Have you seen them?” While

  others coming from the direction of the cabins and RV’s started to congregate together, all

  of them looked worried.

  “They’re not answering their phones,” another said, trying to call again.

  “I found my son's phone in one of the cabins, " said one mom with blonde hair

  coming out of the cabin phone in hand.”

  “Hey!- This way I found them,” a mom with a very fit build said although I didn't

  recognize her from the meeting. Coming through a thicket of trees making loud crunching

  and snaps from the dead leaves and twigs. As she quickly trounced her way down a small

  slope to reach the others.

  “Really what are they doing?!” said the woman with blonde hair tying her hair up and

  out of her face.

  “I don't know. I just saw one of the kids running in a deeper part of the woods. I

  didn't catch him but I know where he ran off to.” she said.

  “You know who’s kid it was?” one lady asks as the group of six women came closer

  together at hearing this Shelly as well.

  “I think it was Sheila's or Brenda’s, I’m good at camping and hiking so I should be

  able to lead us to them” the fit woman said.

  “That's right huh, well lead the way Tori”

  “I don't understand just what the fuck is going on here.” said one middle aged

  women with short brown hair.

  “None of us do Carol, that's we came,’ said one lady wearing white shorts and a blue

  and white flannel top voice hollow.

  “I just want to know that my baby is safe,” said the blonde sternly.

  They followed her after Shelly a ways behind. Although it was a cool evening she

  started to sweat walking through the woods. The other women were just barely in her view.

  She quickened her space as being lost in her thoughts slowed her pace, replaying the recent

  days past wondering what she could’ve missed to have this scenario play out.

  They trudged on crunching dead leaves and snapping fallen twigs as they went.

  “Just what in the hell are they doing out here?” said Carol.

  “I don't even know where we are,’ said the blonde.

  “Don't worry won’t be much farther,” said Tori, “ stick close to me now things can

  start to all look the same after a while.”

  Shelly started to feel a little disoriented; she shook her head and noticed or rather

  felt something strange. She quickened her pace to catch up to the others, the trees became

  green and lush with leaves and the grass was no longer yellow but vibrant and green, large

  plants were growing that she had never seen before.

  “This is strange,” said the blonde.” These plants don't grow in this area.”

  “How about the fact that it’s fall and most plants and trees are supposed to be dead

  or dying right about now,” said Carol.

  At this Shelly started to jog past the group of women and called out her husband and sons

  names.

  “Alex! Jose! ALEX!” she shouted.

  The others start to call out their sons and husbands names walking in different directions.

  “Hold on ladies! Let's stay together!” Tori called out to everyone.

  “OK! Judy!” Carol called waving to the woman with blonde hair.” Come on, let's stay

  together so we don't get lost!”

  Judy turned her head and started jogging back to them, tripping and getting the left

  leg of her jeans covered in dirt. As she wiped off her jeans she stared at her hands.

  “There’s resin...Carol..” Judy said murmuring in her ear, having a quick exchange of

  words.

  Shelly stared at them trying to figure out what they were talking about.

  “Hey!” someone shouted to the west of them, it was Sheilah, Shelly! Judy!”

  “-Sheliah where did you go?’ Shelly asked.”Have you seen the boys?”

  “Yeah I saw all of them-Come quick!”

  “Well what the hell are they doing!?” Judy exclaimed.

  “Fighting!” In the damn- in the middle of the damn forest fighting one another!”

  “What fighting ?”

  “What for?!” the others said, starting to talk amongst themselves.

  “I started to say something to them but I thought I should find someone else”

  Sheliah said starting to cough. “But Brenda and Teresa went to confront them, you know

  how they are.”

  “How do you find them?” one mom asked.

  “Yeah we’ve been wandering around the forest for two hours.” another said.

  “We stopped by Bryan’s tent in the back first and looked for some itinerary then

  headed this way” Sheliah explained.

  “Well I’m glad one of us was smart enough to figure it out,” said Carol.

  “Come on, let's go!” said Sheilah, turning around. “I started to say something to

  them but I thought I should find someone else, " said Sheliah to Shelly in a hushed voice.

  “What’d you see? “Did you see Alex and Jose?”

  “I saw Jose kind of a ways off from the others and the fightin’ looked mad about

  something. I your husband with Bryan talking about something”

  “Remember a few weeks ago Alex was talking to him about something helping him

  with some kind of project.. I bet that the change in the forest here has something to do with

  it.”

  “Yeah he deals with plants right that maybe-might add up there’s a lot of resin

  here.”

  “Resin? Judy was saying that a minute ago what exactly I know it's something to do

  with medicine right or the Dr’s…”

  “Yeah it's basically residue traces of chakra that using elementia leaves behind when

  exerted beyond normal means” she explained.” Like when there’s an abnormality within the

  body pertaining to elementia use, your chakra reflects that by pooling in that area. Or

  increase chakra flow within the body to a higher quantity or flow if you will.”

  “Oh I get it now I’ve never really heard of this,” Shelly said surprised.

  “It's not exactly new medical science but at the veterans hospital you see a lot of it.

  A lot of people in the military or heavy field labor jobs, have elementia related illness most

  of the time just plain exhaustion.”

  “Did you see your son or Brenda's son over there? Tori said she saw one of them

  earlier.”

  “Who?”

  “Tori the lady back there-” Shelly looked back behind her to gesture to Sheliah.

  “I don't know no Tori- OH my God!” Sheliah said her eyes popping out of her

  head.Carol and Judy were also around to see what was going on.

  Tori held what looked like vines around the other petite blond Terry’s neck strangling

  her. She struggles and kicks Terry tries to get away, but the more she struggles the tighter

  Tori grips the vines tighter her hands flashes a green light which each tighten grip. Others

  scream, shouting for her to stop.

  “ What are you doing OH MY GOD! “

  “TERRY!” one woman started to run back to help. Tori started to produce a thin

  swirling black mist like black smoke.

  AHH!EHH! A SMOOKE! the woman running to help scream her voice going hoarse.

  Everyone started running in different directions. Shelly and Sheliah till heading westward.

  “OH Priestess Siya! what the hell is going on!?” Sheliah hollered.

  “SHH! She’ll find us! We gotta find our families and get the hell outta here!” Sheliah

  nodded.

  “We should have come up on them pretty soon as they ran the terrain change to a

  jungle everything became the same looking. Shelly could hardly see the sky above, it

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  steadily became hard to breathe as they both looked left and right looking for someone.

  They passed a large tree with thick roots coming up from the ground surrounded by large

  leaf plants when they heard a grunt and large thud they stopped almost skidding to a halt.

  “Argh!”

  A young boy fell to the ground with a thud snapping twigs and plants as he fell. His

  face and blonde hair bloody his brown eyes like those of a dead fish.

  They both let out a gasp being taken aback by what they see. Sheliah rushes over to

  check his pulse shaking her head. Shelly put her hands over her mouth and started to cry.

  “Oh my god,” She said tearfully.”It's Judy's son- eric-why is this happening?” her

  voice cracking.

  “Oh Lord help us help us Jesus…” Sheliah said woefully, rubbing her head.

  “Why are the smoke here?- I mean no one's heard nor seen them in Seust for 20

  years now right?”

  “I don't know a girl but let's just worry about getting out of here- come on let's move

  before someone else comes along- No..”

  “What is it now wha-” Shelley's heart started pounding so hard she felt as though

  she would fall to the ground. Eric's body was convulsing in small twitches, his veins flashing

  a green light. “What's happening to him!?”

  “It's elementia exhaustion he’s been using elementia for something out here

  probably fighting or cultivating this jungle hell probably both for all we know.” Sheliah said.

  “There's nothing we can do for him, let's go.”

  “What do these people want just to kill our babies!” Shelly said sharply, her face

  becoming enraged. As they started going in the direction Eric had fallen from they hadn’t

  made it a good hundred feet when they came across more children in the same condition as

  Eric . Shelly tore her across each face making sure that they weren't her sons or Sheilah's

  derrick. Sheliah tears streaming from her face hands over her mouth looked up, up shaking

  her head,it was Teresa strung up from a vine her hands still clenched the vines around her

  neck her expression still classic enraged face she’d wear when she was about to scold you

  was flushed enhancing the moles on her face popping out on her already dark skin .While

  Shelly looked up to her left she heard a struggle they both raced in that direction. Two boys

  were fighting with spears both charging each other although the black boy wearing only

  khaki shorts was noticeably tired and one his last ounce of strength against a hispanic boy

  his body emitting the same swirling black mist like Tori had.

  As they sized each other up making quick stabs at each other things intensified while

  the black boy spin kicked his opponent to knock him off guard and quickly jabbed with his

  spear the young hispanic boy dodged.

  “Derrick!” Sheliah screamed running towards him as fast as she could, her feet gave

  off a faint green light and the ground shook a little as her large tubby frame jiggled toward

  him. Shelly is closely behind.

  “Both of you stop!” Shelly called out to them. The hispanic boy took advantage of

  this moment and threw leaves at the distracted Derrick giving him a chance to stab the right

  side of his stomach cutting his side open before Derrick could counter.

  “Argh! No! Mama! Stay back! “ Derrick said, holding his side a moment before the

  other boy began a vicious assault on him, with Derrick barely being able to dodge. Attacking

  his legs and feet before using the spear to swoop over his head.

  “OYE! ESPERATE!” Shelly said. “Hey stop! Ques un nombre huh?! What's your

  name?”

  “Angel” he said his eyes glowed a green and Shelly had been pinned to a tree with

  wooden pikes before she took another step.

  “What the ahh! Jump!” Shelly hollered as her back hit the tree.

  “Hurhgh!’ Sheliah bellowed. Punching Angel in the jaw sending him a few steps back,

  and Shelly slumping to the ground.

  AHH! MY SON WHY MY SON! AHHH! WHAHH! They heard some woman bellow back

  from the way they had come with the many bodies sprawled on the jungle floor.

  “Alright boy! Just what the hell is going on here!” Sheliah said in a boxing stance.”

  Speak God dammit!” she said sternly.

  “Mama! AHH! We just playin’! OK!” said Derrick.

  “Stop fuckin’ lyin’ to me boy! People lying in here dead! This ain’t the time to be

  playin’ games! Tell what's goin’ on or l’LL PUT YOU IN THE MOTHER FUCKIN” GROUND

  MYSELF!

  “Ok me and the others have been coming out here camping-” Sheliah gave him a

  sharp look. raising her fist”- hold on mama dang” he continued sheepishly.

  “Well that's how it started out Mr. Bryan started talking ‘bout why God truly granted

  us elementia and how we should utilize it to respect the earth and make it fertile again back

  before humans nearly depleted the earth of its natural resources like in the days of genesis

  before us humans tainted the earth, the true mission of priestess Siya.” Derrick explained.

  “It's true Bryan is a true man of God. The people of this world have gone astray.

  People hardly believe in Siya’s teachings anymore. Let alone respect the earth and use

  elementia to its full potential and purpose. Which is why people who are strong like me

  must lead and teach the weak.” Angel cut in.

  “This is crazy! “You're killing people over how they chose to live their lives!” Shelly

  yelled.

  “If they die it's because they reject the test of obedience and will to carry out Siya's

  plan and vision for the world!” Angel exclaimed charging forward at Sheliah and Derrick,

  hush[‘’’’’’ body fully enveloped in the swirling black mist. The tree roots claim up from the

  ground holding their feet. Derrick’s feet flashed green loosening the grip of the roots. He

  scooped up some dirt from the ground turning them into hard mudballs flinging them at

  Angel hitting him in his face and chest hard knocking the wind out of him. Derrick then

  threw his spear with all his might at Angel stabbing him in the chest. Angel fell to the

  ground with a last grunt.

  “Oh Jesus!” Sheliah exclaimed.

  “It was him or us, Sheliah,” said Shelly. Sheliah nodded, giving a sigh. “Have you

  seen Jose and Alex?”

  “Last I saw them they were with Bryan-ugh” Derrick said kneeling down holding his

  side. Sheliah knelt beside him, her hand glowing white over his side as she tried to close the

  wound.

  “How did this happen?” Shelly and Sheliah said together.

  “Like he was saying Bryan was teaching us things from lost history he would touch

  those whose elementia gene and chakra flow he thought was enough, and place his hand

  on their heart and head and send something into them. Over time they started to change

  control elements more than normal. Talking about different people, us, how we don't

  understand God and how we don't live according to Siya’s teachings. One day a few of us

  got into it with some of us you thinkin’’ they're better than us so we started fighting dads

  too. They’d break it up afterwhile for anyone to get hurt. With all this going on I guess

  Mr.Bryan got the idea to turn this into a survival game we practiced first taught us how to

  manipulate the elements to grow plants at an accelerated rate and catch fish bare handed.

  Be physical conditioned and live off the land…. Some of the dads helped Mr.Alex too he’s the

  one who made this” Derrick pointing to the surrounding area.

  “Where is Bryan and my family?” Shelly said, holding her shaking right arm.

  “See this trail “ Derrick said pointing to a worn dirt path behind where Angel lay

  fallen.” Follow it, it'll take you to them and a large cabin.”

  “I’m going on ahead, will I y’all be ok?” Shelly asked. They nodded. “Stay safe,” she

  said. Running off down the trail.

  Crack! BOOM!

  AHH! WHAT the fuck! Shelly exclaimed, jumping aback. Smoke started coming up

  from the jungle, more cracking and large thudding sounds from falling trees. The forest was

  quickly going up in flames. AHH! AHH! Shelly heard screams from behind her. She squeezed

  her eyes tightly and opened them again covering her ears and ran harder her feet pounded

  the ground hurting the soles of her feet. She reached the cabin and called out to her family.

  ALEX! JOSE! She shouted coughing from the smoke of the forest.As she approached

  the cabin which wasn't what she expected. The cabin was more like a large two story house

  in the middle of the woods with many glass window and a deck on the second floor.She saw

  someone with short brown hair wearing a flannel green and white shirt and jeans, hurrying

  down the steps it was Bryan he looked all around at the burning trees and smoke the faint

  screams of women and children confused at his surroundings.

  Shelly didn’t know whether to confront him at this point or stay hidden behind the

  tree as she panted hard. Wondering where her family was.

  “HEY YOU SON OF A BITCH!” It was Judy slapping Bryan hard across his face, his

  glasses falling to the ground. Judy began to punch and kick him with all her might.

  “WHY DID YOU DO THIS MY SON IS DEAD!”

  “You agreed to this Judy you know how this works! If he didn’t survive it is because

  within his heart there was discord in his belief of Siya’s teachings and God took him home

  so that he would not suffer this life any longer.” Bryan said icily, picking up his glasses.

  “NO NO NO NO! You said that this camp would help my son follow his dream of

  becoming a youth leader and lead others to serve God with the guiding principles of Siya!

  NOT KILL PEOPLE!” She screamed, pushing Bryan back.

  “Those who cannot handle the rite suffer a terrible fate.” he said looking at her with

  pity. As she wailed, clawing the ground.The cabin door swung open it was Alex. “Hey, have

  you seen Jose, he's not in the house?”

  “No I haven’t “ Bryan said calmly.

  “-Whats going on here?” Alex asked bewildern coughing from the thickening smoke.

  “Nothing, just a mom grieving for her child.” Judy became enraged and yelled at

  Bryan clutching a rock and prepared to swing. When Bryan’s body emanated the black swirling

  mist and grabbed her arm, twisting it until it broke. She screamed in agony.

  “AAGRAH!-UGH!” she bellowed, gagging on the smoke. Bryan gently held her face

  and spit in it before he snapped her neck. Shelly started to quietly approach, covered her

  mouth and cried silently fear was starting to overtake her as she stood frozen in the middle

  of the path. She stared at her husband, her eyes burning from the smoke, her adrenaline

  wearing off. She felt the sweat on her face and arms trickle down her body.

  “Shelly?!” Alex called to her looking down the path.”What are you doing here?” He

  said jogging down the path to greet her. Shelly resisted his embrace, stepping back.

  “What's wrong? Come on come here,” he said, forcing the embrace upon her.

  “No, NO! GET OFF OF ME!” Shelly yelled. “What are you doing where is my son?!”

  she said breathlessly.

  “Don’t worry I'll find him, he probably ran out to play with the others” he said calmly.

  “Wha- go play!.. What is wrong with you! Alex!” Shelly said looking into his eyes they

  were pitch black lifeless.

  “What did you do to him?”

  “I’ve been helping him cope with his trauma of course all that time out of the ring all

  the terrible things that he’s seen.. he needed someone to guide him, help him understand

  why people like me exist.”

  “People like you? You're nothing but a manipulative monster! Spread lies and twist

  the truth about what people should believe.” Shelly said angrily.

  “ I have told no lies Mrs.Gomez, can you honestly say that people today follow the

  laws the God has given us? That the world is a hateful self serving place that the land we

  stand on is dying? Siya and the teachings she left behind in her holy writ. Can help save us.”

  Bryan said with a smile the black smoke swirling wildly around his body.

  “Where is my son?” Shelly said in a demanding tone.

  “I honestly don’t know.” Bryan said.”Oup! speak of the devil.” Shelly turned around

  quickly and it was Jose a white swirling mist coming from his body.

  “Jose! Shelly said, relieved, running to embrace him. “Are you okay baby! what's

  happened to you?!”

  Jose said nothing, he looked at his father and raised his hand at him and began to burst into

  flame.

  AHH! UHH! his father screamed as he fell to the ground rolling around the black mist now

  coming out of his father’s body moved as though it was alive and tried to smother the

  flames that engulfed him but to no avail. Shelly stood in shock at what she saw. Jose next

  turned his sights upon the cabin and unnatural holy flames set the house ablaze. Shelly

  heard a helicopter overhead. Bryan heard this and began to run. Jose walking toward him

  blocked his path with flames.surrounding the two of them so that Shelly couldn’t come near.

  “So this child has come to challenge me, a devout follower of the priestess Siya.So

  be it.” Bryan said smugly. Jose said nothing.Bryan collecting dirt from the ground made

  sharp rocks and threw them at Jose. The swirling white mist grew and intensified. Jose

  yelled as an unseen force, knocked Bryan and Shelly on to the ground followed by holy

  flames coming out from his body. Shelly shouted to her son.

  “JOSE!” She covered her face to try and block the flames. She felt the intense heat 71

  “MAMI! MAMI …” Jose called to her. Opening her eyes she saw her son standing

  before her.

  “Are you ok mami?’ he asked. Shelly shook her head.

  “Are you ok?”

  “Hm.. I’m sorry mama but the people here were acting bad and I was asked to help

  punish them.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Mr.Bryan was telling us bad things and God didn't like that. He told me not to listen

  to him and to find you… Everyone is dead now Mama” Jose said crying nestling into his

  mother’s breast.

  “I know it’s ok..sniff..it’s ok..” Shelly said crying, rocking him in her arms smoothing

  his jet black hair..

  “Don’t be sad mama, I'll give you my power now so you can be strong like flame

  bane and protect people from the lies. ” Jose said. As Shelly sobbed she felt pregnant again

  a warm light inside her.

  “Goodbye Mama..” he turned and looked up at her with his tearful brown eyes

  smiling touching her face.

  “Wait Jose!” As she stared at him and his smile faded, what she held in her arms was

  the charred body of what was once her son, his face unrecognizable black and bloodied

  burned in places to his bones. His arms and legs severely burned and bloodied exposing raw

  flesh. Shelly screamed and cried at her horribly disfigured son until she passed out; in the

  middle of the burning forest.

  “I was carried out of the forest by helicopter and taken to the nearest hospital. I was

  there for three weeks. When I awoke I was questioned about what happened. They asked a

  lot of questions and didn't provide any answers. They found me clutching a melted toy,my

  sons Flame bane.” Shelly’s voice cracked squeezing her eyes shut for a moment.

  “I don't even S if I was the only one who made it out. It was never mentioned in the

  news about the massacre. Only a terrible forest fire killed a bunch of local church members.

  I was moved by the government into another city altogether. I never really wanted to go

  back or know anything more about that day, that was 5 years ago.”

  “I’m sorry to hear that Shelly.” Jimenez said solemnly.

  “Don’t worry about me,” Let's just focus on the task at hand” Shelly said, tying her

  hair up, and putting on her gear.

  As they approached the warehouse things were eerily quiet.

  “Wonder what's going on?” Ki said.

  “Let's find out, '' Jimenez said with a grimace. The warehouse door was open, only

  the lights in the back were on. They stealthily moved close to the back. A group of miners

  gathered around in the back were listening to a man with black hair and piercing blue eyes

  speak.

  “Brothers… How long must we suffer the heathen's eye upon us. We slave day in and

  day out in the mines carefully digging out precious jewels and minerals from this great earth

  our forefathers have toiled hard to heal and revitalize over the past 500 years.”

  “ Instead of sharing the wealth for our towns and villages on the outskirts they force

  us to send everything to the large cities. Where the people have no respect and

  consideration for the earth or God!”

  The crowd murmured in agreement. 72

  “It’s time that we took a stand against this blasphemy. Grow strong to protect our

  towns from the dangers of the ring, and bring up our children according to God’s law and

  the holy writ of the priestess Siya.”

  “Now who shall be first to undergo the ritual described in the holy writ of Siya to obtain true

  holy blessing of elementia at its true potential and be able to lead people to a better just

  life.” The man said, holding his hand over the crowd.

  “I’ll do it!” one small framed man with short dirty blonde hair hollered out.

  “Come on up- Sam I knew you’d take up the chance.” the speaker said as Sam made

  his way up to the front of the crowd. The man put his hand on his hand and heart and

  started to emanate a black swirling mist.

  The crowd murmured nervously. Shelly wide eyed rushed in. Jimenez and Ki followed

  after her.

  “STOP!” she shouted.”Get your hands off him” the man gave an evil grin and

  Sam began to cry out, as the swirling mist surrounded them both his veins highlighted by

  green lights flowing through him. Shelly threw a spear at him but he dodged and Sam had

  changed. He placed his hand against the wall and it began to crack. The black mist started

  coming from some of those in the crowd.

  “Aim for their head or their heart!” Ki yelled heading into the crowd. As miners

  started running in different directions cursing and yelling as they tried to escape.

  LETS GO! LETS GET THE HELL OUTTA HERE MAN!

  The man who spoke to the crowd gripped Sam's shoulder. Their bodies had a green

  light flowing through their veins. the black mist from their bodies flowed out with greater

  intensity. There was a shaking in the warehouse, the conveyor belts rattled and the lights

  shook. The steel rows started to bend and collapse, trapping the miners from escaping from

  the back. Shelly picked up a metal pole from the debris and charged forward trying to apply

  elementia to it as it glowed green but failed. She slung down wielding it like a katana and it

  landed stiffly on the blue eyed man's shoulder. To Shelly’s amazement she gritted her teeth

  and swung again at his side, trying to manipulate the pole again to no avail. Shelly looked

  around quickly for something she could manipulate.

  “Shelly Lookout!” Jimenez yelled a fireball brushing past her and hit Sam square in

  the chest. Shelly looked to her left and saw Jimenez running towards her to engage Sam in

  a fist fight. Jimenez got quite a few flaming body shots in. Shelly started to touch her gear

  feeling for something she could fight with within one of her man pockets on her chest. The

  blue eyed man snatched the metal pole from her hand. Manipulated the pole into a sharp

  spear and began to thrust it at her so quickly she barely had time to dodge. She pulled out

  too thick wooden blocked from her left bottom pockets and quickly made it into a spear. By

  sending chakra to her hands to boost her elementia to manipulate the wood what she

  desired to make her hands have a green glow.Shelly countered him blow for blow block his

  attacks at her feet and head she forced more energy into the spear to keep it from breaking

  apart against the metal spear. She started to breathe hard as keeping her chakra flowing

  and stable became more difficult as he violently and forcefully swung and thrusted his spear.

  He swung at her side “Grahh! it’s people like you trying to keep the truth hidden

  from everyone that's wrong. We speak the truth of this ugly world and you government

  dogs snuff out those who speak against you.”

  “Ugh! Haa! You're delusional! All of you smoke, you're just forcing your pessimistic

  ideology on other people and then claim all to be in the name of a priestess … UGH! '' Shelly

  forced him back, her hands flashing a white light for a moment. “I don’t care and I don't

  wanna hear anything you have to say just die!” She stabbed in the neck and started to drive 73

  it causing him to drop his spear and clutches her spear trying to pull it out. The black

  swirling mist started swirling around his neck and quickly coming down the spear. With a

  last effort gave another thrust into his neck her hands and nails starting to bleed it pierces

  his through his neck. He fell to the ground. Shelly panted and put her hands on her knees

  catching her breath; looking over to Jimenez his fist ablaze he used all his might to punch

  Sam dead in his chest leaving flames for a moment over his heart. Before the black mist

  smothered them out.

  “NO! SAM!” a deep voice bellowed. Bewildern Shelly and Jimenez looked around and

  saw Torque emerge from the frantic miners trying to escape the collapsing warehouse.

  Torque rushed over to Sam who had fallen to the ground and was coughing up blood.

  “Torque..Khof! Khof!” Sam said weakly.

  “Sam why did you do this..sniff” Torque said woefully tears coming from the side of

  his face.

  “I had to do something about our town..khof! Everyone in town is getting scared of

  the government soldiers everywhere. I thought if enough of us would get stronger we could

  manage the town ourselves show ‘um that we could handle things around here..gulp but I

  was wrong it was all a setup..ugh!continuing to cough!.. I’m sorry Tor-”

  “Hey Sam..” Torque shook him but he was gone.” Sam..” Torque laid him down and

  he looked at Jimenez angrily. Jimenez prepared himself to fight, getting to a defensive

  stance. Torque walked past him Jimenez and Shelly’s eyes followed him to Ki struggling with

  the last to smoke members there who moved together creating tremors in the ground crack

  the floor making things even more dangerous than the were before as one tremor caused a

  large tractor to crash in the conveyor belts sending metal and steel crashing down on top of

  some of the miners killing them instantly.

  Ki put his hands together and murmured something to himself and spears came up

  from the trembling ground piercing the last remaining smoke members, killing them. Making

  the tremors stop

  but the damage had already been done.

  “Come on, let's get out of here while we can! Civilians first!” Jimenez shouted. The

  miners ignored him frantically running and climbing over fallen metal frames and

  equipment.

  Hey! guys! Come this way! We’ll clear a path for you! Shelly try to radio the base for

  backup.” Jimenez ordered. Shelly nodded.

  “Hello, come in…” Shelly said.

  “Hey! Come on! The only way out is all the way at the front. The ground is unstable

  and can cave in being so close to the mines!” Ki said.

  “HEY YOU ASSHOLES! GET YOUR ASSES BACK HERE UNLESS YOU WANNA DIE!”

  Torque shouted. The men stopped and started running back to him and Ki.

  “Lieutenant! We’ve got people on their way. Special ops too.” Shelly said. Jimenez

  nodded.

  “Shelly, Torque, lead the guys out and meet special ops outside. Is there a

  rendezvous point?”

  “Yes sir, head into town and remain at the entrance.” Shelly said.

  “Sounds good Ok let's move people Ki you and me will bring up the rear!”Jimenez

  said waving and directing traffic;against the wall a straight shot to the front of the building.

  Shelly and Torque ran in front, Torque kicking and throwing metal beams clearing the path

  as the building's structure became more unstable. 74

  “Come on guys! We're almost there to stay together!” Shelly shouted encouragingly

  looking back at the miners. CLANG! TING! SNAP! “CREEAAK!

  “Oh no! Shelly gasped. The steel aisles and support beams tilted and began to crash

  into each other like dominoes. Boxes and computers falling to the ground jewels and

  minerals spilled out onto the floor sounding like breaking glass and rolling marbles.

  Whoa! the miners cried out.

  “Stay calm!” Shelly said stopping and making sure miners went ahead. They all raced

  outside and headed down the main road meeting other soldiers in jeeps as they went.

  “Where's the Lieutenant?”one of them called.

  “In the back!” some of the miners shouted.

  “We’ve got the town bar as a safehouse head there!”

  Once everyone had made it inside, more troops from the base had gone into the collapsing

  warehouse and miners and swept the area. Looking for more smoke members Ki went with

  them, knowing that me and others were safe. They were interrogated and had medical

  screenings checking our chakra levels and placed us under isolation to make sure we

  weren’t smoke members. Explaining that smoke retains an unusually high level of chakra

  flow and often have cuts on their bodies. Which would account for any of us in our line of

  work. Once Ki came back he personally checked us out looking for abnormalities in our brain

  and heart; and we were finally let go. The town slowly went back to its prideful self, more

  grateful to the soldiers there after the incident, Torque the first to change.

  “Hey Ki,” Shelly said looking at the miners returning home from the bar's window.

  “Yeah,” he said, walking across the bar.

  “How do I change to special ops?’