Elements of faith the hi.., p.1
Elements of Faith (The Hidden Elements Book 1), page 1
Elements of Faith
The Hidden Elementals Series Book One
Isabella Phoenix
Copyright © 2020 by Isabella Phoenix
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Cover Designer - Victoria Schaefer
Interior Formatter- Dez Purington
Created with Vellum
Please Note
This book is set in the United Kingdom, and uses the British English language, so therefore may have some words which appear differently to the American English language. This book also features some British slang words.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Author’s Note
About the Author
Run.
That’s the only thought circling through my mind as I pound through the forest.
Trees whip past, snagging my hair in their branches, trying to slow me down.
Keep moving.
I sneak a glance over my shoulder as the dogs’ frantic baying increases in volume, catching the scent of their reluctant prey.
I will not let them catch me.
My breaths are coming in short desperate pants, a sob escaping me as I urge my legs to go faster, please, just a little faster.
My heart is thumping erratically in my chest, a wild pounding beat.
One foot in front of the other.
The dogs burst through the underbrush behind me, their excited howling increases in volume as they spot me, nearly catching their reluctant prey.
My feet snag on a root and I cry out as I’m suddenly weightless, before landing heavily onto my knees, splitting the skin open.
A hiss of pain escapes my clenched teeth, but I don’t have any time to inspect the cuts. I have to get up, to run, pushing myself harder and further than I’ve ever done. If I can make it to the other side of the river, it’ll be safe… She promised.
It's a mystery how I’m running so fast through this foreign terrain, especially after... after... the crash. Another wave of grief courses through me as I realise my entire life has been wiped out in an instant.
I’ve left my family behind in the broken wreckage of our car, before Dad lost control, barrel rolling through the trees. We were helpless as branch after branch smacked into the car, before coming to a jolting halt.
All that’s going through my mind as I’m racing to some unknown destination are Mum’s final words.
“Run. You need to run faster than you’ve ever done before. Go to the river and you’ll be safe, I promise. This won't make any sense now, but I’m begging you, please, trust me.”
Grief threatens to overwhelm me as I kneel opposite her, resting against the mangled corpse of the car. I could barely make out my dad lying half in and half out of the car, not moving, blood pouring out of some wound that I couldn’t see.
Oh my god, is he dead? How do I check? I remember I had to check for a pulse. Where is it? The wrist? The neck?
“Faith, listen to me,” Mum rasps, her cough rattling her chest, taking my attention off Dad and back to her pain ravaged face, “Dad is gone, he's dead.”
I gape at the calm way she delivers the news, looking back over to his motionless body. My heart stutters, grief coursing through my system. “He's… gone? Are you sure?”
“Look at me. Breathe, it’s okay. I need you to understand what I’m saying to you, run to the river and do not stop.” She gestures to her right, “Go that way. Stay on the path. This is a matter of life and death Faith. Go, please—” Mum cuts off with a shuddering cough, heaving breath, “Don’t you ever forget that I love you, ladybug, please go before they get here.”
I stare at her in confusion, “When who gets here? What’s going on? I’m scared, Mum. I don't understand what you're saying to me. Get up and come with me.”
She grasps my hand in her shaky one. “My baby, I’m sorry, my journey ends here. I wish that you knew the truth. The only thing I can say to you is to get across that river. Love you, I love y-” she heaves another shuddering cough, and gasps for breath, a weird rattle sounding from her chest.
“MUM! No no no no, please no,” I sob, clinging on to her hand. She takes a quivering breath and then goes still, hand limp in mine, eyes turning glassy and sightless.
I move towards Dad, hoping that he’s only unconscious, but the crack of a branch startles me, so I run.
I manage another sob, the tears streaming down my cheeks, making my eyes blurry. My legs are trembling with exertion, the river must be close, please be close.
The dogs are closing in, their four legs much more powerful than my two. My knees are stinging from the fall, but I ignore the burn, trying to push forward to the destination I’ve been directed to.
How the hell did Mum know where I should go? I’ve never visited this area before in my life. It's a strange, random forest.
I can hear the rush and burble of water nearby and hope that this is the river I need to cross.
A sudden gust of wind blows behind me, urging me forward like a helping hand. Not that I mind with my legs about to give up, body leaden, limbs shaking with exertion.
I have about a hundred yards to go, fifty…twenty... so close I can almost smell the water, ten…five —
Something barrels into my side, sending me sprawling onto the ground. I twist around to see what caused the impact, and flinch back as massive jaws snap at my face.
The dogs have caught me.
I scream in panic, trying to wrench myself free from the grasp of the animal.
The dog lets go, and once I’ve calmed down slightly, I can see it's actually…a wolf.
This is no ordinary one though, easily double in size, with teeth as long as my fingers.
Taking a shuddering breath, I try to find some courage to move around its hulking frame. I lower my eyes, trying to look submissive as it circles around me, turning me so my back is facing the stream. “I mean no harm,” my voice intones, calmly. “I'm trying to cross this river.”
The wolf dances forward on it’s paws, snapping at me. My heart leaps into my throat, sweat beading across my brow as I amble backwards towards the edge of the river.
The wolf stops to stare at me, golden eyes glinting with cunning intelligence.
As I take my first steps into the river, I hear an excited howl. There’s a rustle as dogs emerge from the bushes.
Seeing me, they dart forward barking wildly, signalling their catch to an unknown master, only to be stopped by the hulking presence of the wolf.
I move quicker through the water, and can see the wolf eyeing the hounds up with a lip curling snarl that appears almost…human.
One dog darts forward to snap at me in the water but a savage growl has the rest of the hounds whining, but that doesn't deter one of them as it makes another move to grab me.
The wolf darts forward, grabbing it by the neck and shaking roughly, before eventually letting go. The dog yelps, running back through the trees, tail between its legs as the others follow close behind. Knowing they were so near, makes me realise their humans shouldn't be too far behind.
I consider waiting for them to arrive, but the wolf yips sharply, catching me by surprise. My feet slip as I stumble backwards in the water, ending up soaking wet. It’s almost like this wolf is telling me to move.
As I finally make it to the other side of the river, the wolf disappears through the bushes as if it was never there.
I gaze around at this unknown part of the forest; it looks exactly like the side I just left. How did Mum know this was the safe side? When can I stop running? I’ve made it over the stream so I have to keep going… somewhere.
There’s a shout behind me, and I glance over my shoulder to see black clad figures running through the trees towards the river. The dogs, reunited with their masters, bark and howl in a threat towards me, having a renewed sense of security with the wolf disappearing.
Completely outnumbered, panic claws its way up my chest. There are about five figures who are easily visible, the others shrouded in shadows.
“Miss, could you please come over here to speak with us? We need to talk about the car crash.” a heavyset man calls out to me, “You’re not in trouble, young lady. Come over here like a good girl and we can have a nice chat about it.”
The man saunters over to the bank, but doesn’t try to cross it. Something about him seems off, even though he’s smiling in a paternal manner. My hackles raise at the way he’s speaking to me, like a pet.
His hair is slightly greying at the sides, but his eyes are scary, even from this distance, like looking into a deep abyss. “Come back on this side, and it’ll all be okay.” he reassure me with a simpering smile.
I back away into the foliage, bolstered by the water running between us, not liking the look of him at all. Sensing that I’m on the verge of bolting again, his mouth flattens into a firm line making him look even more soulless.
“Young lady, we've seen what you're running away from.” He taps his chin, “The team are cleaning up the nasty crash as we speak. It’s quite awful really, both of your parents lying in cold blood, while you're fleeing the scene. Do you know how bad this looks on you? Do you want to be tried for their murder?”
My body stills, and dread fills my stomach. Seeing my intense panic, he smirks maliciously, “You could very well be tried and sent to the Citizen Prison for murder, we certainly have enough evidence… Or you could have a healthy life at the Female Citizen Compound if you’re a good girl. Now come here so we can help you sort this out.”
Both options sound like a death sentence, I just have to trust what Mum said, so I continue backing away while hoping and praying with every fibre of my being that there’s a way to escape this situation.
I’m not going to be slung into prison for something I didn't do, or worse, die before my eighteenth birthday coming up soon.
The man puts a foot into the stream to follow me, but howls in pain, pulling it back out quickly. From here, I can see it looks red and angry. He curses, ordering his men to cross.
I have no intention of waiting to see if the others will make it over to me, so I slowly back into the trees.
“I said stop!” The man snaps, noticing my movements. “Carson, get me a damn patch through to the lab team, I think we might have a Mental on our hands,” he snaps at another man clad all in black armour, who scurries off.
Mental? What the fuck? How dare he! I’m not mental, simply trying to escape this impossible situation. I’m not going with that man, there’s something about him which is completely wrong.
While the man in question barks orders to the remaining team, I see a window of opportunity for my escape so I take it.
Whirling around, my wet hair slaps my face as I make a run for it into the waiting forest. I don’t care what might be in there, I only need to get away from him at this point.
“Stop the Mental!” Someone shouts in the distance, but I keep pushing forwards. Mum wouldn't have wasted her final breaths for nothing, this is clearly something important to her.
After what seems like hours, my lungs screaming in protest to stop, I find myself in a small clearing. Trees surround it on all sides and a large obsidian rock protruding from the centre of it draws my attention.
It's really peaceful here, a sense of tranquility permeating the air which is a startling contrast to the emotions coursing through me at the moment.
The urge to sit down and rest is overwhelming, my legs barely holding me up, my chest heaving, but I need to find out where the heck I am.
Just as I decide to sit down for a few minutes, I hear movement, setting my adrenaline off, propelling my legs forward yet again.
I sprint towards two trees leaning towards each other on the other side of the clearing, making an archway for me to try to escape the next threat. I glance over my shoulder, trying to sneak a peek at who is chasing me, but no one is there.
My steps falter, I thought I heard something else. There… a strange buzzing noise that sounds as if there’s a swarm of bees nearby.
I spin around, making my way under the archway, when a loud crack rings through the clearing. An intense pain shoots through my body, locking it up completely, sending me tumbling to the floor.
The burning sensation sets all my nerves on fire. I try to scream but only a strangled gasp escapes me, jaw locked tight in pain.
Maybe I’m dying.
When I think the skin is going to melt off my bones, I’m pulled away into a soothing oblivion.
“Shit,” I mutter, kicking a tree stump, glaring at the destruction in front of me. I’d been tasked with the job from the head office to respond to reports of a fire in the back arse of nowhere in Zone Three.
The only evidence remaining, however, is the husk of a car, smoke drifting lazily into the surrounding forest. Broken glass litters the floor amongst random debris thrown from the vehicle, a lone shoe, a blood stained scarf...
Although there isn't any evidence of bodies, remnants of blood stains the earth, a coppery tang permeating the air.
Where the fuck are the bodies? Was there someone here before me?
It would make sense as the fire has been put out. The command center are clearly a bunch of useless imbeciles sending me on top of the cleanup crew.
I press the button on my wrist communication, “Reporting CPF Agent Logan Harris checking in.” The line buzzes faintly, the light glowing red. No answer.
Being so far out, the reception must be weak. I press the comms again, slightly harder than necessary, repeating my question.
This time the light glows blue, a response follows faintly after, “Go ahead, Agent Harris. What do you have to report on the fire? Do you require any backup?”
“No, I sure as fuck do not need backup.” I glance back to the smoking remains, “Someone has already been here and put out the fire. Can you tell me if anyone has been recovered, there’s been blood found outside the wreckage”
There is silence on the comms unit. I tap my foot in a rhythm, trying to calm my irritation, but it doesn't seem to be working.
“Hello?” I snap.
“Sorry, I was just checking with the Commanding Officer. According to our reports, Agent, you’re the first on the scene.” The comms agent sounds confused. “Are you sure there’s nothing there?”
I suck air in between my clenched teeth, counting to ten in my head before replying, “Well, unless they’ve become invisible, then yes, I’m quite fucking sure.”
Useless idiot.
This time the reply comes back immediately, the guy sounding contrite, stuttering his apologies. A smile tugs at my mouth. The man is without doubt, a rookie.
I decide to end this pointless conversation, “That’ll be all. I’ll see you back at command for a chat on comms etiquette.”
I cut him off before he has a chance to respond, looking at the scene with renewed interest.
The burning questions which I need answering; who the hell has been here, and what happened to the people in the vehicle?
Clues are always waiting to be found, you just have to know where to look for them. I snap on my standard issue gloves before pulling out a small clear bag from my trouser pocket, placing it on a tree stump next to me.
“What a complete clusterfuck,” I shout at the unresponsive trees.
Whoever was here before, knew what they were doing, completely fucking up the scene. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were special ops, secretive bastards. What would they want with a random car crash? It’s too beneath the mighty Citizen Military Elite, the most stuck up bastards of the lot.
Thank fuck they aren't here now.
Turning my attention to the task at hand, I pick up a twig streaked with blood, placing it into my clear bag, being especially careful not to taint the sample.
I grab another bag out of my pocket and walk over to the car where there are more blood splatters. It looks as if someone has been dragged from the area, but there are so many tracks leading away from the car, it's difficult to see where they may have gone.
