A/N:Sorry for taking so long for this, I thought I had an idea where this story was going, but then got other ideas, and had to decide which of two directions this story should go. That and I hit a major case of writers block recently. Oh well, I'll keep writing, just not as fast as I'd like.
Jayden who is introduced here is my character, but Noah and the rest of the characters are DarkElements10's characters as always who was kind enough to beta. Enjoy…
Chapter 4: Jayden
I hear them talking but I can't force myself to listen. In the hallway Riley and Rhuben were mentioning something about some dreams, Patrick was going out to the store to get something for Sydney but I can't figure out what. It's strange, it's like I'm under water, and their voices keet getting more and more distance. I try opening my eyes, to glance in their direction, but the tiredness is just too much. I can barely move my fingers. I barely force my eyes open, looking out to the hallway, but my vision is just so blurry.
Sydney says something and runs to me, but I can't make out any of his words.
"What happened?" a voice asks clearly, though I don't recognize it, nor see any mouths moving. I try to respond, but my voice is far too raspy, my throat feeling scorched so no words come out. I want to try answering, asking, something, but the weight that feels like it's smashing on me from all directions. I try struggling against it, but it's as if these blankets are made of cement weighing me down.
"What's wrong Noah?" Riley asks, rushing in the room, but like before her voice is hard to make out. If she was standing any more than five feet in front of me, I probably couldn't have heard it. She tries to uncover me, but as she does so it gets harder and harder to breath. Like there is water, like I'm drowning. I try sitting up, but as I move only an inch or so off the ground, my head beings throbbing and I fall back down to the pillows below.
"He's coming back," the clear voice says again as my vision fades further. Darkness falls around me. I still see Riley, reaching out, but she gets farther and farther away.
"We're losing him," the voice says and I'm back in the room, where everything seems to be normal. I can see clearly, Riley Rhuben and Sydney are at my side, but I still feel something, like I'm not just here, that a part of me is somewhere else. It's strange, like nothing I've felt before.
I glance around the room, worried eyes gazing down at me. "What's wrong with me?" I ask faintly.
"I'm not sure if he's sick," Sydney says.
"What do you mean?" Rhuben asks.
"Can you feel it, there's some kind of elemental energy around us."
I try focusing like Sydney suggests, and he's right. There is something, very faint, and being pulled away, but I can't sense where it's being pulled to. "What is it?" Riley asks.
'I don't know. It's no element I've seen before."
So, that means it's a new elemental. Are they after us? Or is there something else more going on here?
"We're trying again," the unknown voice says.
But I do know it…how could I forget? Jayden.
Wait…who's Jayden?
The room goes blurry again and I shut my eyes, trying to avoid the spinning sensation, but it overwhelms me just the same. It feels like my limbs are being pulled apart; my hands go numb as I try reaching out with them.
I hear Jayden again so clearly, and the room starts coming into view. "Just a little closer Noah, you're almost here."
I gravitate toward him, not quite sure how, but I feel a strange pressure on my head. I open my eyes but there is only darkness. I blink several times thinking that maybe my eyes need time to adjust, but it's no good. I can feel my eyes moving, but there's only darkness around them.
Where am I?
I ask, but my mouth is covered, I squirm, feeling my arms and legs restrained. I have to get out of here, whatever this strange place is. It's overwhelming, suffocating, smothering. But each effort I make is futile, each movement, worthless. I stay still for a second, focusing on the sounds beyond that of my racing heart.
More voices.
Jayden, but he's not alone. He's the closest, that's for sure, and the only one who's name I know. There are guys, a girl or two there, but I'm not sure how many.
"I think it's safe to let him out now," Jayden says.
"But you remember last time," one of the girls says.
What are they talking about? Is it me? Why was I locked up like this; are they afraid of me? Are these the enemy, but if so, who are they? Why don't I remember any of them besides Jayden? And Jayden isn't a bad guy…at least I don't' think he is. Sure, a bit short tempered.
Wait! Why do I know that?
Have I met him before? I think so. Wait, I'm sure of it, I just can't remember it. Just who is he?
"Don't worry; I should be able to handle it if needed."
Handle what? Me? Is he expecting me to fight, to try to get away? If I'm a prisoner of some kind, that would make sense. I'm not going to let them just hold me captive. But if they think they can handle me, are they some kind of elemental too? Or perhaps someone from Wingz Corp or Halo still after me?
What about Patrick…or the rest of them? Have they been captured as well?
"His heart beat is up around 130."
"We can't leave him in there, we have to risk it."
"But Jayden."
"Just do it, but stay back."
I have to calm down. This is bad, it has to be. I don't know what it is either, but I can't let that make me do something stupid. I just need to take things slowly, find out what's going on. If they're going to give me a chance for my freedom, the first thing I have to do is find out where I am, and the quickest way out. If they're going to let me out though, they'll be ready for me. But that's okay. I'll be ready for them. My powers might only be a fraction of what they were before losing SilverTatsu, but that doesn't mean I can't fight.
I feel the restraints leave my arms and legs, and I'm able to move them, but as I try sitting up, I notice a heavy piece of something, metal I would guess, across my chest which holds me down.
"Calm down, Noah," Jayden says, and I do. I gather a small amount of power in my hands, ready to fight if and when the time comes.
"Sir-"
"I know," Jayden says. "Just take things easy here and everything will be fine."
I can't help but wonder where I am, or how I got here. Did they drug me or something, or was this something more. I don't remember being captured, just lying in bed sick, but if I was unconscious, it would make sense for my memory to be off.
Finally, after what seems like days, I feel the rest of the restraints leave my body, and my eyes shoot open, the darkness of the room not much better than before, but there is light flickering from a short distance away.
I sit up and see where I'm at. It looks like a lab of some kind; there are a number of computers sitting around the room, keyboards, monitors, and enough numbers flying by to make Sydney drool for weeks. I don't have time to take much of it in, only a quick glance to let me know what's around. If now is the time to fight, I can't waste any time in hesitation.
I see Jayden standing across from me, glancing at a computer screen for a brief second before coming back to me. I'm not quite sure how I know it's him. Maybe it's because he was the one who seemed to be closest, but it's more than that. His face looks familiar. He's about 16 or so, maybe a little younger than me. The way his blue eyes were set seem familiar, along with his black hair with orange streaks at the end. This has to be Jayden.
"You awake now Noah?" he asks walking over to me, perhaps a bit nervous. So, does that mean he's afraid of me? But as he gets closer, I can feel it. He's an elemental too.
I nod my head, not quite sure what to make of this strange place. I see several people around a corner, like their hiding from me. I can't feel any sort of elemental power from them, so Jayden is the only one here who is. But what are they doing; why did they take me?
"It's a pleasure to meet you." He holds out his hand to shake my hand which I take uneasily. "I am Jayden, your nephew."