Surviving ELE (ELE Series #4) by Rebecca Gober, Courtney Nuckels

I scurry back to put some more distance between these three men and me, but as soon as I do, I bump into another tree. I try to side step the tree but two of the men come around to my sides, blocking me in. Terror runs through my veins now that I realize I’m cornered.
    “ Tony ,” I whisper desperately. I can’t believe I allowed myself to get into this mess. I should never have left the camp.
    “You shouldn’t be out here all alone, sugar,” says the man with red eyes who has taken the lead. My heart crystalizes, frozen in fear when I hear Zack’s pet name for me come from this man’s lips. This isn’t a Reaper; it’s one of Zack’s men. He’s controlling him!
    My eyes dart all around me, looking for an escape route even though there isn’t one. Panicked, I start pulling up the large Oak tree behind the three men.
    The man being controlled by Zack clucks his tongue at me. “Willow, Willow, Willow. When will you ever learn? I know all the tricks in your book. You can’t fool me anymore. I have you right where I need you and now you’re coming with me.” Zack’s trademark smile etches across this nameless man’s face, which creeps me out even more!
    “You will NEVER take me alive!” I spit vehemently at him. I focus my powers and step backwards, straight through the tree behind me. I do it so fast that I barely notice the lead guy’s eyes change color or the disoriented look cross over his features. I turn to run only to be scooped into someone’s arms. The smell of earth and soap tickles my senses before I feel the needle being shoved into my neck. I wince as I try to get away, but a dizzying sensation immediately overtakes me. The world begins spinning out of control. My knees weaken and I’m scooped back up into his arms. I look up to see Tony staring down at me. I want to reach my hand up to touch his cheek but he looks completely distorted…and has red eyes…and…my world goes black.

     

CHAPTER 7
     
    Cold and shaking, I wake up. My hands are bound behind my back and my cheek is on a cold, concrete floor. I’ve been gagged and my mouth feels dry like sandpaper. I try to run my tongue around it but the gag keeps me from doing much. When I open my eyes, I find that a blindfold prevents me from seeing.
    I concentrate on Connor’s gift, trying to wiggle out of the chains that bind me, but to no avail. What is happening to me? I shake my arms again and feel the IV that is stuck into my arm.
    “Well, well, well. Look who’s finally awake,” a strangely familiar voice calls to me.
    I try to speak, but my words come out muffled. My head is still swimming from the drug I was given earlier.
    “There are some people here who’ve been dying to meet you.”
    I try to use my strength to break the binding on my arms but it doesn’t work. I grit my teeth against the gag giving up, realizing my powers have been stripped from me. The cold blade of a knife touches the side of my cheek. I wince but don’t move. The knife moves up my cheek and I shiver in fright. My heart starts racing; any second this person could end my life. The knife catches underneath the fabric that binds my eyes and rips it clean apart.
    The brightness of the room floods into my eyes, making them burn. I wince at the sudden change and recoil back into myself. “Now, be a good girl and everything will work out okay.”
    I catch my first, blurry glimpse of the person standing before me. He looks vaguely familiar but I can’t place him. He’s older than the men in the woods, probably pushing his upper forties or so. He comes closer to me and I can see the myriad of colors he possesses in his eyes . I catch a glimpse of red, neon yellow, blue, purple, and brown.
    I take in a sharp breath . How did he manage this?
    He lets off an evil laugh. “What, do you think you’re the only special one out there?”
    Blinking a few times, I try to get my eyes to adjust. I mumble through the gag but it does no good.
    He leans in and brings