Elle and the Escape

By Tim Mettey

Elle and the Escape follows Elle Canon’s narrow escape from Valcary Hill during the Thusian Trials. Will she be able to survive the darkness that awaits her on the outside, without Nicholas and The 4 nearby? While she is forced to face her fears, including Xavier and the Seekers, a brutal battle unfolds all around her. Elle has no choice but to stand up and fight for her life—and not just her own.
In this companion novella, fans of The Hero Chronicles get an inside glimpse into the character of Elle.
Also included are stories from the winners of The 2016 Hero Chronicles Writing Contest.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Tim Mettey
• Release date: Oct 26, 2016
• ISBN: 9780997729238

Tim Mettey

Tim Mettey serves as CEO at Matthew 25: Ministries, an international humanitarian and disaster relief organization. Tim uses his many experiences and expertise in responding to disasters around the world to set the background for his The Hero Chronicles series.Tim struggles with and has overcome multiple learning disabilities with reading and writing to create this series. Tim advocates for literacy and education worldwide and hopes his journey can be an inspiration to others. He says, “Our disabilities do not define who we are, they make us stronger.”Tim is the father of nine beautiful children: Olivia, Cora, Noel, Aubriana, Ashlyn, Eden, Livia, Graham & Jensen.Visit timmettey.com for details about upcoming events and new releases!

Book preview

Elle and The Escape

The Hero Chronicles

By Tim Mettey

Copyright © 2016 by Tim Mettey

All rights reserved.

Published by Kenwood Publishing Group.

KENWOOD PUBLISHING GROUP

www.kenwoodpublishinggroup.com

Cincinnati, Ohio

If you purchased this book without a cover, you should be aware that this book is stolen property. It was reported as unsold and destroyed to the publisher, and neither the author nor the publisher has received any payment from this stripped book.

No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrievable system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without written permission of the publisher. For more information regarding permission, write to Kenwood Publishing Group, Attention: Permission Department, 11060 Kenwood Road, Cincinnati, Ohio 45242.

ISBN-10: 0-9977292-3-6

ISBN-13: 978-0-9977292-3-8

We are the music-makers and we are the dreamers of dreams.

— Arthur O’Shaunessy

Quoted by Gene Wilder

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

I would like to thank all of the talented people who help make my books sound and look good.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Chapter 1: Search

Chapter 2: Speak

Chapter 3: Escape

Chapter 4: Keeper

Chapter 5: Forecast

Chapter 6: Saved

Chapter 7: Death

Chapter 8: Wheelbarrow

Chapter 9: Cellar

Chapter 10: Ghost

Chapter 11: Purpose

Chapter 12: Keeper Siegel

Chapter 13: Scared

Chapter 14: Clean up

Chapter 15: Color

Chapter 16: Journey

Chapter 17: Leave

The 2016 Hero Chronicles Writing Contest

GRAND PRIZE: Not in the Pink of Health

FIRST RUNNER UP: A Spark of Hope

SECOND RUNNER UP: Finding Mom

Connect with the Author

About the Author

L et’s do one more circle. I thought I saw Xavier’s Sil hanging around Ester’s vault earlier. And since we struck out with your sister, Livi, I need . . . I paused, and then, trying not to sound desperate, said, I want to try to get some information Nicholas can use.

I bet Zane and Courtney are heading down for the challenge, Noel responded, ignoring how pathetic I sounded. She was good at that, because I sounded pathetic most of the time. Well, maybe not as often anymore, because I was trying to remind myself I was actually needed. So there isn’t really anything we can do, Noel said in a patronizing tone.

I didn’t really care how she felt about any of this. She reminded me constantly I didn’t have anything to prove to anyone, but that was easy for her to say. She was an elite Thusian bodyguard trained by Walter. I was just an average nobody.

And now, if everyone could head down to the arena for the second challenge. James Caldwell’s voice rang out all around us. It was as if he was on my shoulder or right behind me, which sent chills down my spine.

Noel put her hands out as if to say, See, I told you so.

I was tired of not being useful. Nicholas needs a partner who can contribute equally, someone like Genevieve who can take care of him and be useful. A sinking feeling started to well up in my stomach. Maybe I had been right all along thinking Nicholas and Genevieve would end up together; maybe it was their destiny or something.

Elle, we should go down to the challenge now. We’ll have plenty of time to search later; I promise.

I didn’t move or even acknowledge what she had said. I was too distracted by the thought of Genevieve and Nicholas being together.

Elle, did you hear me? she questioned quietly but firmly.

Let’s look for just a little longer and then we can head down, I said, unwilling to give up on the chance of finding some useful information. I was also not willing to give up on being with Nicholas, at least not yet.

We circled back around toward Ester’s vault. Everyone was gone from the floor already, making it feel like some underground medieval castle that had been abandoned for a thousand years. I was expecting a ghost to come down the middle of the corridor.

After searching for another ten minutes, we found no Sils or any other sign of life. Everyone must have been at the Trial. We heard a lot of commotion coming from the center of Valcary Hill, down on the ground floor. The Second Trial had begun.

Come on, let’s go down there and wait for them to be finished, Noel said from behind me.

I began to walk in that direction, but I stopped suddenly. A cracking sound made me flinch. I spun around only to see a black bag being forced over my head. I instinctively remembered what my dad had taught me. I kicked straight ahead and my foot landed between the knees of the person who was trying to take me. My assailant groaned, making me believe I had hurt whoever it was badly. I tugged at the bag and tried to run but something struck my head. Stars flashed and then nothing.

***

Well, what do we have here? Xavier’s question was the first thing I heard as I regained consciousness. I couldn’t see anything, and now my hands were bound behind my back. I was helpless, again.

His voice was cold, but there was a slight excitement in it, as if he was getting an early Christmas present or something.

Ashlyn alerted me that these two were looking around and asking questions about us, a man’s voice answered.

Very good job, you two, Xavier said, pulling off the bag and removing my hood.

At first the light was blinding, and my head was pounding from having been hit. After a minute, Xavier, Grey and Ashlyn came into focus, and next to me was a badly beaten and battered Noel, slumped over on the ground.

Noel, are you okay? I leaned down to her to see if she was still alive.

I saw her take a labored breath, so I stood back up and I turned my attention to our three vile captors. How dare you attack us? You have no right. While we’re here, we’re all protected.

You’re half right, my dear, Xavier’s cold voice purred. We aren’t allowed to act against fellow Thusians, and Grey has already been punished for what he did to Noel.

I glanced over at Grey and noticed right away he had a bandage on his right hand and it was bloody, as if the wound hadn’t stopped bleeding yet.

Xavier continued, "But where you’re wrong is this: the rule doesn’t apply