“My force shield should take care of it until tomorrow.” Horatio glanced nervously over his shoulder. “You’d best be on your way.”
Jaden took the hint and thanked Horatio again. It was impossible to ignore Horatio’s relief as Jaden and Kayla headed for the front door. Before they reached it, a thought occurred to Jaden. “You don’t have a back exit we could use?”
Nodding understanding, Horatio said, “Yes, I’d want to avoid that thing too if I were you. Follow me.”
They trailed Horatio past the backroom, through a shelved stockroom, and along a short, dingy passage to the back door. While they walked, Kayla accessed her PAL and hit the remote command key on her virtual screen, ordering her ’pod to their current location.
“Here you go. Good luck,” Horatio murmured, opening the door for them.
“Thanks,” Jaden said, shaking Horatio’s hand.
“Sure. I wish there was more I could do.” Horatio scrubbed a hand over his short hair, as though trying to erase his guilt at getting rid of them.
He doesn’t have to explain or feel bad, Jaden thought. If our roles were reversed, I’d be just as eager to get rid of us. “Don’t beat yourself up. We’ll be okay.”
With a final salute, Jaden slipped out the door, Kayla right behind him. No longer afforded the safety of the store’s interior, they slithered under the limited protection provided by the overhanging roof. Trash littered the filthy alley, and Jaden grinned at Kayla’s shudder. “Scared of a few vermin when something like the Gaptor’s after us?”
“Just trying not to think what’s hiding in the debris blocking our path. But now that you put it that way, I can live with a few rats.”
Jaden chuckled. “I’ll remind you of that if you scream when one runs under your feet.”
Kayla punched his good arm, and Jaden groaned, still grinning as they made their way down the alley. From the accumulated rubble, few store owners used the back entrances to their properties. Rather, they used the area as a dumping ground for not only their garbage, but any items they no longer wanted or needed in their stores.
Stumbling in the gloom over a broken chair, abandoned next to yet another unkempt back entrance, Jaden’s peripheral vision registered movement overhead. “Heads up!” Jaden warned. The beast was moving so fast, Jaden only glimpsed the end of its scaly tail disappearing behind the roof. Pointing at a nearby drone bay, he said, “In there!”
They dashed into the bay. Although it reeked to high heaven, it was mercifully empty. They wouldn’t have to wade through rotting trash. Squinting through the slit created by the space between the lid and the side walls, Jaden searched for the Gaptor. For a few seconds, there was no sign of it. Then its huge, black bulk abruptly obscured the pewter hues above, an insidious shadow deepening the desperation of the evening.
“It’s hunting us,” Kayla hissed from somewhere over his shoulder. “What are we going to do?”
“First, we’ll stay calm.” His tone must’ve been vehement because Kayla gaped, bewildered. Ignoring this, Jaden continued. “Then we’ll figure out a way to escape. You with me?”
“Yes,” Kayla stammered.
Jaden eyed her warily, pleased when he saw doubt solidify into determination. “Good.”
Turning, Jaden studied the alley. It was narrow, but not so constricted as to prevent the Gaptor from entering if it noticed them. They needed something to defend themselves with. After the ogre’s treatment of the games store window, Jaden agreed with Gedrin’s long-ago assessment: the weapon should be solid metal if they were to have a chance. He scanned the nearby debris.
“What are you looking for?” Kayla whispered.
“A metal bar of some sort, like the one Gedrin used. We need something for defense. A good, old-fashioned tire iron would be perfect, but I guess that’s way too much to ask for.” What sounded like a snort escaped Kayla. Jaden turned, finding her trying to suppress laughter. “What’s so funny?”
Kayla shook her head, still trying to get herself under control. Finally, she spluttered, “Humor at a time like this is so uncalled for, it made your sarcasm funnier than it was.” She raised a fist and put it over her mouth, then raised her other hand, putting a finger in the air. “Sorry, give me a moment. I’ll get over this.”
Jaden only relaxed when she sighed and then concentrated on searching the alley for something to suit his purpose.
A few paces ahead, an old aluminum shelving unit, broken on one side, caught her eye. “Will the bars on that shelving unit do?”
Jaden deliberated, then shook his head. “No, those tubes are probably hollow. We need something solid.”
“How about the post that old office chair is sitting on?” she asked, pointing to the chair Jaden had tripped over.
“Nope, too short.”
Distressed, Jaden studied the alley. There had to be a way to protect her. Finding nothing useful, Jaden crumpled in a frustrated heap on the floor. Leaning against the smelly wall, he tipped his head up and stared sullenly at the lid. And there, two feet below the rim, was a reinforced steel bar, drooping from the western wall.
The concrete encasing the protruding rod was crumbly and looked weak enough to give way at any moment. Optimistic, Jaden stood, gauging whether he could reach it. Possibly. Crossing the bay, he stopped just below the bar and stretched out his good arm. Not quite reaching it, he extended his arm a little further, drawing back abruptly when the movement shot fresh pain through his injured arm. He resorted to leaping—and missed. Pain exploded through his arm as he landed, making him feel sick.
Kayla gently nudged him aside. “Let me try. You’ll start the bleeding again if you keep that up.”
Being so much shorter than Jaden, Kayla had to use the metal rungs on the side of the bay to climb high enough to get level with the bar. Holding on with only one hand and leaning sideways, Kayla reached for the rebar. Gripping it, she pulled. Nothing happened. She pulled again. The bar didn’t budge.
Kayla reached over further, and Jaden said, “Careful!” Kayla merely grunted before yanking the rebar as forcefully as she could. Her grimace told Jaden what he’d feared. “Shaved off some skin, did you?”
Closing her fingers over the raw skin, Kayla nodded, directing a glare at the bar. It remained in place. They wouldn’t remove it without tools. Kayla clambered back down, keeping her injured fingers clear of the grimy rungs. Reaching the floor, she gazed at Jaden dejectedly. The unexpected beep from her PAL startled them both.
“The ’pod,” Kayla said. “It’s here. Where shall I tell it to land?”
Jaden scrubbed his good hand over his face. What to do? What to do? Raking the deeply shadowed alley for a suitable landing spot, he noticed something new. Murphy’s Law. Now that I’m not looking for it, there it is.
It lay in a jumbled heap on the ground, way down toward the far end of the alley. But even from this distance, Jaden knew exactly what it was. Beyond the disheveled pile, a cast-iron staircase spiraled up to the third floor of the building, an archaic fire escape curling around the corner of the structure. Past the staircase, an overgrown open space was bordered by a grove of trees. The trees formed the outer edge of the green belt they had walked through earlier.
Jaden had an idea. “Can you tell the ’pod to land on the other side of those trees?”
“Sure, but why so far away?”
“We might need a head start. Considering the size of the ’pod relative to the Gaptor, us being swatted from the sky isn’t entirely inconceivable. And I’m willing to bet that monster can out-fly us any day.”
“I wish I hadn’t asked.” Kayla punched in the landing commands.
“Okay, for this to work, we need to get further down the alley. But we’d better make it snappy because it’ll be pure luck if we make it there before that predator spots us. Stick close, and hopefully we’ll make it out of here alive.”
“Hopefully?”
“Well, if you have a better idea, spill.”
“Okay, ok
ay, I guess I’m just trying to avoid the inevitable,” Kayla said with a timorous smile.
Somewhat placated, Jaden nodded, leading the way out of the bay. Kayla fell in behind as directed. Dodging the trash impeding their path, they weaved from one piece of junk to another, trying to keep something between them and the monster’s territory above. They hugged the store walls as often as they could, attempting to stay off the beast’s radar by keeping out of sight.
When they were three-quarters of the way down the alley, Jaden skittered behind another bay. Kayla slipped in beside him. He gestured toward the length of chain up ahead which someone had dumped in the middle of the alley. Connected with solid, heavy metal links, the chain had a peculiar short steel bar on one end.
“That’s what we’re after,” Jaden said, his voice low.
“How’s that going to help?”
“You’ll see. Be prepared to make a run for it when I get back. I don’t doubt that beast will spot me out in the open, but we have to get that chain and hope I don’t get nabbed in the process. Here goes nothing.” He inhaled and rushed out into the middle of the road.
Kayla’s sharp intake of breath followed Jaden as he took off. But there was no time to ponder its meaning. He had to get the chain and get back to Kayla before she was alone for too long. Reaching the chain, Jaden bent and scooped it up. In one fluid motion, he turned and began sprinting back.
He was wrenched backward abruptly. The chain was stuck on something. Recklessly, he lifted and shook the chain, creating a jangling wave he hoped would loosen it without forcing him to dart back. A movement from where Kayla crouched caught his attention. Alarmed, she had risen and was frantically scanning the chain, trying to find the source of the snag. She looked like she might run out and help him. He wouldn’t have her in harm’s way.
“Stay back!” Jaden yelled, aware he was making enough noise to raise the dead. If this didn’t bring the Gaptor, he didn’t know what would. Just then, he saw the problem: an abandoned crate squatted on the chain. About to yank it free, Jaden felt that odious sensation.
Hovering above him, the Gaptor seemed to consider how best to maneuver its bulk so it could attack Jaden in the alley. Jaden freed the chain and hightailed it back to Kayla. They hunkered together, watching the beast.
Momentarily disarmed by Jaden’s rapid departure, the predator floated in place for a second, then whipped upward, executing a perfect loop and ending a few feet directly above its previous position. It inclined its head to better allow one massive ochre eye to study the terrain and the exact location of its prey. Then, with a triumphant squeal, it altered its position, allowing for the precipitous descent required.
Urgently, Jaden whispered, “Kayla, move to the end of the alley. Get as close to that exit as possible.” Then, ignoring her, he turned and taunted it in a strident voice. “Come on, you big ugly brute!”
Kayla froze where she was when Jaden calmly strolled out into the open part of the alley, sauntering closer to the exit. “What are you doing?”
Jaden snarled. “Do as I said.” Her inactivity tempted him to run back and kick her into motion. She needed to move, and he had no extra bandwidth to worry about her.
Kayla got the hint and hurried to obey. Jaden vaguely sensed her slithering past, sticking to the shadowy recesses offered by the building, gaining ground and moving inexorably toward the exit. She was only five paces from the end of the alley when the beast swooped, the rush of air from its enormous wings fanning her hair.
Jaden tensed, but she must’ve sensed the beast. Instinctively, she crouched, scrabbling behind a discarded cardboard box. For all the good that will do. But he needn’t have worried. Jaden squared his shoulders when it the beast overlooked Kayla and targeted him.
Analyzing the creature’s every move with the vigilance of a cat stalking a mouse, Jaden measured a short length of chain out to one side with his good arm. It was heavier than he had thought, and Jaden hoped he would have the strength to carry out his plan.
Still eying the monster, Jaden swiftly wound the chain into loose loops and bunched them in his hand. The Gaptor wasn’t closing in as quickly as it had on its previous attacks. The buildings on either side were hindering the brute’s speed. The beast was practically on top of Jaden now. Just a little closer, he coaxed. Then the Gaptor was within range.
Bracing himself, Jaden whipped the chain over his head and around in the air before letting go. Momentum carried the heavy chain toward the beast. Distracted by the rattling projectile hurtling toward it, the Gaptor slowed long enough for Jaden’s plan to come to marvelous fruition.
The timing was perfect. The fiend’s slower pace impeded its ability to dodge the slinky missile. The chain smashed into the beast. One loop coiled around a wing, hampering its movement, and miraculously tightened like a noose the instant the beast struggled. Then something unexpected happened.
The spiral staircase he had planned to use as protection from the beast while making his escape trapped the bar attached to the end of the chain. With a sharp, metallic clang, the bar struck the main beam of the staircase, bounced off, and slid between the upright posts supporting the handrail. Instead of slipping back out when the raptor surged higher, the bar fell sideways, wedged itself horizontally against the vertical steel posts, and locked the chain in position. The tyrant screeched, realizing its efforts to free itself were proving futile.
Hardly daring to believe their good fortune, Jaden raced for the exit, hollering at Kayla. “Make for the ’pod!”
Kayla didn’t hesitate. She streaked ahead of him. Fleeing the alley, they raced the short distance across the overgrown open area and entered the cover of the trees. Jaden could still hear their tormentor shrieking and imagined it feverishly flapping its scraggly wings but accomplishing nothing. Well, hopefully.
They rushed through the dark trees, scraping their arms and legs on who knew what. In their headlong flight, they tripped over unseen roots, yet somehow stayed upright and maintain their frenzied flight. They pressed on, haunted by their dread of the Gaptor escaping at any moment and pursuing them once more.
They reached the end of the grove and glimpsed the faint outline of the ’pod perched on the lawn beyond. Gasping for breath, they pushed themselves past their limits until they entered the sanctuary provided by the pod’s enclosed environment.
“Go, go, go!” Jaden thundered.
Kayla threw herself into the command chair and flipped control keys, her hands a blur as she blasted them into the air and programmed the ’pod to head home at maximum speed. The ’pod’s engines roared in response.
Sparing a brief backward glance, Jaden saw the tyrant still weaving and thrashing against the chain binding it to the staircase. Outstanding! He hoped it was stuck there forever, but he knew it was only a matter of time before it devised a means of escape. Then it would be after them again.
Chapter Twenty
Kayla faced Jaden. “That was amazing. How did you know it would work?”
“I didn’t.”
“What?” Kayla was more than a little taken aback.
“Well, what I envisioned isn’t exactly what happened,” Jaden explained. “The chain was only supposed to wrap around that monster long enough for us to escape. I didn’t bargain on it getting stuck in the staircase and hitching to the Gaptor. Just as well it did, though, or I don’t think we would’ve made it.”
They took a few minutes contemplating what could’ve happened.
Jaden indicated the growing red patch on the bandage. “I think I started the bleeding again when I threw that chain.” As an afterthought, he added, “Where are we going?”
“My place. You need skin adhesive, and I plan on applying it.”
Jaden’s face fell. Kayla grinned. “Don’t worry. I know what I’m doing. I worked a stint as a volunteer at an ER last summer, and it more than prepared me for dealing with most injuries. I have all the supplies we’ll need at home. Probably not the prettiest work you’ll ever see
, but it’ll hold, and I am certified. There’s the added advantage that we needn’t answer awkward questions from nosy ER staff about how you got that cut.”
“Forward thinking—I like it! You’re full of surprises, aren’t you? Your home it is, then.”
He wriggled in his chair, trying to find a more comfortable position. Once he settled, Kayla leaned over and elevated his arm, earning a grateful smile. And what a gorgeous smile it was. It made her think of lazy summer afternoons, stretching out on a picnic blanket and eating ice cream, like she had no cares in the world other than getting her treat into her mouth before it melted all over her hand. She sighed inwardly. If only . . .
Eying the nearly soaked gauze, Kayla scratched around in a small overhead cabinet and withdrew a linen cloth. Turning sideways in her seat, she removed the soiled bandage and gauze from his arm, then replaced it with the cloth, applying pressure.
Jaden grunted but otherwise didn’t complain. They sat like that for a while, staring out the window and listening to the humming engines. When the bleeding stopped, Kayla secured the cloth with a long strip of duct tape taken from the same cabinet.
“Quite the eventful day,” she said.
Jaden snorted. “The understatement of the century! More like nice to have escaped death today.”
The gravity of his statement hung between them for an instant, and then the absurdity of the situation hit Kayla. She giggled, not surprised when Jaden chuckled too, the action devolving into uncontrollable laughter. The more they tried to contain it, the less success they had, until Jaden eventually held up his good arm.
“Stop,” he pleaded, “you’re making me laugh so much, it’s jiggling my arm, and now it’s really sore.”
Kayla sobered. “You’re feeling it because the adrenaline rush is over. Sorry, you’ll have to wait until we get to my house to take something for the pain.” When Jaden nodded, she sighed contentedly. “Feels good, doesn’t it, to have released all that tension?”
“Yeah! That we don’t have an insane monster chasing us anymore doesn’t hurt either.”
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