by Cyril Adams
“I will,” she responded.
Garrett closed the connection, concerned the conversation would unnecessarily drag on.
When Garrett arrived at his apartment, the sun had pushed its way above the horizon and was feebly trying to loosen winter’s grip on the city. He knew upon entering that something was amiss. Jacob did not offer its usual greeting. Garrett cautiously stepped through the entryway, straining to listen. His pounding heart made it difficult, but he perceived noises were drifting to his overworked ears from the living area and the bedroom. Conflicted between leaving the apartment or having Jacob call security, he froze. The man walking into the entry hallway from the living area made the decision for him. Each stared at the other through an eon as time slowed its pace. Garrett perceived the man was younger than he, early thirties, dressed in a dark overcoat, looking the part of an agent of some clandestine organization. The stereotype would have been comical if not for the circumstances. The intruder was nondescript, but for the eyes. Those were the eyes of a predator and they had just found their prey. The man took a step toward Garrett and the moment was shattered. Garrett turned and ran, slamming the door on the way out as he yelled for Jacob to lock the apartment. He was not sure if Jacob was still functioning, but it was worth a try. Raised voices followed him down the hallway, closely accompanied by echoing footfalls. As he approached the elevator, he realized the requisite delay required would offer no means of escape. His pursuers were too close for him to wait on the luxury of that mechanical conveyance. As he passed the elevator alcove, a chime sounded, indicating the fickle contraption was stopping at this floor but his momentum had already carried him irretrievably beyond the point where using it was an option.
He redoubled his efforts, eyes on the fire escape tubes at the end of the hallway. Of the latest safety code, he could simply step into the tube and say “fire” to initiate his escape. The disc, which initially supported him in the tube, would release, allowing the occupant to freefall until a combination of magnetic impedance and increasing air pressure slowed the disc to facilitate a survivable deceleration. In direct violation of the previously referenced safety code, the two tubes adjacent to the one he had chosen were marked “out of order,” leaving the only other operational tube on the far side of the building. Garrett could not express how thankful he was that the superintendent had summarily ignored his complaints concerning the unusable tubes. He stepped into the tube and risked a glance at his pursuers before setting his escape into motion. They were stopped at the elevator, four men, including the man emerging from the elevator bay. Another man joined the one exiting the elevator. The two, appearing to be in their early twenties, were identical in every way, down to their shoes. Those attributes, although interesting, were unremarkable when compared to how they moved. They had a grace and speed beyond anything Garett had ever seen. Initially, Garrett could find no meaning behind the constant, but purposeful way the twins shifted in relation to the men from Garrett’s apartment. Soon he recognized they changed their position in concert with any movement of the other men, ensuring each twin could attack any two if the need arose. In the few seconds Garrett had observed them, the primitive recesses of his mind were strongly advising flight at the earliest opportunity, but, like a quidnunc entertaining the latest gossip, Garrett could not turn away. He had to know what force could stop his pursuers in their tracks, as well as the outcome of the developing confrontation. The intruder Garrett had encountered in his living room was staring at the twins. His shocked expression mirrored Garrett’s.
“You, but why?” The man asked, addressing the closest twin.
Neither twin gave any indication of registering the question or the man. The first scanned the hall toward Garrett’s apartment before shifting his attention to the fire escape tubes. His eyes narrowed as they found Garrett. The other’s gaze turned toward the opposite end of the hall. There was no indication the senses could discern, but somehow Garrett sensed the two were calculating possibilities. He could feel it and the recognition sent a chill through his being. With no visible signal, the twins reacted with synchronized motion. In that instant, the closest twin leapt at Garrett with a burst of inhuman speed. The second ran toward the fire escape tubes at the opposite end of the hall with bounding strides that were no less impressive than his counterpart’s. For the second time in as many minutes, adrenalin coursed through Garrett’s veins. His pulse pounded through his temples as his heart pumped with might and fury. Garrett heard someone say “fire” and realized it had come from his own lips; the young man was almost on top of him as he began his descent. Temporal distortion stretched the seconds it took for gravity to perform its work on his unsupported body. He registered every motion. The incredible speed with which the twins sprinted played out in slow motion; one rapidly decreasing the distance to Garrett, the other increasing the same, the three men slowly turning back toward the apartment, all highlighted in a relief that etched the image into his memory. It was through this clarity that just as he was about to slip safely below the floor, he saw a fourth man exit his apartment dragging a reluctant Katherine.
“Katherine!” Garrett screamed in vain, as he fell into darkness.
I hope you have enjoyed this introduction to Garrett Richards and his universe. If you were entertained and would like to find out how Garrett navigates the troubles ahead, the entire novel is available on www.amazon.com.
Thank you for your patronage,
Cyril