by Tim Mettey
“Get up!” Dane yelled at me, throwing a pair of shorts at my head. I pulled the shorts on, disoriented, and staggered into the dark hallway. I could’ve sworn that I had just fallen asleep a few minutes ago.
“Hurry!” someone yelled from the bottom of the stairs. Dane and I quickly ran through the front door to the porch. Cora was right next to me now, being ushered along too. She linked her arm with mine, not to protect me but to be protected. She seemed scared because I could feel how hard she was shaking. Something about this was different than the other false alarms. In the darkness we stumbled forward, barely getting our feet underneath us on the soggy, wet ground. I felt as if I was constantly falling from the pushing and shoving of the team of people that surrounded us.
The fire inside of me exploded to life, sending a rush of bitter acid into my stomach and up my throat, making adrenaline course through my veins. On each side of us were three Thusian guards, all in tactical suits carrying some type of weapon in their hands, with Dane leading us through the yard toward Riley’s. They didn’t carry guns because they had very little effect against Seekers. Dane had explained that since bullets only go in a straight line, they are too predictable. The only thing that worked against Seekers was a knife or something like that so the element of surprise was there.
Our guards looked as though they belonged in a video game rather than protecting us. Their alien-looking black and blue suits were puffy on different parts of the body, I guess to protect vital organs and weak spots against attack. The night sky was filled with clouds that hung over us and were lit by the town’s glow. I could see everything perfectly. The light revealed something that I didn’t want to see. Up on the street to our left stood a lone figure that began to run toward us fast, blurring from the speed. There was no doubt in my mind that it was Grey Otto. He moved toward us swiftly and with purpose. He was dressed in a suit matching our guards’, but his was all white.
I was the only one who had noticed the streaking white predator. I yelled, “He’s on our left.”
As if I was commanding an army, everyone shifted formation in an interlocking wall protecting us from him, but it was no use. He slammed into the line with such force that it staggered apart, leaving large gaping holes. Something was shimmering in Grey’s hand; it was different from what the guards had. He thrust the weapon in a large swinging motion through the air, leaving a thin silver streak in its wake as it headed toward one of my bodyguards right next to me. I concentrated to the point that he was frozen in midair. The weapon was round, and it looked razor-sharp with a small dagger protruding out of it. I grabbed the guard it was intended for by the back of his suit and pulled him to my side. He tried to resist me, but I was able to force him out of the way. I slid to the ground under Grey’s next attempt to slash me. He just barely missed my chest. On the ground, I kicked his leg closest to me, knocking him off balance. Grey swung his hand at me while falling backward. I caught his arm around his elbow, but his weapon still nicked my hand. I instantly felt the bitter sting of it. I pushed him away with such force that he toppled over. That seemed to infuriate him more, making him even more determined. He came at me again. I slowed time down as much as I could to follow his movement. Even in the stillness of everything around me, he moved almost like time were normal, with just a slight blur behind him. He lunged at me as though his hand was a javelin trying to knock me off a horse. I moved to the side to avoid it, but this time one of my guards jumped in front of me, shielding me from his attack. The guard’s Thusian nature took over, forcing him to protect me. I tried to grab him and pull him to safety before he was struck, but Grey’s blade sliced into the guard’s shoulder and down his back. He crumbled into my arms like a house of cards. Crimson droplets glistened on the blade from the strike. Grey smiled at the sight of blood. It seemed to give him newfound energy, reinvigorating his attack.
This wasn’t going to work; we were going about this all wrong. Grey was almost as fast as me, making it impossible to protect everyone out here because everyone’s Thusian side would keep getting in my way. What if it had been Cora who had jumped out in front of me? I had to get her out of here. I wouldn’t let him hurt her. An idea popped into my head, bringing on another wave of adrenaline.
“Cora, make a run for the house, now!” I yelled in a deep primal scream.
She didn’t hesitate; she darted toward it. Grey looked at her for a moment but stayed. He was only after me, no one else. I drove both of my hands against his arm with the blade. I could feel it break under the pressure. In that moment I went to the ground and kicked with both legs up into his stomach, catching him off guard. He was catapulted into the air, crashing into a nearby tree, which sent several branches falling to the ground around him. Even with a broken arm, he got to his feet. Dane had followed Cora to Riley’s front door, leaving the rest of us alone with Grey. I picked up the wounded guard, who was not moving. The intense fire pushed me forward so fast that it was a second before Grey and the guards realized I was gone. I was right—Grey was just after me. He didn’t care about anyone else. He scrambled after me, ignoring the others. I got to the front door of Riley’s house, and the door flew open.
Dane yelled, “Get to the basement,” slamming the front door behind us.
The others came into the back door, one yelling, “Clear!”
Walter grabbed the injured guard from my arms, and Cora and I ran.