Hit Squad

by Sophie McKenzie

  I steadied myself, waiting for the open door ahead to swing completely open. There. I jumped across the coupling. Into the cab. I landed in a heap on the floor. My arm hurt. My whole body was bruised. My heart was thundering in my ears. I scrambled to my feet. Looked up. The mountain was just metres away.

  I looked down. Desperate. Where were the brakes? The display of knobs and electrical controls in front of me was bewildering. I had no idea what to touch . . . what to do . . . I glanced sideways. A huge lever stuck out from the panel to my left. I grabbed it. Yanked it back. The train let out a screech. No. It was going faster.

  I pushed it in the opposite direction, bracing myself against the side of the cab.

  With a groan, the train slowed. Yes. I looked up again. The mountain was almost here. I clung to the lever, forcing it down as far as it would go. The train was still slowing. But not fast enough.

  ‘STOP!’ I pushed at the lever again.

  The train grew slower. Slower. The mountain right in front. Just metres away. It was terrible. Heart-stopping.

  ‘AAAGH!’ The lever was flat down, the train’s gears grinding.

  The mountain was so close I could see the ridges on the rock face.

  I pressed down on the lever, closed my eyes and waited for the crash.

  12: Escape

  With a final groan, the train stopped. I opened my eyes. The mountain was centimetres in front of the driver’s cab – less than half a metre from where I stood. I stared at the rock as the realisation of just how close the train – and I – had come to crashing into it sank in.

  My legs trembled and I sank to the floor of the cab. I felt utterly exhausted. My body was drenched in sweat and my heart was still pounding. Behind me, I could hear the doors of the train carriages open. People were spilling out onto the field, shouting and yelling in a language I didn’t understand. The relief in their voices, however, was unmistakable.

  I closed my eyes and took a few deep breaths. I’d made it.

  But there was no time to rest. Jack, Ripley and Knife Man were close by. I had to get away from here now . . . find my way back to civilisation and alert the authorities.

  At least I had my telepathic ability back. I sat up, trying to ease the trembling in my limbs. It was hard to focus on mind-reading. My brain was skipping about, refusing to relax enough to make remote contact.

  I got to my feet, taking deep, calming breaths. I reached out for Nico. But his mind was still unavailable to me. I tried to make contact with Ketty. Nothing. I tried Cal, then Dylan. Still nothing. Had their escape attempt been foiled? Or were they free, just under the control of the Medutox for another few minutes?

  It was possible that all four of them were still captives. Or worse.

  I swallowed hard. Well, that meant getting help was down to me. I couldn’t let them down. As I staggered to the door of the train driver’s cab, I remembered Amy – my sister back in Sydney. As soon as I thought of her, I made contact.

  Amy? I could feel her mind, slow and sluggish, coming to an awareness I was there. Amy? It’s Ed!

  Ed? Amy’s thought-speech sounded bewildered. Are you all right?

  Yes, Amy, listen. We’re in a place just outside Lovistov in Kima. I’ve got away but the others are . . . at least they might be . . . prisoners.

  Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. Amy’s thought-speech had suddenly gone from nought to sixty miles an hour. Are you all right?

  I’m fine. Did you hear what I said? Jack Linden is here too, but he’s working for someone. They’re developing the drug. The Medusix. It’s definite. We—

  Slow down, Ed, Amy’s thought-speech interrupted. Where are you again?

  Lovistov. There’s a castle not far outside the town. We’re near that right now. There was a train. I hesitated, trying to collect my thoughts. The others are trying to escape. But Nico is with Jack.

  The others are on a train? Amy sounded confused.

  No. I peered outside the driver’s cab. People were milling about . . . hundreds of them, mostly still shrieking their heads off. I jumped down and joined them. Everyone was talking, some on their mobile phones. No one took any notice of me.

  My legs were still shaky and my throat unbearably dry. The sun was high in a clear blue sky. It beat down, its heat fierce on my face. I peered into the distance. I could just make out the line of trees where we’d all been standing when Nico teleported me onto the train. The chances were high that Jack, Ripley and Knife Man had got back in their cars and were already on their way. I had to get out of here.

  Ed? Amy’s voice sounded in my head again. What’s going on?

  Jack Linden and another man I don’t know captured us, I thought-spoke. I’ve got away but I don’t know about the others. Tell Dad. And Fergus Fox. I’m going to go now . . . it’s a castle near Lovistov. Tell them, Amy.

  Okay, but Ed, oh my gosh, will you contact me again soon?

  Sure. I broke the connection with my sister and looked around again. Two young men were deep in conversation beside me. One of them had dropped his backpack. It was open at his feet, a bottle of water peeking out of the top. Beside the water I could just make out the edge of a black leather wallet.

  I swallowed. I was desperately thirsty and I couldn’t see how I was going to get away from here without money. And yet it was impossible to steal the wallet. It was terrifying to imagine doing it, not to mention completely immoral.

  I looked across the crowd. No one had noticed me so far. Maybe there was another way. And then I gazed into the distance again and my heart skipped a beat. Two large cars were hurtling down the hill towards the train.

  That had to be Jack and the others.

  If they found me here, I’d be recaptured.

  That settled it. Without thinking about it any further, I bent down. I grabbed the water bottle in one hand and the wallet in the other. I stood up, turned swiftly and walked away from the two young men, still deep in conversation. My shirt clung to my back, damp with sweat, as I forced myself to keep going. I mustn’t look back.

  I reached the gap between the train carriages that I’d leaped over earlier. I glanced across the fields again. The two cars were just a few hundred metres away. They’d be here within minutes.

  Time to go. I scrambled across the coupling that linked the two carriages. Loads of people were milling about on this side of the train too, but I couldn’t see the two cars any more. That was good. That meant they couldn’t see me either. I took a gulp of water from the bottle and slid the man’s wallet into my pocket. I’d check it out later. Right now I needed to get away from the train. A small wooded area marked the edge of the field we were in. Breaking into a run, I headed for it as fast as my still shaky legs could carry me. I didn’t look over my shoulder until I reached the first tree. As I ducked behind it, I glanced round. No one was watching me, except for one little girl clutching a teddy bear. I leaned against the trunk, catching my breath. Then I set off again, darting through the trees to where the land opened out on the other side.

  I was on the edge of another field. Beyond it was a road. There. I would head for the road. With any luck I’d be able to pick up a lift to a nearby town. I pulled the wallet I’d stolen out of my pocket. It contained a student ID card, and a few notes – I didn’t understand the currency any more than I did the language, so I had no idea how much the money was worth.

  I felt a stab of guilt. The owner was a student, which meant that he probably wasn’t well off. Why couldn’t I have robbed someone rich? Something bulky was tucked into the side of the wallet. I drew it out. A slim silver lighter. I slid the lighter and the wallet back into my pocket. As I did so, I promised myself I would get both of them back to their owner when this was over.

  I took a final glance around. I was absolutely alone. I took a step out into the field, away from the trees. A twig snapped to my right. I darted back, behind the cover of the tree I’d just walked away from.

  Another twig snapped. Someone was definitely here. Had they f
ollowed me from the train?

  I held my breath, then peered round the tree trunk. The footsteps were crashing towards me now. My heart started pounding again. I tensed, my whole body alert, ready for danger.

  ‘Ed?’ The voice was a hoarse whisper, but as familiar to me as my own.

  I stepped out from the trees as he came into view. He was stumbling towards me, the side of his face livid with a purple-red bruise, clutching his side.

  Nico.

  I opened my mouth to speak his name, but before I could say anything he slumped down, onto the ground. I rushed over.

  ‘Nico?’ I hissed. ‘Nico?’

  But his eyes stayed closed. He was unconscious.

  13: The Return

  My heart in my mouth, I shook Nico by the shoulder. He moaned, but his eyes stayed shut.

  My heart was beating like it was about to explode. What on earth was I going to do if he didn’t come round? Jack and Ripley and Knife Man couldn’t be far behind him.

  I shook Nico again. ‘Wake up!’ I yelled.

  Nico opened his eyes. His focus was glazed. I looked at the terrible bruise on his face. Nico shook his head.

  ‘I’m okay,’ he said, his voice barely audible.

  ‘What happened to your face?’

  ‘Knife Man hit me,’ Nico said. He was clearly struggling to keep his eyes open. ‘But that’s not why I passed out. Jack gave me a sleeping pill . . . left me in the car. That’s when I saw you by the train.’ He offered me a weak smile. ‘Hey, you did it, you stopped the train.’

  I shoved my hands under his arms and hauled him upright.

  ‘You can’t give in and go to sleep,’ I urged. ‘We have to get out of here!’

  ‘Okay . . . okay . . .’ Nico opened his bleary eyes. He leaned against the nearest tree trunk to steady himself, then blinked. ‘Which way?’

  I pointed across the field to the road. ‘Over there. We can flag down a car.’

  Nico nodded. He leaned against me and we set off. It wasn’t easy. I was taking most of Nico’s weight as he walked, half dragging him across the field. I kept glancing over my shoulder but there was no sign of Jack or the others. As I forced Nico on, my mind went to Ketty. Surely, if she and the others had escaped, they would be free of the effects of the Medutox by now.

  I focused on trying to reach her with remote telepathy, but Ketty’s mind was in darkness. Presumably she was asleep, which seemed strange seeing it was the middle of the day.

  I probed a little further. Sleep is a weird state to watch someone’s mind in. Everything goes very still on the surface of the brain, though there are still thoughts and feelings expressed by the unconscious mind buried underneath.

  That wasn’t how it was with Ketty’s mind right now. In fact, if I hadn’t specifically thought about her and focused on reaching her, I wouldn’t have known it was Ketty’s mind I was inside at all. Was she unconscious? There was definitely a difference between the total pitch black of her brain in this state and the darkness – with glimmers of light sparking up from the unconscious – that characterised most people’s sleeping brains.

  I forced myself to disconnect and looked around the field again. Still no sign of anyone following us. Nico was leaning on me heavily, but at least his eyes were open.

  ‘Hey, Ed, seriously you were amazing. Awesome. You saved everyone’s lives.’

  I could feel my face reddening. I hate to admit it, but Nico’s praise has always given me a boost. I don’t know why he has that effect on people, but it’s not just me. Almost everyone he meets wants to impress him.

  We were almost at the road. I could see a car in the distance. If we got a move on, we might be in time to flag it down. I forced Nico on. We reached the road a moment later. I held out my arm, hoping to stop the car, but it just sailed past us.

  I bit my lip and took shelter in the trees that lined the road. Nico sank, gratefully, against a tree trunk.

  ‘Don’t worry, I’ll get us another ride,’ I said.

  Nico looked up. ‘Where to?’

  ‘It doesn’t matter,’ I said, looking along the deserted road. ‘We just need to get away from here. Then we’ll figure the rest out.’

  Nico nodded. ‘Thanks, Ed.’

  I stood, waiting for another car to pass. There was no sign of any traffic at all. I felt jittery. We had to get out of here as soon as possible.

  As I waited, my mind went back to Ketty. Why hadn’t I been able to reach her? I tried again, but her whole consciousness was still in darkness. Feeling troubled, I attempted to reach Dylan. Never my first choice for remote telepathy, thanks to her being so prickly, but at least she might know what was going on.

  Dylan? I knew something was wrong as soon as I made contact. Whereas Ketty’s mind had been dark and still, Dylan’s was uncharacteristically chaotic. Normally her mind is highly controlled. Dylan doesn’t like letting people in close . . . or showing that she’s vulnerable. But right now her thoughts and feelings were tumbling over each other, completely hysterical.

  Dylan?

  Oh, Ed. Dylan’s thought-speech sounded almost tearful.

  I tensed. This was really unlike her. I was itching to dive in and try and work out what she was thinking. I could sense Ketty was a big part of it. But mind-reading without permission is unethical. I try not to do it unless I have to.

  What’s happened? I thought-spoke

  Ed, I’m so sorry . . .

  Was she crying? I’d never been inside someone’s head while they were weeping before. It was like waves of misery washing over all Dylan’s thoughts – drowning some . . . bringing others to the surface . . .

  A thousand tiny hurts and losses, all bobbing about like debris from a shipwreck. And then the central thought – the heart of her misery – whirled up from the chaos and I saw exactly what was making Dylan cry.

  Ketty didn’t make it.

  What do you mean? I thought-spoke. Panic rose inside me. Where is she?

  I could feel the sobs racking Dylan from the depths of her being.

  We tried to escape by swimming under a fence, into the lake. Cal and I made it out with Tania, but Ketty got trapped. Cal went back to try and rescue her but she was unconscious and he couldn’t move her and the guards were swimming towards them so he . . . he had to swim away.

  I couldn’t take it in. What was she saying?

  We got to the shore, Dylan went on. We’re hiding out in this little farmhouse on the other side of the lake. But . . . but not Ketty . . . she’s . . . gone . . . in the water . . .

  I was still too stunned to formulate a single coherent thought.

  Ed . . . where are you? Are you all right? What about Nico?

  Dylan’s questions brought me back to the present. I suddenly realised another car had almost reached us. Nico was still lolling against his tree trunk, eyes closed. I looked up, my head still spinning with Dylan’s news.

  And then the car stopped. The door opened. In that instant I realised it was Jack’s car and the man leaping out was Knife Man. Too late, I turned away. But Knife Man was already lunging after me, Medutox spray in his outstretched hand.

  I felt the fine mist clutch at the back of my throat. The connection with Dylan was gone.

  In that moment what she’d told me sank in.

  Ketty was dead. That was why I’d only felt darkness in her mind when I tried to contact her remotely. She had drowned in the lake. Alone.

  I fell to my knees, overcome with terrible, consuming loss. I was moaning, barely aware when Jack rushed up and grabbed my arms, pinning my wrists behind me. Who cared what happened now?

  My best friend in all the world was dead.

  Jack shouted at me for about two minutes solid. I didn’t take in a word of it. At last he stopped and let Knife Man drag Nico and me up to our feet. As we were bundled into the back of the car, Nico turned to me.

  ‘What’s going on?’ he said, clearly forcing himself to speak through his drugged state.

  I stared at him.<
br />
  ‘It’s Ketty,’ I said, keeping my voice very low, so Jack and the others in the front of the car wouldn’t hear.

  Nico’s eyes widened and I felt the horror of the loss all over again. I couldn’t bear talking about it, but I had to tell him. I leaned forward and whispered in his ear what Dylan had just told me.

  ‘So . . . so . . . Dylan says she drowned,’ I finished.

  Nico just stared at me. He blinked rapidly, as if he couldn’t take in what I was saying.

  ‘And now they’ve sprayed me again and the connection with Dylan has gone,’ I stammered. ‘But it doesn’t matter,’ I said, close to tears. ‘Nothing matters any more.’

  I drew back. Nico turned away. I didn’t know what to say to him. There wasn’t anything to say. A second later Knife Man bound and gagged us. I sat back, numb, as we drove the rest of the way to the castle in shocked silence.

  Jack left the gags on when we arrived, but he unbound our hands and feet so we could walk back to our room in the castle. After shouting at us when he recaptured us, he was now treating us with contemptuous disdain. When we reached the room, he sprayed us again with Medutox and left, locking the door behind him.

  I didn’t care what he did. I didn’t even care we were prisoners again. All I cared about was Ketty. And she was gone.

  As soon as Jack walked out of the room, I tore off my gag and slumped onto one of the brocade sofas, my head in my hands. Nico sat opposite me. Since we’d arrived back at the castle he’d lost the bleary look in his eye. Whatever Jack had given him was obviously wearing off.

  ‘Ketty . . .’ he said, his voice cracking as he spoke. ‘Are you sure? Was Dylan sure?’

  ‘Cal saw her . . . unconscious underwater,’ I said, not looking up. ‘How can you be unconscious underwater and survive?’

  Nico shook his head.

  After about twenty minutes, Jack returned.

  ‘Where are the others?’ Nico jumped up. ‘What’s happened to them?’