Redemption

Redemption Part 25

While the guard fumbled around trying to find me, Hale yanked the knife from Merali's leg. Merali slid off of the desk and stood shakily; Hale raised his arm as if to throw the knife.

I slammed into Hale's back as hard as I could, jabbing him with my elbows. The knife clattered to the floor. Hale whipped around, trying to hit me. I dodged him.

I slammed my fist into his side. He yelped. He lashed out in a frenzy of punches and kicks; I easily avoided them by backing up out of the way.

It was almost euphoric to see this torturer make a fool of himself.I'd have laughed if he hadn't been such a gruesome sight, with his blood-splattered shirt and blood-soaked hands.

I darted in—I was fast, I'd give myself that—and punched him in the stomach.

A wild punch managed to hit me in the face, knocking bright lights across my vision. Another blow caught my jaw and I stumbled against the desk with a whack. A sharp pain cut across my thigh. As I tried to catch myself, my hand landed in blood and I yanked it away but that made me slip and fall, my head slamming into the floor.

Brilliant agony sparkled across my skull.

A kick slammed me up against the desk. Pain burst across my ribs. I couldn't help but cry out as another kick whammed into my shoulder. I wriggled out from behind the desk, only to have a hard boot stomp on my back.

"I've got you now, spy," said Hale. "I'll teach you to sneak into my office. What I did to Mer—that's nothing compared to what I'll do to you, invisible or not." He ground his heel into my back. "Show yourself! Or I'll just stab without knowing where your most...vital parts are." He chuckled.

"Not without your knife," said Merali. From beyond the desk, he stood over the fallen form of the guard, surprise frozen on her face, her eyes staring, as blood leaked out in rivulets from the knife wound in her throat.

Merali lifted the knife and flung it toward Hale. A few flickering glints before it plowed into his shoulder, even as he tried to dodge it. Hale yanked it out, crying out in pain, and held it at his side, his hand shaking, blood dripping onto the floor.

Merali whipped the knife from the guard's belt. "We're getting out of here. You will tell your guards to give us save passage."

"If I don't?"

"I've got the upper hand. You've seen my targeting skills."

"You missed." Hale sneered but he looked shaken.

"To avoid reprisals. Besides, Dusk wants some friction... keeps the blade sharp." Merali smiled. Orange flickered across his face. "Now do it." He twirled the knife.

Hale looked doubtful but at the same time, he seemed unsettled. His arm shook; I wondered if Merali had hit a tendon or nerve or another wound that hadn't yet healed.

I crawled shakily away from Hale, creeping around the desk. Then, closer to Merali, managed to stand, though I didn't want to get too close to the dead guard.

Hale ordered the guards to allow us out. We stepped into the elevator.

When the elevator lurched downward, Merali's knees gave way and I was just in time to catch him. He was heavy with lean but packed muscle, and I struggled to hold him. The blood made it even harder. I didn't want to hurt him either, but it was hard to avoid touching one of his many wounds.

"Sorry," he said. "Hope I'm not ruining a good shirt—can't see you, so...."

I ordered my com to take off the invisible layer.