The Skylar Experiment : Dead Ending (second draft)

76. The Lightning Strike

LUC 

THE THREE OF US sprang east under the rainy sky, jumping across hills. Riley stayed ahead of us no matter how much I called, her loose hair a ribbon filled with static amid the trees. I could tell she tried to slow down based on the way she dragged her heels into the muddy snow but each attempt was sloppier than the last. If anything, trying to slow down was more bone-breaking with her than holding the pace.

I just hoped she wouldn't catapult herself into the furnace or whatever else could be waiting for us there.

The mountain road and the town roundabout came into sight downhill as we approached the blazing pit. My back pocket weighed heavy with the inhibitor. Eventually, I heard the gutted screams and the crackling of fire and heavy objects being hurled. There was gunfire, a motherload of it, barely covering the screams.

Firelight infiltrated through the treetops, and I knew we had to stop.

I signaled at Ray who matched my speed. He flicked his chin worriedly at Riley barreling down like a mad rhino. I pulled my energy and focused it on her outline. Not a second later, her body was yanked back several feet just before she reached the open, like an elastic had snapped. She fell on her butt.

Serves her right.

"You could have warned me sooner, jerkface."

I stunted my pace and walked past her angry little frame. "You ran out of time. If I wanted roast chicken, I'd go to the grocery store."

Ray helped her to her feet. She mumbled a phrase under her breath while dusting her jeans. Another strike of lightning hit the edge of town, sending a wave of dry wind our way. All I could think of, despite the pile of shit going on, was that I didn't want anyone else to know of Riley's presence tonight. I didn't want to find out what Lauren would do with her, and how I'd respond if it boiled down to it.

"You both stay here. Ray, you'll help me corner her if I can't on my own." Lord knew I'd likely need it. "Try not to be seen, especially by those hunters. I'll go down to the street and talk to them before I get in." I searched both of their gazes, hands in my sweatshirt pockets. "Okay?"

Ray nodded. "If we actually catch her, you know this is going to be..."

"—I know. I can't do both at a time. Hopefully, it'll be worth the trouble." I glanced over at Riley. "You stay with him, all right? Watch out for stray bullets."

I took her stumped silence for a yes. The best way to make sure she'd stay put was to not scare her into playing hero to save me. For once, we shared a trait. 

I shook the stiffness off my limbs and circled the meadow that reeked of charred metal. The visibility was little to none with grey-black smoke so thick it drew out a fit of coughs from my lungs. A few lifeless bodies were strewn across the ground. When I loomed into the exposed street, I spotted nothing but demolition where the fire had already razed through properties.

Hunters packed the street, unloading more weapons from nearby minivans and cars. I heard radios messaging back and forth.

"Montgomery!" a stranger yelled, waving his arms. I blurred out of my spot and reappeared in his face.

"The one and only... oh, wait."

He gave me a flat, petulant look. "She's running around the whole place and wrecking everything. We have seven injured, three dead as we speak."

"Did she say anything at one point? What does she want?"

"She's demanding a flash drive she thinks we own," the man said as he was leading me to a truck on the side of the road. People were surrounding it, grabbing firearms and distributing them. "And she said she'll go through us one by one until we give it to her."