One Stupid Thing

3:10:103

I duck as a shower of sparks flies in my direction. Stupid firework misfired. John B, Sarah and I are frantically running around the building that we heard Big John's voice echo from, launching bottle-rockets through windows in hopes to create a long enough diversion for the man to escape.

I hurry into the cover of the undergrowth where Sarah is crouched. She lights off a firework, just as Singh's head guard, Ryan, storms through the front door. He tries to avoid the sparks that rain down on him, but with growing frustration, he retreats back through the glass, double-dutch doors.

I hold out my hand and Sarah smacks it with hers victoriously. "Come on," she says, and then takes off. Around the corner of the building, John B props a tall ladder against the side and starts to climb it. Sarah and I rush over to assist him. "We got you."

As John B nears the top of the ladder, a gunshot rings out and flies through the window. Fear spikes through me and Sarah and I duck down instinctively. John B quickly hops down the rungs just as another bullet flies. Nearby civilians scatter, shrieking and running like chickens with their heads cut off.

The three of us hurry under the awning, breathing heavily. "Are you guys okay?" John B asks.

"You good?" my sister asks him at the same time.

I run my hands over my body, checking for injuries. "I think I'm good."

"Yeah, I'm good. That was my dad," John B gasps. The loud crash of shattering glass coming from above us captures our attention, and then out of nowhere, a man rolls off the roof and hits the ground with a thud. He lays there groaning, sprawled out on the dirt. Then, a set of footsteps follow and a second man jumps down, landing nimbly on his feet. "Oh my God, Dad!"

"Good to see you, kid," Big John says nonchalantly.

The corners of my mouth turn up in disbelief. "Holy shit," I breathe out.

"Hi," Sarah says.

"Hi, Sarah, Stella," the man replies, glancing at each of us respectively.

Singh's voice echos menacingly, reminding all of us of the danger we are currently in. "Hey, we gotta go. Come on, Dad." John B takes off and we all follow suit. Sarah takes the lead, running down a flight of stairs and fleeing into the midst of another part of the market.

"I can't believe you just fell out of a window, Dad," John B starts, slowing his pace once we are sure that we aren't being tailed.

"Yeah, well, if I never see Singh again, it'll be too soon. Let's collect our bearings. Get the lay of the land here for a second." We tuck ourselves off to the side, next to another building. Sarah and I stay quiet, but attentive as the father and son discuss our next plan of action.

"Listen. You think we'll have enough time to make it to Solana for the solstice?"

Big John sighs before responding. "Yeah, but I wouldn't get too cocky. I-I still can't make out those glyphs."

"I might have something that might help us." John B reaches into his pocket and takes out a piece of paper. "Listen, this is from Pope, okay? All right? This is a family heirloom."

"Pope?"

"Yes, it is."

"Is he here too?"

"Yes, Pope is here."

"Who the hell else is here?" Big John raises his voice, clearly annoyed. "What did I tell you?"

"It doesn't matter, okay? Listen to me. It's like this thing, um..." John B turns to Sarah and I. "Like, what?"