Drifting

Chapter 6

The howling wind muffled the cop's repeated shouts of "Stop!" in such a way that Lara was sure they were losing him, but a quick glance over her shoulder revealed he was only half a block away. All he has to do is follow our tracks! Her brain panicked. Stop, we should just stop, just give up—

She stole a glance at Jesse puffing at her side, and put on a burst of speed.

"Wait!" he called as she passed him and disappeared.

Jesse slowed, jerking his head about wildly. "Lara?"

A gloved hand shot out from the darkness and snagged his arm in a crushing grip. He slipped, falling to one knee and hitting pavement with a teeth-jarring thud, the snow providing little cushion. Lara pulled him to his feet and he limped on his aching leg behind her down the terrifyingly narrow alleyway between two buildings. He looked back just in time to see the cop flash by, continuing down the street.

He'll figure it out, Lara thought, but she might have bought them a few moments. The skinny alley was coated with solid ice, and vents and pipes stuck out from the bricks at all angles. Jesse cried out as his elbow struck a dryer vent as they raced by. "Slow down!" he shouted, but Lara either didn't hear him, or ignored him completely, her hand still clapped to his arm.

The skinny alley spilled out into a larger one lined with dumpsters, protected from the driving snow by tall buildings on either side. It was dark and littered with obstacles, but Lara managed to guide them through and out onto another street. They dashed across the white to a metro station's staircase and slid down the first few stairs until they were stopped by a grating indicating the station was closed.

Breathing. Vapor. Pounding.

Jesse sank down on the cold staircase and clutched his knee, groaning softly.

"Are you okay?" Lara asked.

He tried scissoring his leg a few times, letting it swing from his knee like a pendulum. "I think so," he said. "Damn." He massaged his bruised elbow.

"I think we lost him," she said, peeping up over the edge and surveying the deserted street. "We're okay here for now."

"We need to get moving," Jesse said, rising to his feet. Lara didn't like the way his hands were shaking.

She sat down on the steps and put the backpack in front of her, squeezing it for comfort. "No."

He turned back, already halfway up the steps. "What?"

"No. I'm not going anywhere until you explain yourself. I'm done. If you want my help, you need to start talking."

"But Christine..."

"I know," she snapped. "I know she's in danger, that time is a factor, but I can't be of any real help to you if you won't tell me everything. Besides that, it's just not... it's not fair, damn it! I'm tired of not understanding this! I'm tired of your vague bullshit!"

"Lara, just trust me—"

"No. You tell me, right now, all of it, or I'm leaving. I don't care if I get arrested. You have to talk to me if you want my help."

He sighed. They sat in silence long enough for Lara's bottom to feel frozen to the steps beneath her.

"I guess this is as good a place as any," he said, descending back to her. They went down into the station as far as they could, huddling next to the grate. They paused to sip some water and snarf a Cliff bar.

"What did you do to my head?" Lara asked after a time, wiping a crumb of chocolate from the corner of her mouth.

"What do you mean?"