Watcher in the Darkness, Book 3: Imprisoned

Chapter 35, Part 1

I closed my mouth then ducked my head as the SWAT officer turned his attention to the driver. Luckily, the cop failed to notice my eyes and fangs. I guess he had more important things on his mind. Fear spiked in Karen's scent as she took my hand.

"Sir, you need to get this car as far to the right side of the road as you can. We're trying to clear a path for emergency vehicles."

As the cop stood to walk away, the driver said, "Hey, do you know how long this is going to take? I'm not making any money just sitting here."

If disdain could burn, the driver would be ashes. "That's not my problem, sir. Stay in your vehicle with the doors locked."

The SWAT officer walked into the mist, then Karen tossed a twenty-dollar bill into the front seat. She and I got out of the cab without another word.

"I don't think that's a good idea, kid," the driver called after us, with little actual concern for our safety.

"Thanks for the tip," I said as I shut the door. I took Karen by the elbow then we made our way through the bumper-to-bumper traffic. We found the sidewalk deserted, and every business closed. The atmosphere grew heavy, like a warzone, as we ducked into a nearby alleyway.

Karen squinted up into the fog. "I can't tell where the fire escape is. It's like Silent Hill out here."

"Yep," I said as though I had a clue what she was talking about. "Here. Get up on my shoulders."

"That's a good idea." I ducked down so Karen could climb onto my back. Once she was situated, I stood then moved closer to the building, one hand on the wall for balance. The cinderblocks were dry, as were my skin and clothes. The fog was like smoke, but without the choking stench.

"Okay, walk forward," Karen said, her voice echoing in the narrow passage.

I did as she asked, but it was hard to not get distracted by her scent. I'd missed it like a phantom limb in prison. I'd caught whiffs of jasmine once in a while in my sleep, only to be jerked awake by painful hope. The heat of her body radiated into my shoulders and the back of my neck.

"Hey, did you gain weight?" I said.

Karen was quiet for a second, then her thighs clamped down on my neck like a vice.

"I didn't mean it in a bad way. I'm just saying. You used to be like a stick, now you have some meat on you. It was a compliment."

"Oh, well, in that case..." Karen slapped the top of my head. "Wait, I see the fire escape. Take about three steps forward." I obeyed then waited as she jerked on the retractable staircase. "Crap. It's rusted stuck."

"Of course, it is. Hold on." I moved my hands from her knees to her feet. "I'm going to lift you up. Go ahead and stand."

I boosted Karen like a Russian acrobat then felt her weight shift to the fire escape. I took a step back, using the shadow of her feet to gauge her position, then jumped. I landed next to her, and our combined weight dragged the stairs to the ground with a high-pitched squeal.

"Goddamn, could that be any louder?" Karen said. "Let's get out of here before the cops come to investigate."

As though on cue, a burst of automatic gunfire erupted from the sidewalk. The sound hit us like a cattle prod then we sprinted up the steps.

"Go! Move, move, move, move, move!" Even as I spoke, I looped my arm around Karen's waist to pick her up. I took the stairs two or three at a time, racing from landing to landing.