Winter's Edge

Chapter 23 - Junked

Abby

IAN covered the three-mile distance in record time and brought the car around the last corner squealing tires. We came to an abrupt stop a block away on a side street, out of view of the junkyard. Seconds later, we were out of the car, racing down the street.

We passed the Koenigsegg and Ian's eyes went wide with outrage. "He brought the Koenigsegg to get parts?"

I shrugged with a grimace. "Small parts today, I guess. And he's kind of a crazy driver, too."

His brow pulled together, pained as we turned the corner.

When we reached the back wall, he hoisted me over, then jumped up and came over it himself.

I glanced at him with a finger to my lips.

The clangs of metal on metal sounded from a nearby row of cars, but there were no forklifts nearby making the noise.

I pointed toward the backside of that row. "You go that way. I'll come around from the other side."

He nodded. "Be careful."

I returned his nod then slipped away around the edge of an old brown Oldsmobile missing its tires and bumpers. At its edge, I got a better look through a row of cars. Something flew by a few rows in front of me and someone let out a grunt.

Picking up my pace, I stalked toward the sound.

The metal clanks and grunts grew louder.

As I rounded the last car, a Hunter ripped the door off a car and smashed it into Lena's head insanely hard. Lena let out a scream on impact, then hit the ground, unconscious.

I gasped. It took a lot to knock out someone who had powers.

Artie came flying through the air from between two cars and kicked the Hunter square in the back. He hit the ground, sliding hard into a nearby Pontiac Vibe.

I rushed toward Artie as another Hunter came out behind him, weapon at the ready. Just as his finger twitched on the trigger, Ian came from the side, body checking him. He hit the ground hard and smashed against a car. He was out. No way he had powers. But the one who'd hit Lena definitely did, and he was already on his feet again, rushing Artie.

I changed direction to intercept him. He launched a kick at Artie, but I managed to latch on to his wrist and use my momentum to pull him off course. He missed Artie by a few feet before spinning out of control at my counterweight. I hit the ground and rolled away, back up on my feet a second later.

The Hunter lunged into the air from the ground, a metal pipe in his hand now. He was about to come down on me hard until Ian kicked him out of the air. The man slammed into the side of a Suburban, crunching its side, then crumpled to the ground. He wasn't unconscious, but he wasn't in any condition to get up right away either. Ian had used his powers despite warnings to only use them as a last resort. Joseph would not be happy about that.

When I turned to check on Lena, Artie had already scooped her from the ground. He ran for the back of the junkyard. I grabbed Ian's arm and yanked him that direction.

Up ahead, Artie jumped the fence, clearly using his powers. What was it with everyone wanting to pull more Hunters today?

I jumped on the hood of a Honda, then to its roof, and leapt for the fence. Something grabbed my foot, slamming me onto the trunk of the car. My head reeled for a moment, my vision shaky and awkward.

The butt of a black rifle came at my forehead.

A foot connected with it before it could reach me, and the gun jerked off to the left of my head.

Ian disarmed the man then threw several punches at him. By the time I'd gotten to my feet, Ian had locked the Hunter's arms up and headbutted him. The man fell unconscious to the ground.

As my equilibrium settled, my vision leveled out. "Come on." I jumped over the fence and Ian followed, landing beside me. We ran the block and turned down the side street toward our car. Artie and Lena's Koenigsegg disappeared around the corner down the street.

I checked for Hunters as we reached the Taurus. "No need to split up. They haven't seen the car."

Ian nodded and we climbed in.

Artie's voice came over our radiophones. "Time for evac."

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