The Curious Case of the Two Dirk Gentlys

42: The Rise of Athos

Perhaps it was a mother's instinct, perhaps it was sheer paranoia, but Victoria no longer felt safe next to the cold, grey ashes of the night before. It felt exposed, like someone could spot them and pounce at any second. She moved them away, quickly wandering out of sight of the road.

"Mummy?" Asked Albert as the pair walked hand in hand throw a field of what she presumed was wheat. He kept trying to get her attention. She fought back her urge to comfort him and ignored the sound of his voice. She scanned around for a route out of the field. They had to keep moving. The drone of the cars still floated in the distance, out of sight but far from out of mind.

"Mummy?" He asked again, tugging on her arm this time.

"Please be quiet sweetie. Mummy's trying to focus." Replied Victoria. There were woods at the edge of the field, a little to the west. She could happily camp in there, it wouldn't be the first time she'd survived in such an area, she'd spent almost two months hiding in an American forest before eventually being picked up a middle aged couple after Blackwing, and a playful two year old like Albert would surely loved to live among the trees.

"Trouble?" He asked nervously.

"Yes, Albert." She sighed. "Big trouble."

"My fault." He grumbled.

"No, no of course it's not your fault." She reassured. "You've just been born into...a complicated world."

She walked hin through the crop, the wet wheat beating against her skin. It was a job neither of them had hayfever. At least the sky was clear and the air was cool. Victoria would consider it a pleasant hike if she didn't  feel like she was going to pass out from stress.

"For fucks sake, Gary, we can't stop at every field you get a feeling about." A male voice complicated.

"We can and we will." Another barked. "Now search the area.".

Footsteps began to crunch closer and closer. Victoria swooped Albert up into her arms, fearing his little legs wouldn't be able to carry him fast enough, and ran at full speed towards the woods. It was an obvious hiding place, she knew that, but she played well in the shadows. It was much harder to capture a person who was sitting in a tree.

"This is because I used my powers to open a dating agency isn't it? That wasn't useful enough for you was it universe?" She panted. Her legs and lungs quickly began to hurt. She'd become rather out of shape since she had Albert. She hadn't bothered keeping up a tight fitness regime, she never thought she'd need to run from the authorities again. All right, time for plan B. Time to draw on her Blackwing days, she had been a project with a vicious streak and vivid memories of the breakout would surely serve her well. Resources were limited, she had no rocks or education centre stationary to throw, but she would make do with the little she had. She placed Albert on his feet by her side and began removing her shoes. She held them in her hands and prepared to aim. Two shoes against an army, what could possibly go wrong?

"Stay close, Albert. Mummy is about to show you how we do things."