G.U.A.R.D. Book #2: Aberrations

-5-

    "DUSTIN! CINDY!" Conner screamed. I saw his head bop out of the van and stare down at us.

Wind flew through my short hair, making my eyes tear from dryness. Black dots were beginning to cloud my vision. I could only imagine what was happening to Cindy, with the wound in her side. Cindy. Wait. Where...?

My eyes snapped open all the way, and I wildly gazed around, desperate to find her. I saw the teenager just a few feet away, eyes open wide, and hair recklessly flying in the wind. Her beanie and glasses were gone. I struggled to "swim" towards her, and finally managed to grab her hand.

"Dustin!" she yelled over the wind. She glanced to me, fear evident in her expression. "We're going to die!"

Dang, why isn't she Christian?

I could only squeeze her hand in answer. Then stare at the ground zooming up on us. I squeezed my eyes shut, heart trembling. That's when I heard it. An engine. A car engine. Snapping my eyes back open, with a small sliver of hope, I craned my neck, trying to glance up, and saw another... flying... car. A circular opening suddenly appeared in the bottom of it, and Lee Slade fell out. A backpack was securely strapped around his shoulders, and he wore protective sunglasses over his eyes.

He went into a diver's position to catch up to us. I tried giving him Cindy, but he shook his head and instead grabbed a device from his belt. It looked like a large, metal spider. He speedily put it to my back. Before I could ask what he was doing, four of its legs spread out, wrapping around my shoulders, chest, and stomach.

"Grab Cindy!" Slade yelled over the roaring wind.

Nodding, I hugged my arms around Cindy's back and legs. She looked paler than before, and her eyes were half-closed. It made my stomach knot again.

"I got her!" I shouted.

Slade grabbed me by the shoulders then, and pressed my back to his chest. The spider wound its other four legs around his torso. Then he pulled the string on the backpack, and a parachute leapt out, slowing out decent instantly. Cindy slipped in my arms, and I gasped, clutching at her clothes in an attempt to keep her with me. It was awkward, but I managed to hold on. The silence was almost deafening. I gazed around the quiet air.

"Thanks," I uttered numbly.

Slade didn't answer.

Looking down, I saw the ground closer than I expected, and I swallowed. If Slade hadn't come when he did...

Cindy's eyes fluttered open. She clutched my shirt tightly, trying to get closer. She gazed at the ground fearfully.

My arms began to ache, and my left hand was torture. Slade finally said, "Brace yourself."

I landed first. The spider instantly detached itself from my back. I misjudged the force of the impact and stumbled a few steps. I would've fallen if Slade hadn't caught me by the shoulder.

"Thanks," I said again. Then I knelt and roughly placed Cindy on the ground. Sweet relief flooded up my limbs. I barely even noticed it when I saw how pale Cindy's face was getting. Lee Slade knelt down next to us and touched the wound softly. I asked, "Is she okay?"

"For the most part."

I looked to him critically. "Who are you?"

He glanced to me for a second, but didn't answer. Instead, he gaze back to Cindy.

"Why did you come for me?" I continued angrily. "And who were those men?"

"Guys," Cindy interrupted, voice strained and breathless. "Serious wound over here."