The Berserker

Chapter 14

I glanced towards the sound of tapping on my car window. For the last ten minutes, the four of them were going over minute details, even testing the car to see if the parts could be found. They didn't find it, so I waited for whatever discussion they needed to have to finish.

I unlocked the car, allowing Chris to step inside.

"We're good to go. This is the address." Chris put up the GPS the automated voice on, and I ground my teeth at the high volume. Turning it down, I started the car.

"That's not a rental house," I stated, when I read through the steps. "A hotel has cameras."

"It's just for the first week, until the house is ready. Besides, the hotel is in a good location to find F.X. and scout."

I reversed out, swinging around when I hit the road, not bothering to reply. They were the ones calling the shots, and I was just here temporarily. For a while, the other car stuck close to us, following when I switched lanes. My teeth ground a bit deeper each time, until I saw an opportunity to annoy them.

There were two trucks on the highway, two car lengths apart, and I had enough space to zip in and out of them. Smirking, I accelerated, wedging myself in between the two trucks. The truck blared its horn, and I kept in front easily, waiting for them to catch up. Nathaniel was in the passenger seat, and I mock saluted him.

I don't need any more babysitters.

Switching to the other lane, I braked using the truck as a shield. No car appeared in my rear-view mirror, and I sped up passing both trucks and them, leaving them behind. I grinned pushing one sixty km an hour for three minutes before slowing down to the speed limit.

" - crazy!"

I frowned glancing at Chris. His mouth was moving, but I barely heard anything he said. His expression looked petrified and angry. Exhaling slowly, sound started to filter through more clearly.

"ATLA ARE YOU MAD? YOU COULD HAVE GOT SOMEONE KILLED!! ARE YOU EVEN LISTENING TO ME?!" Chris' voice shot up, and I cringed.

Too loud. How long has he been shouting like that?

"Stop yelling," I ordered, the ringing in my ears fading as his voice did.

"What the heck was that?" Chris demanded breathing heavily.

"They were annoying me, so I got rid of them. We'll meet up later anyway."

How come I didn't hear him yelling?

"How long have you been yelling like that?" I asked.

Chris barked a short laugh. "Since you started your crazy nonsense. Hold up." He looked at me shocked. "Are you saying that you didn't hear me yelling? Even though I'm right next to you?"

"Yup. I can block out unimportant noises," I answered with a grin, but my level of concern rose.

I only did that when I was in battle. My body 'tunneled' over something as simple as this. At least tunnel vision didn't set in completely... I thought with relief, as the slight red haze in my vision began to fade.

"We've got about an hour till we hit the border. Seven more till we reach the airport to pick them up," Chris yawned leaning back. "I'm going to catch some Zs."

"They'll arrive before us."

"Some more stuff to clear up," Chris sleepily replied. "Flight takes off later."

And with that, Chris dropped off to sleep.

No sense of fear for me or just pretending?

I rolled my shoulders lightly, stretching out my neck both ways. That time of night was coming again, and it seemed stronger than it had ever been in three years. My mother's song played in my head, fingers drumming to the beat on the steering wheel. It kept me in check, kept me from spiraling.