She stopped mid-threat. Clearly, it was too much of a strain for her to go on.
As they reached the end of the hall, Kinzer threw himself against a door directly before them.
The frame cracked as it popped open. He landed on his feet but stumbled, scanning the room for an exit.
Maggie tucked close behind.
A window on the other side of the room assured him they had a chance of getting out alive.
He raced for their escape, opened the window, and checked outside.
They were three stories up. A concrete ledge wrapped around the building. It was wide enough so they could walk across it.
“Go ahead,” he said, pulling his head back in and urging Maggie to hop out.
“Are you insane?”
A laugh came from behind them.
Kinzer turned to see the monstrous higherling standing in the doorway, a wicked smile on her sweat-covered face.
Four men rushed past her.
Maggie didn’t hesitate. She slipped out the window and maneuvered onto the ledge.
Kinzer started out, but one of the men snatched his collar and yanked him back inside.
He threw Kinzer on the concrete floor and kicked him in the stomach.
As he started to get up, another of Raya’s men grabbed him, lifted him up, and bashed his head against the wall.
Once… twice…
“No, no!” Raya snapped. “I want the clipped. Get the girl! We need to find out who sent them.”
The man released Kinzer and let him fall onto the floor.
The blows to his head were so intense that he was temporarily immobilized.
The men left him and headed out the window.
Raya stood over Kinzer, a large grin expanding across her face.
***
Maggie crept along the side of the building, her feet angled so she could stay on the ledge.
Three of the men tailed behind her. The last had retreated back into the building, she presumed to assist Raya with Kinzer.
Is he alright?
She didn’t have time to worry about that. She just had to get herself out of there.
Now’s where you use all that training.
White wings erupted out from one of the men’s back.
She wouldn’t have time to strategize.
