INDY
“You ruined everything!”
Mack’s fist glances off my chin, knocking my teeth together. The taste of warm copper fills my mouth. “I hate you!” he shouts. “I hate you!”
Before he can strike again, I dodge, and his blow whiffs past my ear. I snap my left hand out, palm first, aiming for what I think—I hope—is his neck.
Flesh connects with flesh.
Mack makes a strangled, gasping sound.
Despite the dire circumstances, my lips bare back in a satisfied smile.
His hot breath comes in quick bursts, clueing me in to his location. With the flashlight somewhere behind me, its beam pointing in the opposite direction, the tunnel is nearly swallowed in darkness. Though Mack is right in front of me, I can’t see him. Can’t anticipate his moves. I don’t know where the syringe is, or the gun he had tucked in his waistband.
“Fuck you!” Mack snarls. “You fucking cripple! I hope you die down here!”
Maybe in the past, his words might have stung.
But now?
I’m glad I have my prosthetic. Because if I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have been able to pop it off and slip out of my bindings. My hands would still be tied behind my back, which would have made this fight more difficult.
Not impossible; no.
I could still kick. Head-butt. Use the force of my body to knock Mack down.
But with my arms free…
One hand is all I need.
A soft rustle gives his next move away, and my fist snaps out again. Lower this time, aiming for his sternum. If I can hit him hard enough, it could be a killing blow. His heart could stop and this would all be over.
I hit him again, and he staggers back.
Feet scramble on loose rock.
Something heavy clunks against the tunnel wall.
Mack yelps.
“Give it up,” I snarl. “Or Iwillkill you.”
“No!” His voice pitches up to a whiny shout. “You have to die! Both of you!”
Following the sound of his voice, I lunge towards him.
Rocks slide beneath my feet, but years of training keep my balance steady.
I can hear Mack scrambling to get up, so I leap forward, snapping my leg out in a powerful front kick.
Once again, I hit flesh.
Mack howls.
Though I can’t be sure, I think I heard something crack.
“Give it up,” I repeat. My voice is deadly calm. “You can’t win. All you’ll end up doing is getting yourself killed.”
