“You rode my design, used facilities I designed, enjoyed what I created, while I suffered. I lost everything. Bitch said she was tired of being with a nobody. Well, now I’m a somebody. People won’t forget me again, and my work will be recognised as mine. At first, I couldn’t let anyone live; you might have identified me. And now it’s the principle, especially with you. You refuse to lie down and die.”
I didn’t intend to do that now either.
Edwin shook his head at me and came closer. “Amy, I’m preparing something special for you. You’ll be remembered for years.”
With that, Edwin walked away. I didn’t hesitate, but got back to sawing at the bindings. Whatever this lunatic had in mind, I wasn’t hanging around. Minutes ticked past, and my skin grew bloody, but they finally snapped. I ripped the tape off my mouth and breathed in deeply. Oh, thank God.
Blood trickled down my wrists, and I saw I’d been cut several times. In my panic to get free, I’d not felt anything, but now I could see the mess I’d made. However, I didn’t have time to wrap them up, not that there was anything here I’d use. Quickly, I unwrapped my legs; the bastard must have used half a reel of tape on them. Then I stood up.
Pins and needles sprang to life, and I barely suppressed a groan. Pain raced through my body, but I’d felt and survived worse. I didn’t rush out straight away; that led to being captured again. Instead, I peered through the glass walls, looking for an exit. There were three potentials on the wall opposite me. One was a set of stairwell doors, the other an elevator and then a second set of stairs. I headed to the closest, picking my way through litter and rubble.
As quietly as I tried to walk, each step felt like a thunderclap, and I was worried the asshole might reappear. I finally hit the nearest doors, pushed, and discovered it locked. Shit. The elevator was out of the running. If I used that, the noise would alert Edwin. But when he’d come to see me, he’d not used it, so that meant the other stairs were unlocked. However, I could barge right into him. I could hide near the exit and wait for Edwin to return, but that would end up in a race with him chasing me.
That was too high a gamble. Cautiously, I opened the door and listened. When I couldn’t hear anything, I walked through.Warily, I peered over the stairs and checked to see if I could spot Edwin. Nothing. I took a step and flinched. My shoes crunched on the debris underfoot. Even trying to be quiet, I made a noise. I didn’t like the look of the floor; it was clearly dirty. But did I risk being caught or an infection?
I slipped my shoes off and tried a few more steps—much quieter. I advanced steadily down two flights, paused on the next floor, and peered through the window. Not seeing movement, I pushed the doors, and they opened slightly. If Edwin walked up the stairs, I could hide here.
My body was shaking with fear and adrenaline. I had to escape, but I understood logically I needed patience. My stomach was twisting itself into knots. Edwin hadn’t shown signs of carrying a weapon, but that didn’t mean there wasn’t one. After a few minutes, I crept down the next two flights and repeated my actions. As I started down the final staircase, I detected movement.
Quickly shoving the doors, I slipped inside, but they made a grating, squeaking noise. There was silence before the noise of running steps. I rushed into an office and curled up in a ball. The doors banged open, and I felt Edwin standing there. I froze, not daring to move in case I made a sound. The doors slammed shut, and I heard Edwin’s footsteps racing upwards.
Desperation riding me, I leapt up and looked around. The far corner held a broken window. Spotting the second exit, I hurried over and nearly cried when that was also locked. Cold air blew in through the shattered window, and I shivered. A slamming noise came from above, and I headed back towards the doors when I heard movement. I ducked down low and scurried off as they opened again. Silently moving, I headed away from Edwin and the escape route.
The wind grew colder and more bitter as I inched nearer the open window. Hopefully, Edwin wouldn’t think I’d comethis close. Then I stepped on a piece of glass, and a pained cry escaped me before I could stop it. I peered up and spotted Edwin across the expanse, staring at me. Edwin began moving my way, murder written on his face, and I backed up against the window and looked down. Maybe I wasn’t too high up.
Below was an open trash bin, filled with bags. Mind racing, I quickly decided. I’d take my chances with the trash bin. I used my shoe to remove most of the jagged glass, then swallowed hard and leapt.
“No!” Edwin screamed as I plummeted a storey down.
The breath left my lungs in a wheeze, and I saw stars. It took a few moments to collect my thoughts. I gazed up into the killer’s disbelieving eyes. Edwin’s expression made me scramble to get out of the trash bin, and I lurched over the side. A sharp pain shot through my ankle, and I staggered before turning to run.
“Bitch!” the scream came from above, and Edwin stepped back. I guessed what he was going to do, and I staggered away.
Onyx
Holy shit, I did not just witness that. Amy, because it could only be her, stood at the broken window with a look of abject fear on her face. Then she leapt out. Fuckin’ jumped. My heart surged into my throat as I guessed I’d be calling Vortex with bad news.
“Fuck!” Venom roared, and I couldn’t disagree.
“There’s a trash can!” Viking bellowed. His three inches on me clearly gave him a line of sight I couldn’t see. Seconds later, the trash can loomed as my bike ate up the distance. Slender hands appeared, covered in blood, and Amy crawled over the side. She landed wrong and cried out in pain. Amy peered upwards, and I followed her gaze. There was a guy who looked positively murderous above her.
Amy didn’t look and ran as he stepped back and jumped too. We were so close now; I don’t know how Amy didn’t hear the bikes, but she didn’t. Without looking, Amy ran straight into the road in front of me. Immediately, I laid my bike down to avoid hitting her. My leathers ate up the damage, but I was still winded.
Amy
Suddenly, I heard the Harleys and hoped the Unwanted Bastards had come. Instead, I saw three men I didn’t recognise. This happened in a split second as I realised I was smack bang in the lead biker’s path. He went down hard, and a roar erupted from the others. One of them was fucking massive. Even more frightened, I took to my heels, not knowing whether they were friends or enemies.
“Amy!” someone roared, but I didn’t stop and kept going. I’d no idea where I was and ran mindlessly. Surrounding me were buildings and some houses, all deserted. Had an apocalypse happened while I’d been drugged? I darted around a corner and continued running, but much more slowly. My ankle was swelling and throbbing, and each step sent a burning pain through me. Footsteps pounded the ground, and I knew I was in danger. I spotted an open door in a building and sprinted for it.
The door closed as the two bikers appeared.
“Amy!” one bellowed, looking around.
“Amy! Vortex sent us!” the second called.
Why would Vortex send them? That didn’t make sense. He’d have come himself to fetch me. No, I didn’t trust these strangers. They moved on, clearly searching. I waited until they’d disappeared and then slipped out. Now four men were hunting me. When had I become so fucking popular?
Warily and keeping low, I crept along the street, looking for any sign of life. There was none. I shivered in the cold air and realised my feet were freezing. Shit, I was barefoot, and I’d left my shoes back in the trash bin. I started hurrying to a house when I spotted a hole in the ground. Confused, I stopped and looked. There was literally a sinkhole in the road. Was I in Black Hawk?
