We kept running north, while the mercenaries backed the truck up for round two.
“How do they have the funds to purchase all this gear?” Tetiana demanded, her red eyes closer to crimson with her anger.
“Mercenary work, it pays well,” Brody shouted over the growl of the truck’s engine when it bounced over the edge of the curb—they were almost finished backing up.
“Better than the task force, apparently,” Tetiana grumbled.
I checked to make sure the vet wrap was staying secured on my arm while we ran, then grimaced when I glanced up and saw that a block up there were fewer industrial buildings, and the brick and stone buildings that marked out the beginning of downtown were visible. “We need to head west.”
April clung to Brody’s shoulders as she looked back at the truck. “We can’t—we need to get to more substantial buildings!”
I mimicked her and glanced back. The truck had stopped momentarily—the driver was probably changing gears. “We’re already too close to downtown,” I said.
April shook her head. “Doesn’t matter. We’re going to get flattened if we don’t get cover.”
Behind us, the truck revved its engine.
She’s right. I don’t like it, but she’s right.
“Fine, then we have to aim for alleyways,” I said. “Something narrow so the truck can’t follow!”
We were to the block that had brick and stone buildings by this point.
The truck’s tires squealed as the driver gunned it. The bullet holes had worked and the front left tire was now flat, but the mercenaries didn’t seem to care as the truck roared down the street towards us. The wheel shredded—flinging bits of tire into the air—and sparks shed from the rim that was now dragging across the road.
“There!” Tetiana pointed to a shadowy space between what appeared to be two apartment buildings. “An alleyway!”
I looked back—the truck was roaring after us again, closing infast.
“Go!” I barked, slowing down to let Tetiana go in first.
She sprinted into the alleyway, and I felt pebbles pelted by the truck hit my back. “Brody!” I pushed him in ahead of me as the truck jumped the curb and hit a cluster of plastic trash bins.
Two of the trash cans hit me. I’d braced myself, except they were heavy with garbage, and they slammed into me with the force of a bulldozer throwing me to the ground.
The truck ran over one of the trashcans, braking just in time to avoid crunching the truck’s front bumper into a brick apartment building.
Bested… by a trashcan! If my brothers find out, they’ll never let me live this down.
I scraped myself off the ground and ran further up the street, making a sharp right turn into the first alleyway I found.
Behind me, I heard truck doors open—the mercenaries were getting out.
I pressed myself against the side of the alleyway and peered around the edge of the building.
All four mercenaries—all wearing soft body armor—were prowling towards the alleyway my teammates had disappeared into. None of them were heading in my direction.
The mercenaries perked up when they heard an ominous, metallic thud that echoed loudly enough I could hear it, and they jogged into the alleyway.
Our enemy’s location confirmed, I sprinted up my alleyway dodging around a parked car and more garbage cans. My breathing hitched in worry, and I nearly skid out when I popped out of my alleyway and hit sidewalk again.
I looked up and down the street, but my teammates were nowhere to be seen.
Our alleyways both ran north, so they must end up on this street. I’m faster, but I had to run farther and I checked on the mercenaries. They should be out by now. Was that slam them hiding?
I could still sense Tetiana’s vampiric presence, but my abilities weren’t honed enough to pinpoint it.
So where are they?
