Kelly slumped behind a dumpster, staring up at the night sky. There was no way to make sense of the past twenty-four hours. She had been questioned by Hornets, grown a horn, run at incredible speeds and developed mind-reading powers. Her mother had been taken by the Kingdom Guard, and they wanted Kelly too.
Kelly wiped away tears. She had to banish the fear that was threatening to overwhelm her. Her mother was all she had left in the world. It’s all my fault, she thought. All my stupid fault.
But in the depth of her despair, Kelly discovered there was a little something buried deep inside her – determination. I have to keep going. I have to keep going so I can get my mum back.
Where could she go? She had no chance of getting into her apartment building undetected. Anyone she was friends with on LifeScape was probably being watched. She toyed with the idea of going to Mr Wong, but she wasn’t sure if his dislike of the KG extended to harbouring ‘persons of interest’.
She thought about her staff locker at Clyde’s. Inside was a change of clothes, a little cash and some muesli bars. She knew the building code too, as sometimes she had to lock up after hours.
It was the best – only – idea she had. Rising, she stretched her legs and gave herself a shake. Then, careful to avoid busy streets, she made her way through the city to Clyde’s back entrance.
The carpark behind the shop was well lit, and above the door security cameras swivelled back and forth. If she was quick, she could run in when they were both turned away and open the door. She figured she had about twenty seconds total. Not enough time for a normal person, but as Kelly was growing to realise, she was anything but normal.
Kelly readied herself, and as soon as the cameras pivoted away, she took off across the carpark. The cameras reached the end of their sweep and began to turn inwards as she slammed against the door and typed in the code. The panel shone green and she pushed through the door, then quickly closed it behind her.
The shop was dark, but Kelly knew it well and made her way along a short corridor to the locker room. At that moment, her locker seemed like a treasure trove.
She changed out of her uniform into trackpants and a poncho – much easier to run in. There was an old cashcard which wasn’t personalised to her, so she slipped it into her pocket. She wasn’t sure how much cash was on it, but she could use it without being traced.
Kelly unwrapped a muesli bar and stuffed it into her mouth – she hadn’t realised how ravenous she was. It was only as she finished up the final crumbs that the thought reached her, as clearly as if someone had spoken.
There’s someone inside.
She spun about, but there was no one there. Her horn tingled – was it like a telepathic antenna?
‘It might be her.’
She definitely heard the words spoken this time, the voice coming from outside.
‘Call for backup?’
‘No. Resources are already spread thin. If it’s her, the three of us can handle her. She’s just a young girl.’ Even if she is some kind of freak, came the extra thought the Hornet didn’t utter.
It was three men, somewhere nearby. When Kelly concentrated, when her own heartbeat wasn’t threatening to deafen her, she could sense roughly how far away they were and in what direction.
Two were at the back entrance, one at the front.
‘Cover both entrances, then we enter.’
If Kelly stayed in the locker room, she’d be like a rat in a trap. She raced down the corridor and out into the main area of the supermarket. She whacked into a discount display in the dark, sending cans clattering to the floor.
‘Let’s get some lights on.’
The overhead fluoros flicked on, starkly illuminating the interior of the supermarket. Footsteps sounded behind her, and the front door of the shop opened. Kelly was completely exposed, with no exit available. She put some distance between her and the spilled display, heading down the cereal aisle.
‘Spread out!’ called a voice, which she recognised as belonging to Raske, the Special Officer who had questioned her earlier.
‘Show yourself!’ yelled a man, whose voice she didn’t know, from near the check-outs.
Kelly ducked into a cross-aisle, past the cans of tomato soup. Closing her eyes for a moment, she tried to feel the other presences in the shop. Someone entered the aisle she had just left, and started moving along it towards her. His thoughts were dark, and his whole vibe was ugly.
I could be at home watching the game. I’m gonna make her pay for ruining my evening with the boys. Maybe I’ll pick her up by the neck and squeeze…
Kelly ducked into the aisle parallel to his. Once she was alongside him, she braced herself against the floor – then flung herself at the shelf and sent it crashing down into the next aisle.
The metal framework fell on an officer with a muscle-puffed chest, jars of chili sauce breaking all over him as he cursed.
The man, pinned under the shelf, was floundering. For a moment they stared at each other, and Kelly saw his badge said Officer Tony Bottinger. He had suffered lots of small cuts, and now chili sauce was getting into them. She couldn’t help but smirk.
‘What are you laughing at, you blasted unicorn?’ Bottinger shouted. ‘I’m going to stuff your head and hang it on my wall!’
Running feet approached, and Kelly raced away down the aisle and around a corner. Unicorn? As far as nicknames went, she didn’t mind it.
‘Leave him there!’ she heard Raske snap. ‘If we stop, she’ll get away.’
‘What?’ said Bottinger in disbelief. ‘Get this thing off me!’
‘We’ll come back for you, you oaf,’ replied Raske.
‘But chili sauce is getting in my eyes!’
Raske’s thought floated to Kelly. So this girl has some fight in her, eh? Maybe I can use Delgado as bait.
Kelly smiled. She was surprised that she could smile in such circumstances, but her ability to hear thoughts made her feel powerful.
Delgado went clomping off, and she could sense that he was making noise deliberately.
He’ll draw her out, thought Raske. I’ll move quietly and keep him in sight… and stun her when she attacks him.
Kelly padded up the aisle next to where Raske was sneaking along. She came to the toy section and spotted string bags full of marbles. Carefully, she took one down, then stooped to ground level so she could see Raske’s feet under the shelf.
Delgado’s clomping grew more distant, and Raske quickened his steps to keep his subordinate in view. Grinning, Kelly opened the bag and poured the marbles out under the shelf. Raske gave a yelp of
surprise as he lost his footing and smashed down on his back, knocking the wind out of himself.
Kelly whipped around the corner into the fresh food section and picked up a watermelon. Raske blinked up at her and tried to draw his stinger, but Kelly brought the watermelon down on his head. Pink pulp exploded everywhere, and Raske fell back, unconscious.
Delgado’s thoughts sounded panicked. Kelly remembered that he was young, and could not have been a Hornet long. She raced for the check-outs, grabbed one of the microphones and flicked it on.
‘Clean up in Aisle One,’ she said, her voice booming through the store. ‘Watermelon mess in Aisle One.’
‘Come out with your hands up,’ called Delgado in a wavering voice.
‘I don’t think so, Officer Delgado,’ she broadcast, and sensed a tremor go through him at the sound of his name.
I need backup, he thought.
Kelly dropped the mic. Backup could get here within minutes. There was no more time for fooling around.
She sped from the check-outs and rounded a corner to see Delgado fumbling for his comstick. When he saw her, he forgot the stick and raised his stinger towards her shakily.
‘Don’t move. I have you in my sights.’
Kelly tossed her golden mane, her horn glistening in the harsh lighting, then sped off down another aisle. The zzz! zzz! of electrical bolts passed through the air she had just vacated. She tore around the shop in a few seconds and came back at Delgado from behind. He was frantically looking back and forth, but he couldn’t suspect she had moved that far, that fast. He turned just in time for her to careen into him and send him flying.
Delgado’s stinger flew from his grip and bounced, shooting a bolt into a sprinkler above and setting it off. He landed in a daze, water raining down on him.
Kelly ran for the front door and wrenched it open.
‘All units! Suspect fleeing Clyde’s on foot!’
Bottinger, covered in sauce, staggered towards her with eyes blazing.
‘You can’t escape us, girl! We’re everywhere! Don’t you know that?’
‘Sorry you missed the big game tonight,’ said Kelly, and enjoyed the look of surprise in his eyes. ‘Say hi to the boys for me.’
She dashed into the carpark, the sound of zzz! zzz! following her into the night.
