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“PUT ME DOWN!” Trinity struggled in Mirra’s grasp but it did no good. The Tracker was ignoring her and they were quickly moving away from the last place she’d seen Hugh and her dad.
“Gaar-Mine,” whispered Mirra as she stopped.
The others continued to move past them as Trinity glanced around the best she could while hanging upside down over Mirra’s shoulder. Gaar threw a House Servant to the side and shoved Producers out of the way as if they were twigs as he pushed forward like a large, moving boulder. His unwavering determination was impressive but it was making him a target. Bullets hit the pavement all around him.
“Stop Gaar! Watch out!” There was no way he heard her over the sounds of the gunshots and noise of the others, screaming in pain and fear, and then as if in slow motion a bullet landed with accuracy. Gaar’s face contorted in pain or rage as he was knocked backward from the force of the shot. His hands gripped his stomach as his legs gave out and he crumpled to the ground.
“Gaar-Mine,” screamed Mirra, as she flung Trinity off her shoulders. Trinity’s head bounced off the street. She started to sit up and Mirra shoved her back down, the Tracker’s claw poking into her chest. “Stay.”
Then Mirra was gone, lost in the crowd. She started to stand but her vision blurred. She rubbed the lump on the back of her head as she crawled to an overturned carriage, leaning against it until the dizziness passed. She was safe for the moment but the scene before her was chaos.
Brennon was half-dragging, half-carrying Rocket, using a herd of Producers as a shield. Leena was hidden inside another overturned carriage, shooting arrows in an attempt to take out the Council’s Guards. Bo was directing as many of the troops who’d listen to safety as Avions continued to zoom overhead, trying to draw the fire.
Curtis waved frantically at Gaar from behind another overturned carriage. Birdie and Clackers swooped down near the Handler, attempting to block him from view as he dragged himself toward the Guard. She couldn’t sit here while her friends died. She stood, steading herself against the carriage. Mirra was getting closer to Gaar but so were the bullets. They were now aiming for the Tracker and the Handler. Gaar’s body twitched as another bullet slammed into his leg. Mirra would never make it in time.
She climbed onto the carriage and began jumping and screaming. “Over here! It’s me you want! Hey! You!” She yelled anything she could think of but she also tried to listen for the whistle of the bullet over the crowd. She wasn’t sure if it would be too late by the time she heard the sound, but it was the only chance she had. Something hit her shoulder, knocking her to her knees. She blinked twice as she stared at the blood on her arm. She’d been hit. There’d been no whistle. She glanced behind her. Clackers was on the ground. The little Avion crawled, dragging his bent wing, behind Mirra who was carrying Gaar toward Curtis, bullets raining down around the Tracker as she dodged and ducked. They needed more time. She took a deep breath and stood, jumping and waving her arms.
“You missed!” Not really, but they didn’t need to know that. “I dare you to try again.” Her legs were jerked backward and she fell, her forehead connecting with the carriage. Had she been shot again? She leaned up on her elbows, staring at the carriage below her. She didn’t feel anything but the pain from falling. Large hands grasped her ankles and before she could turn or kick she was pulled off the carriage, landing hard on the ground.
“You idiot! Are you trying to get yourself killed?”
She blinked, trying to clear her vision. A Guard was bent down next to her, yelling. He was young and attractive and she knew him from somewhere. “You’re Jethro’s Guard.” She punched him in the face and scrambled to her feet, dizziness almost making her fall, but she couldn’t pass out. She had to get out of there. There was no way Jethro was capturing her again.
“Ouch.” He grabbed her calf, jerking her leg out from under her.
She landed on her knees and kicked at him.
“Stop that!” He tightened his grip.
“Let me go.” She slashed at his hand.
“No. Stop it. Stop it. Ouch.”
No matter how much she cut him, he wouldn’t let go. His face blurred before her. She needed to rest, just a minute until her head stopped spinning, but she couldn’t. He’d take her to Jethro. She took a deep breath, clearing her head and preparing to attack when Sassy broke from a group of Guards and headed toward her.
“Sassy, help me,” she screamed as she sunk her claws into the Guard’s thigh.
Sassy raced over and dropped down behind the carriage, laughing. “Oh Trinity, you’re so much fun to be around.” Her eyes went to the Guard. “Let her go, Indy, before she cuts off something you don’t want to lose.” Her eyes traveled to Indy’s groin.
“Not until she promises to quit trying to get shot.”
She stopped struggling, her eyes darting between the Guards. “You’re friends with him?”
He dropped his hold on her leg, staring at his hand. “Holy shit.” He touched one cut after the other and he had a lot. There were scratches on his face, chest, arms and leg. “I can’t believe anyone would want to be around you. You’re a nightmare.”
“Only to my enemies.”
“I should’ve let you die,” he said.
“I didn’t ask for your help.” Her eyes found Gaar and Mirra. They were safe behind the carriage with Curtis. The Guard was wrapping Gaar’s wounds as the Handler searched the crowd. His eyes met hers and relief eased some of the tenseness in his face. He held up his hand signaling for her to stay and wait, but she couldn’t do that.
“You’re just upset because there’s another female who won’t succumb to your charms, Indy.” Sassy laughed.
“She would if I tried, but that’d mean I wanted her to fall for me and I don’t.” He wiped the blood from his face. “I’d never survive.”
She turned back toward the two Guards. “Have you seen Hugh?”
“Yeah.” Sassy’s smile faded.