Shots rang out, but the guy didn’t fall or cry out; he just kept running.
As one unit, with Bobo shadowing my steps, we crept closer at a crouch, taking cover at the final trees that bordered the open clearing in front of us. Once we stepped out from behind their trunks, we’d be exposed. I mentally prepared for Fanny to order us shot too.
My eyes widened as a thought occurred to me. “Oh no,” I breathed. “Oh fuck no.”
Griffin leaned toward me so that his lips brushed against my ear as he whispered urgently, “What is it?”
I just shook my head, grabbing Bobo’s face in my hands and calling on the no-nonsense command tone I’d used to train him, forever grateful I’d had the foresight to train him for a battle I’d had no idea we’d be heading into.
“Bobo,” I whispered sternly. “Danger. Stay. No matter what, youstay.” Then I pointed to the ground behind the fattest tree trunk around us. “Hide,quiet, andstay.”
There was no way on this green earth I was going to let Bobo get hurt.
More shots sliced the air. The earth shook even more violently beneath our feet. And Bobo looked up at me with dark, desperate, pleading eyes.
“I love you, boy. Now you do as I say. Go.” I tapped the spot behind the tree where he was to hide.
His entire body shaking along with the ground, Bobo moped to the spot and sat to look up at me. His eyes begged me to release him from my commands.
Gulping thickly, I forced myself to look away.
The guy was staggering up from the ground—he must have tripped—while Fanny was yelling, “How could not one of you hit him? Give me that!” She snatched a gun from Don, who’d been holding it like he knew how to use it. Fanny sighted as their escapee leapt over a fallen log, then she pulled the trigger.Bam,bam,bam.
Boom. Another of the soldiers fired a shot, and this one did hit the kid.
He fell forward with a yelp, arms reaching toward the trees that were just inches away from offering him cover.
Griffin handed Layla and me fallen branches while clutching his own. “It’s now or never, guys.”
Without further confirmation, we rose and emerged from the trees, leaving a trembling Bobo behind. But before our posse could reach him, the guy lifted his head to look behind him at the soldiers, all with guns pointing at him. He skirted across the line of us with a quick jerk of surprise, and then he slammed both fists against the earth.
Once, twice, thrice—with cracking booms that sounded like thunder.
Like a sheet being fluffed, the ground undulated beneath us, knocking our feet out from under us. We landed back on our asses—hard. The air in my lungs was expelled in a loud, grunted exhale.
Then the kidroared, sounding like a trapped and wounded animal many times his size. From far away, the flapping of birds’ wings scattered through the air. Wherever they’d deemed it safe to congregate, they decided it wasn’t far enough away.
The trees behind the kid swayed as if they were enduring a strong gale.
Fanny, Don, and the soldiers were all getting back to their feet, revolvers aiming at the guy. Blood leaked from his right shoulder area.
Again, he slammed his fists against the ground. Again, cracks of thunder threatened to rip apart both earth and sky.
His enemies fell again. Fanny discharged her gun; based on a grunt, she hit one of the soldiers.
The buggy teetered on two tires. The guy knocked the earth again, and the cart slammed onto its side, wheels spinning.
Sitting, unwilling to stand—duh—we watched him from out in the open.
“Shoot him,” Fanny shouted while untangling her flowered skirt to lunge closer to him. “Use the tranqs, dammit.”
With his fists already raised, three tranquilizer darts whistled as they flew and stuck into his skin. Two on his neck, close together. Another on one hand.
His arms dropped heavily to the ground, but only caused a shudder. His head wobbled atop his neck.
“He was supposed to be a level two,” Fanny yelled. “He’s clearlynota level two. Use the suit.”
A soldier popped up and stalked toward the kid, pressing some buttons along either arm of his uniform; he lit up with an arcing blue electrical field that crackled loudly.
