Page 6 of Remnants
But he doesn’t speak.
He smiles at my boldness, then squeezes the trigger.
It clicks empty.
My heart ricochets, and I close my eyes and draw a breath. That was too fucking close.
Charles sighs, clearly disappointed, then tosses the gun away. “Well, then. Let’s see if you’ll die by not taking out the bullets in time.”
His hand covers my face, and then there’s nothing.
Chapter three
Jackson
GiftedEnterpriseagentsswarmthrough the portal as a coordinated unit, circling around us and blocking any chance for an exit. They’re armed with guns, aimed at either Aiden or me, but I wouldn’t be surprised if any of them had gifts as well. I think we’ve at least earned that minimum requirement for anyone they send against us.
If not, and they still underestimate us, I’ll make that correction now.
Thorne chuckles as the circle closes in front of him, separating us. “I guess that’s all the time I have with you today, Jack.”
I mimic his smile, unimpressed. “Running because you know you’ll lose?”
“Jack,” Aiden urges me again, reminding me that we need to leave. But with Reid unconscious and severely injured and us halfway across the city, it’s not looking good for our timing.
Resting my arms behind my back, I send as many knives from the ground as I can over to Aiden.
My ex-mentor waves his thumbless hands at me, the result of Gordon freeing him from the power-blocking cuffs we’d had him in. “I’m at a bit of a disadvantage now, don’t you think? You can’t call it a fair fight when I’m handicapped like this.”
“I’ve killed you enough times by now to say I’m stronger. I don’t need to prove myself in a fair fight anymore.” My smile ratchets up my face, a borderline crazed look in my eyes based on the visible shivers some of the agents have when they see it. “All I need is for you to stay dead, even if that means cutting you to pieces too small to be put back together again.”
Thorne’s expression sours. His pride doesn’t like hearing that very much. Good. I’d like him to stay so I can end this once and for all. I’ll cut him to pieces so small, there won’t be anything left for Royce to resurrect.
But I have to be fast.
Hold on, little one.
“—ir. Sir. THORNE!” one of the agents yells.
“What?!” he shouts, finally looking away from me.
“He’s doing something!” The agent points at the knives making their way to Aiden inches from the floor, piling up beside him.
Aiden places his hand on the pile before they can do anything, melding and morphing the pure metal into a shield. I keep sending the knives to him. As soon as the blade touches his shield, it immediately joins the rest. The shield widens, growing around Reid and Gordon on the floor and him as well, until he has enough to cover them from all sides.
Perfect.
There are only a few knives remaining, but that’s more than enough.
There’s a popping noise, and then something warm and tacky consumes my hands. I stare at the thick, gooey substance, and try to move my fingers. It’s too thick and heavy. Pulling my hands apart doesn’t work either.
“Ready!” the present leader of the GE agents calls out.
I glance at Thorne, who shifts his gaze between Aiden’s metal barrier and my hands, then meets my stare.
“Until next time, Jack,” he says mildly, and I smile. He knows how this fight is going to end, so he’s leaving while he can.
I’d bait him again to stay, but I really have lost too much time.
