One minute I was on my feet. The next, I was on the ground. Brodie took out Ravana with one punch. So intent was he on shooting me that he hadn't even noticed her or Dan.
I rolled over, not sure what hurt more: the bullet or Brodie's shove. Both were like being hit by a truck. Grabbing my side, I struggled to my feet, bleeding, but somehow alive. It was only a flesh wound—thanks to Brodie.
We were running out of time. More guards were probably on the way. The teenagers on the other side of the glass were frantically pointing at the steel door. Dan focused on it, and the door groaned but didn't budge.
He turned to me in despair. 'It's too big,' he said. 'I can't move it.'
'Stand back,' I told Brodie and Dan.
The glass was obviously several inches thick. Imagining an invisible spear, I hurled it at the glass.
Nothing happened.
'Oh boy,' I said in dismay.
Brodie grabbed a set of keys from Ravana's waist. 'Let's try these,' she said and had the cell unlocked in seconds.
The guy grabbed my shoulder. 'Who are you people?' he asked. 'What's going on?'
'We'll explain later,' I said. 'Just tell us your names.'
'Chad,' he introduced himself with a hint of a European accent. 'And this is Ebony. I think she's my sister. I know that sounds weird, but—'
'Don't worry about it,' I said. 'Weird is our version of normal.'
Chad's eyes shifted to Ravana. The sadist's eyes fluttered open. He gazed fearfully at us.
'No, please,' he said. 'I was under orders—'
'You want mercy?' Chad asked incredulously. 'After hurting us with that probe for days? You want mercy?'
He drew back his fist. I wasn't sure if he had some kind of incredible power—which he probably did—or if he just intended to beat Ravana senseless. Either way, we didn't have time for this, but then Ebony grabbed his arm.
'Don't,' she said, her voice soft. She seemed frail, and I couldn't help but wonder if Ravana had harmed more than her body over the last few days. 'He's a monster, but killing is wrong.'
Chad looked like he wanted to argue but bit his tongue.
'Come on!' Brodie said impatiently. 'Axel, I need you with me.'
I was still bleeding, but doing pretty well all things considered. Taking up my position, I threw up a protective barrier to surround us both front and rear. We created a formation with Dan in the lead. Me second. Then Chad and Ebony and finally Brodie. Ebony still looked dazed.
'We'll need your help,' Chad said to her.
She nodded. 'What do we need?'
'Carbon.'
I had no idea what they were talking about as we headed down the corridor. By the time we reached the end, we'd heard the clatter of footsteps behind us.
'Guards!' I yelled.
'It's okay,' Chad said. 'Ebony.'
She nodded, knelt down, and touched the carpeted floor behind us. In about three seconds, it turned from beige to black.
'What the—' I started.
'Keep moving,' Chad urged. He pointed at the carpet, and a trail of fire leaped from his fingers and hit the floor. What used to be carpet bursts into flames. Guards appeared at the other end but couldn't get past the flames.
'This way!' Brodie yelled.
Finally, locating the stairs, we started for the roof. A fire alarm peeled through the building. People streamed into the stairwell from other levels and started past us down the stairs. Some of them looked curiously at us as we headed in the opposite direction, but no one stopped to question us.
Seconds later, we were back on the roof, and I was gripping my side. It had really begun to sting. Rain poured down harder than ever. It was smearing the blood all the way down my chest.
We've just got to get to the other building, and this will be over.
I had to ferry everyone across one at a time. Ebony was first. Then Dan. By the time I got back for Chad and Brodie, the pain in my side was hurting worse than ever. My shirt was a mess, and the wound stinging as if it were on fire.
Landing back on Ravana's building, the fire door burst open, and two guards emerged. Chad held out his hands and fired flames at them.
Screaming, they fell back into the stairwell.
'No!' I cried, grabbing him.
'Why not?' Chad snapped. 'They'd kill us without a thought!'
'Because it's wrong!' I said.
'Don't touch me—'
Brodie stepped between us. 'This is no time for testosterone wars!' she snapped. 'We've got to get out of here.'
She was right, but I couldn't take both of them at once.
'Take Chad first,' Brodie said. 'After Chad's little fireworks show, it'll be a while before anyone else comes up.'
'Okay.'
I grabbed him by the arm, and within seconds we were flying between the two buildings. I felt sick—really sick—and our landing was less than graceful. By the time I got back to Brodie, I was almost feeling faint. Glancing down the side of the building, I saw the street was filled with fire brigade and police. It looked like the whole city had turned up. I gave myself a few seconds to focus.
Come on, I thought. Just form the platform. Make it strong.
We started across the gap. It was raining harder than ever now, and the pain in my side was so bad I felt sick. The distant bang of a door came from Ravana's building. I glanced back.
The doctor was on the roof, wielding a massive weapon. It didn't look like any kind of weapon I'd ever seen before.
He's going to shoot.
Ravana lifted the weapon, aimed—and then a bolt of fire flew past us. It struck him, engulfing him in flames. Falling back, he screamed, but not before firing the weapon, engulfing us in a beam of light. I felt nothing, but the effect was instantaneous.
The invisible platform under my feet evaporated, and we fell.