Chapter 45 Risk and Rescue
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Zayden glanced at Quinn through the rearview mirror, his eyes intense–then suddenly, he smiled.
He turned to Marcus. “There’s a turn up ahead. Right before it, Quinn will throw that soaked cushion to block their windshield. I’ll slow the car down, and you take Quinn and jump”
Then, as if to case the tension, he added, “Make sure you protect her.”
“And what about you?” Quinn looked at him, eyes gleaming with worry,
Zayden grinned and glanced at her, his gaze lingering. “Did you forget? I’m a racer.”
Marcus shook his head. “No way. That’s too dangerous. There are too many of them. If you keep going like this, we’ll all get hurt.”
“You got a better plan? Right now, this is the best shot we’ve got.”
Marcus narrowed his eyes at the mirror, staring down the car that was tailing them relentlessly. If it weren’t for the timing, he never would’ve let them get this close.
Zayden gritted his teeth as they approached the sharp turn.
“Now!” he shouted.
Quinn hesitated for half a second, then flung the soaking–wet cushion out the window. It caught the wind, expanded, and slapped right onto the windshield of the car behind them.
The water helped it stick.
Zayden made a near–suicidal drift and vanished from view, then slammed on the brakes. “Jump!”
Quinn and Marcus threw their doors open.
Quinn looked back at Zayden, unwilling to leave. “Zayden, you still owe me. You have to live and pay it back. If you don’t, I’ll never forgive you.”
Zayden locked eyes with her, his voice low. “Quinn, when I get back… can you not be so cold to me anymore?”
She felt something cool slide down her cheek–wet, salty.
Then she and Marcus leapt. Below them was a bed of dry grass–tall, tangled stalks likely gathered by farmers to burn.
Marcus pulled Quinn into his arms and shielded her as they rolled into the brush, disappearing into the undergrowth.
The moment he was sure Quinn had landed safely, Zayden slammed the gas and sped away.
The car behind them, blinded by the cushion, nearly drove into the river.
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Chapter 45 Risk and Rescue
#Fineshed
He’d chosen the location well. After about ten minutes of hiking, Quinn and Marcus made it to the edge of
town.
The first thing Quinn did was look for someone to help Zayden.
“Wait.” Marcus stopped her.
He pulled off his sweater and draped it over her shoulders. “You’re soaked with dew. Wear this. It’ll help you
blend in.”
Quinn felt a jolt of dread. “What are you going to do?
Marcus gently picked dried grass from her hair. “Two people together make too big a target. You go find help.”
eyes
turned red, and her scraped, swollen hands clutched his arm. “What about you?
“Can’t let Zayden be the only hero, can I? Just hide well. The Tranquil Pill that’ll save your grandfather is still
on you.”
He said that last part to keep her from chasing after him. Then he slipped her into hiding and ran off in the direction Zayden had gone.
Quinn’s breath came in sharp, shallow bursts as she stared after him.
After a moment’s pause, she turned and sprinted into town.
By the time Quinn brought help back, flames were lighting up the sky–two vehicles burned down to their frames.
Zayden and Marcus sat on the ground, backs to each other, both covered in blood, their faces bruised and battered.
Broken sticks and bloodied knives were scattered all around them.
Quinn ran toward them.
Zayden’s swollen eye squinted to see her.
“Zayden! Are you okay? Where are you hurt?”
She rushed to him, trying to check for injuries–but then her eyes caught on Marcus, who lay with his eyes closed, motionless. Her heart nearly stopped.
“Marcus? Marcus! Wake up!” Quinn panicked, gripping Zayden’s arm, her vo happened to Marcus?!”
“Don’t worry. He just passed out. He’s exhausted.”
Quinn quickly pulled out her phone and called for an ambulance.
trembling. “Zayden, what
While she talked, Zayden’s gaze fell on the scrape on her arm beneath her sleeve. With what little strength he had, he reached for her wrist.
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Chapter 45 Risk and Rescue
“Just a scratch. I’m fine.”
They were rushed to the hospital.
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Zayden’s injuries were more severe than Marcus’s, but Marcus had pushed himself too far–he’d run several miles without rest and collapsed from exhaustion.
“Do you still have it?
The first words out of Zayden’s mouth when he woke up were hoarse, but clear.
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