Brain Storm, Cat Gilbert [read books for money TXT] 📗
- Author: Cat Gilbert
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Book online «Brain Storm, Cat Gilbert [read books for money TXT] 📗». Author Cat Gilbert
One of the intruders grabbed Trinity and as she fought back, backhand her, knocking her onto the floor. As he drew back his fist to strike her again, I flung myself across the living room and into him, sending him sprawling. Jonas and two men were locked in a mass of flailing fists and kicking feet. For an instant, it looked like Jonas was winning, but as one man rolled away, I saw a glint of light bounce off the gun that appeared in his hand as he took aim at Jonas. Someone grabbed my leg and began dragging me across the room towards the door. Trinity was screaming, and I watched in horror as the man rose from the floor behind her, a knife clutched in his hand. It was too late. There was nothing I could do to help either of them as I was being dragged, kicking from the room.
“Nooooo!” My desperate scream was drowned out by an explosion. The windows shattered, and I watched, transfixed, as shards of glass went flying through the condo, mere inches above my face. Cries of pain echoed off the walls as the deadly missiles found their mark, the metallic smell of blood filling the air. The hands gripping my leg fell away as an eerie silence settled over the room. I laid still, paralyzed by fear, terrified that Jonas and Trinity might be gone. Then I heard it, barely audible above the sound of my own breathing. Someone was there, moving quietly through the room. I waited, not moving, as he moved closer, weighing my options.
“Don’t hurt me, I’m on your side,” his voice quietly whispered in my ear, distorted and raspy.
Unable to see, I could sense him moving away into the darkness. Disoriented, I tried to shake off the confusion in my brain and concentrate, struggling to make sense of his words. My arms and legs felt strange, and I had trouble catching my breath. Panic began to take hold as I listened intently for clues as to where Trinity and Jonas were. The silence was deafening, and my heart began to hammer in my chest. I started to roll over, intent on making my way to Trinity, only to find I couldn’t move. My arms and legs were unresponsive, leaving me pinned on my back to the floor. My breath came out in ragged gasps as I realized how defenseless I was.
“Stop it,” his voice hissed out from the darkness and then suddenly he was back, hovering over me. “You’re safe. Try to calm down.”
Safe? My body began to shake uncontrollably, and I felt the wetness of tears on my face. Where were Jonas and Trinity? Were they safe? I struggled to ask, but couldn’t seem to make my mouth work right, my lips unable to form the words. Oh God, help me! I prayed as the man moved closer.
“You’ve been tasered. Do you understand me?” he whispered impatiently.
He reached over to brush the hair from my face, and I inwardly flinched, my brain refusing to accept that he was trying to help me. Tasered? That would explain why I couldn’t move, couldn’t talk. The blare of sirens in the distance began to filter through the haze of panic surrounding me, and I could just make out the sound of Trinity crying softly somewhere behind me. She was alive. Relief poured through me at the realization. Thank you, thank you.
“Trinity’s okay. Taylor, do you hear me?” It was Jonas, his big hand closed on my shoulder, giving me the reassurance I so desperately needed. “You need to calm down. You’re all right. Everything is okay.”
“I need to get her out of here,” the man next to me interrupted, and I realized with a shock he was talking about me. “You can’t protect her. I can. It’s what I’m trained for.” I felt him shift position as the sound of sirens neared. “You and the girl coming or not, makes no difference to me, but I’m leaving.”
Suddenly, I was flung up over his shoulder and without hesitation, he began moving to the door. He was taking me! “Jonas!” I silently screamed, still unable to form words, “Stop him!”
“We’re coming,” Jonas snapped out. Suddenly he was there beside me, and I felt the flutter of Trinity’s hand on my back as we moved to the doorway.
“Stay to the shadows,” came the command, and with that, we melted into the darkness, fleeing into the night.
* * *
WHAT SEEMED LIKE an eternity later, I was flopped onto the ground behind some bushes. The feeling was beginning to come back into my limbs, and although I was a long way from moving around, I definitely felt the impact. My abductor suddenly loomed over me, grabbed my chin and turned my face to look at him.
“Stay here and stay quiet,” he ordered, and then he and Jonas disappeared beyond the brush. Trinity crawled over, and curling into a ball, huddled close to me, shivering.
She was going into shock. Even in my confused state, I knew enough first aid to realize that but there was nothing I could do to help her. At least, for the time being, we seemed to be safe. I concentrated on trying to move and found, much to my relief, that with a lot of effort, I could move my arms and legs. The more I moved them, the easier it became, and within minutes, I managed to roll over. Using my elbows to drag myself, I managed to move enough to see through the bushes just in time to catch the sight of flames erupting from what was once my kitchen window. I watched in disbelief as, within seconds, the whole condo was engulfed, lit up like a beacon in the night.
My involuntary gasp alerted Trinity, and she crawled over to join me. Turning to look at her, I could see flecks of blood on her face reflecting the firelight and the tears in her eyes.
“What is going on?” she whispered, her eyes on the flames.
I didn’t bother to answer, as the scream of the fire alarms suddenly tore through the night and I found my attention focused on the exit doors, willing my neighbors out of the building. It seemed an eternity before the doors finally opened, and people began making their way out to safety.
The sound of sirens joined with the fire alarms and the wash of blue and red lights against the buildings announced the arrival of police and fire crews. We watched in silence as the police attempted to sort out the distraught homeowners that were now pouring into the parking lot as the fire took hold and began to spread.
Movement caught my eye at the back of the building, and I held my breath as two bodies separated from the crowd and started to make their way in our direction. Blankets covering their heads, I couldn’t be sure that it was Jonas and company, and decided to play it safe. Motioning to Trinity, we backed into the bushes as far as possible and waited. The two stopped on the far side of the bushes and stood watching the fire for a moment.
“It looks clear. Put these on and cover up your heads,” the man ordered, dropping the blankets to us. “Taylor, can you walk?”
“I have no idea,” I replied automatically, thrilled that I could form words again. Talking was one thing, walking something else altogether. The way my legs felt, I was pretty sure I would nose plant as soon as I tried, but was more than willing to give it a go.
“Trinity, help her up and see if you can keep her standing. It can’t look like anyone has been injured, or we’ll invite help we don’t want.”
I managed to get into a sitting position, and we covered ourselves as much as we could with the blankets. Looking into Trinity’s eyes, I could see the doubt and fear that I was sure was mirrored in my own. She nodded at me and together we began to rise. We somehow got to a standing position, but that was as far as my legs were willing to go. Teetering on what felt like a pair of stilts, I clung to Trinity for support.
“She can’t walk,” Trinity’s voice trembled. “What do I do?”
Within seconds, my abductor was around the bushes and pulled me into his side. With his arm around my waist, he took my weight off my legs and started moving slowly forward. Trinity followed him and before long, we became a group of displaced survivors, joining others as we moved through the parking lot.
“Do you have a plan, or are you just going to drag me around all night?” I asked none too nicely. “If you squeeze me any tighter, I won’t be able to breathe.”
“Would you rather I let you fall on the ground?” He had a point, but still, I needed some down time. It felt like my ribs were being crushed. “We’re headed to my van, but we have to go slow to not draw attention. If we run, someone might get suspicious.” He said it like he was talking to a two-year-old.
“Really?” I gasped, my patience and air running thin. “Then I’m going to need to stop for a minute to get some air.”
He paused and turned me into his chest, putting both arms around me. He smelled of smoke and sweat, but he was a solid surface, and my nerves were shot more than I wanted to admit. I watched the firemen over his shoulder as they geared up to enter the building, looking for anyone still inside,
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