The Rising (Darkness Rising 3)

"Yeah, yeah. Now turn around and give me your shirt."

"What?"

"We're trading shirts. I was wearing this one the last time Antone saw me. Then we're going to walk. From this far away, I'm hoping, if we are spotted, they won't recognize me if I'm with you. You're too small to be Daniel or Corey."

He scowled. "Thanks."

"It's a fact, not an insult. Stop being so damned sensitive and take off your shirt."

We switched tops with a remarkable lack of further muttering on his part. I tucked my long hair under it, so from a distance, it would look short. There were more trees in front of us--too widely spaced for us to climb through, but they cast plenty of shadowy shade. On the other side was a playground, then another parking lot. Lots of obstacles in both. My plan was for us to just walk out of the park, as casually as possible, using what cover we could.

It wasn't a great plan, but if our sensitive hearing picked up a cry or approaching footfalls, we should have time to run. They wouldn't use a tranq gun in a public park. Not with a scattering of parents and little kids over in the playground. Or so I hoped.

"Okay, now hold my hand," I said.

Ash looked at me like I'd asked him to swallow live bugs.

"I'm your sister," I said. "If I have cooties, they're the same as yours."

When he stuck out his hand, he looked like he was getting ready to arm wrestle. I took it, and he tensed, biceps flexing, stance widening.

I sighed. "I'm not going to throw you over my shoulder."

He snorted, as if such a thing was beyond the realm of possibility. I was briefly tempted to show him otherwise. Instead, I wrapped my hand around his fist and we set out, a teenage couple strolling through the park.

We wandered, talking. Or I talked, to the point where another couple of guys passing by shot him sympathetic looks.

As we approached the playground, I whispered, "We'll get behind that big slide structure, then hurry to the parking lot."

He let out what sounded like a sigh of relief. We stepped into the park. A little girl stopped swinging to watch us. I smiled at her and she grinned back. When Ash looked over, the girl stopped smiling and jumped off to run to her mother.

"Can you try not to frighten small children?" I whispered.

He grunted and kicked up wood chips as we walked alongside the play structure, moving into the shade behind it. Only a quick dash to the parking lot, and--

I caught a movement to my left and looked to see someone standing about fifty meters away, by the edge of the woods. A teenage guy in a suit. Staring at us.

Brendan.

I'd forgotten about Brendan.

Could I make it to him? Just long enough to pass on a message?

What message? What could I possibly tell him in thirty seconds or less that wouldn't just make matters worse?

Not even thirty seconds--two of the searchers were heading straight for him. Walking fast, as if they'd just realized they had a Salmon Creek kid on the loose.

I ripped my gaze from Brendan. He hadn't recognized me. Couldn't. Not from this distance. Not with Ash. Not when I was supposed to be--

"Maya?" Brendan called.

I didn't look over. Ash did, then swore. He pulled his fist from my hand and grabbed my wrist instead, yanking me along as he broke into a jog.

"Maya!" Brendan yelled.

"What the hell are you doing?" I said, tripping as I tried to pull free from Ash's grip.

"He can't help you and I'm not letting you do something stupid--"