The Rising (Darkness Rising 3)

"Hayley's gone," Ash said. "So how about we go, too. Before she distracts everyone for no reason."

Ash led the way and we crawled out across the rafters. Behind me Derek balked, but Chloe urged him on and his dad told him to just take another rafter if he was worried. He did.

I don't think Derek's weight would have made much difference. There were six of us, putting about eight hundred pounds of weight on a very old piece of wood. When it creaked, I swung over to the one Derek was using. Ash picked up speed and got to the window first. Daniel helped him clear the glass. Then Ash leaned out, peering into the night. When he gave the all clear, we started through. Ash went first, with me right behind. Daniel stood watch and made sure we waited our turn so we didn't overburden the branch.

As we crawled out, I could hear a commotion to the left--Hayley running through the woods, making enough racket to be a half dozen of us. Somewhere below, a shadow tore after her.

As Hayley crashed through the trees, we continued along. Ash and I swung to the next tree. Daniel followed. So did Chloe. Corey almost missed, but made it. Mr. Bae didn't try--just whispered for us to go ahead, spread out, and he and Derek would get on the ground as soon as they could, and travel that way.

At the next tree, I decided we should split up, Chloe and Corey taking the easy route. Daniel, Ash, and I crossed another tree, then another.

"Okay," Ash whispered. "We're spread out enough. Time to go--"

His gaze shot to the side. Before I could look, he knocked me so hard that I'd have fallen if Daniel hadn't grabbed me. Something hit Ash in the shoulder. He toppled. We tried to grab him, but he was a dead weight, and he fell from our hands, tumbling down, striking one branch before hitting the ground.

When I tried to go after him, Daniel caught me. I swiped at him, but he held me firm.

"It's a tranq dart, Maya," he s

aid.

"I don't care. He--"

Daniel clapped a hand to my mouth as a dark-suited figure slipped from the trees and crouched beside Ash's sprawled body. The figure pressed a hand to his neck and nodded.

Daniel tugged me up and motioned to the branch above. I hesitated. Then another figure joined the first below, both armed, and I realized any rescue would turn into a group capture. So, after one last look down, I steeled myself and escaped with Daniel.

FORTY-FIVE

DANIEL AND I MOVED carefully, crossing to the next tree then waiting there until they finished scanning the treetops and decided Ash had been alone. They carried him away and we continued on.

Now and then I'd hear a tree limb creak, but that was it. Then I caught the faint sound of footfalls on the ground. When I peered over I could make out the pale shape of faces moving in the forest. Two of them. I squinted.

"Derek and Kit," I whispered.

Daniel nodded. We were about to head away from them when I heard the crackle of undergrowth. Derek froze, then yanked Kit down. Their faces vanished, their dark clothing blending into the night.

Daniel and I watched as two figures stepped through a cluster of trees. Men dressed in camouflage gear, carrying rifles. Tranquilizer rifles, I hoped. They were heading straight for where Derek and Kit were hiding.

I tensed, but they just kept looking around, not calling for backup, unaware of how close Derek and Kit were.

Daniel had tensed, too. His jaw worked, as if he instinctively wanted to use his shout. Of course he couldn't. Invoke his power and every Cabal guy within a kilometer radius would come running.

I laid my hand on his. "It's okay. Derek knows they're there."

Daniel nodded and rubbed my thumb. I looked down at my hand on his. There was a time, not long ago, when I wouldn't have done that. Rafe was right. Something had changed, and I don't think either Daniel or I had even realized that. It was the little things, like this, reaching out to reassure each other, the chaos giving us an excuse.

I leaned down to focus on the men below. If they walked under us, we could have leaped on them. They didn't. But they were still heading straight for--

Derek pounced, slamming one guy to the ground before his partner had time to react. I heard a sizzle, and a bolt like lightning flew from Kit's fingers. The other guy stumbled back. Kit took him down with a right hook. Beside him, Derek let out a hiss of pain. I didn't see what had happened--presumably his opponent used his supernatural powers.

Derek flipped his target onto his stomach and pinned him there as Kit fought with his. At a thump from below, I glanced over to see that the spot beside me was empty. Daniel was on the ground, running toward them. He grabbed the guns and threw them aside, then helped Kit subdue his target.

As the fight ended, I crawled closer. I stayed in the tree, though, where I had a better vantage point if anyone else came. They had just gotten both men secured when Corey tore from the woods.

"I missed the fight?" he whispered. "Damn."

Derek wheeled on him. "Where's Chloe? You were supposed to be--"