He leaned in, lowering his voice. I stayed where I was. He might have his back to me, but he was still paying attention, testing me, seeing whether I'd leap up and run when I had the chance. While everything in me screamed for me to do just that, I held myself still and waited.
"I could use some help," Tesler said. "She's a real firecracker. If she wakes up, I'm in trouble. So how about you help me." He chuckled. "There's enough to go around, if you don't mind seconds."
I waited for the man's cry of outrage. He only hesitated, then looked over at me.
"She'll be unconscious?" he said.
Tesler laughed. "Not if I have my way, but sure, I'll knock her out again if that's what you like."
I felt the man's gaze travel over me. My skin heated, red-hot fury burning through the old terror.
You coward. You goddamn, fucking, low-life coward.
I wanted to fly at both of them. Show them what they were dealing with. Show them I wasn't weak, wasn't a victim. Images flickered across my half-closed lids. That letter. That damned letter. The face of the man who sent it. The faces of other foster families, the men and boys I was supposed to call father and brother. Cowards every one. Preying on the helpless. Only I wasn't helpless anymore. I was--
I shoved the rage b
ack, gritted my teeth and stayed where I was. Just another minute. Another few seconds...
"Let's get you out of there," Tesler said.
I listened as he yanked on the door and waited for the moment when he got it open, when the flurry of activity would distract--
"Shit. That bitch really did do a number on your doors. Put down the window and let me get it from the inside."
"I already tried."
"Just put down the fucking window before she comes to and runs away."
The window whirred. I tensed, ready to spring...
Tesler grabbed the man's shirtfront.
"Wha--?"
Tesler slammed his palm into the man's face, his nose flattening with a sickening crunch, head snapping back, neck breaking. The man went limp. Tesler checked his pulse.
"Did you really think I was going to share with a human?" he said as he threw him to the floor of the cab. "Now that's taken care of, time for the fun part." He turned. "What the--? Where--?"
A growl of rage sounded behind me as I raced across the open field.
LOCOMOTION
TESLER RECOVERED FAST and gave chase, his footfalls so heavy I swore I felt the ground shake. I searched the cluster of buildings ahead, hoping for some sign of Clay, but the landscape was empty and silent.
I whistled.
Silence.
I whistled again, and then it came, the faintest answer off to my right. I turned that way and ran so fast all I could hear was the pounding of my feet and heart. I hated myself for running, but I knew I faced more than bruised ribs and injured pride if I lost this fight.
I caught another whistle, louder and closer now, from behind the building to my right. Clay was coming for me. I glanced over my shoulder. Tesler was nowhere to be seen.
Shit. I sheared off in the direction of Clay's whistle and gave a double one to warn him to be on the lookout.
The building was a small factory of some sort, with machinery whirring inside. There was only one car in the lot. If there were any windows, I couldn't see them.
I slowed to listen for Clay and, yes, to try to sense him, reassure myself that he was close. When I didn't pick up that faint feeling I shook off the unease--relying on a sixth sense was Jeremy's realm; the rest of us had to make do with scent and sight and sound. Only I couldn't smell him either.