Rush: Chapter 19

I started heading home, knowing that the sun would be setting by the time I got there. I was feeling a better about the whole Lance situation now that I had talked with Guinevere. I would still rather have Lance with me than against me, but I wasn't feeling so mopey anymore.1

I decided to skip dinner. I wasn't feeling too hungry. I needed the light anyway, as I planned to go to my new home to figure out if I could use it to capture the Ninja.2

The workers of the site had left for the day, so I took a look around. I inspected the buildings, pipelines, machinery everything. It was all very intricate and complex, but I just didn't see anything that I could use.3

I was a little frustrated. After all that I had been through, I couldn't even think of a little snare. I gave an exasperated sigh and saw that the sun had nearly set. I would just have to sleep on it.4

I climbed up to my little perch and laid down my blanket. I sat there, lying awake for a long time, still trying to think of a plan. But the only problem was the sniper. Everything plan I could come up with was very risky. I was honestly surprised I made it past him the first time, an I wasn't willing to take that risk a second time. Still, no ideas came to me. 5

Headlights blinded me through the material covering the rails as a car pulled up. I peeked over the edge of the rails to see a man getting out of the car. He looked younger, maybe middle aged. His auburn hair was cut short and pushed to the side. He wore a simple outfit of jeans and a shirt, and his dark eyes shone brightly. He never even glanced in my direction, he just walked up to the front door, stuck a key into it, and walked in.6

He was probably one of the workers, but I stayed awake in case he should come up to my area for whatever reason.7

I put my hands behind my head and continued to think, but still nothing came to me. My eyes began to get heavy, and started drooping. I might have even dropped off for a little.8

Until I heard a faint clicking sound, so quiet it was almost silent. My eyes snapped open, and I held my breath, searching for the source of the sound.9

My ears led me to the doorknob that led from my area to the inside of the building. If I payed attention, I could see it jiggling slightly.10

That door was always locked. I had checked. Which meant someone either had the key or was picking the lock.11

I jumped for my bag as the door flew open. I reached for the gun as I felt hands on my face and shoulders drag me back. The man placed his hands on my face, poised to break my neck.12

"Get up," he breathed.13

"Why? Don't you just kill me now?"14

"Because, you're much more use to us alive."15

"But you won't hesitate to kill me if I try anything?"16

"You catch on quick."17

"I've heard it before. Your friends didn't end up so well."18

I noticed that my attacker didn't carry a weapon like the others. No gun, no dagger, nothing. I didn't think he was concealing one, either, as he didn't draw it on me and put it to my head.19

He sought to remedy this, as he walked me toward my bag. He took his hand off of my head to reach for the gun I had fished out. However, he couldn't snap my neck with one hand.20

I grabbed his outstretched arm with one hand and elbowed him in the face with my other, connecting with his cheek. I reached out for the gun, but he recovered fast and by the time I had it up to shoot, he had kicked it out of my hand.21

He followed up the kick with a hard right punch to my face. I fell to the ground, but wouldn't be beaten. He moved toward me, but I turned over quickly and kicked him in the chin as he bent down to hit me again.22

He recoiled, and I took the time to stand up. I didn't give him a lot of time to think, though. I ran toward him, and he raised his arms, expecting a punch, but I was one step ahead. I jumped and delivered a powerful kick to his chest, landing clumsily on my feet.23

He stumbled backward, and I ran for the gun. I stooped down as I ran, and as I picked it up I could hear him right behind me. I wouldn't have time to turn around and fire, so I kept going, right for the rail.24

I dived over it, and I could hear him vault behind me. As I fell, I turned around, and saw him jumping after me. I shot, and my bullet pierced his chest.25

I landed on my back, hard. The wind was knocked out of me, and I gave myself a few moments to get it back, but the man didn't get up again.26

After I could breathe, I got up, adrenaline helping me ignore my aches and bruises, and climbed back up to my perch. I fished the list out of my bag and looked it over.27

This person was new. He obviously wasn't The Ninja. After thinking for a little while, I narrowed it down to The Assassin, The Agent and The Rogue. I had previously thought The Rogue was Lance, but a part of me wanted to be wrong very badly.28

I thought about my attacker. He didn't seem like The Agent. Apart from the lockpicking, nothing about him was too stealthy. Sure, he probably knew how to snap necks, but I had a feeling a few others in the NLA knew about that, too. He might have been The Assassin, but most assassins in history used weapons, and a little stealthier than he had been.29

He was a good lockpicker, though. It only took him a second or two to get through each door. I thought he had a key, but that was unlikely. That was very roguish.30

I realized I owed Lance a huge apology as I put an X by The Rogue.