Future Threat

26

“No. I’m from the past. Sent to bring you back to it.”

“I’m not leaving without what I came for.”

Outside the door, the sound of boots pounds toward us, and someone shouts. I swear under my breath. “We’re out of time.”

“I only need a minute.” She kneels beside the guy and grabs his wrist, almost like she’s checking his pulse. I don’t think I killed him, but honestly, I don’t even care if he’s dead at this point. I just want to get the hell out of here.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

She ignores me, and the door starts to open. I throw myself at it and slam it shut. Someone outside yells. Now what? I topple over a bookshelf next to the door, spilling its contents all over the floor with a loud clatter. Next, I move behind the heavy mahogany desk and push it against the bookshelf, wedging it in tight. The men outside bang on the door, but they can’t seem to open it. Of course, we’re also trapped in here, so we’re basically screwed.

Zahra’s still crouched beside the guy with her eyes closed. I grab the gun off the floor and check the bullets. I’ve taken a few shooting lessons since my last trip to the future. I’m not an expert and my aim isn’t great, but I know how to not accidentally shoot my foot off at least. I was hoping to never need that training, but I had a feeling it would come in handy. Guess I was right.

The banging on the door intensifies, and the shouting gets louder. I glance back and forth between the door and Zahra, wishing she would hurry it up, trying to plan my next move and coming up blank.

“Are you done yet?” I ask. No response. Dammit. What is she doing? Why is it taking so long?

Something slams against the door hard, making it rattle. The bookshelf bounces back an inch, and I know they’re going to find a way in here soon. I shove my entire weight against the desk, but I’m not sure I can hold it long against a group of determined men. Especially if they start shooting.

Another hard slam. The door opens a c***k, and someone wedges the nose of a gun inside. A shot fires, slamming into the wall to my left.

“I could really use some help here!” I yell over my shoulder at Zahra, while I push against the desk, trying to get the door closed. Another bullet tears through the ceiling, sending plaster raining down on my head.

“Done,” Zahra says, popping up beside me.

“About damn time. Maybe you haven’t noticed, but we’re in a bit of trouble here.”

She pushes against the desk with me, and the door slams shut. But the relief is short, because after a second they start shooting again. And this time, they’re shooting through the door.

02:36

We duck down and press our backs against the desk for cover. When the gunfire stops, I survey the room again. It’s a small office. No windows. No other doors. We’re completely trapped. I might be able to find some more weapons, but somehow I doubt Zahra and I would fare well against the men outside in a battle. The “running out with guns blazing” technique works in the movies, but not so much in real life.

“Any bright ideas, since we’re trapped in here, thanks to you?” I ask.

“I didn’t ask you to follow me here,” she snaps.

“Fine,” I growl. “New plan. I knock your ass out and see if the guys outside will let me go if I turn you in.” I’m not serious, of course. Although it is pretty damn tempting.

“Do that, and you won’t be able to take me back to Aether.”

“Slim chance of that happening now.” I debate calling someone for help. Chris or Adam. Wombat. Maybe even Aether. But I’m not sure any of them could get here in time.

“Give me a minute. I might be able to do something.” She crawls across the floor, ducking down as more shots are fired through the door. She grabs the man’s arm, and her eyes stare off into the distance.

“What are you doing?” I ask.

“Hacking into this building’s security system through his imbed.”

She can do that? How? Whatever. It doesn’t matter, as long as it works. “Hurry.”

More gunshots fire. I debate firing back at them, but ultimately decide to save the bullets. We might need them to get out of here.

There’s a click and a hiss above me, and then water shoots down from the ceiling onto my head. At the same time, an ear-piercing siren starts going off all around us. I cover my ears and duck my head from the sudden downpour.

“What the hell?” I yell, glancing back at Zahra, whose hair and clothes are immediately plastered to her skin.

“I set off all the alarms. Fire, police, everything. And now, for my final trick…” She turns to the wall behind us, where a seam appears in the otherwise smooth surface, quickly forming a door. As I watch, it pops open.

“What the…”

“Secret escape route, known only to him as far as I can tell. Probably didn’t trust his cronies.” Zahra scrambles to her feet and darts toward the door. A light flickers on beyond it, illuminating more concrete steps leading up.

I crawl away from the desk. The men outside are still banging and shouting, but their voices are drowned out by the siren blaring and the water spraying down on everything. I check the man on the ground—he’s still alive, and I guess I do care—and then slip through the door. As I do, the bookshelf is shoved forward and a hand reaches inside the room. I slam the door behind me, and it immediately disappears into the wall again.

Zahra is already heading up the steps toward another door. We have no idea what’s on the other side of it, but our only choice is to go forward.

“Who were those guys?” I ask as I rush up the stairs after her.

“They’re part of the Russian mafia.”