Read Online Dark Horizons (The Red Sector Chronicles) by Krystle Jones - Free Book Online Page A
Authors: Krystle Jones
Ads: Link
a pleasure than a necessity for common folk who didn’t have a small fortune available to pay for it. Generally , only government officials and the imm inently wealthy could afford it, which was probably why gasoline was one of the top items pilfered from cars and gas stations.
“All of them,” Paris said. “Though we try not to use these cars except wh en necessary, since gasoline isn’t easy to obtain.”
Gripping the handle, she pulled the door open. The interior was just as sloppy, wi th upholstery that didn’t match. The seats had enough questionable stains and holes to make me wonder if I’d catch something by sitting on them. Rook went over to the driver’s side and got in, ploppin g down on the seat without pause.
Dezyre seemed to have the same concerns that I did. Her petite nose was wrinkled up, and she was eyeing the car with something akin to loathing.
“Sorry it’s not a Porsche, P rincess,” Paris said, giving Dezyre a tight smile. “But it’s all we have, if you want to escape and not face execution for aiding criminals of the empire.”
Dezyre swallowed hard. “I didn’t say it had to be a Porsche.” She smoothed down the imag inary wrinkles in her lab coat. “I’ve just learned to question things that look… questionable.”
I snorted.
“I mean, look at it,” she sneered. “It looks like it will barely run, let alone be fast enough to actually allow us to escape.”
“Oh, it’ll run,” Rook said, pushing a button on the dash. A mean growl ripped through the air as the engine roared to life. He patted the steering wheel lik e it was a puppy. “It’s got a V12 engine from a Lamborghini .”
Shouts drifted up the hallway, muffled through the wall.
“Get in,” Paris said, her features tightening with anxiety.
Without arguing, Dezyre slipped into the back while I plopped down in front. The door slammed closed and my eyes snapped up as Paris leaned down toward the window. Brows furrowing, I found the window controls and the glass pane scrolled down with a screech. “What are you doing?”
Paris’ s eyes glittered. “Someone has to make sure those idiots don’t cause anymore unnecessary deaths.”
“But –”
She gripped my hand, squeezing hard and dropping her voice. “And by that, I mean someone who actually knows about the virus needs to be around in case Aden needs help.”
I went cold all over at the mention of his name. “But the Council already said you couldn’t treat him.”
She smirked. “Since when has the breaking the law ever stopped me?”
Good point. Throat tight, I nodded once.
On the far side of the garage , the door burst open and several soldiers poured into the room, guns ready. Paris held up her arms in surrender. “Go!” she shouted.
“What about you?”
She smiled, though I c ould read the fear in her eyes. “I’ll be fine. Now go.”
“Stop, or we’ll shoot!” the guards yelled behind her.
Rook didn’t take their warning to heart. Without preamble, he floored it and the car shot off with a squeal of tires that left a trail of smoke and strewn dirt behind. I wasn’t ready for the sudden burst of speed, which near ly threw me into the windshield. I yelped as shots rang out, pelting the back of the car while I frantically groped around for my seat belt.
Above the chaos came Paris’ s voice. “You only have a few days !” she screamed, cupping her hands around her mouth from her spot on the floor, where she’d apparently thrown herself the moment they opened fire.
Rook pressed another button on the dash, which was a labyrinth of exposed wires and multicolored buttons, and an exit appeared on the opposite end of the garage . We barreled toward it as the door slid open, scraping the side of the car in a shower of sparks as we flew through the narrow rectangle and onto the open dirt road.
My heart beat wildly in my chest as I pressed myself against the seat, the roar of the engine drowning out my shaky breaths.
“What’s
“All of them,” Paris said. “Though we try not to use these cars except wh en necessary, since gasoline isn’t easy to obtain.”
Gripping the handle, she pulled the door open. The interior was just as sloppy, wi th upholstery that didn’t match. The seats had enough questionable stains and holes to make me wonder if I’d catch something by sitting on them. Rook went over to the driver’s side and got in, ploppin g down on the seat without pause.
Dezyre seemed to have the same concerns that I did. Her petite nose was wrinkled up, and she was eyeing the car with something akin to loathing.
“Sorry it’s not a Porsche, P rincess,” Paris said, giving Dezyre a tight smile. “But it’s all we have, if you want to escape and not face execution for aiding criminals of the empire.”
Dezyre swallowed hard. “I didn’t say it had to be a Porsche.” She smoothed down the imag inary wrinkles in her lab coat. “I’ve just learned to question things that look… questionable.”
I snorted.
“I mean, look at it,” she sneered. “It looks like it will barely run, let alone be fast enough to actually allow us to escape.”
“Oh, it’ll run,” Rook said, pushing a button on the dash. A mean growl ripped through the air as the engine roared to life. He patted the steering wheel lik e it was a puppy. “It’s got a V12 engine from a Lamborghini .”
Shouts drifted up the hallway, muffled through the wall.
“Get in,” Paris said, her features tightening with anxiety.
Without arguing, Dezyre slipped into the back while I plopped down in front. The door slammed closed and my eyes snapped up as Paris leaned down toward the window. Brows furrowing, I found the window controls and the glass pane scrolled down with a screech. “What are you doing?”
Paris’ s eyes glittered. “Someone has to make sure those idiots don’t cause anymore unnecessary deaths.”
“But –”
She gripped my hand, squeezing hard and dropping her voice. “And by that, I mean someone who actually knows about the virus needs to be around in case Aden needs help.”
I went cold all over at the mention of his name. “But the Council already said you couldn’t treat him.”
She smirked. “Since when has the breaking the law ever stopped me?”
Good point. Throat tight, I nodded once.
On the far side of the garage , the door burst open and several soldiers poured into the room, guns ready. Paris held up her arms in surrender. “Go!” she shouted.
“What about you?”
She smiled, though I c ould read the fear in her eyes. “I’ll be fine. Now go.”
“Stop, or we’ll shoot!” the guards yelled behind her.
Rook didn’t take their warning to heart. Without preamble, he floored it and the car shot off with a squeal of tires that left a trail of smoke and strewn dirt behind. I wasn’t ready for the sudden burst of speed, which near ly threw me into the windshield. I yelped as shots rang out, pelting the back of the car while I frantically groped around for my seat belt.
Above the chaos came Paris’ s voice. “You only have a few days !” she screamed, cupping her hands around her mouth from her spot on the floor, where she’d apparently thrown herself the moment they opened fire.
Rook pressed another button on the dash, which was a labyrinth of exposed wires and multicolored buttons, and an exit appeared on the opposite end of the garage . We barreled toward it as the door slid open, scraping the side of the car in a shower of sparks as we flew through the narrow rectangle and onto the open dirt road.
My heart beat wildly in my chest as I pressed myself against the seat, the roar of the engine drowning out my shaky breaths.
“What’s
Similar Books
