every step. Must not be broken after all since I can hobble on it but the pain is nothing to snoot about. Before I even think about complaining I hear a gunshot. I jump and glance at Cain. He looks around to see where it could have come from.
I’m trying to focus on Merrick but also look for a shooter and listen to Cain for instructions and deal with the pain in my leg. I see nothing. We hear another shot. Since I’m paying attention it sounds far away.
“Oh no. It’s them. They must be already outside looking for us. What the heck are they shooting at?” Cain says getting agitated and we begin to walk again.
Then a black blur whips out from behind us to stop about ten feet in our path. Dang it! Can we get a friggin’ break. At this point a Lighter is a Lighter is a Lighter. I’m just sick of them and their horrible timing.
Then a thought. Merrick and them must have seen a Lighter too, maybe this one, or they wouldn’t be shooting.
Cain pulls me behind him and I have to grab the back of his shirt to keep from falling over. I’m so weak and tired. If I have to physically fight, I know I’m done for. Even though Miguel’s classes seem to have been helping.
“So. You think you can keep your little mate away from Crandle?” The Lighter smirks at us. “Oh, wait. You’re not the Keeper. Hmmm. I wonder does your Keeper know you are out canoodling with a mere human, Sherry?”
The sound of my name of the Lighters tongue brings bile to my mouth. I hold it down but say nothing. No point in provoking, especially when I can’t back it up physically. Cain on the other hand...
“Shut it Lighter. Move it or lose it,” he cocks the gun as he barks the order.
“Oh human. You won’t kill me with your blast stick. But even if you could, what I do is for the good of my people, my species. Whether you kill me or not is of no consequence. There will always be another one to take my place, always one to come after you until you surrender. Just give me the girl and I’ll let you die quickly instead of slowly.”
“Not likely.”
“Shame to hear that. For you. For me, I think I’ll rather enjoy this.” And he smiled wickedly as he said it but I thought Merrick and Jeff said only the Taker could show emotion.
Another gunshot rings out and then in a blur the Lighter is gone. I see a line of movement and glance over Cain’s shoulder to see my family. Almost all of them. The ungifted, the Keepers and the Specials alike all marching to our rescue. Guns, baseball bats, sticks and golf clubs in hands. It’s the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen!
Sherry!
Still a football field away, I see Merrick start to dart in a blur towards us, stops short.
And then all hell breaks loose.
Merrick - On The Edge
Chapter 4
I woke that morning to find Sherry gone from the pallet. It wasn’t really even morning yet. My watch said 4:30. I wondered what she was doing up. I remembered our long nap and thought maybe she just couldn’t sleep. I was tempted to just let myself fall back asleep but something made me need to get up to check on her.
So I got up, throwing on my discarded jeans but I couldn’t find my t-shirt anywhere so I went without. I walked bare foot into the commons room to find it dark and empty except for Max. He was reading a book in the corner under the overhead lamp. I nodded to him and walked into the dark kitchen. I saw two glasses on the counter. Hmm. Sherry would never leave dishes for someone else to do like that.
I check the bathroom. Empty. Stairs and second room. Empty. Laundry room. Empty. Now I’m getting worried.
Sherry?
No answer. No adorable woman running around the corner to answer my call. I blur to Danny’s room. She must be there. I open the door to find Danny. And Celeste, asleep. At first I think Celeste is naked and start to turn away but I realize her sleep shorts are just that short. She must have given Sherry her ‘modest’ ones.
“Danny,” I bend down and
I’m trying to focus on Merrick but also look for a shooter and listen to Cain for instructions and deal with the pain in my leg. I see nothing. We hear another shot. Since I’m paying attention it sounds far away.
“Oh no. It’s them. They must be already outside looking for us. What the heck are they shooting at?” Cain says getting agitated and we begin to walk again.
Then a black blur whips out from behind us to stop about ten feet in our path. Dang it! Can we get a friggin’ break. At this point a Lighter is a Lighter is a Lighter. I’m just sick of them and their horrible timing.
Then a thought. Merrick and them must have seen a Lighter too, maybe this one, or they wouldn’t be shooting.
Cain pulls me behind him and I have to grab the back of his shirt to keep from falling over. I’m so weak and tired. If I have to physically fight, I know I’m done for. Even though Miguel’s classes seem to have been helping.
“So. You think you can keep your little mate away from Crandle?” The Lighter smirks at us. “Oh, wait. You’re not the Keeper. Hmmm. I wonder does your Keeper know you are out canoodling with a mere human, Sherry?”
The sound of my name of the Lighters tongue brings bile to my mouth. I hold it down but say nothing. No point in provoking, especially when I can’t back it up physically. Cain on the other hand...
“Shut it Lighter. Move it or lose it,” he cocks the gun as he barks the order.
“Oh human. You won’t kill me with your blast stick. But even if you could, what I do is for the good of my people, my species. Whether you kill me or not is of no consequence. There will always be another one to take my place, always one to come after you until you surrender. Just give me the girl and I’ll let you die quickly instead of slowly.”
“Not likely.”
“Shame to hear that. For you. For me, I think I’ll rather enjoy this.” And he smiled wickedly as he said it but I thought Merrick and Jeff said only the Taker could show emotion.
Another gunshot rings out and then in a blur the Lighter is gone. I see a line of movement and glance over Cain’s shoulder to see my family. Almost all of them. The ungifted, the Keepers and the Specials alike all marching to our rescue. Guns, baseball bats, sticks and golf clubs in hands. It’s the most beautiful sight I’ve ever seen!
Sherry!
Still a football field away, I see Merrick start to dart in a blur towards us, stops short.
And then all hell breaks loose.
Merrick - On The Edge
Chapter 4
I woke that morning to find Sherry gone from the pallet. It wasn’t really even morning yet. My watch said 4:30. I wondered what she was doing up. I remembered our long nap and thought maybe she just couldn’t sleep. I was tempted to just let myself fall back asleep but something made me need to get up to check on her.
So I got up, throwing on my discarded jeans but I couldn’t find my t-shirt anywhere so I went without. I walked bare foot into the commons room to find it dark and empty except for Max. He was reading a book in the corner under the overhead lamp. I nodded to him and walked into the dark kitchen. I saw two glasses on the counter. Hmm. Sherry would never leave dishes for someone else to do like that.
I check the bathroom. Empty. Stairs and second room. Empty. Laundry room. Empty. Now I’m getting worried.
Sherry?
No answer. No adorable woman running around the corner to answer my call. I blur to Danny’s room. She must be there. I open the door to find Danny. And Celeste, asleep. At first I think Celeste is naked and start to turn away but I realize her sleep shorts are just that short. She must have given Sherry her ‘modest’ ones.
“Danny,” I bend down and
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