The Extinction Trials(70)

At first, she thought there was nothing to see, but then Maya realized that there were a series of very subtle beams of light shining up. They seemed to be evenly spaced out: one at the next intersection and one beyond that, shining up from the street to the right. The light must have been on a wavelength outside the visible spectrum—a frequency the monocular was built to see clearly.

Will and Alister were already moving toward the light beacons when Maya handed the monocular to Cara. Owen stood waiting with Maya, Cara, and Blair, but Cara pointed ahead and began chasing after Will and Alister. “I’ll take your word for it.”

Soon the group was back together, racing through the streets.

Will dropped back and held his hand out to Cara. “The monocular, please.”

As she handed it to him, movement in a nearby pile of rubble caught Maya’s eye. She turned to focus on it, but it was gone. She saw only crumbling concrete, glass, and steel. Had she imagined it?

The momentary distraction had caused her to fall behind the group, and Blair with her, since the girl was holding Maya’s hand.

Owen slowed and was soon standing beside them. Shortly, the rest of the group slowed too, allowing them to catch up.

“We’re sitting ducks out here,” Alister hissed. “We should pick up the pace.”

Maya was about to insist that Blair couldn’t go any faster when a gunshot pierced the silence.

Alister spun and tumbled to the ground.

Another shot rang out, the report echoing off the crumbling ruins of the city.

Will staggered and collapsed to the ground, catching himself with his hands, seeming unharmed.

Owen and Cara then bent down over Alister.

“Leave me!” he shouted.

Owen ignored him. Instead, he threw the man’s arm around his shoulder and began lumbering towards a partially crumpled skyscraper off the street, which looked to still be habitable.

Cara reached out to help, but Alister swatted her away. She raced toward Will then, but the young man was already up and following the group toward the building.

As they ran, shots slammed into the street and cars. Grit and shrapnel and sparks flew in the air.

Maya wrapped her fingers around Blair’s upper arms and moved her in front, ensuring Maya’s body was in the direction of the fire.

They entered the building through what Maya thought was a loading dock with a large open receiving area and an elevated platform. The double doors were closed, but Will easily pushed them open.

Inside the building, Owen set Alister on the floor, eliciting an agonizing groan from the man. He was panting, holding his shoulder, blood oozing out around his fingers.

“Alister,” Cara began, but he waved her off.

“Leave me.”

Owen opened his mouth to speak, but a shot ricocheted off the inner wall, forcing him to duck.

Will bent down to Alister and hoisted him up, drawing another howl from the older, heavier man. Maya was amazed at Will’s strength.

Another shot dug into the concrete in the loading dock area, spraying shards into the building.

Will raced down the hall, deeper into the structure. Holding Blair’s hand, Maya chased after them, Owen and Cara bringing up the rear.

To her relief, the shots stopped.

Around another turn they went, into a large open area with desks and chairs and computer screens that were covered in grime.

Will turned and fished the monocular out of his pocket and tossed it to Cara.

“In case we get separated,” he said without missing a beat.

Through the next door, there was a narrow hallway that led to another loading dock where a roll-up door was open to what Maya assumed was the adjacent street.

Will raced down the metal steps and out onto the street, which instantly erupted in fire. He danced through it, dodging and weaving.

A bullet hit him.

He fell to the ground, Alister tumbling with him.

To Maya’s shock, Will rose, grabbed Alister, and staggered into the building across the street.

As Maya watched the street, she saw their pursuers march out into the open. And she was shocked.





Chapter Fifty-Six





Outside, the gunfire stopped.

Owen stood on the loading dock, watching.

In the building across the street, Will and Alister disappeared into the shadows.

The army that was hunting them marched down the ruined street, swerving around patches of grass and shrubs and crawling over cars as though they were dirt mounds.

One of the killers turned and strode into the building’s loading area without a hint of fear or hesitation.

Another joined. Then another. Soon there were seven, all staring up at Owen, Maya, Cara, and Blair.

No one said a word.

Slowly, quietly, Maya reached out and corralled Blair behind her.

Owen stepped in front of them. There was nothing they could do now except face their fate with courage. Though Owen was feeling his memories slip away, who he truly was remained—and in this moment, it was revealed to him as he stood in front of the others. This silent act was a testament to the sort of person he was.

The killers that had been shooting at them didn’t move. They waited. And Owen watched.

The killers weren’t human. They were small robots that moved on six legs. The metal of their bodies was a shiny silver that glistened even in the dim shafts of light flowing in through the loading dock door.