Helix, Episode 3 by Nathan M Farrugia

Author:Nathan M Farrugia [Farrugia, Nathan M]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Nathan M Farrugia

Sophia staggered after Valeria, into the center of the square and under the archway of a domed classical building. Inside, rows of market stalls stretched away. The operative was ahead, moving down a vaulted aisle. People lingered around her, slow and glaze-eyed, inspecting amber jewelry, wooden crafts and embroidered cloth. With the noise in here, no one had heard the gunshots outside. Sophia weaved through them, keeping an eye on Valeria. The operative changed trajectory and sprinted up a flight of stairs.

Sophia angled toward a flight closer by. She climbed them quickly to the next floor, hoping they would take her to the same place as Valeria. She stepped out into a large gallery, whisper-quiet with polished marble floors and skylights that cast afternoon light on sculptures and pastel walls.

Visitors quietly admired the art, barely registering Sophia’s presence and the blood flowing from her lips. She kept her pistol close to her body and strode forward. Twenty meters ahead, Valeria appeared. She turned, looked over the shoulder of a passing man and saw Sophia.

Sophia raised her pistol in a snap motion—up her chest, then out. The man froze in place and Valeria grabbed him, used him as a shield. She jammed her pistol hard into the man’s eye. She was careful, kept her head directly behind his. Sophia didn’t want to kill Valeria, but if the programming triggers didn’t work then what else could she do?

‘If you shoot through his mouth, you’ll kill me,’ Valeria said. ‘Would you like that?’ Under pressure, her accent slipped. It was no longer American.

Czarina appeared behind the operative, but Sophia knew she wasn’t close enough. Sophia tried to hide her glance, but the operative saw it. She kept hold of her hostage and sidestepped behind a statue, then pivoted and aimed for Czarina.

Sophia needed to get closer for a clear shot.

But Ieva launched from nowhere, tearing the pistol from Valeria’s hand. Valeria recovered, kicked Ieva away, sending her crashing into a wall. Then she turned to Czarina—who’d moved closer—and disarmed her, throwing the pistol across the marble floor.

The operative drove her fist into Czarina’s throat. Czarina avoided the blow, barely. Sophia was close enough now, but Valeria sidestepped her pistol, kicking down on Sophia’s knee and driving a fist into her midsection.

Pain flashed through Sophia, crushing oxygen from her. She was in the air for a moment, flying sideways. She floated across the polished floor and crashed into a tall wooden stand. A marble bust wobbled and fell from the stand, smashing in front of her. She lay on her side, pain slicing every breath. Unable to move.

Czarina and Ieva were on the ground too. Sirens wailed in the distance, approaching the market square. Paramedics and police would soon converge on the square. How long would it take for the police to think to come in here?

Valeria strode toward her. Along the way, she scooped up Czarina’s pistol. She stopped five meters short of Sophia and raised the weapon.

‘This was fun,’ Valeria said. ‘Let’s do it again sometime.

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