Path of Totality by Heather Kreke

Author:Heather Kreke [Kreke, Heather]
Language: eng
Format: epub, mobi, azw3
Publisher: Cranberry Creek Press
Published: 2022-11-08T06:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER 35

JADZIA

Her words had a southern twang to them. “Nice bike.”

I stared her down.

“I gave you a compliment. The polite thing to do is say thank you.” The others around her snickered.

Whipping my head from side to side, I gunned the bike. They closed the ranks. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see a twenty-something guy smacking his palm with a metal bar that looked a lot like part of the hover-drive from a car.

I willed my voice to be steady. “Move. Or I’ll run you over.”

The girl had the nerve to look offended. “Well, that’s not very nice.” She tilted her head. “You come into my territory uninvited. You don’t thank me for complimenting your bike, and you threaten me.”

“You’re pointing a gun at me.” My hands itched to grab my own rifle from my back. She’d most likely shoot me if I tried.

She shrugged. “All the more reason to be nice to me. Of course, I suppose I should be the one thanking you.”

What? This chick was nuts. “Why would you thank me?”

“You brought me this nice present.” She motioned toward my bike.

I inched my hand off the throttle and toward the strap of my gun.

She laughed and shot at the ground near the front of the bike. “No, you don’t. Off the bike.”

I hesitated. The bike was my best chance at getting away from this group. I didn’t see any working vehicles around, so I could easily outrun them. I took my helmet off so they could see my face clearly and put on what I hoped was a please don’t kill me expression. “Look, why don’t we —”

Another shot. “You don’t listen very well, do you?”

I dismounted. My legs shook when I stood.

“On your knees.”

I looked at her. Definitely insane. She wanted me to, what, bow to her?

She pulled the trigger again. Gravel showered my shoes. “I said, on your knees.”

I slumped to my knees. “I don’t want to fight you. Let me go and I’ll leave.”

The butt of her rifle swung around and connected with the side of my mouth. My face exploded with pain. I should have left the helmet on.

She laughed again. “You think you can cross my territory without paying the toll?” The others laughed too. I wanted to cover my ears, but I kept my hands on my thighs.

She bobbed her head at someone behind me. “Nathan, grab the pack and the gun. Tony, check out the bike.”

I turned my head. A large guy with a laser knife the size of my forearm walked up to me. He grabbed the rifle and ripped it over my head. Then he grabbed my pack and practically dislocated my shoulders to pull it off. The other guy headed to my bike and started messing with his PCD and the bike. Great. They had a hacker.

The one with my bag opened it. “Not much in here.” He aimed a sharp kick at my legs. I gasped but didn’t cry out.

The girl’s sarcastic voice filled my ears.

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