70. Nash
NASH
Bouncing on the heels of my feet, I tried to contain the rampant energy that pulsed through me.
Blade was less successful at containment, swinging the Twins around as she stared into the darkness. It was like if she stared long enough that she just might be able to keep an eye on our little toy.
I waited for the park to be flooded in green light, my gaze fixed on the night sky as I used the long handle of my mallet to stretch my shoulders and back. Rolling my neck, I took in a deep breath before cracking my spine.
Looser, I let out a sigh.
Was this a terrible idea?
Before I could ponder it, the overhead lights flicked on, flashing green as the carnival music grew louder.
“Let’s fucking go.” Blade roared, as she launched forward.
She was bounding down the main path as all her pent up energy finally had somewhere to go.
Jogging behind her, I kept my mallet up on my shoulder as I searched the darkness for movement.
Like a hunting dog, Blade kept on Tess’s path. Every few dozen yards, she would kneel down, swipe the ground and sniff. Or lean closer and examine the footprints.
“This way.” She nodded toward the Stellar Station section.
As our pace slowed, Blade needing more time to track Tess’ movement, I let Trixie’s heavy wood drop from my shoulder to the ground.
Dragging along the cobblestone, the sound would announce our arrival but it just might make our prey freeze.
God, did I want to see her frozen up. Scared
Blade had the same thought, walking up to a wooden cutout of a cartoon astronaut and kicking it over. The loud thud resounded across the park.
“Come out, wherever you are, Trinket!” She hollered, a sinister laugh ripping from her chest.
Watching the shadows, I shook my head. “Are we sure this is a good idea?”
“Of course.” Blade’s teeth grinded together. “I need to hunt.”
“Well, duh. You always do.” I bit my lip. “But we’re teaching her how to get away from us.”
Throwing her ax into a glass bottle perched on a bar, a crack and splatter of shards lit up Blade’s face. “True. But we need her to stay away from Cyrus. It’s too dangerous. We have no idea what the crazy bastard will do once she catches our toy.”
She was right.
Despite Tess having been around for weeks now, Cyrus wasn’t anywhere near forgiving her. If anything, her craving for vengeance was growing while Blade and I grew more doubtful.
How could she have betrayed us? With that tattoo on her body…
All of it was hard to believe.
But Cyrus was beyond reason. She saw blood and gore. Revenge.
Nodding, I sucked my teeth. “Yeah. We just have to catch her first.”
As much as this was practice for Tess, it was equally useful for us. If we could hone our skills, find her faster and easier, we could protect our Sweet Lamb from Cyrus’ rage.
How long can we pull that off?
Shaking the negative thought, I shook my head and tried to lock back in.
Stellar Station was an expansive section of the park, and dark.
The last section built before Feverpoint shut down, it was full of half-complete rides and dark enclosed rooms.
She could be anywhere.
But she wasn’t.
My eyes caught on a damp footprint, mud around the edge of the sole showing just how fresh it was.
Blade had found it too, kneeling closer to examine the pattern. “It’s her.”
And it pointed toward Alien Assault, an outdoor shooting ride that required the player to man a turret mounted to the top of their cabin.
Blade laughed, rubbing the metal tips of her axes against each other. “This way.”