Chapter 40
Rushing water woke Esmie. The cold of it tickled her face and arms. Her head hurt so much she didn’t want to open her eyes.
Was this a dream? Then she remembered the accident.
With a groan, she forced herself up, opening her eyes but everything was fuzzy.
Feeling around, she cupped her hands, splashing water on her bleary eyes, hoping there was no glass within it.
After blinking several times, she was able to make out her surroundings.
The area was shrouded in darkness. They had fallen down the bank of the river, alongside the bridge.
Esmie could sense the large pillars close by but couldn’t see them well.
Down here there were no lights. When she got her bearings, she realized she was sitting on the roof of the inside of the car.
A small stream of water surrounded her. They hadn’t fully submerged in the river, which was good.
All the windows were shattered, with glass all over her, cutting her hands where she held herself up.
Crouching down, she attempted to peer out the back opening but couldn’t make out anything except the muddy bank they sat on.
“Leo? Samson?” Esmie shifted her weight to her other side, to face the front.
Leo was upside down, unconscious, the seatbelt keeping him in place.
Water ran through his hair and upper forehead, but his face wasn’t submerged, just scratched up from the impact.
She glanced over to Samson, but his seat was vacant.
She reached over feeling to see if he had slumped down, but he was nowhere, at least that she could see.
Hopefully he crawled out, already. Unless he didn’t have his seatbelt on. She couldn’t remember.
Panic closed over her throat. She placed a hand there wanting to claw at the feeling.
Closing her eyes, she told herself to think rationally.
Right now, she needed to help Leo get down, and they needed to get out of the car to find Samson.
If he was already out of the car then he would eventually come help.
Esmie ground her teeth, then reached over to Leo, feeling for his pulse.
It was faint, but there. She climbed into the middle of the car, reaching up, searching for the click of the safety belt that kept him in place.
After a few frustrating moments, with ragged breaths, she sat back on her haunches, fisting her closed eyes.
Think, Esmie. Think. Her eyes flew open.
Placing one hand out and cupping the other in front of her, Esmie used her powers, feeling for the seatbelt.
Once she found it, she pressed it, slowly releasing the belt from around Leo.
With her other hand, she guided Leo to gently lay on the roof in front of her.
She prayed no extra sharp glass would be hidden within the water.
When she had Leo settled, she sighed, then worked to find her way out.
Getting out first would make it much easier for her to see what she was doing when she brought Leo out and maybe she would find Samson to help her.
Esmie glanced down at her wet, tattered dress, which only a few hours ago had made her feel like she was in a masquerade fairytale.
Staring at the shattered window, she sighed knowing it was too late to salvage the dress.
Searching the water, she found her mask.
Holding the mask in one hand, she flattened herself onto the ground to crawl on her elbows and knees toward the back passenger window, the least submerged of all.
She took her time, avoiding the pricks of glass scattered across the roof of the car, hiding within the swishing water, lapping around her.
Several pieces still scrapped her elbows, making her wince but her will to get out and help her brother, pushed her past the pain.
Once she exited the window, she carefully planted her hands into the slick mud, seeking purchase to pull herself out and up.
Her hand sunk into the mud and she slipped, diving headfirst into the water.
Sputtering, her other hand grabbed a fistful of grass.
Using the grip, she yanked herself back up.
Finally, she crawled out, mud dripping along her arms and down the front of her dress.
Esmie quickly rinsed herself off, then replaced the mask on her face, grateful it hadn’t broken.
After a scan of the area, she found Samson still missing, so she focused her concentration on getting Leo out of the car.
Her hands forward, she took her time lifting him, then carrying him against the current, out his passenger side window.
It was a slow and arduous process. She didn’t want to lift him too high and hit him against the car or scrape him along the bottom and cut him up in the glass.
To facilitate her effort, she removed the remaining glass from the windows, swiping her hand in the hair to mimic the motion.
She would have to apologize to Samson later.
Even in the chilly night, soaking wet, beads of sweat formed along her temples as she concentrated, the rushing water making her task all the more challenging. After what felt like hours, she pulled Leo out and lifted him into the air, bringing him next to her.
As he floated beside her, hands grabbed her from behind, pinning her arms behind her.
She yelped in surprise. Two large men appeared beside Leo, sliding a stretcher underneath his floating prone body.
Exhausted by the accident and escaping, the sudden interaction caused her to drop Leo right onto the stretcher.
“Told you I’d find you again.” Chad’s voice whispered in her ear. She yanked her head away from him, struggling against his vice grip. “Ah, don’t be like that Esmie. We’re going to take good care of your brother. As long as you behave.” He spun her around to face him, a dark gleam in his eyes.
“Where’s Samson?”
Chad laughed. “He flew out the front window and is floating down the river. Dead, hopefully.” Esmie spit in his face. Chad swiped the spittle from his cheek, glaring at her in disgust. He slapped her across her cheek with the back of his hand. Esmie’s knees buckled from the impact.
“Hey, Boss said he needs her healthy when we bring her in.” One of the large men yelled at them from the top of the bank.
“Don’t worry, I’ll keep her in one piece for his purposes.
Just a little broken in some places.” Chad sneered, tightening his grip on her biceps.
Esmie’s anger boiled over. She kneed him, close to his groin.
Chad yelped, releasing her. Searching for anything she could hurtle at him, the closest thing was the car.
She pulled it from the bank and swung it in Chad’s direction.
Chad threw curses at her while he scrambled up the bank.
“Come back and fight me like a man, you jerk,” Esmie screamed at him, chasing him up the slick slope, her flats making it hard to climb. She kicked them off, this time reaching for the water which bent to her will, a big ball lifting from the river.
“You idiots didn’t give me the power reducing cuffs!
” Chad cried out. “Run, before she overtakes us.” The men had already loaded Leo into a black SUV and were running toward the front to jump in, Chad racing after them.
The men climbed in, starting the car. Chad reached them, yanking open the back door about to climb in when the ball of water slammed into him shoving him into the car with a gurgled yelp.
The SUV swerved a moment. Esmie reached out pulling at it, but in her exhausted state, the driver pushed all the way down on the pedal, inching away from her.
Knowing it would eventually get away and not wanting to hurt her brother with any other action, Esmie concentrated on the SUV’s computer system.
Each car had one, except Samson’s which was now right side up on the bank next to her.
She searched the system, finally finding the GPS which revealed their home base.
Genetronetics. With a sigh, Esmie released the SUV.
The wheels squealed along the pavement before the SUV peeled away from her, speeding toward its destination.
Esmie collapsed to the ground, spent. She needed to save Leo. If they did something to him, she would never forgive herself. First, she needed to change out of these wet clothes. They were hampering her speed. Maybe she could go home.
Home.
Glancing toward the bridge that would lead her to her parents’ house, an emptiness dragged at her insides.
It had been a couple weeks since she’d been home, and she didn’t know the state of what she was going to get into.
Especially with Leo captured. But she needed to check on her parents.
Warn them of what was to come. Then go save Leo.
As for Samson, her heart squeezed at the thought of his body floating down the river.
Chad was lying. Right? Tears raced down her cheeks.
Her eyes scanned the area, hoping to see him somewhere, but only shattered glass, the broken car, and footprints from her fight with Chad were left.
Swiping away her tears, she snatched up her flats then climbed the rest of the way up the bank, turning toward home, hoping her parents would still be there waiting for her.