Page 88 of (Sur)real
Curled protectively around Olivia, I blocked the shower of glass that fell around us. My feet hit the ground, and I used every ounce of speed to clear the city block within seconds. Any humans who saw us would wonder if they’d imagined our blur.
“Tell the others,” Olivia said against my chest. “Blake’s using his humans.”
I growled at our blindness.
Sam, we were just attacked in the restaurant. Tell Gabby it's not the Urbat; it's the humans. Blake’s using them.
Are you all right?he sent back.
Yes. We're moving to the car now.
We reached Winifred’s vehicle a moment later, and I carefully set Olivia in her seat.
She was shaking and pale. I desperately wanted to stop and make sure she was okay, but there wasn’t time. Sirens already wailed in the not too far off distance. I closed her door and sprinted around the hood.
As soon as I slipped behind the wheel, I started the engine and took off. Traffic honked behind me, but I didn't slow down. Humans. Blake was using humans. They were everywhere. Crossing sidewalks. Driving cars. There was no easy way to tell whose side they were on. No way to know if they had a connection to Blake.
My claws scratched the steering wheel as I took the first turn.
“Find out from Michelle where we need to go,” Olivia said, her voice strained. She gripped her seat with white knuckles.
“What do you mean?” I asked.
“He said he’s coming for what’s his, right? I’m not the only one of us he thinks belongs to him. If he's attacking here, he's attacking at the hotel, too. We can't go back.”
I thought of Michelle and reached out to Sam once more.
Is everything quiet there? Olivia thinks Blake will try for the rest of the girls.
I took a sharp corner, and the tires protested.
Everything's quiet here, but I've warned the others. We're packing up.
“Slow down. Don't call attention to us,” Olivia cautioned.
I slowed and took the next turn onto a road that would lead us in the general direction of the hotel.
Ask Michelle where we need to go,I sent Winifred.Olivia wants to know.
She didn’t answer, but that didn’t worry me. It took Michelle and Gabby time to decide the next safe stop. If they were in a hurry to leave, it would take a few minutes.
I hadn't made it more than two blocks when Sam’s words touched my mind.
Don't come back to the hotel.
Why, what’s happening?I sent back.
When I didn't immediately receive an answer, I started to worry.
“I think you’re right. I think Blake’s men are already at the hotel,” I said to Olivia.
GABBY…
Henry laughed and threw another piece of popcorn into his mouth. Beside me, Clay sighed heavily. I kept my eyes on the TV, grateful for our chaperons.
Sam jerked forward, sitting up from his position on the bed.
“Gabby, check Jim and Olivia.”
