"Chithula?” I echoed the word in
dismay. A knot began to build in my stomach. That wasexactly the
name I didn't want to hear. I looked at Vlad one more time. I hated to admit it, but I was getting the vibe he was a victim, too. We were indeed done here. He had just told me everything I needed to know. The jingle of keys startled me. Whipping my head to the access door, I saw a guard through the window in his pressed, brown, rent-a-cop uniform. Luckily, he hadn't spotted me yet. Then a familiar smell hit my nose, something like old earth and incense. Looking past the guard, I saw her: Elena. She stopped in the hallway as the guard started to unlock the door. Cocking her head slightly, she looked up directly at me. She had sensed me, too. Her face contorted into a sneer. She pushed the guard out of the way and started to work the keys herself.
Jumping straight up, I caught the edge of the vent and pulled myself inside. I had to hurry. If I wanted to grab Toby and get out, I didn't have time to be subtle. Pushing off, I slid back into the shaft listening to the aluminum bend, pop and stress below me. Hitting the back of the vent with my feet, I bent at the hips and plunged straight down into the shaft. Pulling my arms in tight I felt the air whistle past my ears and through my hair. Hitting the bottom, I rolled out of the vent and found Toby exactly where I left him. Karl, unfortunately, was there as well.
Without even stopping, I placed my hand on Toby's shoulder and started back toward the motor pool. “We need to go,” I urged.
Toby didn't protest. “What did you find out?" "Yeah, wait up, suckhead!” Karl shouted from behind as he tried to keep up. I shot Toby a warning glance. “What is he still doing here?" "Suckhead!” I heard him yell again. “Where are we going?" "We?” I asked Toby. “What is this ‘we’ stuff?" Toby shrugged. “He won't leave."
I ignored the Goblin. “We have a lead." We moved quickly through the basement, carefully watching for any other Seekers or guards who might be waiting for us. I wasn't sure if Vlad ratted us out, or if Elena sent troops down to find us, but we couldn't take the chance. We had to get out of Brimstone. "What's the lead?” Toby asked.
"We're going to see the Chithula,” I answered. Toby stopped. “No. No way."
"No choice,” I said, grabbing his arm. Pushing him ahead, we disappeared into the motor pool. Chapter
name I didn't want to hear. I looked at Vlad one more time. I hated to admit it, but I was getting the vibe he was a victim, too. We were indeed done here. He had just told me everything I needed to know. The jingle of keys startled me. Whipping my head to the access door, I saw a guard through the window in his pressed, brown, rent-a-cop uniform. Luckily, he hadn't spotted me yet. Then a familiar smell hit my nose, something like old earth and incense. Looking past the guard, I saw her: Elena. She stopped in the hallway as the guard started to unlock the door. Cocking her head slightly, she looked up directly at me. She had sensed me, too. Her face contorted into a sneer. She pushed the guard out of the way and started to work the keys herself.
Jumping straight up, I caught the edge of the vent and pulled myself inside. I had to hurry. If I wanted to grab Toby and get out, I didn't have time to be subtle. Pushing off, I slid back into the shaft listening to the aluminum bend, pop and stress below me. Hitting the back of the vent with my feet, I bent at the hips and plunged straight down into the shaft. Pulling my arms in tight I felt the air whistle past my ears and through my hair. Hitting the bottom, I rolled out of the vent and found Toby exactly where I left him. Karl, unfortunately, was there as well.
Without even stopping, I placed my hand on Toby's shoulder and started back toward the motor pool. “We need to go,” I urged.
Toby didn't protest. “What did you find out?" "Yeah, wait up, suckhead!” Karl shouted from behind as he tried to keep up. I shot Toby a warning glance. “What is he still doing here?" "Suckhead!” I heard him yell again. “Where are we going?" "We?” I asked Toby. “What is this ‘we’ stuff?" Toby shrugged. “He won't leave."
I ignored the Goblin. “We have a lead." We moved quickly through the basement, carefully watching for any other Seekers or guards who might be waiting for us. I wasn't sure if Vlad ratted us out, or if Elena sent troops down to find us, but we couldn't take the chance. We had to get out of Brimstone. "What's the lead?” Toby asked.
"We're going to see the Chithula,” I answered. Toby stopped. “No. No way."
"No choice,” I said, grabbing his arm. Pushing him ahead, we disappeared into the motor pool. Chapter