Page 117 of Hell Breaks Loose

A steel cable, whipping up out of the leaves and twigs on the forest floor.

Right in the path of the wall of psychos closing in on us.

“Sorry,” Gav rattles off.

“For what?”

“This!”

We pitch forward, hurtling toward the ground and down the hill that appears out of the foliage ahead of us. The ground rises up to meet me.

Just as a sharp yelp echoes.

And an explosion rocks the ground, kicking me up a foot or more before careening into my continued roll down the hillside.

Coming to rest at the bottom, my vision is spinning. My ears are ringing.

“I forgot how loud those things are!” Ora shouts, pulling herself up with Alaya’s help.

Everyone looks battered. Dirty.

But alive.

As I struggle to my knees, I scan my surroundings checking for Tell and Gav.

“Tell? Are you…?”

“Buh… need… minute.” He groans, lying flat on his stomach, a puff of breath blowing leaves out of his mouth.

“Uh-oh, scarecrow lost his brain.” Alaya smirks, displaying a clear limp on her left side.

“He’s fine.” Ora snickers. “Not so sure about tin man, though.”

A brief panic rushes through my limbs, sending me into a mad scramble for Gavin’s side as he lays spread eagle on the grass.

“Gav?! Gavin! Talk to me, where are you hurt?”

“My… ugh,” He growls, wincing as he opens his eyes. “My heart.”

“What?!” I reach for his chest, ready to start compressions, looking around for anyone, for medical assistance?—

“Got stabbed through it. Tin man? Seriously?” He grimaces, sitting up and pinning Ora with a glare.

“Ha! But you went with it. Heart! Snort,” Ora snorts loudly, immediately turning bright red.

“You’re all terrible people. And I’m so grateful you came for me.” I fall back, a cold sweat breaking all over me. “Especially you, Toto.”

I turn a wicked glare on Ora.

“Oh! You did not just?—”

“More like the Lollipop Guild—” Tell starts.

“We better hit the yellow prick road before those flying flunkies up there recover!” Alaya makes a gagging gesture as she leads the way to the vehicles.

“Yeah, what the wicked bitch of the southwest said!”

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