Page 16 of Defying the Relic Hunter

My gaze zeroed in on the big-ass knife clenched in his right hand. “You know, bringing a knife to a gun fight is not real smart.” I pulled my pistol.

“Your weapons will not work here.”

“Wanna bet?” I fired. Nothing happened. I fired again. No red energy beams. Oh crap! I quickly hit the protect mode on my bracelet. No energy field appeared. Would my stun gun work? I didn’t want to get close enough to find out.

He walked towards me, coiled menace in every step. “Return the sacred stone.”

I scuttled around the boulder. “Who do you work for?”

“I serve the Thunder God.”

“Do ya now?” I whispered to Granny Annabel, “I need a snowy distraction.”

The temperature dropped dramatically, and a blizzard erupted.

The warrior shouted, “What manner of magic is this?”

“My kind,” I answered and swung my backpack as hard as I could. With a loudthwack, the pack connected with his face and the warrior toppled over like a pole-axed steer.

“Run,” Granny Annabel screamed.

Chapter Eight

And I did. I ran for what seemed like an eternity. The sizzling sun beat down on me and my fear fueled sprint became a stumbling jog. My leg muscles began to quiver violently and sweat poured down my face, soaking my already soggy tee-shirt. Winded, I staggered to a stop as the world spun dizzily around me. “Gotta rest.”

A cold breeze swirled over me.

“Thanks.” My knees buckled and I hit the ground.

“You need water.”

My mouth did feel like the Sahara Desert. Unscrewing my canteen, I quickly drained it. I had two bottles of water in my pack, but I didn’t dare drink them yet.

A frightening war cry echoed down the canyon.

That murdering bastard wasn’t adding me to his collection of skulls. Drawing on my waning strength, I crawled behind a boulder and summoned anothing thereillusion. “Where the hell was Ethan?”

Poof! He appeared about a hundred yards down the canyon.

With the homicidal Apache tracking me I wasn’t about to drop my illusion. I picked up a couple of rocks and hurled them at him. To my surprise one of the rocks bounced off a boulder and whacked Ethan’s helmet.

He spun around. “Angel?”

“Over here.”

“Drop your illusion,” Ethan commanded, walking toward the sound of my voice.

“Ok, but if that bloodthirsty Apache shows up, he’s all yours.” Presto! I was visible.

There was a long pause before Ethan asked somewhat incredulously, “An Apache?”

“Yep, he’s even wearing war paint.”

“I’ve had enough of your fairy tales.” Ethan grabbed for my arm. ZAP! He flew backwards and smashed into the canyon wall.

Huh? My energy shield was back online. There must be a dampening field in the cave. A shudder shook me as another war cry sounded. He was getting closer and Ethan was still face down in the dirt. I dropped the shield and shook him. “I think your battle armor is defective. Isn’t it supposed to protect you from all sorts of nasty stuff? Hello? Wakey. Wakey.”

A stone skittered down the path.

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