Page 34 of Just Dare Me
Elle scoffs. “Us? You’re the one doing the dangerous part.”
“As it should be. I’m the task force leader.” I point to the shoulder of the highway. “Right here, take us through that field.”
As Nora cranks the wheel, taking us across an expanse of dirt and weeds, she says, “Uh, have you been paying any attention to our fearless leaders? Madison West and Nick Gorgeous sit at their desks and make assignments for the rest of us to stick our necks out.”
“Wait, am I doing this wrong? Does somebody want to trade with me?”
“No way,” Elle says. “What other task force leader makes sure to plan out where we’re going to eat ice cream after the mission?”
“Oh yeah, I remember now: I’m the best at this. And if we’re not tits deep in banana splits in one hour, this operation is a failure. Now shut up and open your ear holes to my pre-game mix.” I crank up the volume on the radio, blasting the greatest hits of the ’80s.
Laughing, Nora stomps the gas, surging us forward. “Best task force ever.”
For the next two miles, we wind through fields and around fences, making our way to the train tracks. I slap the radio off. “We’re thirty seconds out. Game time. Talk to me.”
“We’re in position,” Charlotte says. “Should have eyes on the target any second.”
“Good. Elle?”
“I’m here. I see your headlights. And thank goodness, too. It’s so dark out here.”
“Better for us,” I say. “If we can’t see shit, they can’t see shit.”
“As long asyoucan see shit.”
“Are you kidding? This is child’s play. We’re here. Elle, get your magic warmed up.”
Pulling alongside a slope that leads down to the tracks, Nora stops just long enough for me to jump out.
“Target in sight,” Russo announces. “Right on schedule. Coming your way.”
Running along the tracks, I approach an enormous black hole, like a mouth gaping open to swallow me. “I’m at the tunnel. You ready, Elle?”
“Ready,” she answers. “Hurry, Shayne. I see it coming.”
I dart into the tunnel and lie facedown on the tracks. They start to tremble from the approach of the train behind me. “In position. Go, Elle.”
“Okay, okay, let me find you.”
I can hear her both in the earpiece and in person. She stands somewhere directly above me on the tunnel overpass. The tracks are getting warm with vibration. The sound of the barreling train fills the tunnel with terrifying echoes. “Elle? Any time now!”
“I know, I know!” A force suddenly seizes my body, locking me in place. “Got you!” Slowly, I lift off the ground.
“Faster! Go!” I urge through a constricted throat.
The train plunges into the tunnel, a deafening sound. I’ll be obliterated if Elle doesn’t lift me higher, and fast. To my horror, she drops me down a foot, and my heart plummets, but in the next instant, I surge upwards with a great whoosh of wind through my hair. As my back gently touches the ceiling of the tunnel, the train rushes just inches below my face. Flattening myself against the concrete ceiling, I shut my eyes tight and grit my teeth. There iszeroroom for error here. I’ve never been happier that my boobs are small.
I can barely hear Elle’s frantic voice shouting in my ear. “Drop you now? Shayne?”
“Wait!” I scream in a panic. The train’s going way faster than we had planned. Got to be fifty miles an hour, at least. If I drop onto the roof, I’ll bounce right off the thing. “Wait, not yet!”
“Can’t hear you! Ready or not!”
Suddenly, I’m released from her power. I drop to the speeding roof of the train, which is like standing in front of a fire hose and turning it on full blast. I tumble backward, the train sliding under me with all the smoothness of sandpaper. My legs drop out from under me. Instinctually, my claws extend, raking along the rooftop and jerking me to a halt. I’m dangling off the back of the very last train car.
My earpiece is exploding with voices. Charlotte asking if I’m in position; Nora asking if I’m okay; Elle asking if I’m dead.
“I’m not dead, but I’m definitely not okay!”
