Page 103 of Rematch
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Bullets whizzed through the air, chasing after us.
“Faster!” I yelled at Jayden as I picked up speed.
He kept up with me, staying close on my heels.
I made out a pathway on the right and made a sharp turn to take it. We raced down through the darkness, unsure where it was taking us. Anywhere was better than the way we came.
Jayden flinched as the sound of gunshots followed us.
“It’s alright,” I told him. “Just keep moving!”
Another gunshot rang through the air. This time, Jayden’s gasp accompanied it. Slowing beside me, his free hand went to his side. “Agh,” he grunted.
No, my brain screamed.No. No. No.
Jayden’s pained expression blurred into Jordan’s lifeless one.
For a moment, I felt his blood on my hands. I would not have Jayden’s on them too.
“Go!” I yelled, pushing him in front of him. “Run and don’t stop!” Turning around, I waved my gun, firing in every direction. I heard a few grunts and collisions of bodies against the ground. It wasn’t much, but it had to be enough.
“But, Max,” Jayden said, slowing to stay by my side.
“Goddammit, Jayden, go!”
He grabbed my arm, clutching it like a little kid would their favorite blanket. “No,” he replied firmly. “Not without you.”
I didn’t have time to argue with him, so I let him pull me along. We ran for a few more moments before the gunshots rang out again. I ran close behind Jayden, shielding his body with mine.
We came across a small hill that led down to a small sewer tunnel. We ignored the smell as we descended the hill. The water from the soggy grass and subsequent puddle seeped into our shoes and pants.
Grimacing, I pushed Jayden towards the small opening of the tunnel. “Get in. Stay quiet. I’ll buy you some time.”
The moonlight illuminated his frown as he glanced over his shoulder at me. “What? But we both can fit through here.”
“Guerra,” one of the men’s voices sung through the wind. “Come out, come out wherever you are.”
“Go,” I shoved him inside. “Keep going until you reach the other side. Don’t stop running until you get back to the mainroad.” I took out my buzzing phone and pushed it into his hands. “Wait until you’re sure they’re off your tail to answer one of the calls. It doesn’t matter who.”
His brows stitched together. “Max.”
“I’m right behind you,” I lied. “I’ll catch up. Don’t worry.”
“You promise?”
“Yes. Now, go.”
Jayden ran his eyes over me one last time, his mouth curled in a mix of fear and disbelief. Finally, he nodded and disappeared in the darkness of the tunnel.
The moment he was out of sight, I ran towards the right of the tunnel. I fired a few shots into the darkness, hoping to put them off of Jayden’s trail.
Slopping footsteps followed me, seemingly disregarding the small tunnel.
I led them in the opposite direction, circling back to my car. At least I hoped that’s where I was going. I still couldn’t see shit.
I hissed as a bullet sliced into the back of my shoulder. I turned around again to send off shots in retaliation.
