Phantom Universe

by Laura Kreitzer

CHAPTER 39: PUNCH

  16 years old

  Landon and Summer rush toward the back of the Leaguer building. Since class is over with there’s no one there, not even Leaguers, so they’re able to race to the end of the building without being spotted. Her heart beats roughly at the thought of being caught, though she finds it kind of silly, too. If they really wanted her they could easily use GPS and the cameras that are hidden everywhere to track and catch her. Landon peeks around the corner and then throws his back to the building.

  “Four Leaguers,” he whispers.

  Their voices are muffled by the distance. Landon and Summer exchange anxious looks as they press themselves up against the brick wall. If she could, Summer would dissolve into the brick and disappear. She wants to just tell Landon to go on without her and she’ll work it out, but knows he won’t go for it. The Leaguers’ voices grow louder as they approach the back of the building. Her eyes dart around, desperately trying to find a place to hide, but there’s no place. Landon’s clearly doing the same thing and also comes up with nothing.

  Gage suddenly runs around the other side of the building and races to meet them. Now she’s really worried—are they about to be caught? Will these Secret Clock Society people finally capture her? Why do they want her in the first place? Gage places a finger to his lips and beckons them to him as he gets closer. The Leaguers aren’t far from rounding the building and Landon gestures frantically that there are people coming. Gage shakes his head, saying he already knows. The Leaguers round the corner just as Gage catches up with them.

  They’re laughing and joking around—not even paying attention to them. Gage gestures for Landon to go and then scoops Summer up into his arms and plants a kiss on her lips. He turns her away from the Leaguers so his body’s protecting her from their view. She’s trying desperately to pay attention to what’s going on, but as soon as his lips touch hers she can’t even remember her name, let alone that people are looking for her. Whistles break out from the Leaguers as they laugh. Gage pays them no attention as he wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her closer to his body. Her heart’s pounding in her throat between his kiss and the danger in it all. His lips are very soft and eager against hers, his tongue warm in her mouth. Her stomach clenches blissfully.

  A door opens and shuts after a moment, the voices of the Leaguers gone. Gage doesn’t break the kiss. Her palms are on his chest, and she can feel his heart pulsating like an accelerated clock, like chimes echoing through his body in waves. He languidly pulls away only a centimeter, his breath caressing her face in hot currents. “You still taste like roses,” he barely murmurs. Their lips scarcely touch, another kiss that sends shivers into her heart, down through her stomach and makes her legs tingle and weaken.

  Someone clears their throat next to them, and they jump, Summer’s throat constricting in fear. It’s just Landon, though he’s wearing a frustrated expression. “I understand why you did that,” says Landon, “but they’re inside now. Can we please get going before more Leaguers show up?” He raises an eyebrow.

  “Of course,” agrees Gage and backs away from Summer. He reaches out and takes her hand, leading her toward the end of the building, Landon ahead of them.

  “All clear,” informs Landon as he peers around the corner again. They rush across the grass and slow some once they’re between building A and B.

  The rest of the way is Leaguer free, though they run into another snag. Kayla and her crew are exiting room twenty-one in building C, right at the edge. She catches sight of Gage and Summer and stops her posse from moving forward. Summer notices that there’s someone lacking from her group—her tall and detoxing boyfriend, Carter.

  “Great,” says Gage under his breath. Landon’s clearly not happy about this development either by the disgusted look clouding his features.

  “Hey Appleton,” says Kayla sweetly, sauntering toward him.

  He gives her a tight nod, still holding Summer’s hand. But Kayla ignores them all, only paying attention to Gage. She moves in closer, and her fingers trail down his chest. “Shall we pick up where we left off this morning?” she whispers with a tinkling laugh.

  Summer feels sick to her stomach all over again and has an overwhelming urge to cause Kayla a whole lot of physical pain. Gage only holds on to Summer tighter, even pulling her closer. Kayla ignores this too, her voice turning soft as silk. “How about you dump these low income degenerates and come with me?” She waggles her eyebrows and moves in closer until her chest touches his.

  Summer can’t take it anymore and yanks free from Gage’s grip, even though he tries to hold on to her. Landon catches Summer’s eye and gives her an encouraging smile. She takes a couple of deep, even breaths as Gage stutters out, “No, thank you.”

  Summer taps Kayla’s shoulder, ready to peel her off him if she has to. She’s never felt so protective—or is it possessive?—over anyone before, but she sees Gage as hers, not something she’s willing to share with another in the way Kayla wants. Kayla untangles her arms from around his neck and trails her hands down his chest again. She turns around and glares at Summer. “What do you want?”

  Summer pulls her fist back and snaps it forward, punching Kayla right in the eye. There’s a crunching noise, and pain explodes in Summer’s knuckles. She shakes her hand and then holds it against her chest, but the glorious sensation of punching Kayla overwhelms the sting. Kayla’s friends burst into laughter after a few seconds of stunned silence.

  “Yes!” Landon fist-pumps the air.

  “Ahh! You little bitch!” screams Kayla, her hand covering her left eye as she reaches for Summer with the other, her hand in the shape of a claw.

  Summer uses her new boots to kick yet another person who’s wronged her since she’s arrived at the camp. The tip of her boot connects with Kayla’s shin, and she crumples to the ground, howling in agony—one hand covering her eye, the other over her leg. Summer wants to shout, “Stay away from my man,” but the words won’t form on her tongue.

  “Stay away,” spits Landon for her, and Summer grins at him gratefully.

  “I’m Summer’s,” says Gage as he stands over Kayla, his shadow stretching across her. “Not yours. Get over it.” He takes Summer’s hand and literally steps over Kayla as she stares up at them in pain and horror, her blonde hair dirty with debris.