“What’s our plan?” Mark said.
Tom turned. “We find my boy and—” He squinted out the back window. Something flickered in his eyes.
“What is it?” Vicki said, turning.
“We’ve got company,” Tom said.
Lights flashed in the distance, and a GC squad car approached.
“You think they’ve seen us?” Vicki said.
“Everybody, hang on,” Marshall said. “We’re pulling into this field, but I won’t be able to use my brakes.”
When the squad car came over a hill and reached a dip in the road, Marshall took his foot off the accelerator and turned the wheel sharply, sending them into a field. Mark gripped Vicki’s shoulder and pulled her down as the car plunged over an embankment.
After the car came to a stop a few yards into the field, Marshall turned off the engine. “Everybody all right?”
Everyone said they were, then watched breathlessly as the GC squad car approached. Vicki closed her eyes and breathed a brief prayer as the squad car sped past and continued east. When it turned a corner, Marshall started the car and pulled back onto the road.
“Wonder where that guy was going in such a hurry,” Mark said.
“Call Conrad and ask if he’s heard from Wanda,” Marshall said. “I don’t like seeing the GC on the prowl.”
Tom shook his head a few minutes later. “No return message yet.”
Mark groaned and put a hand to his forehead. “Why would Cheryl do this? She knows she’s putting us in danger.”
“Sounds like she’s had kind of a meltdown,” Marshall said. “Having the baby, then placing it in the Fogartys’ house did her in. She’s not thinking rationally.”
“Does that mean she’s not a believer anymore?” Mark said.
No one spoke.
Finally, Vicki broke the silence. “God hasn’t abandoned her. Cheryl’s turned her back on what she knows is true and good. I think she’ll come around—”
“When the GC catch her and chop her head off?” Tom said. His face was red. “And what about my son? What happens when they give him one of those Nicolae tattoos? What’s God going to do with that?”
The thought of little Ryan getting the mark of Carpathia frightened Vicki. Judd had told her about Chang Wong and how he had been drugged and given the mark against his will. Surely God wouldn’t hold a little one like Ryan responsible for getting the mark. But the GC would make an example of him, parading him in front of the cameras, pleased that they had taken him from the clutches of the evil Judah-ites.
“We’re going to get to her before they do anything to him,” Vicki said. “Trust me.”
“I hope you’re right,” Tom said.
“And what do we do with Cheryl after we catch her?” Mark said. “She’s a threat to the whole group.”
“We just have to keep praying for her,” Vicki said. “That’s all we can do.”
Tom settled in his seat. “As far as I’m concerned, I don’t want that girl within a hundred miles of my family.”
The group drove toward glimmers of flashing lights ahead. Finally, they slowed near a decaying gas station on the outskirts of a town. Two sets of lights flickered against a building in the distance, but Vicki couldn’t see the GC car.
“From these directions,” Tom said, “it looks like we can turn left here and take the back road to Wanda’s.”
Marshall stroked his stubbly beard and glanced in the rear-view mirror. “I don’t know about you guys, but I’d like to see what those GC caught.”
“Same here,” Mark said.
Vicki nodded.
Tom pointed at the gas station and suggested they pull behind it. Quietly they all got out, but Tom told Mark and Vicki to wait.
Mark rolled his eyes and got back in the car. “I hate it when older people treat you like a kid.”
“They’re both stressed about Ryan. It’s nothing personal.”
“Yeah, well, I still liked it better when we called our own shots. The most exciting thing we’ve done since coming to Avery is go to that warehouse, and we had to sneak around to do that.”
Vicki noticed a lightening in the clouds peeking over the horizon. “We have to get to Wanda’s quickly if we want to beat the daylight.”
Mark tapped his fingers against the armrest, and Vicki strained to see around the back of the gas station. Another GC squad car approached, then passed the station and turned down a street a few blocks away.
Minutes passed and their friends didn’t return. “Maybe they found something,” Mark said.
The phone rang and Vicki answered. It was Conrad. “Hold on for this one, Vicki. You’re not going to believe it. Zeke and I have been watching reports along the East Coast, and some weird stuff is going on. People are getting burned up. GC and anybody with the mark of Carpathia is at risk.”
“What do you mean, burned up?”
“Hang on—we’re getting onto Dr. Ben-Judah’s Web site. Okay, here it is.” He paused, reading through the material. “Does the fourth Bowl Judgment ring a bell?”
Vicki thought a moment. “Wait, isn’t that the one where the angel is given power to burn people with fire?”
“Bingo. And it looks like it’s happened everywhere the sun’s shining. Do you realize what this means?”
“A lot of people are going to die.”
“Yeah, but if believers aren’t affected, which is what I assume from what I’ve read of Dr. Ben-Judah’s letter, we’ll be able to move around during the day.”
“What’s Conrad want?” Mark said.
“Conrad, thanks. I’ll get back to you.”
Vicki explained what Conrad had told her and looked toward the horizon. For so long, the sun had caused fear among believers. Now they might not have to be scared of daylight.
“It’s been twenty minutes,” Mark said. “I think we ought to see what’s going on.”
“Let’s wait another five minutes—”
“Fine, you can stay where you are, but I’m going.”
Vicki got out with Mark, switching the phone to vibrate. They stayed away from the street, walking in the same direction as Marshall and Tom, and cut through a hedge. A dog barked in the distance as they skirted a fence and crept through an open area. A few houses were scattered about—some abandoned, others well kept.
The squad-car lights became brighter, but there was still no sign of Marshall or Tom.
A two-story apartment building loomed before them. They walked to the right, stepping gingerly past old barbecues and gardening tools stacked at the end of the building. They stayed low, creeping onto the scene like two cats searching for prey. Mark dropped to his knees, and Vicki followed as they crawled to the top of a knoll and spotted the squad cars near a van.
A child cried out, and Vicki recognized Ryan. The officers had Cheryl against the front of the van, her hands cuffed behind her. A little farther up the street two officers laughed and pointed at something on the ground. Vicki crawled five feet to her left and gasped. Marshall and Tom lay facedown in the street, their hands behind them.
34
VICKI focused on Ryan, who was still inside the van and being cared for by a female officer. The child cried for his mama and struggled with the officer.
“It’s okay,” Cheryl yelled, tears streaming down her face. “We’re going to be okay.”
One of the officers near Tom and Marshall keyed his radio. “Two males, one female, and one child. All unmarked.”
Vicki wondered if Tom or Marshall had IDs on them. If the GC found out Tom was a former GC officer, they’d take him in for questioning.
Vicki’s heart wrenched every time Ryan cried out. She wanted to rush in and grab him but couldn’t.
“They must have jumped Tom and Marshall,” Mark whispered. “What do you want to do?”
Vicki glanced at the sky. It would still be a few minutes before the sun rose. “Let me pull the car around. I’ll get their attention and see if they take the bait.”
&n
bsp; “What’ll you do if they follow?”
“I’ll try to lead them into the light. You see what you can do for Tom and the others.”
“Maybe I should take the car—”
“No. You’ll be better at helping them. Let me go.” Vicki scooted backward quietly and ran to the car. The keys were still in the ignition, and Vicki started it and pulled onto the road. She had the sick feeling that perhaps the plague of burning fire wouldn’t hit Wisconsin like it had the rest of the world. Could it be over? If so, Vicki and the others were in deep trouble.
Vicki pulled slowly onto the main road and looked at the surrounding hills. The town lay in a valley, so until the sun was higher, there would be patches of shade throughout the area. She stopped in the middle of the road and focused on trees on the ridge. A thin trail of smoke rose like a white snake. Was it some kind of illusion? or dust? The longer she looked, the more convinced she became that it was smoke.
Vicki rolled her window down, peering up at the eerie sight. A spark, then a flash of fire broke out at the tops of trees. As sunlight spread farther, more leaves and branches were caught in the blaze.
A voice brought Vicki back to reality. “You want to step out of the car, miss?”
A man in uniform stood a few feet in front and to the left of Vicki’s car. She hadn’t heard him approach, and her heart raced wildly when he took a step closer. “Keep your hands where I can see them and get out—”
Vicki punched the accelerator and threw herself flat on the seat. A gun fired and glass shattered, but she kept her foot down, one hand on the steering wheel. She peeked over the dashboard in time to see she was headed for the curb and swerved as another shot smashed the back windshield, the bullet crashing into the car radio.
As Vicki reached the street where the van was stopped, two GC officers pointed their guns and fired, the other rushing to his car. Vicki ducked again and floored it, hoping none of them would shoot her tires.
She made it past the first few houses and looked up. Before her stretched a wide-open road that led toward the hillside.
Mark waited until he heard the first shot. The GC radio went crazy when the officer reported another unmarked citizen nearby. Mark counted four officers firing as Vicki passed. The female officer carried Ryan away from the van and placed him on the ground near Tom and Marshall.
As the other officers roared away in two of the squad cars, the female officer walked back to Cheryl, and Mark saw his chance. He raced down a slight embankment, careful to keep the van between him and the officer. Cheryl screamed for Ryan.
He reached the back of the van and knelt as the officer pushed Cheryl toward Tom and Marshall. Mark breathed a quick prayer. He wasn’t sure what to do, but something told him to get Ryan first.
He duck-walked to the squad car, which was still running, and reached through the open window. He tried to throw the car into gear, but it wouldn’t go. He glanced back and noticed Marshall had seen him.
“There’s something crawling on my legs!” Marshall yelled at the officer. “Come over here and get it off!”
Mark quietly opened the door, got in, pushed the brake pedal, and put the car in drive. The car moved slowly forward as he scampered away.
As soon as Mark was hidden from view, Marshall shouted, “Hey, looks like your car’s going on a trip!”
The officer cursed, and Mark heard footsteps approaching. When the woman passed, he sprinted toward his friends. Mark raced with lightning speed toward Ryan and with one swoop gathered the boy up and darted away.
“Marky!” Ryan said as they ran. The boy giggled, and Mark tried to quiet him. Finally, he put a hand over Ryan’s mouth. Mark rushed behind a garage and peered out long enough to see that the female officer had stopped the car. Mark held Ryan tight while he rushed for the abandoned gas station.
Vicki gunned the engine and flew toward the hills. She couldn’t see the sun yet, but she could see its effect. A trail of smoke rose from the top of the ridge. If she could reach the curve above her, which looked no more than two miles away, she had a chance.
She flicked on her lights and kept an eye on the rear-view mirror. Racing out of the small town were two squad cars, lights flashing.
Vicki sped up and hit a curve at full speed, her tires dropping off the edge of the pavement, then hopping back on. The squad cars gained ground, so she mashed her foot to the floor and flew down the sloping road and toward the hill. She had to slow to make the next curve, and the car bogged down and the engine revved.
A squad car pulled in directly behind her and another raced beside her. She glanced to her left quickly enough to see there was only one officer in the car. Sirens blared, and someone on a bullhorn ordered her to pull over. Vicki kept her hands glued to the steering wheel and looked to her right. The hill still blocked the sunlight.
“Pull over now!” an officer shouted.
Mark gasped for air and held Ryan tightly against his chest. The boy had giggled as Mark ran from the scene, as if they were playing a game. “Candy,” Ryan said.
Mark handed him a soft piece of candy and patted the child’s back as they reached the gas station. He expected to see the squad car speed toward them at any moment.
“Marky!” Ryan said, looking around.
“Yeah, Marky’s here. Now we need to be really quiet.”
Ryan put his hand out. “Blankie! Uh … uh! Blankie!”
“We’re going to get your blanket, but we need to be quiet, okay?”
Ryan wrinkled his nose. “Blankie …”
Mark wished he could have helped Tom and Marshall, but there wasn’t time. And if Conrad was right about the heat plague, he wouldn’t have to stay hidden long before the GC officers realized the wrath of God.
The gas station was padlocked. Even the restrooms around the back were sealed shut. If anyone came out of their houses or happened to drive by, he and Ryan would be seen.
“Hey,” someone whispered.
Mark looked around. On a hillside were a few houses.
On the other side was a vacant lot with weeds and bushes.
“Over here,” a man said.
Mark focused on what looked like a manhole cover that was slightly open. A hand waved Mark forward. Could it be a GC trick? If so, why would the GC be hiding underground?
Mark looked at the street. No squad car. He hugged Ryan tightly and made a run for the hole. The cover swung open, and a man with a scraggly beard reached out for the boy.
Ryan grabbed Mark’s neck and whined. “Scared! Scared!”
“It’s okay, buddy. I’m with you.”
Vicki heard the ping of bullets off the back of her car and swerved to her right. The car shook, and she smelled something like rubber burning. A glance in the side mirror showed smoke rising from the car. The GC had shot one of her tires.
As she slowed, Vicki noticed sunshine creeping around the mountain. She floored the accelerator and pulled forward as far as she could. When she stopped, the front half of her car was in sunshine, the back in shadows.
“Get out and lay facedown on the pavement!” a GC officer barked.
Vicki opened the door, her hands in front of her. When she closed the door, one of the officers cursed and yelled for her to get down. Immediately Vicki felt a rise in temperature, not unbearable, but definitely hotter.
She lay down, her face near the pavement. The tar bubbled slightly. As a girl, she had ridden her bike on hot asphalt, and this reminded her of the sticky tar on her shoes and tires at the end of the day.
“I’m unarmed,” Vicki said. “There’s no reason to shoot.”
“Shut up!” an officer shouted.
A man with a dark mustache keyed his radio, calling their partner who had been left behind. “We have the runner. Everything okay back there?”
A female officer spoke, her voice shaky. “The girl and two men are still here, but I’ve lost the kid.”
“What do you mean, you lost him?”
“My squad car must have
slipped into gear while I put him down. When I got back he was gone.”
“I’m heading back there,” Officer Mustache said to the other two.
“All three of you’d better leave,” Vicki said.
Officer Mustache turned, his hand on his pistol. “I thought we told you to be quiet.”
Vicki pushed herself to a sitting position on the hot pavement and noticed that where her shadow fell, the pavement remained cool. “Has the GC contacted you about what’s going on with the sun?”
The three looked at each other but didn’t respond. Vicki pulled her knees to her chest. Trees on the other side of the road sizzled and popped. “You hear that? When the sun reaches you and your cars, what’s happened all over the world is going to happen to you.”
“What’s she talking about?” a younger officer said.
“You see how this road is bubbling? Look at the smoke behind me on the hillside. There’s something going on here, and you guys had better pay attention.”
“Cuff her and bring her back to town,” Officer Mustache said.
The younger officer moved toward Vicki, pulling handcuffs from his belt. As he got closer, he stared at the bubbling asphalt. “Sir, this tar over here is—”
But Officer Mustache was already in his car, backing away and speeding down the hill.
The younger officer glanced at the trees. Every minute the sunshine inched closer.
“Go ahead and cuff her and get her in the car,” the older officer said.
“What if she’s right about the sun? You know we had that report from the East Coast before we left the station.”
“Just cuff her and we’ll get out of here.”
The younger officer walked toward Vicki, his face contorted. He took a step into the sunshine and lifted his boot. Hot, gooey tar stuck to it.
“Stand up and move over here,” the officer said.
Vicki remained seated. The officer threw the handcuffs to her and told her to put them on.
“You’ll have to come over here and get me,” Vicki said.
“Go get her,” the older officer shouted.
Hunted Page 24
