As the doors of the vehicle swung open, Scarlett and Dylan got ready to throw their enemies out of the way and grab their friends, but the only people who stepped out of the car were two Guardians. And they were both pointing guns straight at them.
Scarlett grabbed their weapons and pulled them over into her and Dylan’s hands.
“Where are they?” she snapped as she took aim with the firearm.
One of the men looked at her with pleading eyes. “Your friends went the other way. Mr Goulden asked us to act as decoys in case you tried to stage a rescue attempt.”
Dylan shot Scarlett an angry look. She knew he blamed her for alerting Goulden to their presence and he was right to do so, she had been reckless this time and now they were paying the price for her stupidity. She stamped her foot on the ground in frustration that Goulden had gotten one over on them yet again.
“Where is he taking them?” she asked the men,
“I dunno.”
The Guardians were shaking with fear, they didn’t seem that strong once the tables were turned on them.
Dylan fired a shot near one of their feet in a show of intimidation. “You must know!”
“OK, OK! They were going to the Midland Hotel, then onto somewhere else. If you hurry, you might catch them.”
There wasn’t a second to waste. Scarlett and Dylan raced off into a side alley and flew up into the air, ready to dash back across the city and save their friends. She only hoped they could get there in time.
Chapter 19
Scarlett and Dylan flew across town as quickly as they could before descending to the ground near the Midland Hotel. Scarlett was beginning to feel dizzy from all the toing and froing they’d done today. Maybe she wasn’t cut out for this racing around like a superhero lark after all.
Dylan looked as tired as she was. He was doubled over with his hands on his knees, panting like he’d run four blocks down the road to catch the bus. After catching his breath, he turned to Scarlett.
“You OK?” she asked.
“Yeah, just tired, you know,” he said. “But there’s no time for that. We need to get ourselves back in that hotel and confront Goulden.” His eyes flung wide open as though he’d had an idea, then he patted the top of his jeans, pulled his wallet out and fumbled inside to look at the money Lucy had given him. “We’ve got enough. Come with me.”
Scarlett didn’t have time to respond before Dylan grabbed her hand and pulled her up the steps into the hotel reception. She couldn’t believe they’d last been there only this morning, it felt like weeks had passed by in the meantime. The grand interior impressed her even more this time around and as they walked across the entrance hall, she was so busy gaping at the plush décor that she trailed behind Dylan like a raggy doll being dragged along.
“For goodness’ sake, Scarlett,” Dylan said as they approached the check-in desk. “Look as though you’re happy to be with me, instead of like I’ve kidnapped you against your will.” He hit the little brass bell with a flourish.
“Eh?”
Before she had chance to ask what he was going on about, a slim man in an expensive suit appeared before them. Scarlett couldn’t help staring at his tasteless blue-and-green checked tie, which looked out of place next to his smart outfit and fashionable haircut. She wondered if it was a Christmas gift he felt compelled to wear or perhaps his only tie.
“Can I help you?” he said.
Dylan grinned, leaned forward and placed his hands on the desk. Scarlett knew such displays of over-confidence meant he was up to something, but what?
“Yes, you can help us as a matter of fact. My fiancée and I would like to book a room.”
Scarlett tried not to laugh at being referred to as a fiancée, while the man glared at them snootily. He wrinkled his nose and smiled sadistically, preparing to insult them and enjoy every minute of it.
“Sir, this is a top-end hotel and rooms start at £1,000 a night.”
Scarlett supressed a gasp. Although she knew that would have been the equivalent of £100 back in her own reality, the extortionate prices in this world still took her by surprise. It was lucky Lucy had given them some money earlier.
“I know how much it costs,” Dylan said.
There was no way he was letting this man talk down to him; he was only a couple of years older than them, so he could drop the stuck-up attitude.
“We can easily afford it. One room for tonight and I’ll pay in cash.”
He opened his wallet and slammed ten £100 notes on the desk, before smiling sweetly at the receptionist. Scarlett bit her lip to stop herself laughing out loud.
“OK, sir. I’ll sort that out right away.”
“Thank you. Oh, and can you ensure you place us away from any large groups? My fiancée and I have an early flight in the morning, so we don’t want to risk being woken by any rowdy hen parties, business conventions, that kind of thing. You know how it is.”
The man nodded empathically. “Of course, sir. In that case, I’ll keep you away from the second floor because we have a number of politicians staying there for a convention.”
Dylan pretended to look surprised. “Do you? Is it the Prime Minister? Oh he’s such an admirable man, I would love to meet him. Do you think he’ll be in the hotel bar later?”
Unable to help himself, the receptionist leaned forward and lowered his voice to gossip. “Yes it is. I met him earlier, it was so exciting. You’re out of luck though because he’s due to check out in the next half hour.”
“Oh what a shame.” Dylan shook his head and thumped the desk despondently. Scarlett couldn’t believe how brilliantly he was hamming this up. It was hilarious. “Maybe another time.”
“Perhaps, sir. Can I take a name for the booking please?”
“Ah yes, Jack Lee.”
“Lovely, sir. Well, here are your keys, Mr Lee. You’re in room 414, enjoy your stay.”
Dylan winked at the man and put his arm lovingly round Scarlett, giving her an over-affectionate squeeze.
“Oh we will.”
“Did you have to maul me like that?” she said with a laugh as they headed towards the lift.
Dylan pretended to look offended. “You women, never happy, even when I bring you to a fancy place.”
As the shiny lift door opened with a ding, Dylan gave her a look of acknowledgment to show he knew exactly how she was feeling. Seconds later, they stepped out at the second floor where they’d been told Goulden was staying and started searching for his room. However, countless rooms were ahead of them and it was hard to know where to begin. Scarlett tried placing her ear to one of the doors.
“What are you doing?” Dylan asked.
He was fidgeting and looking around them nervously. When a door creaked down the hall, he jumped as though a gun had been fired. Scarlett laughed and shook her head.
“Calm down! I was listening in to see if I could hear Goulden. He’s pretty loud, so I thought it was worth a shot.”
Dylan took a step towards Scarlett as another door made a sound a few feet away from them. He squeezed her hand reassuringly, but their concern proved to be misplaced when a couple in their twenties stepped out of the room and hurried down the hall, chattering about their plans for the afternoon. As they passed by in a cloud of expensive perfume, Scarlett envied their carefree, happy lives.
“That should be us,” she whispered sadly.
He squeezed her hand again. “One day, Scarlett. I promise.”
They tiptoed down the corridor, but there was no need because the carpets were so soft that even a giant in heavy boots would struggle to be heard on these floors. It didn’t hurt to be cautious though.
Scarlett paused to admire a contemporary picture on the wall. She was taken by the interesting use of colour and composition, but before she could make a comment to Dylan, a loud smash in a room to the left grabbed their attention. This was followed by the sound of men shouting, furniture crashing and a cacophony of commotion. Scarlett doubted it was a co
uple having a domestic and prepared to fling the door open with her powers.
“Shall I?” she said to Dylan. She asked first because she didn’t want a lecture about her rashness jeopardizing missions; not after her stupidity helped Goulden get away with their friends.
“Be my guest.”
As she swung the door open, the pair raced inside to find The Echidna and four of his men fighting Goulden’s security guards. Goulden himself was stood next to the window, keeping well clear of any danger. Scarlett couldn’t see any sign of Isabella, Aaron and Jay, so she was torn about whose side she should be fighting on here. Naturally, it made sense to want to defeat Goulden, but The Echidna had killed four teenagers they knew this morning. It was tempting to take revenge, but finding their three friends was their main priority.
She telekinetically lifted Goulden and flew him over to them.
“Where are they?”
She gave him her most menacing and intimidating look, but it didn’t faze him one bit. He simply smiled at her as though they were old friends.
“Miss Shortt, so you are here. I knew my instincts were correct, they never let me down.”
His sickening charm made her very soul itch; she couldn’t bear to look at the man. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Dylan grab the gun he’d stolen earlier from his pocket and point it in Goulden’s direction.
“She asked you a question.”
Goulden’s back stiffened as he turned towards Dylan. For once he was afraid, but he tried his best not to show it.
“Oh Mr Nicolson, put the gun away, there’s no need for such hostility.”
“Shut up, there’s every need. Now answer Scarlett.”
“I don’t know where they are, somewhere on the way to London, I imagine. Now let me go before I have you executed for treason. I should make that the law. Charlie, note that down.”
As Goulden made small talk, he reached into his pocket, but Scarlett spotted his sly move. She quickly used her powers to swipe the handgun he was reaching for and took control of it for herself.
“Looking for this?” She aimed it straight towards his face and took a step closer. Goulden laughed like he’d watched a child cover itself in flour while attempting to bake a cake.
“Oh please, Miss Shortt, you don’t even know how to load the damn thing.”
“Don’t I?” She clicked and shuffled the barrel, demonstrating that she knew exactly what she was doing. Goulden gulped. Scarlett took a step closer and gripped the gun more tightly, so he couldn’t tell she was shaking inside. “Now tell us where our friends are before I blow your evil, disgusting brains out.”
But just then, The Echidna somersaulted across the room, grabbed Goulden by the neck and pulled him back towards the window.
“Sorry sweetie, but I can’t let you do that, the pleasure of killing this monster is going to be all mine.”
Chapter 20
The Echidna leapt out of the window grasping Goulden and stood on the ledge. He grabbed a gadget from his belt, glanced up, then threw a zip line into the air and disappeared towards the sky, taking the Prime Minister with him. Goulden’s men leaned out and shot towards the sky, but the bullets fell straight back down and narrowly missed hitting them in the face. They never had seemed very bright to Scarlett.
She turned to Dylan. “We’re going after Goulden and The Echidna right?”
He nodded, so she telekinetically moved Goulden’s men away from the window and grabbed Dylan’s hand to fly across the room, out the window and up into the sky, where they found The Echidna climbing up to the roof with Goulden still in tow.
Dylan came to a halt in mid-air just before they reached the pair of villains. “Keep your distance for now, I want to see what The Echidna has planned.”
They watched as the masked gang boss pulled Goulden onto a small, flat part of the roof that sat amongst the pointy, terracotta Victorian turrets of the hotel. Scarlett recalled her grandmother mentioning there used to be a fancy roof garden up here years ago and assumed this must be the spot. She and Dylan flew a little closer, ducking behind the angled parts of the roof, which served as excellent hiding places.
“What do you want from me?” Goulden snapped.
“I want you dead,” The Echidna said.
Goulden laughed. “You’ll never get away with that. I’m the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom.”
“I know all too well who you are. You killed my whole family and made my life a misery. Now you’re going to pay.”
Dylan tugged at Scarlett’s hand as he started to fly in the direction of the action. “Time we stepped in.”
She wasn’t so convinced. “Can’t we let him die?”
“You know we don’t do that.”
Scarlett sighed. “I know.”
They flew up from their hiding place and straight at The Echidna, then Dylan punched him squarely on the chin, knocking him away from Goulden. The Prime Minister laughed as he leapt free of the villain’s clutches and pulled his mobile phone from his pocket.
“Charlie,” he said calmly into his handset. “Send back-up to the roof.”
He snapped his phone shut, then ran at Scarlett and pushed her towards the iron railings that lined the roof terrace. He took her so by surprise that he almost managed to force her onto the sharp spikes, but she ducked out of the way just in time. Unfortunately, she dropped her newly acquired gun in the process and Goulden rushed to scoop it up.
Scarlett could hear the chimes of the clock striking two at the nearby town hall as he grinned and pointed the gun at her.
“Well, well, this is a turn up for the books. I was about to make a run for it, but I couldn’t miss the opportunity to take out one of my most powerful adversaries now, could I?”
Scarlett glanced around for Dylan, but he was grappling with The Echidna at the other side of the roof terrace.
“I thought you wanted me alive to serve as one of your Super Soldiers.”
Goulden swayed his head from side to side. “Well, yes, there is that and you are brilliantly powerful, but you’re a pain in the backside too. If you’re not going to join me, then it’d be fun to kill you. I’m suddenly in the mood for it.”
“You’re sick.”
“Why thank you. Fortunately for me, the rest of the country doesn’t agree with you. In fact, they’re calling me a genius today thanks to my plans for the Cities Of The Future. Did you hear about my announcement?”
Scarlett shot him a look of disgust. “I sat in on your speech and I hated every word. It’s obvious you want to create a segregated country with the rich inside your ridiculous bubbles, loving life and shopping in their dream world while everyone else dies on the outside.”
Goulden roared with laughter. “Oh, you youngsters, you simplify everything and twist it to sound like us ambitious people are evil.”
“You are. You’re evil and crazy.”
She must have hit a nerve because he stopped swaying around jovially and glowered at her before raising his gun again.
“OK, you’re starting to offend me now. I don’t like to be offended.”
Scarlett tried to work out if she could telekinetically swipe his gun faster than he could pull the trigger, but she didn’t fancy the risk when he was pointing it straight at her at such close range.
“Dylan!” she shouted in desperation. Why wasn’t he coming to her rescue? OK, so she was always insisting she didn’t need him to save her, but she could definitely use his help right about now. And that’s when assistance came from the most unlikely source.
The Echidna raced across the terrace and dived in front of Goulden. “Leave the kid alone,” he shouted.
But Goulden pulled the trigger and shot him bang in the middle of the chest.
Scarlett used her telekinesis to grab his gun, sending it clattering down to the street below, then Goulden ran towards a stair door in the corner of the roof while The Echidna lay still on the ground.
Dylan hurried across and crouched over the bo
dy. “He’s breathing,” he said. “Just.”
Scarlett knelt down and took The Echidna’s mask off, but what she found beneath was a complete shock. The Echidna wasn’t a middle-aged man, she was a young woman barely older than the two of them. One with green hair and yellow skin.
She looked similar to The Rejects that Scarlett and Dylan had encountered some months before, a group of people that Goulden had carried out failed experiments on in a bid to give them superpowers. While some of them had developed super-human abilities, they had also encountered horrific changes to their DNA and physical appearance.
“Echidna?”
“Josie,” she whispered. “My name’s Josie.”
“Josie, have you met Goulden before… in his science labs?”
She nodded feebly.
“That’s why you look like this.”
“Yes.”
Scarlett looked towards The Echidna’s blood-stained shirt.
“How do you feel? Can we help you?”
The Echidna tried to sit up, which was remarkable considering she’d been shot in the chest a few seconds ago.
“No, I’ll be OK in a minute.”
Dylan tried to make her lie back down.
“Rest, you’ve been shot.”
She resisted and sat up with ease this time.
“Seriously, I’m fine. I heal, that’s my power.”
“So that’s how The Echidna survives so many dangerous situations,” Scarlett thought as she struggled to comprehend the fact that the city’s most feared criminal was a young woman of around 20.
“I thought you were a man…” she said.
“That’s because I pretend to be one and people expect me to be one, so they don’t ask questions. The suit is tailored to hide my figure and it’s easy to put a deep voice on when barking out orders and threats.” She shrugged as though it was no big deal.
“How long have you been up here, acting as The Echidna?” she said
“About a year. I was one of the first people Goulden experimented on and when I escaped, I fled north. At first I wanted to evade detection, but as time went on, the desire to take revenge on him grew, which is why I plotted to kill him as soon as he arrived in town.”
Out Of Time (Book 2): Heroes and Villains Page 15
