Imperfect
Page 51
“Where should I hide the crutch?” Kristi asked herself.
She willed her body to stop shivering from the cold. The crutch felt awkward in her hands, getting in the way of her feet when she walked. She spotted a low hanging branch and got an idea. Slipping her forearm through the crutch, she began to scale the tree.
“Let’s see how the Sniffers like barking up a tree,” she said.
Kristi hooked the crutch onto the highest branch of the yew tree then scrambled down; she had walked further from the pond than she would’ve liked. The leaves and gravel crunched beneath her feet; she wished her footsteps wouldn’t make so much noise.
A yowl seared the air. Kristi froze, not sure which direction the sound was coming from.
“They found a trail,” a voice rang out.
Sniffers! Her brain screeched. Get back to the koi-pond before they spot you. She traded caution in for speed, hurtling through the vegetation and not caring that she was trampling patches of meticulously cared for flowers and plants.
“Sir! I saw a movement to the left,” a female voice called out. “Requesting permission to investigate.”
“Permission granted.”
Kristi leapt over a rotting log and skidded around a muddy patch of ground. She backpedaled immediately. A Sniffer snapped at her ankles and let out a bark.
“Target located!” the Searcher behind the Sniffer yelled.
The other Searchers shouted back their replies, but Kristi was too distracted to make out their words. She sprinted towards the pond. Halfway to the pond though, she abruptly changed directions. What am I thinking? I’ll give away the hiding place if I go there, Kristi thought.
Something heavy pounced onto Kristi’s back, sending her sprawling across the ground. A Sniffer pinned her in place. Jeez, how much does the droid-dog weigh? 150 pounds? 200? The other dogs were onto her in an instant.
The Searchers came into view. A woman officer knelt down besides Kristi and said, “Where are the other Accidents?” She made a command for the Sniffer to get off Kristi then wrenched her onto her feet.
“I don’t know,” Kristi said. “I lost sight of them.”
The Searcher snapped to attention when the commanding officer of the Search unit arrived. “Sir, requesting permission to search surrounding area for trail.”
“Permission granted.”
“Here, somebody take care of this thing.” The woman pushed Kristi away from her, as if she was infected with a transmittable disease.
She stumbled into a pair of open arms.
“Well, we met again, Freak,” said a familiar voice.
Kristi spun around. “It’s you.”
Mason smirked. “Who else would it be?”
He released Kristi for a moment, but it was only so that he could pull her arms behind her back to secure them in a pair of handcuffs before she had a chance to run away.
“I’ll take care of her,” said a Searcher, stepping out from the back of the group.
“Who are you?” Mason asked.
“Officer Holnes.”
“I don’t recognize you.”
“New member to this Search unit,” Holnes said. He made an attempt to grab Kristi, but Mason jerked her out of reach.
“Commander Klove, when was Holnes added to this unit?”
That was when Kristi noticed Commander Klove was missing.
“Imposter!” Mason yelled. He directed the remaining Searchers, “Seize him!”
The Searchers lunged for Holnes, but more people had melted out of the shadows. None of the newcomers were clothed in Searcher uniforms. Nobody knew who was on whose side. It was complete madness.
Now’s my chance to make an escape, Kristi thought. But she hadn’t taken three steps before a person tackled her to the ground. She fell on her back, her handcuffed hands digging into her lower back. Her attacker was Officer Holnes.
“Are you part of the Revealers?” she asked.
“No,” he said, then stuck a needle into her arm.
The world turned into a kaleidoscope of colors and patterns. The last thing Kristi thought before she lost consciousness was, At least I kept Chelsa, Finn and Troop safe for now. If only I could do the same with the Accidents in New Genes Lab.
chapter fifty-one
[ Troop ]