Chapter 246
My pursuer was having trouble navigating. Pre-headless status, I would have placed him in the annoyingly crafty brute camp, high on the shortlist of foes I generally prioritized avoiding direct conflict with. Post-headless, he ran full tilt and barreled into and or over anything in his way. Considering his ample mass and speed potential he still wasnt a joke. If I panicked, or got stupid enough to run in a straight, unobstructed line long enough for him to get his massive hands on me, that would probably be the end of it.
But my ability to panic was more or less a dead nerve. Itd been beaten out of me, time and time again, diminishing with every instance I was forced to take something ridiculous in stride.
It still happenedtypically when someone I cared about was under threat. If Iris was still in danger, I wouldnt have been nearly as clear-headed.
But I trusted Sae. And I was pretty sure Headless was the reason for Maxs disturbingly low evaluation. Now that he was fixated on me, Sae could take her time getting my sister to safety, using Maxs ability to make sure the way ahead was safe.
GUURAAAAAAAW
Here he comes.
I slowed and pressed my back to the passenger side of an over-sized gas-guzzling SUV, parked on the side of the street, facing down the overgrown monster speeding towards me. Despite the juddering gait and awkwardness of his ruined legs, he was still unbelievably fast. nove(l)bi(n.)com
At the last second, with perception screaming for me to move, Audreys vines shot from my sleeve, anchoring on a distant light pole and launching me out of the way.
Every pound of Headlesss considerable bulk slammed into the sedan, shattering windows and crumpling the frame, pushing it up on two wheels. The trunk and engine block were bent inward, leaving him thrashing and half-stuck.
So close. I called behind me, feeling grim satisfaction when the mockery was met with an angry roar.
I kept running, making as much distance as I could before Headless could free himself. The first five minutes had been deceptively easy, effectively playing matador with a blind bull. But slowlyalmost too gradually to noticemy pursuer had been growing more coordinated. He was either regenerating faster than I could hurt him, or getting better at wringing efficiency from his injured state.
Neither was good for me.
At this rate hell run me down before we get to the reservoir. Need to keep him on the back foot.
I swore, jerking out of the way as the minotaurs thundering footsteps gained ground, belatedly realizing Id zoned out on a straight-away. Curving misstep, I mantled over a car and behind a light pole, flinching at the clang and shudder of metal, tucking my shoulder and ending up on my back. Above, the battered light pole swayed precariously, whinging metal and cracking asphalt, teetering towards me.
No.
As landed from my fingertips, the pole swung back the other way, teetering towards the road. The tortured bolts at the base tore free and the pole plunged down, landing directly on headless and pinning him flat. He struggled, pushing against the concrete with both hands, trying to shove the pole off of him. It barely moved, but from the strength hed showed that could be shock. It wouldnt be long until he got it off.
I staggered to my feet preparing to run again before I glanced at the time. It was half-past-noon. Id barely run this thing for half of the cooldown and it was already nipping at my heels. It was tempting to cobble him somehow, turn the tables in my favor so I could time this properly, but if I went overboard, that would risk immobilizing him. And to make a serious impact, I needed to get up close, putting me in range of his bulging arms. Unless I got creative.
I blasted a piece of recently emancipated concrete about half the size of my fist with , wedged the toe of my boot beneath it, and sent it skittering towards where the minotaurs head would be, rock curving with perfect accuracy.
There was a hollow thunk, and instantaneously, the guttural growling and snarling ceased.
The brief silence that followed was immediately shattered as the minotaur frantically clawed at his throat in a desperate attempt to clear his airway.
Come find me once you handle that.
I moved at a brisk jog, putting a more reasonable distance between us now, giving myself room to maneuver. By the time he caught up to me at the reservoir, it was already too late.
