Part 49 (2/2)
The man grunted in agony, falling halfway over. ”Get up!” the man on Finn's back ordered his fallen comrade, but to no avail. The one who had been at Finn's side staggered into the fog, into the safety of the nearby trees. Finn again gathered his resources, ducked, and pulled, sending the man from the rear flying over his head to land with a thud against something on the ground.
Others flew at Finn again.
He kept spinning, fighting, struggling, but in time, he thought, it was going to end. There were only so many blows he could take before he went down himself. Only the thought of Megan, out there, somewhere, without him, kept him moving. They weren't going to win. They couldn't have her.
And still...
When it seemed a total loss, he became aware that bodies were flying all around him. His volunteer ally had an incredible strength.
Finn wasn't about to give up his own fight; there had been too many of the caped and cowled figures after him.
And then, he took a jab at someone standing in front of him. Someone in a long black cape, no hood or cowl.
”It's all right!”
A hand fell on his wrist, stopping the blow he would have sent flying. ”It's me,” Lucian said.
Finn stopped and stared, shaking then with it all over, and furious. He looked blankly at Lucian.
”You!”
”Yeah, sorry, I suspected something would happen, but the fire took me by surprise. I shouldn't have been so late getting here.”
Finn took that in, still studying the strange new friend who had made men fly through the night. For himself... he had to bend over, grasp his knees, and gasp in every breath. Finally, he could talk.
”Yeah, well, thanks... you came. We still should have gotten the s.h.i.+t beat out of us, you know? What the h.e.l.l-did you work for Jackie Chan or something, spend time training with Ali?”
Lucian shrugged. ”You can hold your own yourself,” he told him. ”Good thing.”
Finn heard a moan, startling him from his concentration on Lucian. He saw that one hooded figure who remained on the ground.
Walking to the man, he flipped him, staring first at the mask, then ripping the mask from his head. By then, Lucian was at his side. ”Know him?” Lucian asked.
”No... yes. It's one of the kids working in a novelty shop near Morwenna's witchcraft store,” Finn said. ”I've never exchanged so much as a single word with him.” His temper flew again and he bent down. ”But we're going to exchange a few words now!”
He went to take the kid's shoulders, shake him back to consciousness. But Lucian's hand landed on his arm.
”You don't need to strangle him, or tear him up.”
”I want to know what's going on. I want to know where Megan is!”
”He won't know.”
”What the h.e.l.l are you talking about?”
”I don't think he's going to know,” Lucian said calmly. He hunkered down as well, taking the man's cheeks between his long fingers, and rolling the head back and forth. ”Hey!” he said.
Eyes opened slowly. The pupils were huge in the darkness, totally disoriented, and then filled with panic. The boy struggled backward on his elbows, staring at Finn and Lucian.
”What do you want? Take my money-it isn't much. I've got a watch, though. A good one. Take what you want, and leave me alone... hey, please! Don't... don't hurt me. Please.”
”Hurt you!” Finn said incredulously.
”What's your name?” Lucian asked him.
”Peter Davis.”
”What were you doing with that group of thugs?” Lucian said.
”What thugs?” the kid inquired.
”You were with a whole group of people in similar costumes. And you all came and attacked my friend here,” Lucian told Peter.
Either the kid was a great actor, or he was being truthful. He stared at Lucian with sheer amazement. ”I wasn't with any group of people in similar costumes! I opted for the cloak and mask tonight because it was easy. I had to work late.” He shook his head, still in confusion and fear. ”I came in really late, and then...”
He stopped speaking, more confused.
”I remember... a fire. Yeah... the fire. I remember running from the fire.”
”Bulls.h.i.+t!” Finn roared, about to go for his throat to shake either sense or truth out of him.
But Lucian put a restraining hand on his shoulder. ”He really doesn't know,” he said quietly.
”I don't know anything, honestly, and I sure as h.e.l.l don't know what you're talking about!” Peter said pleadingly. He took a second to survey his surroundings. ”I must have run here from the fire. Was I hit on the head? No, man, my jaw hurts... and my ribs. Feels like I was gored by an elephant.”
”You attacked me,” Finn told him.
Peter shook his head, staring at Finn. ”No man, not me. h.e.l.l, look at me, I'm a nerdy little guy, I'd never attack anyone.” Lucian offered Peter a hand; he came slowly to his feet, still groaning.
Finn would have doubted that Peter's lack of memory could be possible, except that he had seen the kid's eyes.
And suddenly he remembered that he didn't have time to sit here and try to force the kid to say something.
He didn't know where Megan was.
”Let the kid go,” he told Lucian, fear trickling through him again. He was suddenly certain as to why he was attacked, and that was all that mattered. ”Or do what you want. I've got to get back there. They've got Megan.”
”If you don't let me go this instant, you are going to be so sorry!” Megan warned.
Blackness had given way to the night, but they were removed from the scene, hurrying down a dark road.
If he heard her, the man gave no sign.
She was being half dragged, and half led. The man had a grip of steel on her right arm. Panic was beginning to set in again.
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