“No problem.”
The Seer slung the shotgun across his back and climbed out. Once again, he took Catalina’s hand and lead her into the alley, which swallowed them in darkness.
“How far to the helicopter from here?”
“Not far. Gabe’s got friends in high places, no pun intended,” he answered in between breathless pants.
“Why couldn’t he land the helicopter outside of the psychiatric hospital?”
Andrew shook his head. “Not enough space to land.”
“What about my daughter?”
“Once we’re at the next safe point, we’ll send someone in to bring her to you.” He tossed a grin over his shoulder at her.
“Didn’t think I’d leave the munchkin hanging, did you?”
They both stopped at the end of the alley, waiting to cross the street to the next one.
“I don’t recall you being very fond of children,” Catalina said.
He chuckled, watching for cars. “Maybe so, but if she’s anything like you, I suppose I could take a liking to her.”
The comment made her pause, realizing the gravity of what he had done for her. “Andrew, I—”
He shook his head. “Don’t get soft on me now, Cat. We’re not outta this yet.”
“I know, but—”
“Hey,” he whispered, cupping one side of her face in his large hand and meeting her dark eyes with a determined look. “You don’t have to thank me for this, ever. I’ve spent my whole life fighting for people who will never know I even exist. You’re the only thing I have left to believe in—you and that little angel waiting for us. Okay?”
She nodded once. “Okay.”
She pulled him closer by the lapel of his grey duster and kissed him with abandon, allowing herself to be lost in him, if only temporarily. He kissed her back with equal passion, only pulling away when he was sure that she knew exactly how he felt about her. Then he grabbed her hand and led her across the street to the next alley.
They ran faster as the sirens got closer, filling the alley with a shrill shrieking that sounded almost as demonic as their pursuers. At last, they came up on the last turn that would spill them into a side street where the car and its driver were waiting.
“C’mon, it’s just around the corner!” He went around it first, but stopped dead in his tracks, making her stumble as she ran into his back. At the end of the alley stood a tall blond man, holding their driver above his head by the throat. He turned his head slowly, looking at the pair with lifeless blue eyes.
“If you value this man’s life, you will throw your weapons over to me. Now.”
Andrew surveyed the man, noting the long, thin blade held in his right hand. It glinted dangerously in the dim light spilling in from the open end of the alley. Behind them was a dead end. The police were closing in. They were trapped.
He turned his head slightly to look at Catalina, warning her with his eyes not to move or say anything, but to be ready. Something was off about this man—not demonic energy, but something. “Let him go, first.”
“You are not in the position to give me orders,” the man said, digging his thumb into the back up driver’s pulse point and making him cry out.
Andrew took the shotgun off of his back, making sure to seem as harmless as possible. The nameless man nodded towards the dumpster beside him.
“Throw it in there. Make any attempts to harm me and I will kill this man, and then you.”
“Charming fellow, ain’t he?” Andrew muttered, walking over to the dumpster and tossing the gun in.
The man gestured to Catalina next. “Yours as well.”
She threw in her gun, her dark eyes glittering with hatred. “How much are they paying you to help them damn this world?”
The man allowed a small smirk to touch his lips. “Enough.”
With that, he let go of the man, who stumbled and fell. “Get in the car and drive away. If you attempt to come back and save them, I will slit your throat and feed you to the hellhounds.”
The driver’s eyes darted to Andrew, who shook his head. “Go. We’ll figure something out. I can’t have your death on my hands.”
“I’m sorry,” the driver muttered hoarsely, picking himself up and limping over to the car. He got in and drove away, leaving the alley dark with the absence of the headlights. In the few seconds of dark that they had, Catalina slipped Andrew’s handgun to him from the small of her back. She edged over to the dumpster in case she would get the chance to retrieve the shotgun.
The man tracked her movements with his eyes, lifting the blade to point at her.
“Walk over here. The police will be here shortly to arrest your lover and you will return to the facility unharmed. If you resist, that will not be the case.”
She narrowed her eyes at him. “Come and get me.”