Chapter 4
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As the trio headed out of the hotel early the next morning, Infinity pulled Cameo aside and asked if there was anything she could do to help him.
โNot unless you can change the past.โ He went on to explain that his parents had been murdered in cold blood, and that his younger brother had been taken to D.C. to be bombed. โIf their deaths mean nothing, then we will be doing all this in vain. I will avenge all of them,โ he whispered darkly.ย
โI will help you, but we need to keep ourselves safe first. Alaska, and then, we kill every person involved in this. Iโm just glad that Kylaโs only eleven.โ Infinity murmured.ย ย
โFine,โ he growled. He stalked off angrily, hatred and revenge burning in his every feature. Infinity followed him out to the minivan and climbed into the passenger seat. Cameo started the car and pulled vehemently out of the hotelโs front drive.
As he whipped around the corner, Harley yelled, โSlow down!โ Cameo blocked her out and accelerated farther, taking out a snow bank on the opposite side of the road. Blue and red lights flashed behind them and Cameo was forced to slow and pull over.ย
โYou idiot! She told you to slow down!โ
โI know, I know, but heโs going to arrest us for being alive! How are we going to get out of this?โ
The policeman climbed out of his black-and-white and walked over towards the driverโs side door. Cameo rolled the window down and the cop stuck his head in the window.
โHello officer, how can I help you?โ Cameoโs fake grin faltered.
โYes, well, I've pulled you over for speeding. I believe my radar gun caught you going at a hundred and ten mile an hour.โ
โWell, sir, you seeโฆ uhโฆ sheโs my wife! Andโฆ her motherโs dying in Canada and we need to get there as fast as possible.โ He glanced over at Infinity who burst into tears. Little did he know that the tears were from embarrassment, but they played to the trioโs advantage. Cameo grasped her hand and patted it lovingly. โDonโt worry, my dear. Weโll get there in time.โ
The police officer cleared his throat. โAnd, who is that in the backseat?โ
Infinity spoke up. โThat's our daughter. Sheโs eleven and sheโs very close to her grandmother,โ she said stutteringly.ย
โYes, Baby, I know,โ Cameo answered gently, and leaned over and tenderly kissed her lips. Harley, in true childish fashion, cried, โEW!โ from the back.ย
โWell, because of the situation you folks are in, Iโll let you off with a warning. Have a nice day.โ The policeman walked off and Cameo rolled up the window.
Cameo turned to Infinity. โIโm so sorry. I couldnโt think how else to get him off us and-โ
โJust drive.โ Infinity hissed through gritted teeth. She closed her eyes and bared her teeth unconsciously. Cameo restarted the car and drove off down an unplowed dirt road.ย
Miles later, the car rolled to a stop. โWhere are we?โ Infinity asked, opening her eyes.
โGet out and see.โ
The two girls jumped out of the car and blinked in the glaring sunlight. Sitting a few yards away were two beautiful, sleek snowmobiles.
โLadies, this is our ride.โ Cameo said, tossing them each a snow white snowmobile helmet. One of the trees shimmered and a boy, slightly older than Cameo, appeared out of thin air. โAnd this is-โ
โEthaniel!โ Harley exclaimed and ran toward him
โHarley!โ The boy replied. When they reached each other Harley wrapped her arms around his neck, and they began to whisper into each other's ears. Infinity raised an eyebrow at this display.
โHarleyโs dad owns a farm out west, and last summer he hired Ethaniel to help in the fields. Of course, they got all โRomeo and Julietโ and were really, madly in love, but when her dad found out, the town was in an uproar at the torrid affair, and he fired Ethaniel and sent Harley to live with me and my family.โ Cameo explained. โI never realized how much they must have missed each other,โ He added, noting the tears glistening on both of the loversโ cheeks.
Ethaniel glanced over at them and asked Harley a whispered question.ย
โCameo already kissed her!โ Harley hollered in response. Infinityโs face flushed, Cameo turned and banged his head against the nearest tree, and Ethaniel raised his eyebrows tauntingly.
โReally? You, of all people, are the last person I suspected of getting all Romeo and Juliet with one of your choices, at least so early in the game,โ Ethaniel teased, barely holding in a laugh.ย
Cameo scowled. โLook whoโs talking! If you want a love affair, all you have to do is look over there! Besides, it was to get a cop off our tail. We had to solidify our story. I had no choice!โย
Infinity threw on her snow clothes and the helmet and stormed over to one of the snowmobiles and clambered on.
โYou arenโt going to get to Alaska just standing there, if that's what youโre thinking,โ she seethed. Ethaniel took the hint and jumped onto the other machine.
โHarley, youโre with me,โ he said, warily glancing at the icey way Infinity was glaring at Cameo.
As the other two sped off into the wilderness, Cameo slipped onto the snowmobile in one practiced motion. โLook, I'm sorry, okay? He can be a bit much, and I didnt know you would get so mad at me. It was one small little kiss. Is that really worth getting so worked up over?โ He started the snowmobile and continued talking. โAnd he wonโt be with us forever. Just until we get over the border. Then heโll be gone and itโll all be fine.โ He shot off on the trail Ethaniel left. โBesides,โ he continued, knowing she couldnโt hear him over the roar of the four-stroke engine, โitโs not like you signed a contract. And is it my fault you just look so beautiful all the time? Like, who wouldnโt have wanted toโโย
โUm, bro? You forgot to turn off your comms.โ Ethaniels voice came through loud and clear, and he knew everything he had just said would have gone through to all three of the others just the same.ย
He cursed loudly in Russian and tried to snap off his commlink but couldnโt press the button with his bulky gloves. He jammed his thumb down on the accelerator. He tended to show his aggression and frustration through his driving, and, though he tried to contain it, the past few days it had gotten the better of him.ย
Infinity grabbed him around the waist as they careened around a cluster of trees. Her touch infuriated him even more, for reasons he couldnโt understand, nor wanted to. As more feelings flooded through his brain, he fought to keep the snowmobile under his control. Eventually, the fury, the hatred, the cold wave of death and sadness overwhelmed him and he screamed, unleashing every ounce of anger and frustration he held within him, shorting out the commlink. He pounded the accelerator, screaming until all the air had been ripped from his lungs, until he longed to stop, to let Jaidin capture him and put him out of his misery. Infinity wouldnโt have him, Harley was as good as Ethanielโs, his parents were dead, and his brother soon would be. There was nothing left for him.ย
He saw, more than heard, the bullet ricochet off of the tree just to the left of them as they flashed by it. His eyes widened as he saw five more snowmobilers coming up fast behind him in the side mirror.
โEthaniel come in!โ he yelled, knowing there would be no response. He floored the accelerator. He could see the other snowmobile just ahead. He pulled up next to them and pointed backwards. Ethaniel jumped off the speeding vehicle and rolled into a shooting position. He pulled a missile pistol out of the holster on his belt and fired it three times, each shot taking out itโs target. The fourth and fifth attackers each managed to get a round into Ethaniel, just before being exploded in a fiery blaze.
Ethaniel fell backwards, crimson blood staining the snow beneath him.ย
โEthaniel!โ Harley wailed. She dashed over the snow and dropped to the ground next to him. She took off his helmet and gently laid his head in her lap. โOh,โ she moaned, โdonโt die. Oh, please donโt die!โ He reached up and brushed a tear off her cheek. He tried to say something, but began coughing up blood. Cameo slid to the ground and began unzipping Ethanielโs jacket. Infinity came up on the other side of Ethanielโs body and helped him unbutton the bloodsoaked flannel shirt. She paled at the sight of the two clean gunshot wounds, but continued to work. Cameo carefully prodded underneath Ethaniel.
โThey went out the back, so thatโs good. Come on, help me get him onto the snowmobile. Iโll drive him. Harley, I hope you remember what I taught you.โ She nodded, tears falling off her cheeks and into the bloody snow. Infinity and Cameo hoisted him onto the snowmobile. Harley brought his helmet over, and began to put it on him. Her hands shook and tears clouded her vision. She threw the helmet to the ground and wrapped her arms around his neck. She kissed him, long and passionately.ย
Bloodspots made it impossible to see, but Ethaniel fought to stay awake. When Harley kissed him, he opened his eyes but couldnโt see what was happening. He felt the soft touch of her lips on his, the wetness of her tears running onto his cheeks. His lips parted and he kissed her back. He cried too, each sob sending a shockwave of pain through his battered body. He battled for consciousness, knowing that if he slept, he wouldnโt wake up. He could feel himself fading. He grasped at Harleyโs hair, ran his hands up and down her neck and back, soaked up every last moment. He caressed her face, pressing her into him.
Behind Harley, Infinity and Cameo stood back, watching these moments of heartbreak. They sobbed with the couple, sharing in their sorrow and pain. Infinity sank to the ground, her legs giving way under her. Cameo sat next to her and she leaned against his shoulder. He put an arm around her shoulders and held her as she cried.
โIโm sorry,โ he whispered. โIโm sorry I kissed you, I'm sorry I dragged you out to the backwoods of Canada, and I'm sorry you have to watch my cousinโs lover dying. All I wanted to do was save your life, and now I just feel like I broke you. Once we get to the safe house, I'll leave you and Harley and you'll never see me again. I promise that-โ
He was interrupted by Harleyโs sudden appearance. He jumped up and hopped onto the snowmobile Ethaniel was straddling, the injured boyโs breathing labored and shallow. โThereโs a hospital ten miles out. Iโll meet you there. And Harley? Heโll be okay. I promise,โ he said. Harley nodded, fresh tears spilling over her cheeks. The boys sped off and Harley and Infinity jumped onto the second vehicle and followed the trail of crimson snow.
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