Vex crouched low behind the rusted railing of the bridge. The night wind cut through her jacket, cold and sharp. Below, the water churned, dark and restless.
Her brightly pink colored jacket a mix highlighting her in the dark. Around her hip was strapped two guns with ruins around them and with her.
Violet knelt beside her, binoculars raised to her eyes. Her muscles rippled beneath her jacket—compact, powerful a tunic beneath the jacket.
Violet tilted her head. Her ears twitched.
"Three guards at the front," she whispered. "Two more on the roof. One patrolling the side."
Vex nodded. "The Toymaker?"
"Not yet. But the lights are on in the office. He's in there." Replied Violet
Vex adjusted her grip on her weapon. "We wait."
Violet lowered the binoculars. "How long?"
Vex's eyes unfocused. Her lips moved silently.
Then she blinked.
"15 seconds," she said. "He's coming out the side door. Alone."
Violet didn't question it. She'd learned to trust Vex's predictions. The voice in her head was always right.
The minutes passed. The wind shifted. Then a door opened at the side of the warehouse.
A figure stepped out. Small. Wiry. His face was hidden in the shadows, but the way he moved—confident, unhurried—told them everything.
"That's him," Vex said.
Violet raised the binoculars. "I see him. He's carrying something."
"A case. Weapons."
The Toymaker walked to a black car parked near the warehouse. He opened the trunk and placed the case inside. Then he looked around—slow, deliberate.
"He's checking for tails," Vex said. Her ears picked up his heartbeat. Steady. Calm. He wasn't worried.
"Does he see us?" Violet asked.
"Not yet."
The Toymaker got into the car. The engine started. The headlights cut through the darkness.
Vex stood. "He's heading toward the bridge."
She paused. Her ears twitched.
"Sniper," she said. "Far roof. Coming left in three seconds. Dodge."
She dove left. Violet followed, her massive frame moving with surprising speed.
A bullet whizzed past where they'd been standing.
Vex rolled, came up firing. Her shot hit the sniper's weapon, knocking it from his hands.
"Thanks," Violet muttered.
Vex grinned. "Voice never lies."
They reached the end of the bridge. The Toymaker's car was already on the highway, speeding away.
"He's getting away," Violet said.
Vex's eyes unfocused again. The voice spoke.
"Follow the river. Exit at the old mill."
"Follow the river," Vex repeated. "Exit at the old mill."
Violet nodded. " I can catch him"
Vex looked at her. "I ok then put me on ur back "
Violet grinned. "Got you princess"
She picked up Vex putting her on her back. Then she picked up speed. The car was fast bearly even street legal going 350 a mile. Violet was faster—400 easy—but Violets ears kept them on track. Every turn. Every shift in the engine. Every heartbeat.
"He's taking the river road," Vex said.
"Can you line up a shot on him?" Asked Violet
"Now that's to easy." Said Vex
Below them, the river churned. Ahead, the old mill loomed.
The chase was on.
The car sped up. Tires screeched against the asphalt as the Toymaker's driver floored it. The black sedan weaved through traffic, trying to lose them.
Violet didn't slow down.
She scooped Vex onto her back, barely breaking stride. Vex wrapped her arms around Violet's neck, holding tight. Violet's muscles bunched as she pushed harder.
400 miles.
"I think they definitely see us now," said Violet
"No need now baby cause we got them!!" Replied Vex
The car was fast, but Violet was faster.
She leaped from the bridge railing, landing on a rooftop. Then another. Then a third. Each jump carried them closer to the speeding car below.
"Left!" Vex shouted.
Violet veered left, one big jump had them landing on a billboard. Tge metal bend below her wait. The car was directly below them now.
Violet jumped. Landed on the car's roof with a heavy thud.
Inside, the Toymaker's bodyguard—a thick-necked man with a scar across his cheek—cranked down his window. He raised a gun, aiming up.
Vex's eyes unfocused. The voice spoke.
"Watch out."
"Watch out!" Vex yelled.
Violet didn't hesitate. She dropped flat against the roof. The bullet whizzed past, inches from her head.
Then she moved.
One hand shot down, grabbing the bodyguard's wrist. She slammed it against the side of the car. A large snap was heard. The gun clattered to the asphalt.
The bodyguard grunted, trying to pull free. Violet's grip was iron. She yanked him upward—through the window, out of the car—one-handed.
He dangled in the air, kicking uselessly.
Violet looked at him. He looked back.
"Hi," she said.
Then she dropped him.
He hit the road and rolled, bouncing hard. Violet didn't watch. She had a Toymaker to catch.
She focused on the car.
The driver was panicking now. The car swerved wildly.
Violet dropped down to the windshield, her legs planted on the hood.
The driver stared up at her, wide-eyed.
"Stop the car," Violet said.
He didn't.
Violet's fist went through the windshield.
Glass shattered. The driver screamed. The car screeched to a halt.
Violet stood up. Brushed glass from her jacket. Vex slid off her back, landing beside her.
The Toymaker was in the back seat. Pale. Sweating. His case of weapons sat beside him.
He looked at Violet. Then at Vex. Then at his driver, unconscious in the front seat.
"Who are you?" he whispered.
Vex smiled. "We're the ones you've been avoiding."