Struck (A Birthright Short Story)

Posted August 25, 2015 in books, The Birthright / 2 Comments

Struck | A short story featuring characters from The Birthright, a young adult science fiction book series.

This story features characters from The Birthright, a young adult science fiction book series.

 

I directed Bryce toward where we’d found the dead trees, or tried to. Getting in the general vicinity wasn’t too hard, but identifying the side street we took was more difficult than I expected. We cruised around a curve, and I thought I spotted the road.

“Here!” I said, pointing. Bryce careened left and I held onto the door for dear life.

I laughed when we made it across alive. Bryce grinned. “I’ve trained for lightning fast evasive maneuvers.”

That’s when we almost hit a deer and Bryce swerved–and hit Lachlan instead.

Bryce slammed on the brakes and we jarred to a stop. We both stared out in shock at Lachlan splayed out on the pavement.

“Lightning fast evasive maneuvers,” I said, biting my lip.

Lachlan started to roll over on his side, and Bryce revved the engine.

“What are you doing?” I said.

“I’m joking. Of course.”

I studied his face, his molasses brown eyes peering back at me. Bryce didn’t look like he was joking.

I rolled my eyes and jumped out and ran over to Lachlan, who hugged his stomach with one arm. “Are you all right?” I said, bending down.

“Sorry about that, man,” Bryce said, coming over. “Didn’t see you.”

Lachlan glowered up at him through long pieces of black hair that fell across his forehead. “Right.”

“You need an ambulance?” Bryce said halfheartedly.

Lachlan pushed himself up, and I held out my arms to help steady him. “I’ve experienced worse.”

Bryce arched his eyebrows. I had trouble picturing worse than getting hit by a car, but other than Lachlan rubbing his stomach and wincing, he didn’t seem fazed. Of course, he had told me he’d been hit by a “carrier” before, whatever that meant.

“What are you doing out here?” Bryce said to Lachlan. “Shouldn’t you be in school?”

Lachlan glanced at me. “Shouldn’t you?”

I pushed hair behind my ear, eager to avoid that reminder. I knew this would catch up with me sooner or later.

“Look,” Lachlan said. “I don’t really care, all right? Just go on about your business, and I’ll go on my way.”

Lachlan stepped sideways, but Bryce pressed a hand to his chest, blocking his move. “And what is your business?” Bryce said. “We keep crossing paths out here.”

Lachlan slanted his ice blue eyes, his mouth curled up. His teeth peeked out in one corner, almost fanglike. “Clue hunting.”

Bryce’s eyes squinted up in response. “You should really stay out of this. It’s for your own good.”

“What about her?” Lachlan tossed his head my way. “You keep dragging her out here. You think that’s for her good?”

“You dragged her out here first.”

“Well, at least I waited until after school since that’s so important to you.”

Bryce’s fingers curled around Lachlan’s T-shirt. “I’m not the one who ran up a tree and abandoned her at the first sign of trouble.”

Lachlan grinned, challenging him to make a move.

I sighed. Boys. “Look, this is all well and good, but we’re on a timer here. I can’t be out of school much longer. We need to get rolling.”

After a long pause, Bryce conceded, backing away from Lachlan. “Just stay out of our way.”

Lachlan’s eyes hardened. “Like you have the monopoly on crime-solving?”

“You have no idea what you’re dealing with.”

“Neither do you.”

They stared each other down, and I tugged Bryce’s sleeve, leading him back to the truck parked in the middle of the street. Lachlan smiled at me once I was inside, looking like he wanted to do something else entirely to Bryce. Then he walked to the other side of the road and disappeared into the brush and trees. I wondered how much time he’d really spent out here, and if he was actually investigating the murder. It didn’t seem like him, but on the other hand, I couldn’t really begin to figure him out.

“Should’ve run over him when I had the chance,” Bryce muttered, revving the engine.

I pretended I didn’t hear him and we sped up the road, off to “clue hunt” ourselves.

* * *

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More Birthright Shorts:
Impact

 

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