Timesurfers (39 page)

“Yep. We hatched this plan all on our own. In
an ironic twist, it’s pretty much just you and me again. We have no
other friends.” Eve pressed her finger to her lips.

Catherine held her breath and flattened
herself against the rough stone wall. Two heavily armed guards
walked past. They were too busy comparing their enormous hangovers
from the GTs toga party to notice the two girls as they passed the
tunnel entrance. The toga party and the GTs seemed like a lifetime
ago.

She shuddered at the sight of the electric
batons swinging from their utility belts. Memories of hours spent
at the mercy of the guards seared though her. Something snapped.
She gave a guttural cry and tackled the guards to the ground.

“Not in the plan!” Eve hissed.

Catherine smashed the guards’ heads together.
She grabbed an electric baton and stabbed their unconscious bodies
in a frenzied attack. When she glanced up, Eve looked shocked.

“Right, while that was understandable it was
also extremely disturbing. Now you’ve got whatever that was out of
your system, follow me.” Eve scurried along the corridor. Puffs of
dirt swirled around her feet.

“Where are we going?”

“We can only travel to the Break from the
arrival and departures platform on the top floor. The guards do
rounds every thirty minutes.” Eve check her watch. “We have exactly
four minutes until Naitanui takes the wards down at the Break to
let us through.”

“What happens if we miss the opening?”

“Get ready for an extremely long stay
here.”

Catherine’s legs felt like string and her
feet were heavy like bricks. Her vision blurred. She shook her head
to refocus. “Who’s at the Break?”

“Naitanui and Rose are working out of the
Break to help me.”

“Rose is helping you break me out?”

“Yes. She helps me all the time. I like
Rose.”

Catherine searched her memories. She still
hated Rose. That was quite reassuring.

Eve came to an abrupt halt. “Climb.”

She scrambled up the ladder. Her progress was
slow as her feet slipped off and missed one rung after the other.
Eve caught her each time. Exhausted, Catherine struggled to lift
her weight. Her hands were slick and slippery against the metal
rungs. Eve pushed and shoved, practically carrying Catherine on her
shoulders up the ladder.

“Just a few more steps,” Eve panted. “You’re
much heavier than you look.”

Catherine flopped on the ground. “That was
the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life!” A year of wasting
away in a cell had not been kind to her body.

“I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but
it’s not over yet. The hard bit is now,” Eve whispered.

Too drained to swear, Catherine groaned and
rolled on to her stomach. “Hit me with it.”

“We have to sprint all the way down to that
opening. Guards will be shooting at us.”

“Excellent! Run about a hundred
metres
while dodging lethal sniper
fire.”

“Very succinct. Ready?”

“No.”

“On the count of three. One, two...Oops I
forgot.” Eve massaged her temples. “There’s a twelve-story drop
about three steps outside the opening. Be prepared to pull up
quickly. On three...”

Catherine staggered to her feet. “Just
run!”

For seconds there was only the sound of their
feet scrapping and rasping breath. Then the rifle fire started.
Bullets whizzed by Catherine’s body and pinged off the dirt. She
stumbled as the ground exploded in front of her. The guards were
using big guns now! She pumped her arms and legs. Her depleted
muscles screamed with pain from the exertion. They were nearly to
the opening.

“We’re going to make it.” Eve whooped and
smiled.

A wet thunk was followed by red seeping
through Eve’s shirt near her shoulder. Her smile faltered. She
lurched and tumbled to the ground. Bullets ricocheted off the dirt
near her unmoving body.

Catherine dove through the opening amidst a
hail of bullets. The ground exploded inches from Eve. Catherine
couldn’t leave her. She wouldn’t leave her. After three quick
breaths she scampered back into the storm of bullets. She grabbed
Eve’s legs and dragged her outside the opening. Catherine willed
Eve to heal and a ferocious pain carved through her head. She
screamed, unable to get away from the agony slicing through her
brain. “Do not die!” She wrapped her arms and legs around Eve,
determined to keep her close while they travelled. “Naitanui!”

The world spun.

Catherine hovered in the blackness. Eve
remained deathly still against her body.

They landed in the centre of the Break.

“I need help!” Catherine screamed.
“Rose!”

Rose rushed forward. “Where’s she hurt?”

“I think they shot her in the chest. I tried
to heal her, but I felt like my head was going to explode. The
bloody microchip won’t let me use my magic.” Catherine tore at her
chest, desperate to get the chip out.

“I can do this.” There was a gentleness in
Rose’s voice Catherine had never heard before.

“Hello, Catherine.” Naitanui’s yellow eyes
glowered at her. “I’m pleased to wish you a happy nineteenth
birthday in person. I wasn’t sure if you would come.”

Catherine ignored him and grasped Rose’s arm.
“Will she be okay? Can you help her?”

Eve groaned. “I should get some kind of
bravery award. Better still an enormous cash reward.”

Catherine hugged her friend. As she closed
her eyes reset memories trickled through her mind. “Oh no! Elias
has Jonah?”

Rose nodded and dragged her hands down her
face. “He’s in a really bad way, Catherine. The combination of the
drugs and his migraines are sending him insane. Elias captured him
nearly a year ago when he freed Xavier. He’s forcing Jonah to do
the most horrendous things.”

“But Xavier is safe now?” Catherine drew a
blank on everything to do with her brother. She had no reset
memories of him.

“That serum is really messing with your reset
memories coming through,” Eve said.

“Ya think?” Cate replied.

Rose paced along the row of empty flashing
table tops. “Elias no longer has Xavier. We don’t know where he is,
Catherine. He didn’t return to the Break after Jonah helped him to
escape, and the cubes don’t track his movement. He still has an
active cloaking charm on him. It’s the same charm Mortez used on
you. I’m terrified for Jonah.” There was fear in Rose’s eyes.

“Jonah betrayed me. He kidnapped my brother
and lied to me about it for years.” Catherine was numb when it came
to Jonah. There was no hate, no anger and no love. He was dead to
her. “So Elias kidnapped Xavier again?”

“No. Xavier was attempting to free you when
Elias captured him,” Naitanui said. “It was an unsanctioned
mission.”

“He might be with Mum, I mean Mortez?” She
had no reset memories of Mortez either.

“Nope.” Eve struggled to her feet. “Mortez
and the boys are in hiding. Elias has an enormous bounty on each of
their heads.”

“Where are they hiding?” Catherine didn’t
know why she asked. She didn’t want to see them. Not yet.

Eve rolled her eyes. “Well if I knew that,
they wouldn’t be in hiding, would they?”

“I’m in regular contact with Mortez,”
Naitanui said. “Xavier isn’t with them.”

“You and Mortez are in regular contact?”
Catherine had a hard time believing that.

Naitanui shrugged. “Elias has every
Timesurfer convinced they must unite against you, Catherine.
There’s only Rose and I left here at the Break now. Mortez and my
relationship is one of necessity.”

“Where’s Rafe?”

Rose sent a chair flying across the room.
“With Elias.”

“Immortality?” Cate asked.

“You’re starting to get some reset memories.”
Eve clapped her hands gleefully.

“Nope, that was a good guess. What about
Austin?”

Everyone suddenly looked everywhere but at
Catherine.

“He’s safe,” Eve said.

A big silence followed.

“Zach’s still dead then?” Catherine
asked.

“Yes.” Eve stated emphatically. “And he
deserved everything he got. I feel zero guilt when I say good
riddance to him.”

“Right!” Catherine brushed off her clothes.
“I need something other than these ridiculous leopard print
leggings to wear. Elias is going down.”

Eve giggled. “While that’s suitably dramatic,
your first priority really needs to be a shower.”

Catherine sniffed gingerly at her armpit and
gagged. “Oh my! A shower followed by revenge it is.”

THE END

Acknowledgements

This book has been a long while in the making.
Without the support of many fabulous people, it would still be
languishing unfinished on my computer in my writing folder.

I would like to thank the supremely talented
and generous writers who have helped me every step of this journey:
Apryl Baker, Angela Fristoe, DelSheree Gladden, Susan Stec and
Linda Ulleseit. An extra special thanks to Angela who also made the
gorgeous cover for the book, and to Linda for her grammar and
spelling words of wisdom.

To my spectacular family and friends who took
the time to read my drafts, comment honestly, provide over the top
enthusiasm and coffee at critical moments, thanks a bunch. I must
give a specific mention to the wonderful Kath White, who is always
there for me with a smile, an encouraging word or a delicious
dinner. You are such an amazing best friend. And a special thanks
to Shereen Jolly, who read the first and last draft of this book,
plus a few in between. I’m so glad I met you all those years ago.
Thank you for being my friend.

Thanks to Mum and Dad who instilled me with
the confidence and courage to chase my dreams. Your unshakable
belief I could succeed at anything carried me through the times my
resolve waivered.

To Dave, my wonderful husband, there are no
words to express my appreciation for your unfailing support through
this very long process. You have my eternal gratitude for never
once asking when the book would be finished. You make everything
possible in my life.

Finally, to my beautiful children Keeley and
Riley, you make everything worthwhile. I love you and am so proud
to be your mum. I am thrilled I can finally answer that one
question you have been asking me for years—Yes! My book is
finished.

About the Author

Rhonda Sermon lives in Perth, Western Australia with
her husband and two children. Her debut novel Timesurfers was a
finalist in the Young Adult category and overall runner up in the
The Strongest Start 2012 Contest hosted by TheNextBigWriter.com. On
the good days, she adores writing, on the challenging days, it’s
still awesome. Her two ragdoll cats can often be found helpfully
walking over her keyboard, chasing her mouse or generally
complaining loudly about the lack of priority their needs are being
given.

Connect with Rhonda
Sermon

Thanks so much for reading my book! I hope that you
enjoyed it. I would love to hear from you.

Thanks,

Rhonda Sermon

Follow me on Facebook:

https://www.facebook.com/RhondaSermonAuthor

Follow me on Twitter:

https://twitter.com/RhondaSermon

Follow me on Wattpad:

https://www.wattpad.com/user/RhondaSermon

Follow me on Instagram:

https://www.instagram.com/rhondasermonyaauthor

Visit my Website:

https://www.rhondasermon.com