Highway To Armageddon Read online

  Yang leans over Boom Boom and hisses, “Next time I’ll zap you for an hour.”

  My attention reverts back to Pitbull. He pulls Arrow toward his face and snarls, “Where’s Lance?”

  Still clawing at Pitbull’s cyborg hand, Arrow chokes out, “Go… to… Hell…”

  Pitbull growls like… well, a pitbull. “So we’re gonna play that game, huh?”

  Pitbull hurls Arrow face-first into a tree. Arrow groans when he collides into the trunk and collapses into a crumpled heap.

  Pitbull storms over to Machete’s car and grabs our guns and ammunition cartridges. He then proceeds to snap all the guns in half with his robotic hand. He also crushes the ammo cartridges in his palm. After that he snaps all of Arrow’s arrows.

  “What are you doing?” Yin asks, still standing over Krystal.

  “In case you’ve forgotten, we still have two dangerous people out there in the forest. You don’t know Machete and Lance like I do. They will do whatever it takes to rescue their friends. Why give them a fighting chance? Without their weapons they’re as good as dead.”

  I pat my waist and groan. All I have on me is a blade strapped to my leg. I feel so stupid for not wearing my utility belt.

  Once he’s finished destroying thousands of dollars’ worth of weaponry, Pitbull stomps over to Boom Boom and grabs her hair. With a quick twist of his wrist he flips her onto her back. Boom Boom moans and reaches for the taser hooks still lodged into her neck. Yang zaps her again, sending Boom Boom into spasms. My stomach twists at the sight of her being mercilessly tortured. I unsheathe my blade and prepare to make my move. If only Machete were around. I’d feel more comfortable taking them on if I had backup.

  Yang turns off the taser, and Boom Boom collapses onto her back. Pitbull dangles a dagger over her face.

  “Lance, I know you’re out there somewhere!” Pitbull bellows. “We can do this the easy way… or the hard way. Caesar wants all three of you, and I’m not leaving until I have the entire collection. Caesar said he doesn’t care if you guys are captured dead or alive, but I want the extra bonus for bringing you in with a pulse. That doesn’t mean I can’t rough you all up a bit. I’ll be merciful and give you until the count of ten to show yourself. If you don’t…”

  Pitbull places the tip of his dagger against Boom Boom’s right eye socket. “If you don’t, I’ll gouge out your girlfriend’s pretty green eyes. They’ll make great marbles.”

  A gasp escapes my lips. Boom Boom starts to struggle, but another burst of electricity reminds her of the penalty of resistance.

  “The countdown begins now,” Pitbull growls. “One…”

  I’m just about to lunge out of the brush when someone grabs my arm and shoves me flat on my back. Another clammy hand clamps down over my mouth. Hovering over me is Machete. Her long, greasy hair dangles over her face and tickles my nose. I resist the urge to sneeze.

  “Keep quiet,” Machete whispers. “We’ll rescue your girl in a second, but we’re going to do it smartly. No sense rushing into a massacre.”

  Machete removes her hand from my mouth and crawls back over to the brush. I follow after her. Pitbull is still holding his blade over Boom Boom’s horrified face.

  “I wonder how he found us? I made sure we weren’t being followed.”

  “I bet he chucked a tracking device in your car the other night in Detroit,” I whisper. “He knew you’d eventually lead him to us.”

  “You’re probably right,” Machete says with a sigh. “I should’ve been more careful. I’ll check the car for bugs when we get out of this mess.”

  I like the way Machete thinks. She didn’t say ‘if’ we get out of this mess. She said ‘when’. I’d never admit it to her, but I’m glad she’s with me. I feel like I can take on a whole army when I have a blood-thirsty lunatic like Machete at my side. It’s the same comforting feeling I had around Dagger.

  By now Pitbull is up to five, and he doesn’t sound pleased that I haven’t revealed myself yet.

  “Six… seven… eight…”

  Pitbull stops and turns to Yang. “I can’t believe the coward is gonna let me carve up his girlfriend.”

  Pitbull looks down at Boom Boom, who has started struggling again. He yanks on her hair, snapping her head back.

  “Such a pity. She sure is gorgeous. Oh well, screw the countdown. Let’s get to work.”

  Boom Boom screams, “No, stop!”

  She reaches for Pitbull’s hand, but Yang zaps her.

  Pitbull places the tip of the dagger back up against Boom Boom’s right eye socket. “Quit struggling, girlie. You’re gonna make things worse.”

  I can’t take it anymore. I lunge forward, but Machete yanks me back down.

  “Machete, he’s going to---”

  Machete clamps her hand back over my mouth. “You’re ruining the plan.”

  I shove Machete’s hand away. Before I can say anything, someone screams, “Leave her alone, you cyborg freak!”

  I spin around just as Arrow charges toward Pitbull, clutching one of his broken arrows. Before he gets within striking distance, Yank intercepts him with a savage kick to his head. Arrow collapses to his knees, clutching his temple.

  “Machete, we need to---” I start to say, but I never finish my sentence. Machete jumps up and extends her right arm. A small blade flies out of her hand and hurtles toward Pitbull, spinning end over end until it finally imbeds itself blade-first into Pitbull’s robotic eyeball. Orange sparks fly out of his cracked eye socket and tendrils of electricity zap his face. Pitbull falls to his knees, grasping his face and howling in agony.

  Machete hops out of the brush, charges over to Yang, and slugs her in the face.

  Yin chucks a throwing star at Machete’s head. Machete ducks at the last second, but one of the star’s jagged points grazes her outstretched arm. Machete grabs her bleeding wound and ducks behind a tree.

  I whip out my blade and hurl it at Yin. Yin jumps out of the way and lands right into a swinging log. The log is wielded by none other than Machete. Machete wallops Yin in the face several times, causing blood to trickle out of her nose and mouth. Yin eventually collapses to the ground.

  Machete drops her log and stumbles over to Arrow, who is still on the ground, groaning from his injuries.

  I begin making my way toward Boom Boom when Yang charges at me with a sword. I crouch down just as the blade slices through the air above my head.

  “Holy shit!” I shout.

  Machete tries to help me, but Pitbull grabs her by the neck. The blade is still stuck in his malfunctioning eyeball.

  I focus my attention back on Yang, who charges at me again with her sword, furiously attempting to slice me in half. I jump back and duck behind a tree. One of Yang’s swipes slices the back of my outstretched hand. Blood pours from the cut, trickling all the way down my arm.

  I jump back from Yang’s blade for what seems like the 1,000th time and stumble over a fallen tree branch. I fall flat on my back and bang my head against a rock. The sky starts to spin. Yang’s snarling face hovers over me, followed by her sword. I’m completely at Yang’s mercy, and I have a bad feeling she doesn’t know the meaning of the word.

  “I know Pitbull wanted to capture the three of you alive, but he’s going to have to deal with at least one casualty.”

  Before Yang can bring the sword crashing down over my head, a rock hits her in the face. Yang cries out and vanishes from view.

  By now my vision has somewhat stabilized. Arrow stumbles past me, blood oozing from his temple. He viciously kicks Yang in the head. She slumps to the ground, unconscious.

  I crawl over to Boom Boom and yank the taser hooks out of her neck. Arrow and I make brief eye contact and nod. It’s our way of saying ‘Good job’ without having to spit it out.

  We turn our attention back to Pitbull, who still has Machete in a stranglehold. Arrow wastes no time in dashing up to Pitbull and kicking him in the groin. Pitbull releases his chokehold, sending Machete crashing into a p
ile of leaves. Pitbull drops to his knees and clutches his privates, moaning in agony.

  I snatch Yang’s sword off the ground and aim it at Pitbull’s chest.

  “Give it up, you malfunctioning bucket of bolts! We’ve got you surrounded!”

  Pitbull grabs the end of my blade with his robotic hand and snaps it in two. His face is engulfed in a fiery mask of rage.

  “You snot-nosed punk,” he hisses as saliva gushes through his clenched teeth. He looks like a rabid dog. “Screw the bounty. I’m gonna flay you alive.”

  I step back and hold up my hands. “Whoa Pitbull, I think we got off on the wrong foot. Let’s start over!”

  “Talk time is over, kiddo!”

  Pitbull grabs me around the neck. His cyborg hand is so cold it burns my skin. I gasp for air, but none enters my lungs.

  Pitbull lifts me off the ground one-handed. The pain is more excruciating than I could have ever imagined. It feels like I’m being strangled, hung, and set on fire all at once. I wildly kick my feet and claw at Pitbull’s hand, but it does no good. If anything it provokes Pitbull into tightening his chokehold.

  Pitbull pulls me so close I can make out all the scars and pock-marks dotting his weathered, beat-up face. “The next time I see you, kid, it’ll be in the fiery pits of Hell.”

  The fire around my neck increases in intensity. I’m so sapped of energy that I can’t even muster the strength to kick my feet anymore. My eyes glaze over and I begin my descent into unconsciousness.

  Suddenly there’s a flurry of movement out of my peripheral vision. I also see fire. Pitbull releases his stranglehold and I slip out of his grasp, crashing to the forest floor. I gulp down several mouthfuls of oxygen and massage my burning neck. Pitbull’s metallic fingers left indentations in my flesh.

  I peer up through water-filled eyes and gasp at the sight of Pitbull engulfed in flames. He unleashes a horrifying shriek of pure agony and dashes into the forest, flailing his arms. It looks like he’s headed toward the river.

  Machete stands off to the side, clutching a flaming log. She nods at me and tosses the log back into the campfire.

  “Thanks,” I say hoarsely.

  “Don’t mention it.” Machete extends her scarred right hand. I grab it and allow her to pull me to my feet. My pride only goes so far. I was seconds away from death, and Machete saved me. She saved all of us. My opinion of her is getting better all the time.

  Machete clasps Arrow’s shoulder. “You alright, kiddo?”

  Arrow touches his head wound. “I’ll live. How about you?”

  “Ditto,” Machete says.

  I’ve spent so many years hating Arrow and his mother that it’s almost a shock to see them acting so caring around one another. I shake my throbbing head and trudge over to Boom Boom, who has just started to stir. I cup her hand in between mine and whisper, “Firecracker, you okay?”

  Boom Boom’s eyelids flutter open. Her intense, green eyes appear pained and confused. She finally focuses on me and cracks the slightest of smiles.

  “I told you I hate that name.”

  I chuckle and help her sit up. “I’m going to call you that until the day I die. You might as well get used to it.”

  Boom Boom groans and looks around. “What happened? Where’s Pitbull and Yin and Yang?”

  I’m about to tell her, but Machete barges over and says, “There’s no time for chit-chat. The ninjas won’t be out for long, and the cyborg freak will be back as soon as he douses his flames.”

  “You guys set him on fire?!” Boom Boom cries.

  “Er, yeah,” I say sheepishly, helping Boom Boom to her feet. We make our way over to Krystal, who’s still sprawled out on the ground.

  Boom Boom kneels down and turns Krystal over.

  “C’mon, Krystal, we’ve gotta go,” Boom Boom says, snapping her fingers.

  Krystal opens her eyes and mutters, “What the hell happened? I feel like someone beat me with an ugly stick.”

  It takes all my might not to say something sarcastic. The opportunities are limitless.

  I glance over at Machete. She has a blade nestled against Yang’s neck.

  “Machete, what are you doing?!” I cry.

  Machete glares at me. She almost looks feral. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

  Machete raises her blade, seconds from plunging it into Yang’s neck. I’m too stunned to act. Boom Boom, however, is not. She rushes over and grabs Machete’s wrists, just as she’s about to deliver her death strike. Machete’s blade quivers as she struggles to break free from Boom Boom’s grasp. The only reason it’s an even match is because Boom Boom is using two hands and leaning backwards. Even then, Machete is still able to lower the blade several inches.

  “Machete… stop…,” Boom Boom pleads, struggling to dislodge the blade.

  I snap out of my daze and rush over to help. As strong as Machete is, she’s no match for the both of us. I pry the blade out of her hand while Boom Boom keeps a vise-like grip on her wrist.

  Machete spins around and shoves both of us in the chest.

  “What in the hell is the matter with you two?!”

  “What is the matter with you?!” Boom Boom shouts back, getting in Machete’s face. “We’re not the type of people who kill in cold-blood.”

  “Don’t be naïve and stupid, girl. You know if we don’t kill these two broads now they’ll just come after us again. They attacked us first, in case you’ve forgotten.”

  “Yin and Yang aren’t bad people, they’re just trying to support their families. Like we all are. There are millions of people on this godforsaken planet who deserve to die, but Yin and Yang aren’t one of them. Pitbull, maybe, but not Yin and Yang.”

  Machete pulls at her hair. “You damn kids are driving me crazy. You’re putting our mission, and our lives, in jeopardy.”

  “I’m sorry, but I’m not going to stand by and watch you murder people who can’t defend themselves,” Boom Boom says defiantly.

  Machete cracks her knuckles. “I guess I’ll have to take care of you first, then.”

  Boom Boom steps back and raises her fists, as do I. Thankfully we never come to blows. Arrow pulls his mom aside to talk some sense into her.

  “Maybe Red’s right, Mom,” Arrow says. “Maybe we should let them live.”

  Machete throws up her hands in defeat. “We don’t have time for this crap. We need to get out of here before that bucket of bolts Bulldog gets back.”

  “You mean Pitbull,” I say.

  Machete glares at me, prompting me to shut up. Machete turns back to Boom Boom and makes one last threat. “I’ll let your ninja friends live this time. But if they’re stupid enough to come after us again, I’m going to slit their throats. Then I’m punching you in the face.”

  Boom Boom gulps. “Uh, sounds good.”

  Machete kicks Yang in the head and storms off to the car.

  Arrow smiles. “Sorry about that, Red. My mom has anger management issues.”

  “Really? We never noticed,” I say sarcastically.

  Arrow ignores me and rubs Boom Boom’s shoulders. “You okay?”

  “Yeah,” Boom Boom says, gazing into Arrow’s eyes. “Thanks for sticking up for me.”

  Arrow flashes a stupid, cheesy grin. “Don’t mention it. I’d have your back if all the armies of the Earth came after you.”

  Boom Boom’s cheeks turn red. I roll my eyes and gag.

  “Let’s go, people!” Machete hollers from the car.

  I glance at Yin and Yang and notice they’re starting to moan. Machete’s got the right idea; we need to get out of here, and fast.

  The three of us hurry over to the Moon Cruiser and hop into the back, Boom Boom sits in the middle so she can keep the peace between me and douchebag. Krystal is already up front with Machete.

  “It’s about time,” Krystal says irritably.

  “Shut up, Krystal,” I say. “You didn’t do anything but get your ass kicked.”

  Machete mutters something a
bout how annoying we all are and starts the car. Two slender wings extend out of the sides and the Moon Cruiser roars to life. Machete steps on the pedal and we shoot forward. I slam back in my seat and reach for my seatbelt.

  Boom Boom grabs my arm. “Lance, your hand is bleeding.”

  I look down. Blood is still trickling from the wound I received courtesy of Yang’s sword.

  “I think we’re all pretty beat up,” I say. “I’ll be fine.”

  “Yeah, I got my forearm sliced open and you don’t see me complaining,” Machete says, holding up her bloodied arm for all to see.

  Boom Boom and I make a face.

  Krystal covers her mouth. “I think I’m gonna be sick.”

  “Do you have any gauze and bandages?” Boom Boom asks.

  “Yeah, they should be up in the glove box,” Arrow says.

  Krystal opens the glove box and tosses a thing of bandages back to Boom Boom. Boom Boom goes to work dressing my wound.

  I smile at her gratefully. “Thanks, Firecracker.”

  “Arrow, do me a favor and give the car a quick sweep for bugs,” Machete says, swerving her Moon Cruiser to the left to avoid a flock of bats.

  Arrow dons his goggles and looks under the car seats. He only spends a few seconds on the floor before he holds up a tiny metallic chip.

  “Found it!” Arrow chucks the mini GPS chip out the window. “Now if Pitbull wants to find us, he’ll have to do it the old-fashioned way.”

  Krystal yawns. “Where are we going, by the way? I’m tired as hell.”

  “I’m trying to get some distance between us and Pitbull,” Machete explains. “I’ll land in a bit.”

  “We’re going to have to stop and get new weapons,” I say, reminding everyone we’re pretty much defenseless at the moment.

  “Are there any gun shops nearby?” Machete asks.

  “Lemme check.” Boom Boom slides on her goggles and sits in silence as green light shines out of the sides. A few minutes later she says, “The closest gun store is at that Wild West Settlement.”

  “Oh, I’ve always wanted to visit that place,” Machete says. “Everyone dresses up like they did back in the 1800s.”

  Machete almost sounds giddy talking about the Wild West. She’d probably feel right at home back in those lawless days.