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Sighing, Kylie folded her map and tucked it into the waistband of her running leggings. “I hope you’re right, Savannah.”

So did I. Because otherwise this was going to be a very short trip.

CHAPTER9

BATTER AND BREAK

“Are you sure about this, Savannah?” Kylie whispered.

“We’re going to get caught,” Bronte choked out.

“Yes, I’m sure. And, no, we’re not,” I told them. “Timer?”

Kylie glanced at her watch. “Twenty-two seconds.”

“Ok, get ready to run.”

The three of us were peering over the top of the stone wall that surrounded a derelict house. Across the street, three Watchers patrolled the park. Two of them were on opposite ends of the sports track. The third stood beside an old wooden sign. The sign simply read ‘Park’, its former full name erased by the corrosive Australian sun.

That Watcher was our biggest problem. He was within spitting distance of the big, boxy SUV that we needed to borrow. The Watchers’ vehicle was ironically parked next to a metal sign that instructed drivers to ‘keep driveway clear at all times’.

“There it is,” I said.

Smoke was rising from a cluster of trees at the edge of the park. The Watchers saw it immediately. Or maybe they’d smelled it. The smoky, woodsy scent of burning leaves clogged my nose. There wasa lotof smoke. I’d have been concerned, except Asher had assured me that he knew how to make a lot of smoke without it turning into a big blaze of fire.

I blinked a few times to clear my eyes. “They’re taking the bait,” I said as the Watchers ran toward the smoky plume. “Let’s go.”

We pulled ourselves over the wall, running toward the black SUV. The doors were unlocked. The Watchers never imagined anyone would have the gall to steal one of their vehicles. They’d even left the keys in the car.

“Let’s hope the boys are here soon. That smoke won’t keep the Watchers distracted for long,” Kylie said, claiming the driver’s seat.

“Are you sure you can actually drive this thing?” Bronte asked as she climbed into the backseat and I hopped into the front next to Kylie.

“Absolutely,” replied Kylie. “You know where I come from.”

“From the Blue Mountains.”

“Where things are very different than in your posh Killfield.” Kylie threw a wink over her shoulder at Bronte. “On the fringes of the Fortress, a lot of people are tasked with transporting materials and salvaged goods into the city from the Wilderness. So, yeah, we learn to drive.”

“But you were in school. It wasn’t your job to transport anything yet.” Nervous tremors hiccuped through every syllable that Bronte spoke.

“My mother taught me to drive,” Kylie replied brightly. “She said the skill might come in handy later. Seems she was right.” She adjusted her seat so she could reach the pedals. “Geez, those Watchers sure are tall.”

“And burly.” Bronte hiccuped again. “This is a really bad idea. They’re going to catch us. And hurt us.”

I could hear her fumbling with the door handle back there. Luckily, before she could bolt, the back doors swung open, and the boys hopped inside, squeezing her in from both sides.

“Ok, Kylie, hit it!” I exclaimed.

Thank goodness I’d put on my seatbelt—I’d read they were kind of important—because the moment Kylie’s foot hit the gas pedal, the vehicle shot forward like a turbo-powered rubber band.

“Ok, now head for the gate,” I instructed Kylie. “And don’t slow down, no matter what.”

I could hear the Watchers running far behind us, shouting. But with every passing second, those shouts grew more distant.

“There will be more Watchers at the gate,” Dutch said. “And they have guns.”

His calmness was in stark contrast to Bronte, who kept muttering, over and over again, “We’re all going to die.”