Page 49 of Collide

Dropping into a low crouch, I press my back against a half wall. My breath is ragged with the danger of being caught, my fingers twitching around the trigger.

Then I spot him.

His damn white shirt, still glowing under the UV lights like a beacon, giving him away.

Rookie mistake.

He’s behind a barrier, only the edge of his shoulder peeking out.

I grin, positioning my gun, lining up my shot.

And then, I fire.

Again. And again.

His vest lights up in flashing red, signaling a kill.

“Ha!” I laugh, a raw rush of victory bursting in my chest.

Alex lets out a low, sharp curse as his vest powers down.

Five seconds.

That’s all I have before he’s back in the game.

I scramble away, crawling behind a shattered corner, my hands shaking from the rush. Even though I won this round, I know one thing for sure.

Alex isn’t done hunting me yet.

I manage to kill him twice, I think. But take a few hits of my own. My vest powers down, but I don’t stop to check, narrowly escaping him on multiple occasions.

My heart slams against my ribs as I maneuver through the maze, weaving between barricades, trying to create distance.

I spot him.

Backed against a column a few meters away.

The space between us crackles, my palms slick with adrenaline, my breaths coming in short, excited bursts.

I line up my shot, aiming for his vest.

I fire.

Bullseye.

Alex sees me as soon as I pull the trigger, and in a split second, he moves.

Fast.

Too fast.

I try to stumble back, but I barely get a step in before?—

Strong hands grab my waist.

A yelp rips from my throat as he lifts me clean off the ground, my body weightless.

“Gotcha,” he growls.