The Blue Divide

Chapter 16

"I don't believe it," said Kerring. His voice was slow and childish.

The blond man next to him inhaled something from a small white stick that came out between his teeth in a gray puff. "What is it?"

Kerring held up a shaking finger, pointing at Eko. "It's...it's him!"

"What the hell you—my god!"

Eko had never tried to run before, but now he had no choice. He willed his legs to move faster as he bolted for the road, ignoring the pain of his bare feet on the rough pavement.

"Where are you going?" cried Lainey, running after him. Her bicycle wheels squeaked as she pushed it faster.

"Yeah, where ya goin'?" echoed the blond man.

The air rushed by Eko as he ran faster, and the land grew unsteady under his feet.

"Hey!" cried Kerring, and Eko heard the sounds of pursuit. "Stop!"

Swinging his arms back and forth allowed him to move even faster. Before long, his weak lungs burned and it was difficult to breathe. He coughed, but couldn't seem to clear out the congestion. His toe rammed into a rock, sending him keeling forward.

His hands smacked the road as he hit the ground and a shockwave of agony went through his wrists. He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from crying out. There was no time to acknowledge pain. He had to get away.

Kerring grabbed his arm and yanked hard. "I don't know how you made it out of that storm, little freak."

Eko twisted, pulling free and falling back against the pavement. He scrambled back but the blond man grabbed his foot and dragged him so that his back scraped against the ground. His shirt tore and blood trickled down his spine. He kicked with his free leg and managed to connect with his attacker's forehead, forcing the man back. He pushed himself to his feet but nearly choked when a large hand grabbed the back of his collar.

"Stop it!" cried Lainey. "Mr. Kerring? What are you doing?"

Kerring ignored her. The man's muscular arms forced Eko to turn around, and then a fist collided with his cheek. Bursts of light blinded his vision and the ground rushed up to meet him once more. Lainey's shouts sounded very far away. Her bicycle clattered to the ground as she ran toward the bearded man. His vision returned just as she pulled on the back of Kerring's shirt, trying to force him back, but the big man twisted around too soon and threw her to the side.

She gave a single sharp cry as she hit the pavement.

Eko dug his fingernails into his palms. She shouldn't be a part of this. It was him the men wanted. He stood up again, his whole body shaking. Here was the man responsible for everything that had happened to him. Eko would have been wed to Nerine long ago had this human not interfered.

He cried out as he ran at him, his hands balled into fists. He struck Kerring in the stomach, knocking him back a few steps, but it wasn't enough to escape. The larger man swung at him, striking the side of his head. Sharp pain exploded in his skull and the ground turned into waves. He fell hard, rolling onto his back as Kerring's shadow enveloped him.

"No!" Eko heard Lainey screaming as the blond man held her back. "Just tell me what you want!"

Eko coiled into a fetal position as Kerring kicked his side and then his chest. He tensed, waiting for the foot to strike his head.

There was the sound of a vehicle screeching to a stop and a door opening.

"What's going on here?" said a voice.