Cynetic Wolf
THREADING THE NEEDLE

I came in backward, tumbling. Momentum slammed me into the concrete, flipping me twice, and hammering my head, stopping inches from the edge. Holy shit.

The VTOL rushed toward me but I couldn’t get off a shot. It was too fast, and stars flickered across my vision. I couldn’t lock on.

The two raced through the air. Henk turned and dove but his pursuer was equally skilled.

Henk called. ‘We’re coming. Get ready!’

The ship sped around City Hall, cornering the impressive three-story building at unbelievable speed. Another missile fired. Henk gunned it. So did his pursuer.

Two hundred fifty meters. Here we go.

Four seconds later, they rushed past. I aimed. One chance.

Time slowed as I focused, locked on, and fired. A direct hit slammed into the side. Yes!

Wait, nothing happened... The VTOL kept flying.

‘Henk? It didn’t work.’

‘Shit, armor!’ He swore again, hurtling away. ‘We’re screwed.’

No. ‘Do it again! I’ve got a plan.’ They weren’t going to die because of me, not them too.

Less than a minute later, they streaked toward me. ‘He’s out of missiles at least,’ Henk said. The other craft fired. ‘Damn!’

Crouching behind the lip of the building, I waited. He couldn’t see me. This wouldn’t work if he remembered where the first shot came from.

‘Slow down, Henk! One hundred or less.’

Lars laughed in the background. ‘Crazy bastard. He’s gonna…’

Wait. For. It.

Jumping, I screamed as it raced toward me. I fired.

I was right, the window of the VTOL had been open. My blast caught the pilot in the chest. Blood spattered everywhere. Did it work? Tumbling, I didn’t know until the VTOL veered off course, smashing into a building.

Yes! I did it.

SLAM.

Everything went black.