Savage King: New Worlds - Milly Taiden Page 0,68

stepping onto the sidewalk next to her, a hand shot toward her and wrapped around her upper arm. Her body jerked to the side and she screamed. The phone fell from her hands as her feet dragged over the concrete.

She swung her arms, trying to hit any part of her would-be-abductor. Her shoe made contact with the masked man’s leg and he growled, releasing her arm. She pushed away. Her head snapped forward when her backpack was yanked backward into the van.

Her skull slammed against the floor, sending her world into a tailspin. Cold metal clamped around her wrist. Her stomach roiled and she swallowed back her lunch. The van started and screeched away.

She rolled sideways but stopped when her arm stretched as far as it would go. She pulled her knees under her, then smashed onto her side when the vehicle made a sharp turn. Sliding across the slick floor, she crashed into the wall, bashing her elbow.

Pain shot up her arm, sobering her confused state. The windows were heavily tinted, making it impossible for her to make out the details of her surroundings. There wasn’t much to see. The man’s deep voice hollered out and high-pitched sirens grew louder by the second. She almost cried, thinking gratefully that one of the mothers from the park must’ve called the police immediately.

Her own mother would be so mad at her. She knew she wasn’t supposed to be on her phone unless talking to one of her parents. Now she understood why. Had she been paying attention, she might not have been captured. She’d never make that mistake again.

With a sudden yank, her shoulder pulled out of the socket at the same time a wrenching and tearing of metal filled her ears. The van didn’t move. As she lay on the hard floor, the smell of acrid smoke tickled her nose. Fire. Something was on fire nearby.

Bright light spilled into her eyes, blinding her. Hands rolled her body, and she was released from whatever had her tied down. She was scooped up, supported under her knees and shoulder blades. Her head hung back painfully, and her dislocated arm flopped freely as she and her rescuer bounced with each footstep.

A loud explosion roared around her, but she was distanced from further pain. She was laid onto a soft surface and her head rolled to the side. Between several police cars, her eyes focused on a mangled and twisted white lump engulfed in a blaze.

“You’re going to be okay, honey.”

Jenny looked toward the sweet voice. A woman in a police uniform took her hand and squeezed. Instead of a smile that Jen expected, she was greeted with a frown.

The police officer continued. “You’re lucky. You need to learn to defend yourself.” Jen saw the pain and fear in the officer’s eyes from whatever the lady’s past held. “Only you can take care of you.”

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Fire King

Chelsea’s heartrate barely registered above her normal resting beats, her breathing was the same. And the longer she ran, the calmer her body became. She thought it was funny that it baffled the shit out of her high school and college coaches.

She wasn’t sure how her vital signs remained so calm when she pushed her body to the edge. In school and secondary education, she ran long-distance on the track team. That was a miracle worker helping her through her teenage years. When the snobbiest clique picked on her or when a boy she liked ignored her, she went for a run and the solution became evident.

Her grandmother told her to find something she liked to do and focus all her energy on it to become the best. That advice certainly worked for her half-sister, Avery. She was freaky incredible at playing video games. The girl had even made money playing. If only she were paid to run.

Maybe one day. She was in training for her first full marathon. Sixty miles a week was her goal at this point. The natural high from the rush of endorphins always elevated her mood when feeling lonely, especially now after the most embarrassing breakup of her entire life.

Chelsea always understood her boyfriend of two years was hesitant when it came to spending a lot of money. His family wasn’t as well off as hers and he worked for every cent he had. Though she never worried about it, she figured he hadn’t asked her to marry him because he couldn’t afford a ring.

So when she thought