Episode 98

The rest of the day was a blur.  Ben returned, and after a mountain of paperwork, which seemed to take forever, and layers of security and protocol, Miah was finally able to go home.  Connor and Ben came with her, to her relief.

"Do you think we should take the car, or leave it to be found later?  It would probably just make things more complicated..." Ben looked around.  "We could take a taxi."

Connor sighed, exhausted.  "Yeah.  I don't know if I could even drive like this.  I haven't slept a full night in days."

"Yeah..."  Miah blinked to keep her eyes open.  "Let's get a taxi.  How far is it?"

"Just a few minutes, don't worry."

"Oh."  Miah looked down.  "I wanted to take a nap."

Connor smiled and put an arm around her shoulders.  "Soon, soon."

Miah gave a silly smile and took a deep breath.  "I can smell the ocean!!"

Ben coughed with something that sounded like Gulf, but then stopped and waved his arms.  "Taxi!"

Connor grinned.

Miah gasped.  "Hey, I know him!"

The taxi driver rolled down his window.  "Miah!  Is that you?"  He smiled a little.

Miah ran up to the door and leaned in.  "It's me!  Ron, I didn't know you were a taxi driver."

Suddenly, two men jumped out of the taxi and reached for Miah.  Gasping with fright, she jumped out of the way and ran as fast as she could.


Connor had his hands full with the man who attacked him.  He struggled with his opponent's quick movements and took a few punches and kicks before he stumbled backward, falling to the ground.  He picked himself up and blinked.  Ugh.  These guys are so much faster than me.  I can't even touch them.

Another round of attacks began, and his mind was drowned in his body's cries of pain.  Fear tugged at his nerves and his reason.

But then Ben stepped in.  He had been off on the sidelines, clutching his head in pain and seeming to be fighting something in his mind.  But soon, Connor saw that the other men were also distracted.  One of them seemed to be trying to swat a mosquito buzzing around his head, and the other was massaging his temples.  Connor stood gaping for a moment, and then realized what Ben was doing.

He aimed a punch at the first man, who was now cowering, holding his ears.  His punch went straight in the gut, knocking him to the ground.  The second man received a kick to the head, knocking him out instantly.  At that moment, Ben fell to the ground, breathing heavily, and still seeming to be in intense pain.  He wiped his eyes and then looked quickly to the first man, who was rising.  He was slower than before, but he still got to his feet before Connor could kick him in the head too.  The man reached behind him into his belt and drew forth a knife, long and sharp.  Connor gulped at the evil grin on his face and began to back up.


Miah stared.  She had just run three blocks and jumped over a wire fence to dart down an alley.  Her back to the dingy wall, she breathed hard and blinked.  What did I just do?  ...I'm officially creeped out now.


Connor knew he was cornered.  Good grief, he thought, this is almost next door to the police station, shouldn't they have cameras on this abandoned alley here?  Come on!  

The man's knife was held overhand, and he was going for it.  Last chance, Connor thought.  He yelled, "Ben!  Do that again!"

In the man's split-second hesitation, Connor brought his fist around, knocking him off his feet and sending him flying into the fake taxi.  He wasn't getting up anytime soon.