7

I aimed just above the helicopter.

Three, two, one...

I shouted joyfully when I realized that the shot had hit the target.

— This is not the time to celebrate!—Enrique said angrily.— We'll celebrate later! —

— And I wasn't going to!—I laugh.

Shot. And again. And again.

It's like music.

And I don't think I'll ever be able to give it up... It's become a part of me... It will live as long as I live.

I'm a Ghost, and that's why I kill as easily as I breathe.

The shot hits the metal of the car, narrowly missing me.

I'm startled. Adrenaline pleasantly heats the blood.

It's like getting drunk.

Enrique smiled at me.

— Now I can recognize you... Now I see a Ghost...— He said.

I felt strangely crazy proud of myself.

Sparks scatter like shooting stars.

I can see the stars now…

There was a rumble and several bangs on the roof, as if at least three people had jumped onto the roof.

— Oooh!— I froze. — Enrique, are they on our roof?—

— Yes, they're on the roof! But don't scream, we're not a bunch of girls! The blue button is a bayonet!—Enrique said.

— I see!— I pressed the button with one finger.

The bayonet pops out with a metallic clang.

After listening, I hit the roof. The metal creaked loudly.

But I didn't hit anyone.

— Elizabeth, slow down!—Enrique shouted.

Yeah, if you just poke at the roof, it's like pointing a finger at the sky.

Lizzie slammed on the brake pedal. Mariusz's men came from nowhere and fell right under the wheels.

Bones cracked.

— Damn, it was a bad choice...—Enrique snorted.— Give it back.—

— I can't, we're stuck. We're stuck!—Lizzie slapped her hands on the steering wheel.— We're finished!—

— Not yet!—Enrique said loudly.—Shoulder bags with weapons and scattered! And before you say anything, Lizzie, there are only three bags here! Everyone will have only one bag.—

We ran out into the forest and scattered in different directions, like pieces of a bomb after an explosion.

I got a sharp piece of wood under my feet, but I didn't notice it right away. It's good that the brain doesn't see the pain at such moments...

Someone's huge knife sticks into my forearm.

The smell of blood makes me really crazy.

I grab a piece of wood that is stuck in my calf muscles, scream and plunge it into the soldier attacking me.

In the throat. Over and over and over, until the soldier's head falls off completely.

Then I pull the knife out of my forearm and kill the second one who attacked me.

I chop his head off like a coconut. I was splattered with his brains.

I'm a professional. Only I can kill in a way that even the sickest psychopath wouldn't dream of.

Arms are flying, legs are flying in different directions, blood is pouring like a fountain.

Wait, Mariusz… I'll come for you soon.…

***

When I went out to the stream, I had an absurdly stupid thought.

I never lost my bag!

And it still doesn't hurt.…

I sat down on the grass and scooped up water from the stream with my hands.

I can't figure out what kind of... hot or cold it is.…

Lizzie appeared on the other side.

— Dariusz!—She waved her hands, but I motioned for her to be silent.

Someone seemed to be following me after all. And now he was waiting…

I saw the soldier's face through the leaves.

— You hide very badly. Did you even play hide-and-seek as a kid?—I asked loudly.

— Hands up, Dariusz Kaminski, and let me see them!— the guy said, pointing the barrel of the rifle at me.— Mister Mariusz gave a clear order to bring you back alive.—

I raised my hands when I noticed that Lizzie, unnoticed by him, had hidden behind a tree.

I have one option in mind. A little crazy, but... all options are good when there is no way out.

And how did I manage to leave the weapon by the tree???

When the guy bent down to get the handcuffs, I jumped forward and grabbed his throat with my teeth.

Blood immediately covered my clothes. It seems that a lot got into my mouth…

Lizzie on the other side screamed and fainted.

I spat blood on the ground.

I think I understood what scared her.

There was a piece of the guy's throat on the ground. The piece I chewed out.

Enrique must have just appeared. He stood and looked at me in confusion for a while, then gave me a thumbs up.

**

Lizzie got really scared when I chewed out a soldier's throat.

Enrique and I slapped her cheeks for a long time, then I filled the soldier's bloody helmet with water and splashed it in her face.

— Dariusz!—Lizzie snorted indignantly.— Where are your manners? Is it possible to treat girls like that?—

I smiled at her with my bloody mouth, which made Lizzie turn pale again for a second.

— Dariusz, you'd better wash up!—Enrique said.— Even I'm getting uneasy now.…—

I stepped into the water. It's nice to feel this cold, it's very soothing…

— I'm still a little shocked by you...—Enrique sat down on a rock.— It's good that I didn't see the process itself...—

— And I saw it! And I never want to see it a second time in my life!—Lizzie splashed cold water on her face and spat. Platinum hair stuck to a wet red face.— Does anyone have any sympathy for me? Darek, it's because of you that I fainted!—

— I'm sorry...—I smiled.— I sympathize with you that you don't know how to close your eyes in time!—

That feeling of joy that I felt when I was a kid, scaring Lizzie, came back to me.

— There are no more pursuers, I checked when I dealt with those who were running after me.—Enrique said.— Now the best thing would be to return to my laboratory, there I know for sure that there will be no danger.… But it's impossible to get there...—

— You have a man who is able to turn everything around into a weapon...—I said.— Why do you think that something might be impossible in such a situation?—

***

We had to go back to the toy store, which I could only see my way to under the influence of a drug blocking my transmitter.

I don't remember at all how I got there.…

So we all have to go after Enrique, and if someone takes him away… Hmm, then we won't be able to find a safe place.…

When we got to the city, I felt a chill creeping through my bones. Fear roamed under the skin, crept to the heart and squeezed it with sticky little hands.

— Darek, I'm going to buy you a shirt and bandages. You've been walking around with this wound for too long...—Ryan said.

— I don't even feel like I've had a knife in my stomach... It's like that... Doesn't it matter?—

I didn't lie. I didn't notice that I was stabbed in the stomach area until the blood started pouring into my shirt.

Enrique took the bottle out of the gun bag.

— You both have to drink this. Exactly half a bottle for each. The consequences will be unpleasant, but it will cause your transmitters to malfunction for three whole days.— He said.— Don't think about the taste of this stuff.—