Read Death 07 - For the Love of Death for Free Online

correction is possible. Pulse tracks cover the entire surface of the earth, even houses.
    < Safe arrest of moving vehicle reached > the auto sensor proclaims.
    A breath shudders out of me.
    I wipe away the netting, and Pax groans. “That fucking hurt.”
    < Humerus fracture detected >
    We burst out laughing.
    “That’s a no shit.”
    Pax tries to move. Falls back. “Unlock.”
    < Hart, Paxton; voice recognition authenticated >
    “I hate her voice.”
    “Bee-otch for sure.”
    Pax groans.
    We smile.
    The door opens and I crawl over my brother, half-falling outside.
    < Medical assistance necessary > the tiny voice grates.
    “Yes,” Pax says with a heave as he rolls out.
    A whir and clicking sounds and I frown, looking at the sensor gauge.
    < Override >
    Pax straightens outside our car. Its beat up roof looks like a crimped bullet. He staggers forward, his own frown holding steady, and grips the door rim with his good hand. He grits his teeth.
    “Authenticate.”
    < Override >
    My eyes meet his.
    We turn, looking at the moron who blocked our path. We shouldn't have gotten in an accident anyway. All vehicles are equipped with safety avoidance. It's been in place for a decade.
    The car is gone and men stand where it was.
    Men with guns.
     
    *
     
    “Dee,” Pax says.
    I swallow. “Yeah?”
    Be ready.
    Yes , I mind-whisper back.
    I chance a glance at Pax and his skin has a grayish-white tinge.
    Shock.
    “Pax… you’re scaring me.”
    He’s holding his arm, jerking his jaw toward the crew of men in suits. “They’re scarier.” He flicks his gaze to mine. “Get behind me, Dee.”
    I do as he asks.
    “Hello, Mr. Hart,” Mr. Cheerful greets us.
    I scan the area for witnesses. However, with the void of children, that translates directly to no games, no school, no… whatever.
    No soccer moms are whizzing by to see a big brother moment.
    The man before us moves like a spider.
    I figure he’s Random, but I can only guess. It’s not like my best friend, Pritzi. It’s her gift. She knows and can locate any Random in the world. Of course, she’s keeping that part to herself.
    There are five of them. All early twenties.
    No, one is older.
    “We have been inviting you for a long time, Mr. Hart.”
    Pax grimaces. “Listen, I keep looking around for my dad when ya say my name like that. And”—he moves his body fully in front of mine, utterly blocking their view of me—“I’m not a fan of your techniques.”
    Spider lifts the muzzle of his gun.
    “Don’t,” Pax says.
    He says it like a warning, not a suggestion.
    “We're not here to harm, Paxton.”
    “Clearly,” I mutter.
    Quiet, Dee.
    Pax's teeth begin to chatter. The losers move closer.
    Fuck, they've got a Null.
    How many? I ask.
    Five points, of effing course.
    “You won’t listen to our business proposals, so we became creative.”
    “Is it because I wouldn’t go out with you guys? Feelin’ all rejected and shit?”
    Oh, Pax . He has to stir the hornet’s nest.
    The man’s face falls into hard lines. His gaze tries to find me behind my brother’s body.
    “What about your sister? Does she want to ‘go out’ with us?” His smile is cruel.
    Pax tenses.
    They find his weak spot. He’d let someone take off his legs like an ant underneath a magnifier. But if they were to threaten me…
    “You touch her and you die.”
    Yep.
    “Tsk, tsk, Paxton. You have a very unfortunate temper.”
    “Good thing you’re aware, now buzz off.”
    I breathe in and out slowly. The other four inch closer.
    Twilight edges toward us, stealing daylight. Pax notices.
    My heart thuds, palms slicking with sweat, mouth going dry. Pax, I'm going to do something bad.
    His emotions come hard and fast in my head like an old-fashioned shutter of a camera.
    Guilt, responsibility and love coalesce, bursting over his words: No. You won't have to.
    They wear all black, moving in the growing shadows as the sun sets below the horizon. Tangerine bleeds over us, the colors wash