Free Control Point by Myke Cole Page B

the wind wafted steam from the radiator through the shattered windshield. Another gate hovered four feet off the ground. It had opened into an underwater portion of the other world. Shafts of weak sunlight penetrated green depths that stirred with the languid movements of huge bodies. Not a drop spilled through the gate.
    “What do you want from me?” he shrieked, pounding the steering wheel. He sank back in the seat, weeping. “I don’t want you…I just want…”
I just want to go home.
    And where exactly would that be now?
his mind asked.
    “Stop,” he said. “Just stop. Pull yourself together.”
    He searched the interior of the car. He found an unlocked gun case under the passenger seat, but it was empty, as were the backseats. The glove compartment contained a plastic first-aid kit, three chem-lights, a pocketknife, and a pack of tissues.He took them all, stuffed the lot into the gun case, and exited the car in time to watch the gate close on the watery depths and vanish.
    What exactly was he planning to do? He’d managed to keep a half step ahead of his pursuers, but that couldn’t last long. And even if he could stay ahead of them, what then?
    You’ll just have to figure it out,
he answered himself.
Maybe you can make your way to New Mexico, join up with the Apache insurgency. Maybe you can find one of those Selfer street crews hiding out in New York City.
    And fight the government I’ve served?
    The government that murdered a confused girl. The government that’s trying to kill you. Live or die, Oscar, make your choice.
    You didn’t want to kill anyone. They’ll never believe that, but you know it.
Britton hung on to that thought, repeating it to himself over and over again.
It’s the reason you’re not a Selfer, not like they use the word.
    So,
he thought again,
make your choice. What do you de-serve?
    Britton choked back tears of relief as he realized that he did not deserve to die. His choice was made. He would run.
    Step one, find a place to lie low, get your bearings. Step two, find someone who can help you get control of your magic.
The Green Mountain National Forest was miles from here, but it was big enough to get lost in. Big enough to go to ground while he figured out a way to head south without being spotted. It was a paper-thin plan, ridiculous in the face of what was sure to be a manhunt conducted by the most powerful military in the world.
    But it was life. And, for the moment, it was all he had.
    “Got to hide this car,” he said. The police probably had some way to track their vehicles. He wasn’t certain where he was but figured that distance on the other side approximated distance in this world. He couldn’t be too far from where he’d stolen the car. A thick carpet of ochre pine needles blanketed the ground, but that wouldn’t cover the cruiser.
    The magical tide rose with his frustration. Another gate flashed open, cutting through the car’s front quarter panel. It shimmered there, then vanished, severing the wheel, bumper,and headlight. Water pooled beneath the sliced radiator. He stared, thinking what a gate would do if it appeared in the middle of a person, and shuddered.
    “All right,” he said. “You want to help? Fine, you can help.”
    “Magic,” he asked, feeling ridiculous, “you listening? I need you to open up and suck in this car.” He made a pincer motion, sweeping his arms up over his head.
    A light breeze gusted over his back, drying his sweat and reminding him of the cold.
    “Come on,” he said. “Do it. I command you, swallow the car.”
    He motioned again. Nothing. He sighed, looking around at the trees swaying gently in the breeze. Somewhere in their branches, a squirrel chattered.
    He threw back his head and laughed. “Oh, God! I have no idea what the hell I’m doing.” He laughed again, the sound strange in his ears. But he felt a little better as he moved into the woods.
    Once he was out of sight of the trail, he treated his wounds with