Free Underground by Chris Morphew

gate.
    â€˜Ready?’ said Mike, checking the street again. ‘Okay. Now!’
    We ran, straight up the middle of the road, not even bothering to avoid the streetlights. Jordan pulled ahead, dragging Tank along behind her, until she was level with Cathryn and me. She caught my eye, shot me a get ready look –
    And dropped to the ground.
    Tank swore as he lost his grip and went flying into the path. Cathryn stopped running and spun around. I threw myself forward, twisting my shoulders. She let go of me and I doubled back for Jordan, who was already halfway to her feet.
    But then Mike swooped in behind her, bringing his good arm up around her neck, blade hovering at her ear. Jordan gritted her teeth. ‘You don’t want to try that again,’ growled Mike, yanking her the rest of the way to her feet. ‘Tank. Get over here.’
    Tank got up and took hold of Jordan again.
    â€˜Seriously man,’ said Mike, using his knife arm to untangle his sling, ‘I give you one job to do …’
    â€˜Sorry,’ Tank grunted. ‘She was –’
    His mouth slammed shut as a porch light flashed on across the street.
    â€˜Crap!’ hissed Mike. ‘Go, go, go!’
    Cathryn shoved me up the road and we bolted. Through the streets and into the bush, not stopping until the lights of the town were completely blocked out by the trees.
    Mike slowed down, panting, and we fell into line behind him. He stabbed his knife off to our left. ‘This way.’
    â€˜The lake?’ Jordan asked.
    â€˜Shut up,’ said Tank.
    But she was probably right. If past experience was anything to go by, these guys had been ordered to dump us somewhere for Kara and Soren to come and pick up. Somewhere familiar, I was guessing, and I doubted they’d go for the crater again.
    We pushed on, eyes slowly adjusting to the dim moonlight. I shivered, regretting the shower I’d had, cold damp hair sticking to the back of my neck.
    Cathryn sniffled behind me. Jordan glanced over.
    â€˜I’m sorry,’ Cathryn whispered, and I could tell from her voice that she was on the verge of tears. ‘I’m sorry. It’s the only way.’
    â€˜ Cat ,’ Mike warned.
    â€˜The only way to do what?’ said Jordan.
    Tank hit her again. ‘I said shut up.’
    But then Jordan made a noise like she’d figured it out on her own. ‘Peter,’ she said. ‘A trade? Is that what they offered you?’
    â€˜The overseers don’t make offers ,’ Mike snarled. ‘They tell us what to do, and we do it.’
    â€˜They won’t give him to you,’ said Jordan.
    Cathryn faltered, pulling me to a stop. ‘They will.’
    â€˜Cathryn, we’ve met them. They’re not what you think they are.’
    Mike whirled around, knife in the air again. ‘You are going to close your freaking mouth right now , or I’ll cut you a new one.’
    But now Tank had stopped too. He turned Jordan around, holding her out at arm’s length. ‘What are you talking about?’
    â€˜None of it is real!’ said Jordan. ‘All of that destiny stuff. The tattoos and the candles and – They’re just people. They’re using you. There’s nothing –’
    Jordan broke off, screaming, as Mike stabbed the knife into her arm. She doubled over, trying to bring her bound hands up to put pressure on the wound, but it was too close to her elbow.
    Cathryn reeled back, horrified. ‘What is your problem?’
    â€˜I warned her,’ said Mike, staring down at his hands. ‘I warned her …’
    I lunged at him.
    He thrust the knife at me. ‘You want one too?’
    â€˜Mike, stop!’ Cathryn shrieked, trying to push between us.
    Jordan was hunched over against a tree, gasping in pain. There was a ragged hole in her sleeve, but it was too dark to see how bad the cut was.
    â€˜All of you – KEEP MOVING!’ roared Mike. He