Free Split Infinity by Thalia Kalkipsakis

faster. Each breath is sharp, thighs burning in protest. This is it. Right now.
    Run.
    Being caught is not an option. I hug the fence line as I sprint, staying as far to the right as I can, keeping the angle in my favour. And I’m going to make it. Somehow, I can already tell I’ll reach the corner before they do. The timer in my brain must have measured the speed of the police, compared it to mine and determined who will make it first. I’m living in real time, but predicting the future.
    I reach the corner and turn hard right, continuing up the footpath beside the back road. It’s busier out here. I have to dodge past people that barely seem to be moving. I breathe hard as I run, clear my head. To my right is a row of shopfronts. I’m dodging to the left of a row of people as the crowd parts in front of me.
    ‘Make way! Police!’
    ‘Stay where you are!’
    I’m trapped. Two police officers are coming right at me, stun guns lifted. Already I’ve veered to the side, towards the road, and I see it: a gap in the traffic, the break between batches of cars that we trained for last night.
    Ahead, a batch is fast approaching, so I sharpen the angle of the turn, blood pounding in my throat at what I’m about to do.
    An alarm screams as I leap off the curb but I keep going straight for the second lane of traffic. It’s not a risk if you know what you’re doing, right?
    Speed and power fill the air.
    I pin-drop into the tunnel.

    Numbly I grope forwards, fumbling through the mess of my mind. Thoughts drift like echoes around me. The further I go, the further I leave her behind …
    My thoughts reconnect and reality floods back. Sirens scream. I’m inside bright lights, flush with the pulse of my blood.
    A gasp as I register. They’re still coming, the first batch of smartcars, closer than before. I’ve barely travelled a few seconds.
    My shoulders are grabbed with such force that I stumble backwards and land on the footpath as the cars flash past.
    ‘Oh my gosh! Oh my gosh!’ I gasp, adrenaline rising. I nearly died.
    I’m tangled with another set of limbs, struggling to stand.
    ‘What happened?’ It’s Mason, dragging me by the arm, and pulling me upright. We keep running, half-stumbling, our hands locked. Have to get away.
    ‘ Mum … she died … in the fire.’ It comes in breaks and sobs. ‘I couldn’t –’
    Mason turns back with a shot of sympathy, but I break off. Beyond him, the crowd has parted and police are coming right for us.
    I pull back on this arm. ‘This way!’
    Together we spin around, only to find a wall of Feds in black fatigues. So many, moving fast.
    ‘Can you jump now?’ Mason breathes.
    ‘Yes. Ten days?’ Even if I can’t make it, Mason has to jump. He has to get away.
    Before he has a chance to reply, Mason’s pushed to the side with such force that my wrist twists as he’s yanked from my grip. He’s surrounded by so many bodies and guns that I can only just make him out.
    ‘Now, Mason!’ He has to jump.
    He doesn’t call back, but I can still see his shape surrounded by bodies and legs. Two officers move, and I get a clear view as Mason’s eyes roll back in his head and his mouth falls open, slack. One of the officers pulls a syringe from his neck and he drops like a broken marionette.
    ‘Nooo!’ I kick and thrash against the grip of hands.
    The officers around Mason are reacting now, pointing and calling to each other. Something’s wrong. He’s just a tangle of limbs. Lifeless. With everything I have left, I wrench free as they flip him onto his back like a rag doll and cover his face with a medical mask.
    Before I can reach him, the hands grip me again, holding me back. ‘Let me go! What have you –’ The rest of the sentence disappears as I turn to find another syringe right next to my cheek. It’s held upright and glowing fluoro blue in the hand of an officer just beside me.
    ‘Sir?’ The officer jerks her head towards the crowd around Mason. ‘Drop the