Beat by Jared Garrett

behind me. In the illumination of the streetlamps a few blocks away, I saw two Enforser pods with a lot of movement around them. I’d seen another pod on the next street over as I’d run this way. I eased the CyJet across the road and started putting on speed, hoping to make it at least to Edge Road before the Enforsers got in their pods again. They could easily track me if they were flying above me, and I was sure the pods could get higher than the CyJet could fly.
    Besides, I really didn’t want to spend any more time as high as I’d gotten coming out of the Enjineering Dome.
    Before long, I was on Edge Road, cruising toward Hope Park and finally feeling like my heart rate was coming down to normal levels. I knew I needed a plan, but for now, I just wanted to find a place to hide and rest. As the adrenaline that had been carrying me most of the night dissipated, exhaustion hit me. I felt drugged, almost dizzy. Like I was fighting a couple of knockouts.
    Behind me, the sirens of the Enforser pods shattered the relative calm that had returned to the New Frisko night. I poured on the speed and was soon crossing over the grounds of Hope Park. If I could get out of sight quickly enough, they wouldn’t know where to pick up my trail. I remembered momentarily that Hope Park had surveillance sensors here and there, but given the short moments I’d spent exploring past the park, I was pretty sure that the sensors didn’t extend into the wilderness beyond the park.
    And suddenly I was out of the city of my birth and life. I was moving fast, skimming the ground and dodging trees and shrubs as the CyJet climbed with the slopes of the foothills. I’d never been so far outside the city. Every kid in New Frisko tried leaving the city at least once, curious and wanting to explore. But that had been one of the clues that Admins knew where we were at all times. Enforsers always showed up within minutes of the sensors catching the kids leave.
    What about the EarComs? Were they tracked, too?
    I reached for mine but stopped. If I got rid of it, I’d be completely alone; I’d have no way to talk to anyone.
    The New Chapter’s motto came to me: Better safe than sorry.
    But not yet. I pulled the CyJet to a stop under a tree and activated my EarCom. I paused a second before saying my dad’s name. If I started talking to people, the Admins might be able to pinpoint where I was. But I was going to be quick.
    I mentally apologized to my parents and then called my dad.
    “What? Who—” my dad’s voice was rough.
    “Dad. It’s me. I’m sorry.” I swallowed past a lump in my throat. “I don’t know what happened. But I have to go. The Bug’s gone. I—”  What else to say?
    “Nik? What are you—”
    “I’m sorry. I have to go. I’ll stay safe.” I disconnected immediately. I couldn’t answer questions. I didn’t have time and I had no idea what was going on.
    I pulled the EarCom out, but I had another thought. The sweat pouring down my back felt suddenly cold. My face went hot. Bug me, this was bad. But I had to. I put the EarCom back in and whispered Jan’s name.
    “Who is this?” Her voice was much clearer than my dad’s.
    “Jan. This is Nik. I can’t stay on. I know it’s late.”
    “Where’s Bren? He’s not in bed.” How did she know that? Bren must have actually woken her up.
    “Something really bad happened. I’m so sorry. I don’t know how—”
    “What? Something what happened?” I could almost see her eyes go wide from the fear in her voice.
    “It’s Bren. We snuck out. We thought the Bug was gone.” I couldn’t stay on if the Admins were tracking my frequency. I had to finish this. “It’s my fault. I’m sorry.” The words. I had to say the words.
    “What happened to Bren?” Jan’s voice broke on his name.
    “He’s dead. The Bug got him. I don’t know what happened because it didn’t get me. I have to go; they’re trying to kill me.”
    “Nik, what—”
    I yanked the EarCom out