King Grey Speed 1

Out of the corner of my eye something fast twinkled against the flickering street light, and once again, the world seemed to slow down around me.

I lunged sideways, knocking both Nico and Cecilia into the grimy street.

“Run!” I roared as I heard the click of another projectile being loaded from the shadows.

Although startled and confused, Nico was able to gather his wits. Abandoning his bags, he pulled our disoriented friend into the nearby alleyway.

It felt as if someone else was taking control of my body as I instinctively dipped down and picked up Cecilia’s textbook. I raised the thick hardbound book up to my chest, just in time to feel the force of the projectile sending me staggering back.

I took a quick glance down to see a syringe-like object embedded into the textbook. A clear liquid oozed out of the buried end, dripping to the ground.

It wasn’t a bullet. I knew that for sure.

The memory of my trip to the zoo with Headmaster Wilbeck sprang to mind. It was one of those needles they shot at animals in order to make them fall asleep.

Yanking the needle out of the textbook, I followed after Nico and Cecilia into the narrow alleyway.