Chapter 9

They were running past roads and through buildings trying to outrun Kinsey, although they both knew it was hopeless. Valkyrie turned round briefly to identify how far Kinsey was behind them and saw her body becoming more streamlined. This in turn made her go even faster on her roller skates. Valkyrie turned back around and followed Skulduggery as he ran down an alley beside two buildings.

"We can't outrun her," she gasped. Skulduggery tilted his head then pushed her out of the alley and into a nearby building. They hunkered down low as Valkyrie tried desperately to slow her breathing. They both heard Kinsey slow down on the street outside and her taunting sent shivers racing down Valkyrie's spine.

"Come on Valkyrie. You can't hide forever and when you do come out…" she went silent for a few minutes then a loud crash made her jump making her gasp. It had come from right outside their door.

"We will get you. We will break you. You are ours Valkyrie Cain and there is no escape!" Doors started opening one by one as Kinsey checked each building, rapidly getting closer.

"You need to go," Skulduggery whispered urgently. She stubbornly shook her head.

"I'm not leaving you!"

Skulduggery tilted his head impatiently.

"I can handle her but it's you she's after so you are going to go,"

"No!"

"And not only are you going to go but you are also going to go in the next ten seconds." They heard Kinsey as she started opening the door to their hideout. As soon as she walked in she'd see them. Skulduggery stood up and got into a fighting stance.

"Five seconds. Go!"

Valkyrie stood next to him.

"The only way out is there and it's not exactly available."

"Back door behind us." He said impatiently. Kinsey saw them and smiled triumphantly her. Valkyrie turned but couldn't see a door.

"Where?" she asked. Kinsey flung herself at them and Skulduggery pushed Valkyrie to the side in order to meet her full on.

"Go! Meet back at the Bentley!" Valkyrie muttered furiously as she ran to the door. She turned around just before she went outside and saw Kinsey escape from a headlock Skulduggery had put her in.

Kinsey then went on to try and trip him up but Valkyrie sent a wall of shadows to throw her off course. Skulduggery used the distraction to bundle Valkyrie out of the door.

"Run I said!" he grumbled to her. She sighed and set off sprinting, Skulduggery a couple of metres behind her. Kinsey burst from the building screaming obscenities as she followed in pursuit.

Valkyrie put on a burst of speed and ran around a corner into an alley. She burst from the end and glanced back, she couldn't see Skulduggery but she could hear Kinsey's outraged shrieks. She saw the tail end of the Bentley just as a seemingly familiar searing pain consumed her, spreading through her chest like wildfire. She stumbled and fell to the ground gasping. It stopped as Sanguine rose up out of the ground beside her.

She tried to roll out of the way of his hands as they came down to grab her but she was unsuccessful. He spun her round and hauled her up as Skulduggery came charging around the corner. He pulled her against his front and put his straight razor to her throat. Skulduggery stopped and watched him warily. Sanguine held out a lack box with a dial and a red button which he hovered his thumb over it. He pushed it and released it.

Valkyrie convulsed as her eyes widened shockingly. She panted and Skulduggery made to move towards them but Sanguine shook his head mockingly and tutted. He turned the dial to halfway then pressed the button for at least five seconds before releasing it. She screamed in agony then collapsed.

Sanguine chuckled then waved at Skulduggery before cracks started appearing at his feet. Sanguine grabbed Valkyrie's ankle as he descended into the ground. Skulduggery lunged for her outstretched hand and just managed t brush the tips of her fingers but a curtain of concrete drew over her face and she was gone.

Skulduggery stood silently then sighed. He heard Kinsey skating around the corner so he turned around to meet her. She pulled in front of him then briefly glanced down at the cracks in the floor.

She looked around her carefully then slowly turned back to face Skulduggery, a beaming smile on her face and a gleeful look in her eyes. Suddenly a braying, wheezy cackle exploded from her body, echoing around the deserted street.

"I really think that you should be quiet," he snarled. Kinsey simply laughed harder.

"Then I have no choice. I wouldn't usually do this to a woman of your age but…" he brought back his fist then released. Punching her square in the face. Kinsey squealed in anger but instantly fell to the ground after Skulduggery followed it though with a power slam underneath her chin. Skulduggery shackled the limp form of Kinsey and carried it to the Bentley.


And I'm back! Please review! The next chapter is written but I won't upload until I have at least 5 reviews so get reviewing! :)