Timeslingers:

The Online Time Travel Adventure Series

Sunlight blinded him. He cringed as if expecting a bolt of energy from the pulse gun to send him flying back into the room. But the grenade deployed as planned, providing an energy shield shaped like a cube—ten square feet of coverage impenetrable by most firearms.

Hector didn’t have long. It would take time for the attacker to break through the shield with the pulse gun, but an energy-defusing weapon—grenade or projectile gun—would work faster. If the assailant switched to a more effective weapon, Hector and Jack would have several seconds to make a break for the office. It was a gamble.

Another pulse of energy crackled as it dissipated into the shield. Now was the time. Hector pulled Jack up and scrambled for the office. No shots. The hesitation meant their attacker had switched weapons.

A bullet slammed into the wall above them, sending a shower of splinters over their heads. A hasty shot. A second wouldn’t miss. Hector kicked the door to the manager’s office open and dove inside as a second bullet came within inches of where his head had been.

Jack propped himself up on his elbow. The feeling in his muscles seemed to be coming back, but his speech was still slurred, “Thir’ ‘oom in, ‘ooftop.”

Hector sat back against the manager’s desk. Assuming Jack was right, their attacker was located on the rooftop three rooms down. Inbound shots had stopped. Hector peered through the office window and tried to get a glimpse of their assailant. No movement. No glare coming off a gun barrel. The attacker had moved. Hector’s gaze dropped down to their car parked in the lot outside.

“He left his position. He’s coming after us. We need to get to the car.”

Hector pulled Jack to the door. They scanned the parking lot and surrounding buildings. Nothing. Their hunter had disappeared. Hector helped Jack out to their car door. He eased Jack into the passenger seat and jogged to the driver’s side. As he made the turn around the front bumper his jaw dropped.

Their assailant stood twenty feet away.

He froze as though his limbs had been cemented to the asphalt. Between short, quick breaths, he stammered, “What? You?”