Tunnels 05 - Spiral

rifle’s receiver, then worked it several times.
    Uncomfortable with the silence between them, Stephanie announced, “I shoot, too.”
    “Do you?” Elliott replied quietly. “Not with anything like this.”
    “Oooo, can I see?” Stephanie asked eagerly, entering the room in little steps, her hands outstretched.
    Elliott sighed. “I suppose so. Just be careful with it — it’s heavy.”
    Stephanie took the weapon and, without any hesitation, put it to her shoulder. “It
is
heavy,” she agreed. “At school I mainly use a .22 for target practice. What caliber is this?” she asked, sliding back the bolt. Elliott had risen to her feet to stop her, but it was unnecessary — Stephanie appeared to know what she was doing. “I guess it’s like a .303 or something,” the girl continued, peering inside the chamber.
    Elliott nodded. “You’re close. It’s a .35 and uses a special cartridge with a long casing, so it can take an extra load.”
    “Right,” Stephanie said, turning her attention to the bulbous scope mounted on top of the weapon.
    “That’s a light-gathering sight; the only place you’ll find anything quite like it is down in the Colony, where they’re hand-built for the Styx. This is a Limiter rifle, and I’ve shot and killed at least ten of them with it. Maybe more, but I wasn’t close enough to know if I’d hit the mark,” Elliott said. When Stephanie didn’t react to this, Elliott frowned. “I’m curious . . . do you mind if I ask you something . . . ?” she began.
    “Totally,” Stephanie answered brightly, lowering the weapon to her hip and twisting from one side to the other as if she was spraying an invisible foe with a submachine gun. To make matters worse, she blew through her lips in an imitation of rapid gunfire.
    “Ha.” Elliott swallowed, trying to resist the temptation to cuff the girl.
    “What did you want to ask me?” Stephanie said, unaware of Elliott’s scornful expression.
    “Will briefed you on the situation, so you know about the Phase and how serious things are. And because you’re with us, you’re marked by the Styx. There’s absolutely no way you can go home now,” Elliott said with overbrutal directness.
    Stephanie looked inquiringly at her.
    Elliott continued, “You’re OK with all that? Being holed up in this place until it’s all over. Or if we
don’t
deal with the Phase and beat the Styx, spending the rest of your life — however short it might be — constantly living in fear. Constantly on the run.”
    Stephanie took a breath and passed the rifle back to Elliott. “You couldn’t make it more obvious you don’t like me,” she said, flicking her beautifully groomed hair from her face. “But I’m, like, not some little sissy who screams or faints at the first sign of trouble. I’m tough, you know.”
    Elliott laughed harshly. “You are, are you? You don’t look it to me.”
    Stephanie held the other girl’s stony glare. “Come on, then. If you think I’m such a waste of space, why don’t you have a pop at me?” Taking several steps back to give herself room, she kicked her shoes off. “Try me.”
    Elliott laughed again, then stopped herself. “You’re serious?”
    “Totally, like, serious,” Stephanie replied.
    Elliott put her rifle down. “Well, if you insist, but Drake won’t be pleased if I hurt you or anything.”
    “I don’t want to hurt you, either,” Stephanie countered. “Is your back better? I don’t want to damage it.”
    “Don’t you worry about me. I’ve got Styx blood. I heal fast,” Elliott said. She squared up to Stephanie, who seemed completely relaxed. Then Elliott launched herself, grabbing the girl’s neck with both hands.
    Stephanie reacted with complete precision, swinging her arms up to break Elliott’s hold, then hooking her leg. Elliott was spun around like a top, and dropped facedown on the carpet.
    Stephanie backed away, allowing the other girl to pick herself up.
    “Where did you learn to do that?” Elliott asked, narrowing her eyes.
    “Well, Parry was, like, this huge influence on my dad when he was growing up on the estate, and he got him into military intelligence,” Stephanie explained.
    “Not another spook?” Elliott said.
    “Something like that. Dad’s been stationed in loads of trouble spots across the world, and my mum and brothers and me have followed him to most of them. I haven’t exactly led a sheltered life.” She gave Elliott a small smile. “Try me again,