The Omega Children - The Return of the Marauders (A young adult fiction best seller): An Action Adventure Mystery Read Online Free PDF Page A

groaned and blinked at her with blood shot eyes, moving his jaw trying to speak. At first no words came out and after swallowing a few times he said hoarsely, ‘Here to save you.’
    Melaleuca sharpened her gaze on him.
    ‘I can tell if you are lying. Where are our parents?’
    ‘Alive...led attackers...away – other direction.’
    He tilted his head back and closed his eyes, taking in several deep breaths until his breathing slowed to normal.
    ‘Someone’s tracking me. Got to get going. Ohhh man, am really too old for this.’
    He pushed himself upwards and Melaleuca and Ari jabbed their sticks harder into his neck.
    ‘Our parents are coming back for us,’ Ari said. ‘You lie. You’re one of the attackers?’
    ‘Stay,’ Melaleuca said.
    Argus pushed against their sticks and the sharp ends pricked deep into his flesh. Ari shifted forward an inch and pushed his stick into Argus. A small trickle of blood oozed down Argus’s neck and Melaleuca considered pulling back though her instincts told her otherwise. Tiredness and pain registered on Argus’s face but an underlying steel-will let the sticks draw blood and with no fear he pushed himself up and stood unfrightened in front of her.
    ‘I have not been transported thousands of miles and run all night to be told what I am and are not.’
    He grabbed at Ari’s stick and clenched it in his hand. Ari gripped back and Argus yanked it hard though it barely moved. Surprise formed on Argus’s face.
    Ari raised his eyebrows at Argus.
    ‘I am Ari Hillary Shackleton Arrnor. I have an explorer’s heart and the grit of a soldier. If I decide you go no further, you go no further.’
    ‘Back up Ari,’ Melaleuca said. ‘Prove what you say. Who are you?’
    ‘I...I am...’
    Melaleuca’s crisp blue eyes met with Argus’s and she felt herself push into his mind. Argus dropped to his knees and a strange enchanted look fell across his face. Puzzled she had an urge to introduce herself.
    ‘I am Melaleuca Willimena Enigma Arrnor. I am in charge. Nothing happens without my command. Who are you?’
    ‘Argus...Argus North.’
    ‘What are you saving us from?’
    He shook his head.
    ‘I...don’t know...was just sent.’
    She could detect no sign of malice in him and relaxed.
    ‘Why did you kneel then?’
    Even before he answered she saw he did not understand his reflex. He shrugged his shoulders.
    Ari growled and held his stick tighter.
    ‘I want more proof.’
    ‘I am being pursued,’ Argus said. ‘Whoever attacked your parents follows me now.’
    ‘I say he is one of them,’ Ari said.
    ‘Sent by whom?’ Melaleuca said.
    ‘By your parents!’
    She looked into Argus’s crinkled eyes again, and saw he spoke the truth. She started to see deeper and could tell there was more he was not telling, lots more. Argus pulled away.
    ‘Later. Danger is nearly upon you.’
    She pulled her stick away and pushed Ari’s down.
    ‘What you say may be true. We will go and see for ourselves.’
    Argus shook his head. ‘No. Wait. You can hear them coming. Look, they have been sneaking up on us the entire time.’
    Ari and Melaleuca looked down hill and Argus seized the opportunity to grab their sticks off them.
     
    Quixote’s arms ached and the man he chased eluded him. The pistol proved heavier than he thought though he loved the feel of it. He forged ahead toward the man’s last known direction and caught sight of his footprints and again felt excited at the prospect of catching him.
    He heard someone shout out ahead and then heard a loud crash. Quixote jumped behind a tree and using two hands tried to point the pistol uphill though it kept on wobbling. Between the gaps in the trees he could see the man stand up. Quixote edged forward, imagining he closed in for the kill, ever vigilant to make no noise. With skills honed from years of sneaking up on the others he knew this prey would be his. As Argus came into sight Quixote saw him snatch the sticks out of the hands of