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

Melaleuca and Ari and appear to threaten them.
    Summoning all the strength in his wobbling arms, he jabbed the pistol in their direction and tried to aim it. The end of the barrel bounced between Argus and all the trees. He yanked hard on the trigger.
     
    Like drumsticks for weapons, the sticks stuck up out of Argus’s hands and under the shadows of the trees he waved the sticks at Melaleuca and said, ‘Can you hear it?’
    BLAM!!!!!
    A blast thundered from downhill and a small shockwave roared toward Melaleuca, a small object zipping by, leaving a trail of splintered wood and leaf shards. She dropped to the ground surprised and Ari dived beside her. Argus hit the forest floor hard and groaning whipped his pistol out.
    ‘See I told you. Now get behind that tree. Get an item of clothing, stick it on these.’ He threw the sticks at Melaleuca. ‘And make it look like you are a good target.’ He cocked an eyebrow at Ari. ‘I am going to outflank them.’
    ‘I’ll take the left flank,’ Ari said and disappeared with ease into the undergrowth.
    Argus looked at Melaleuca astonished.
    ‘We are more than you think,’ she said.
    ‘I see,’ he replied and started crawling to the right.
    Melaleuca half-heartedly held out her stick and waved it. She would have preferred it if she had given the command though she could see the sense in what Argus said. As a small and unnoticed protest she did not put any clothing on it.
     
    The recoil threw Quixote backwards and the gun flew out of his hand. What a noise, what a sound, what fun. The smell of gunpowder in his nostrils felt strange yet pleasing as well.
    He heard people converging on him and grabbed the pistol and ducked down, giggling to himself thinking of how surprised they were going to be.
     
    Ari could see the faint outline of a body through a small bush. Lagging behind, Argus caught up and together they stood up and charged toward Quixote from different angles.
    Quixote leapt up and charged back. Like an unsteady man wielding an anchor he swung the pistol around.
    Argus drew a bead on Quixote and prepared to fire.
    ‘Quixote,’ Ari cried out and dived on him.
     
    Hearing Quixote’s name Melaleuca rushed toward them, arriving to see Argus lower his pistol from Quixote and holster it. Beneath Quixote’s scarecrow hair an irrepressible imp’s smile creased his face - the corners of his mouth turning up in cheek. Eyes hell bent on merriment and mirth flashed up at Argus. Even in the darkest dank hole on earth he looked like he would find something to laugh at.
    ‘Get up,’ Argus said unimpressed.
    Ari helped Quixote to his feet and took the pistol out of his hand. He lifted it up and held it out, eyeing the end of it, focusing on an imaginary target. His aim wavered little.
    ‘You could have been hurt,’ Argus said.
    Melaleuca shook her head at Argus and took possession of Quixote’s pistol and held it in front of him.
    ‘Where’d you get this?’
    He giggled.
    ‘Back at the house. It was lying on the ground.’
    ‘Were you supposed to go back there alone?’
    A sheepish grin crossed his face.
    ‘I have to always follow my heart,’ he said with fake modesty. ‘Mum said so.’
    ‘And our parents?’ Ari said.
    ‘The house is all smashed to pieces and the men that attacked us are all dead, laying everywhere.’
    ‘Did you see our parents?’ Melaleuca said.
    ‘Nah. Not there.’
    Argus sneered and said, ‘You could have been killed. Sheesh! All of you let’s move.’
    Melaleuca squared off with Argus.
    ‘I lead us. No one else.’
    ‘You are a little girl. Shut your mouth and follow me or you will all die.’
    ‘None of us fear death,’ she said refusing to concede.
    ‘Except Lexington,’ Quixote said.
    ‘That’s only because she thinks about things too much,’ Ari said.
    ‘ENOUGH!’ Argus roared. ‘There is no time for this. Get moving. You are in danger.’
    Melaleuca could see his obvious pain, how his head hurt and how exhausted he