Phantom Prospect - Alex Archer [38]
“And where are you going?” Hunter asked.
Annja smiled. “No place special. Just visiting a friend.”
15
Annja walked down the corridor toward the crew quarters. She kept her footwork light, her hands out in front of her as she progressed. She felt confident that Sheila was the person who had attacked her. She just moved too smoothly to be anything remotely like a seasick bystander.
Annja crept closer to where Sheila’s quarters were. A stillness swept over her like a soft mist.
She checked to make sure she could summon her sword, if necessary. It hovered in the gray mist. She considered drawing it, but part of her said no. Not yet. In the close confines of the corridor, she would have difficulty swinging it to ultimate effect. It would be better to wait until she knew exactly what she was dealing with.
Annja paused to allow more sounds to filter into her consciousness. She waited and listened.
She could hear the engines somewhere below still grinding away. Sammy must have been working hard to get them back online. Around her, she heard the dull sounds and pings that occurred on any boat.
But little else.
Maybe Sheila was already asleep.
Annja almost smirked. She didn’t believe that. Sheila was probably perched somewhere behind the door to her quarters, waiting for Annja to knock.
Annja crept closer to the door and waited. Her instincts told her Sheila was definitely up to something.
Annja heard a shuffle on the other side of the door. She placed one hand on the doorknob and started to turn it.
The door was pulled open and Annja found herself dragged into the room.
She spun, already lashing out with a kick as she crashed across the bunk in the tiny cabin. Her foot caught Sheila across the bridge of her nose. Annja heard a crack and saw the rush of bright red blood cascade down the woman’s face.
But Sheila didn’t stop. She immediately rushed Annja, tackling her around her midsection as Annja started to move off the bed. Annja’s wind rushed out as Sheila crashed into her and they tumbled back onto the mattress.
Sheila lunged, launching an elbow strike at Annja’s head. Annja ducked under and drove her own elbow into Sheila’s midsection. Sheila grunted and brought her hammer fist down on Annja’s skull.
Bells rang in Annja’s head. Taking a head shot a day after a concussion wasn’t good and she fought off the fog that threatened to overtake her. She shoved back at Sheila and drove her off the mattress, across the room and into the wall.
Sheila’s head snapped back against the wall and Annja heard her grunt again, but she didn’t give up the fight. Sheila brought her knees up one after the other and it was all Annja could do to ward them off, until one got through her defense and sank into her midsection.
Annja retched, but drove down and locked the knee out before yanking back. Sheila lost her balance and fell.
Annja aimed a kick at her head and Sheila only just managed to bring her hands up in time to catch the brunt of it and deflect it away. She chopped down at Annja’s exposed knee but there was no power in it.
Annja rushed her but then, at the last minute, saw the pistol coming up in Sheila’s hand.
“Stop!”
Annja skidded to a halt and stared at Sheila. “So, you’ll shoot me now? Is that it?”
With her free hand, Sheila wiped her sleeve across her nose and winced. “I think you broke it.”
“I’d break your neck if I could,” Annja said.
Sheila laughed. “I don’t doubt it. I was warned that you’d be formidable. You’re good, Annja Creed. I’ll definitely give you that.”
“Put the gun down and we’ll continue,” Annja said.
Sheila shook her head. “I don’t think so. I’m worn out from that matchup and, frankly, I’m not really into unarmed combat when a gun can solve things a lot faster.”
Annja didn’t make a move, aware that the gun Sheila held didn’t waver in the