Stolen by Melissa de La Cruz

high-tech Humvees carrying armed soldiers rolled behind them as well.
    Why would a fire draw military vehicles? Something else was happening, something bigger than a crack in the dome and a plume of smoke.
    Maybe something as big as a drakon on the streets of New Vegas,
Wes thought.
Something unstoppable.
    â€œCome on, man, I’ll get in trouble if I don’t deliver,” Farouk said, pleading with the guard.
    The guard shook his head. “Pull to the side, please.”
    Farouk sighed, shifted the car into drive, and angled the limo to the right. “Bad luck, boss,” he said. “Looks like no one’s getting into Dorado today.”
    â€œWe’ll wait it out,” Wes said. “Try again when they open back up.”
    â€œThere’s a way station not too far—I guess we can stay there. Godfreezeit, I was looking forward to the domes,” Farouk replied.
    They watched as the conclave of emergency and military vehicles made their way inside, when a group of guards suddenly surrounded the limousine, and the young security officer led the pack, holding his gun. “Out of the car,” he yelled over the sirens. “Out of the car now!”
    â€œWhat the ice?” Farouk cursed and shot an accusatory glance at Wes.
    â€œOut of the car!” the guard ordered.
    â€œStay in the limo,” Wes growled, picking up his own weapon.
    Farouk rolled down the window. “What’s this about?”
    â€œYour passengers aren’t on any manifest. No one’s expecting them. Out of the car now.”
    â€œNo way, man. It’s a mistake. Ask your people to check the roster again. Can you get Rolf out here? The man knows me. Help me out—you know I’m going to lose my job if I don’t drop off these iceholes. Come on, man.”
    â€œHold on,” the security officer said, looking annoyed and confused.
    When the guard left, Farouk turned to Wes. “What’s going on, boss? Looks like we’re getting screwed by your guys—they bungle the job or something? Why aren’t you on the manifest?” Then realization hit. “You’re not on the freezing manifest, are you?” He cursed. “You could have told me.”
    â€œI didn’t have the watts,” Wes mumbled. “Sorry. I thought we’d be able to talk our way in. Thought you wouldn’t take us here if you knew.”
    â€œI wouldn’t take you here? Of course I wouldn’t take you here—” Farouk began to argue, but the rest of his words were muffled by the sound of more ambulances rushing past.
    Wes watched as they sped through the gate, pulling the smoke behind it, leaving the gate clear for an instant. A girl stood in the archway, dressed in a blue hospital gown, shivering in the street, her hair a mess, her eyes flashing scarlet. Shards of gold littered the street, and gunfire mixed with the sounds of shattering glass. Smoke billowed through the air.
    â€œWas that a girl?” Shakes stared at the surreal scene.
    â€œWhat the . . . ?” Farouk said as a shiny new car shot through the face of the dome, arcing through the sky, and crashing into the guard booth, exploding in a giant burst of glass and steel and flame.
    The guards left the limo and ran toward the booth, yelling and cursing.
    â€œHit it!” Wes yelled. “Go! Now, Farouk.”
    Farouk didn’t hesitate; he jammed the accelerator, spinning the wheels, careening past the stunned guards who were still staring at the burning booth, and blasting into the entrance of the smoke-filled city.
    They were inside.
    Farouk slid into a tangle of alleyways, turning deeper and deeper off the main road and into the heart of the city. As far away from anything like law enforcement as possible. Only then did he slow down and choke a few words out. “You both can go to hell.”
    â€œThink we just did, brother.” Wes clapped him on the shoulder.
    Shakes looked