Sneak (Swipe Series) by Evan Angler Read Free Book Online Page B

Beacon. You’ll never make it on foot. But with a bike . . . with a bike, you might stand a chance.” She was staring at the handlebars now, too shy to look at Logan any longer. “I know it doesn’t look like much. I wanted to fix it up first, but . . . well, here we are. It rides well enough.”
    At first Logan didn’t know what to say. “I’ve never seen a bike in real life,” he admitted, finally. “Growing up, everyone I saw on the streets just used rollersticks.”
    “Then everyone you saw on the streets was Marked.” Bridget smiled. “I’m afraid you’re gonna have to lower your standards.”
    Logan wiped a nervous hand against his forehead, trying to imagine how this bike changed things. “Don’t get me wrong,” he said. “I’m grateful. I just . . . how will I even ride it?”
    Bridget laughed. “You’ll manage. It’s not hard.”
    Logan pumped the brakes a little, testing them.
    “My mom was a big cyclist,” Bridget said. “Rode everywhere with a bike she found just like this, since it was the only free way to get around the city. Things were easier then, of course. Wasn’t a crime, yet, to be Markless. Just inconvenient. But Mom would always brag about biking forty, fifty miles a day, so I gotta figure you’ll be able to handle that, easy, once you get the hang of it. You’ll be sore at first, of course, but I bet that’s a reasonable pace.”
    “Okay . . . ,” Logan said.
    “Well, that means you’re only looking at twenty days’ travel if you can stick mostly to the old pre-Unity highway system. It’s all torn up, but bikeable, I’d imagine, and a whole lot easier than dirt or grass or ruins.”
    “Twenty days . . . ,” Logan repeated. “I never dreamed I’d make it there that fast . . .”
    “I know,” Bridget said. “It’s doable.”
    For a while, the two of them didn’t speak. And then, in his excitement, Logan swung right onto the bike, smiling and determined, pushing hard off the ground with one foot, and balancing the other on its pedal. He laughed and whooped as he wobbled down the winding path, past hills of garbage, the sickly sweet landfill air blowing back his hair and rushing in his ears.
    “That’s it! You’re a natural! Just keep it straight, Logan— you’ve got it!”
    But immediately Logan froze, jamming the breaks, screeching to a halt. He fell forward, stumbling as the bike slid out from under him.
    Bridget’s eyes went wide as she slapped her hands to her mouth. She knew the mistake she had made.
    He’d never told her his name.
    “What do you know about me?” Logan said, his heart now thumping so hard it made his arms shake.
    “Nothing,” Bridget said. “I . . . well . . . I know you’re the kid who escaped DOME. I know they want you pretty bad.”
    Logan took two angry steps toward her. “How? Who told you? ”
    Bridget frowned. “No one told me, Logan. It was an easy guess!”
    “So what? You went to DOME? Is that it? Is that why you’re being so nice to me? Trying to keep me around just long enough for you to collect a fat reward for your huddle?”
    “No!” Bridget said. “I’m trying to help. That’s all . . .”
    “ Help? Why would you help me? I know as well as anyone the trouble I’ve caused—you’ve every reason to turn me in!”
    “It’s true.” Bridget nodded, quickly, nervously. “Lots of Markless are angry with you. You’re right to be suspicious. But, Logan—I’m not one of them. I . . . I want you to make it to Beacon.”
    “Why?”
    “Because you’re fighting back. Because you’re the only one who is.” She stepped forward. Slowly. Cautiously. “Please. You’re making history, Logan—whether you realize it yet or not. Just . . . just let me be able to say that I helped.”
    Logan picked up the bike and gripped the handlebars tight, preparing to take off at any second. But he knew he wouldn’t get far without practicing first. And something about the look on Bridget’s face made him want to