Page 58 of Legend of Scorpio
“Guess it wouldn’t hurt to try,” she said with a shrug before grabbing hold and slamming it down. It made little sound, definitely no metallic bong as she smashed it again and again. While she couldn’t get much force with her single-handed grip, in a stroke of luck, it actually worked. The bolts holding the ring snapped, and while she still wore the flex cuff, she could now move around.
“I’m loose,” she crowed, holding up her freed hand.
“See if you can free me now,” he suggested. As she went to join him, he added, “Keep the orb with you in case we have to make a hasty retreat.”
She tucked it under her arm before she moved to his side. A frown marred her brow as she eyed his restraints. Thick canvas straps threaded with meteorite.
“The buckles have locks on them,” she complained, rattling the tiny contraption.
“Smash ‘em.”
She bit her lip. “It’s too close to your wrist. I might hurt you.”
“Don’t worry about me. Better some bruises or broken bones than staying here.”
“Good point.” She held the orb two-handed and began smashing, hitting the little padlock over and over until it snapped. She smiled. “One down.” She tugged it from the loop and undid the buckle, freeing his hand before she moved to his other side to repeat the process. He didn’t tell her it would befaster if he did it, the few extra seconds it would take to give her a sense of accomplishment worth it in his mind.
“And there goes number two!” she crowed as the lock broke.
Soon both his hands were free, and he could flex his arms. “Chest next.”
Off she smashed while he glanced around for a weapon. No guns in sight; no surprise. No sword either, but the tray did have a scalpel stained with his blood.
The siren abruptly went silent at the same time the lights went out. Machines stopped whirring. A thick darkness fell that lasted only a few seconds before emergency floodlights kicked in but not the many appliances.
In that silence, and despite the thick walls of the basement level, he heard the distant pop of gunfire. Definitely his brothers.
Crack. “Got it,” she crowed, yanking the broken lock and undoing the restraint keeping his upper body prone.
“Give me a second to get my legs free and then we’ll blow this joint.” He grabbed the scalpel before he bent over and inserted it into the lock holding his ankle. He strained against it, using the scalpel as a lever. The loop on it snapped.
“Can you undo the buckle while I do the other?” he asked.
“On it.” She knelt and was finished by the time he’d broken the last padlock.
Freed of restraints, he rolled out of the bed and stood, ready to rock—and roll some heads.
“What do you say we get out of here?” he asked, reaching for her hand.
“We can’t leave soon enough,” her high-pitched laughed reply.
Only it wouldn’t be that simple. His tattoo still didn’t respond. The lab had obviously been built with the imprisonment of Zodiacs in mind.
“Looks like we’ll have to leave the basement before I can beam. Stay close behind me.”
“Who’s holding on to the orb?”
“You. I want my hands free in case we have to fight our way out.”
Before he’d taken two steps, he heard a door open, not the one he’d aimed for. As he whirled, he caught sight of Monroe.
The doctor snarled. “How did you get free?”
“Did you really think you could hold a Zodiac Warrior?”
Monroe’s brow creased in anger. “I should have kept you drugged. Hand over the orb.”
Rebecca hugged it to her chest. “I don’t think so.”