Criminal Destiny Read Online Free

such speed and force that it flattens them in their tracks. They struggle against the fabric, arms and legs growing ever more tangled as they flail.
    The door of the SUV is thrown open, and the driver emerges. It’s Secret Agent Man, one of the older Purples. He’s torn for an instant. Should he go after Tori, or make an effort to free his fellow Surety from the fallen flag? Before he can come to a decision, Malik barrels out from a group of students and makes a bull run at him.
    Malik crashes headfirst into the Purple’s midsection. The guy’s a trained security guard, but the element of surprise knocks him backward on his butt.
    We’re all running to help Malik when I see it: the SUV is right there on the driveway, key in the ignition, idling. Not only is it a possible means of escape—it’s our only one. I have no idea how to drive a car, but Eli sort of does. He drove us out of Serenity in a stolen truck piledhigh with orange traffic cones.
    The other Purples have thrown off the flag, and are pounding our way. Secret Agent Man is gaining the upper hand in his battle with Malik. We have to act now !
    I hurl myself in through the open driver door, and scramble to the passenger side to make room for Eli at the wheel. Tori jumps in the back, terrified and hyperventilating.
    Eli stares at the dashboard. “This isn’t the same as the cone truck!”
    â€œDrive!” I never knew I could scream that loud.
    It does the trick because Eli throws the car in gear, and climbs the curb onto the lawn. Secret Agent Man gets Malik in a headlock. And the next thing he knows, his own car is coming at him, chewing up turf. The rear door swings open, catching him in the side of the head.
    Nice shot, Tori!
    It literally peels him off Malik, who hits the ground, bounces up, and hurls himself into the backseat, flattening Tori.
    Eli stomps on the gas, and we thump back onto the driveway. For a moment, I spot the other five Purples in the side mirror, running full out, chasing us. Eli speeds up, and we leave them in the dust. That’s our last view of the McNallycampus as we start down the hill—cheering, excited kids, and six Purple People Eaters, flat-footed and stranded.
    â€œManiac!” Malik gasps. “You could have run me down!”
    Eli is hunched over the wheel, concentrating on his steering in the manner of a very early beginner. “You think I was aiming for you?”
    â€œThere’s no aiming in your driving! You just grip it and rip it!”
    â€œShut up, Malik!” I snap over the seat. “Where would you rather be—in here with us, or back there with them?”
    Malik’s anger melts away. We’re all quiet, thinking about what almost happened.
    A new voice breaks the silence, one that doesn’t belong to any of the four of us.
    â€œWhat’s your status? Have you got them? Over.”
    We’re all struck dumb until I notice the two-way radio built into the dashboard. But who’s calling? Surely not the six we left back at McNally. They know their status. Are there other Purples around?
    â€œPlease respond. We see you’ve left the campus. Repeat: Do you have them? Over.”
    â€œHow do they know where we are?” whispers Tori. “Are we being followed?”
    â€œNo, not followed.” I recognize the rhythmic clatter behind the voice over the radio. I roll down my window and stick my head out. There’s a helicopter directly overhead—the Purples’ helicopter. “The chopper,” I conclude.
    Eli presses down on the accelerator, and the SUV speeds up. Its wheels bite at the gravel of the soft shoulder as he struggles with the steering on the winding road.
    â€œSlow down!” Tori urges. “You’ll get us all killed!”
    â€œIt’s not like this thing can outrun a chopper anyway,” Malik adds in a resigned tone.
    â€œAs long as they’re up there and we’re down here,