Hunted by Sophie McKenzie

much that I didn’t?
    ‘There’s something else,’ Harry said. He gazed at me, his bright blue eyes intense. ‘Apart from your mum, my parents were the only people your dad trusted.’
    ‘So?’
    ‘Before he was killed, your dad told them that he’d left the Medusa gene formula with his brother – your Uncle Fergus.’
    ‘I know – that was the formula I was talking about . . . the one Jack stole.’ I shivered, remembering how terrified I’d been when I realised what Jack was up to . . . and how the four of us had nearly died . . . how Ketty had even thrown herself off a cliff to save Nico’s life. ‘The Medusa formula was destroyed, then.’
    ‘No.’ Harry shook his head. ‘There’s another copy. My dad calls it the Medusa code.’
    ‘What?’ I said. ‘How do you know?’
    ‘Your dad told my parents he was leaving one copy of the Medusa code with his brother and one copy . . . somewhere else. That’s why my dad really sent me here tonight. Because the scientists who were after the Medusa gene code fifteen years ago have found out that there’s another copy and they’re coming after it. My dad wanted to warn you.’
    ‘Warn me?’ I said. ‘Why? I don’t have it.’
    ‘That’s where you’re wrong, Red.’ Harry raised his eyebrows. ‘Your dad left the second copy of the Medusa code with you.’

 
8: The code
    Harry’s blue eyes pierced through me.
    ‘You didn’t know you have the code?’ he said.
    ‘I told you, I don’t have it,’ I said, more bewildered than ever. ‘At least I don’t see how I can have it. How could I have a copy of a complicated scientific code and not know?’
    Harry shrugged. ‘Dunno, but my dad says those scientists, Milton and McKenna, have just found something your dad wrote years ago which says you have it. So now Milton and McKenna are after you.’
    I stared past him to the park railings and the deserted road beyond. It was a warm night, but the breeze made me shiver. I had very little that belonged to either of my parents – basically, just the items in my mom’s mother-of-pearl box. They’d died so long ago . . . I couldn’t imagine what this note of my dad’s could say or where the code for the Medusa gene could be – or why anyone would be so convinced that it was definitely still in my possession.
    ‘So I’m being hunted for something I don’t understand and can’t locate.’
    Harry stood up and held out his hand to help me. ‘That about sums it up, Red.’
    I took his hand, irritated. ‘I told you, don’t call me that.’
    Harry grinned as he pulled me up. I stumbled as I rose, bumping against him. My cheek brushed against his shoulder. I could smell the soap he used, feel the rough cotton of his jacket.
    I gripped his arm to steady myself and looked up. He was staring at me, our faces close together.
    Too close.
    I pulled away, my force field automatically turning on.
    Harry looked at me, puzzled. ‘What’s up?’
    ‘Nothing.’ I released the force field. ‘I should get back to the station.’
    I desperately wanted to be on my own, to have time to think.
    ‘Sure.’ Harry walked towards the fence. ‘So what’s it like having this Medusa gene? Has it kicked in properly yet?’
    I suddenly wanted to impress him with my ability. ‘Yeah,’ I said. ‘I’ll show you. Hit me.’
    ‘What?’ He stared at me.
    ‘Go on,’ I said. ‘Try and hit me. Punch my face.’
    Harry took a step back, shaking his head. ‘No,’ he said.
    He looked really alarmed. I swallowed. Jeez , I was messing up.
    ‘Okay.’ I looked around, determined to find something to impress him with. ‘Look.’
    I hauled myself onto the fence and scrambled to the top. Then I turned around. ‘Watch this.’ I let myself fall backwards, force field engaged. In the second before I landed on my back, unharmed, I heard Harry gasp.
    I shut my eyes as he hurdled over the fence himself. He landed lightly on the pavement and rushed over. I could feel him kneeling beside