Magisterium by Jeff Hirsch

response. A warning. If they meant to actually cause you harm, they would have.”
    Sturges glared at Kevin for a split second longer, then abruptly sat back in his chair. “I think we’ll find that all of this was a bit of a misunderstanding. It’s been a stressful night for everyone. But your father is fine, and once you hand over that bracelet and come with me to do a little more talking —”
    “It’s a piece of junk,” Glenn said. “It doesn’t do anything. My father is sick. This is all a mistake.”
    Sturges smiled. “I’m sure it is. Still, we have our procedures.”
    Dr. Kapoor leaned forward at his desk. “Glenn, I’m
    recommending you spend some time at the hospital yourself.”
    “No,” Glenn said. “I won’t —”
    Dr. Kapoor looked away from her. “Surely Kevin doesn’t need to
    —”
    “I’m afraid so,” Mr. Sturges said, rising out of his chair. “It’s a formality. I’m sure you understand. We won’t be long.”
    “No. Wait. I’ll speak with —” Dr. Kapoor reached for the tablet on his desk, but Sturges was at his side, holding it down before he could lift it.
    “I’m sorry, doctor. But I can’t let you do that.”
    Mr. Sturges’s voice was like a wall. The two agents drew up behind him. Something dark and barbed radiated from the small man.
    “This is an Authority matter, doctor. You have our thanks for alerting us to it, but now we have to do our job. Your son will be returned to you by the morning.”
    “But what about —”
    “Ms. Morgan will be fine. Like you said, she needs help. Your part in this is done now. Again, you have our thanks.” Sturges waved at the two agents and they split to either side of Glenn and Kevin, flanking the door that led to the bedroom.
    As Sturges approached, Glenn dropped her shoulder and spun, throwing herself into the hard shell of one of the agents’s armor, knocking him off balance. As he righted himself, Glenn dove through the door with Kevin behind her. Sturges shouted something and the agents were after them. Kevin pulled a bookshelf down to block their way and then threw the back door open and together they raced out into the snow.
    Glenn spared a look back when they hit the edge of the woods.
    The agents were halfway across the yard, sleek black rifles in their hands.
    A skiff was gliding over the house and coming into position behind them. The lead agent raised his weapon and fired, sending bullets tearing into the ground and the trees. The muscles in Glenn’s legs were screaming but she kept pumping.
    As the greater darkness of the woods closed over them, they zigzagged, leaping over logs and rocks and sudden swells of ground in their way. Finally the red glow of the border lights became visible ahead of them. The agents were behind them, moving fast. Glenn could tell from the sound of their footsteps that there were more of them now.
    Four at least. She and Kevin had managed to put some distance between them, but it was only a matter of time. A trio of gunshots roared out as they cleared a hill. Kevin flinched at the sound and stumbled down the hill, end over end. Glenn raced to meet him, caught his arm, and nearly fell trying to get him back up.
    “Kevin —”
    He yanked away from her. “Forget it. I’m fine. Let’s go.”
    Another round of gunfire followed and Kevin threw himself
    forward. Glenn’s legs were already cramping and the way Kevin was stumbling and had his hand dug into one side, she knew they didn’t have more than a few minutes of running left in them.
    They passed under the lights that marked the border, ducking low through an opening in the trees. The woods grew denser the farther they went, slowing them down as they picked through the brush for a path.
    From what Glenn could hear, the agents weren’t faring much better.
    She was able to catch her breath, but still, no pang of hope grew in her chest. Even if we lose them we’re just escaping into a wasteland.
    “You should go back,” she