Page 174 of Alien Haven

“Hang on to each other,” Detodev rasped. “Even there, it’s a big crowd.”

Ilid maintained his grasp on Charity. She in turn fisted a handful of Detodev’s new shirt. She assumed Ilid had hold of Mitag, who was in front of him.

They crept among the row of seats, slowly but steadily, staying as low as they could. Charity could see and sense the continued frantic efforts of others eager to escape. The frightened crowd climbed over seats, many coughing in the thickening smoke. Detodev swatted off those who flailed to get past them. She sensed many falling as they fought the crush, of other terrified patrons stepping on them to get out. She had no idea how bad it was, however, until Detodev abruptly stopped an instant after they cleared the row and joined those in the crammed aisle.

“We have to help him,” came Mitag’s voice, fighting to be heard in the bedlam of shouts and cries.

Help who?Charity wondered.

As Detodev moved to one side, she saw an elderly man lying on the floor before their little group. He was bleeding from his nose, lip, and a cut on his brow. He moaned and feebly tried to rise.

“I have you.” Detodev bent lower to pick up the man, who’d apparently been trampled in the hysteria. Charity released the Nobek to give him better freedom to assist.

Something crashed. Charity was certain it came from the direction of the stage. The thunderous sound in the darkness was dreadful, and the shouts of those battling to be let out became screams. Charity was shoved hard by a wave of those who doubled their efforts to escape the theater. Ilid’s grip was torn from her arm. The next instant, she was forced beyond Detodev and Mitag, who were staggering as they tried to protect the fallen elderly man from the fresh onslaught. Charity had no choice but to run along the tide of the crowd. If she hadn’t, she’d have fallen and been stomped by the heedless mob.

She was brought up short when she collided with those jammed near the exit, trying to squeeze out. The pressure increased as everyone around her fought to flee the auditorium.The air was squeezed from Charity as she was flattened between others. She realized she wouldn’t have to fall to be crushed to death.

As she fought for air and dizziness threatened, a massive figure picked her up and began shoving those in front of her to either side. She clung to her rescuer, thankful for even the smoky atmosphere she heaved in her depleted lungs. She had no capacity to feel bad for those Detodev pushed ungently to clear a path to the door. In a matter of seconds, they emerged in the comparative brightness of the night and Sunrise’s streetlamps. She gulped like a landed fish to claim the cool, clear oxygen between coughs.

She was aware of the sidewalk flowing past as she was carried at a run from the theater. A beefy arm swung at those unlucky enough to find themselves in their path. Pained cries sounded in their wake.

“Ease up, Detodev. We’re out, we’re okay,” she wheezed as she looked up at him. She blinked in surprise to find her rescuer wasn’t the Nobek after all. Nor was he Ilid or Mitag.

“I think you inhaled too much smoke, Miss Nath. We’d better get you to the hospital.” Assistant Chief Wilkes’ smile strived but failed to be comforting.

Charity noted he was carrying her toward an unfamiliar shuttle. “No, I’m…” she coughed and tried again. “I need to see how my friends…” Another fit of coughing, then horror dawned. “Wait. What did you call me?”

His grip tightened, though he carried her as if she weighed nothing. He didn’t answer but continued to push past the frightened and confused escapees of the fire who failed to move out of his path quickly enough.

Details clicked together in her head at a lightning pace. He knew her identity. He was big and muscled, the size of a Kalquorian, perhaps the size of her assailant in the barn. He’dhave had access to the spy O’Neal, who’d supposedly committed suicide while in custody.

She tried to wrench free, but Wilkes’ grip was implacable. She drew a breath to scream for help from those swirling behind her, but she was seized by a fit of coughing and couldn’t call out. By the time she stopped hacking, Wilkes had shoved her into the shuttle. The force of his toss knocked her to the floor near a passenger seat. He closed the hatch behind them.

Charity took no time to stop to think. She bounded up and flew at him, kicking, punching, scratching, and screaming.

He fell heavily against the hatch, shocked by the unexpected attack. Charity kept up the barrage, knowing her only chance was to somehow get him clear of the craft’s door so she could escape.

The element of surprise was over, however. She’d done no damage to the behemoth. Wilkes grabbed her by the throat, his features bestial in a snarl.

“Bitch! You’ll pay long before I get you to New Bethlehem. When I’m done with you, you’ll beg to tell the universe about your traitor father and where the Kalqs have hidden our Holy Leader.”

He squeezed. Though Charity couldn’t stop from instinctively grabbing the hand cutting off precious air, she continued kicking, trying for his sensitive spot. The much bigger Wilkes’ reach was too long, however, giving her no ability to do so.

Through blooming black spots in her vision, she saw him draw back a fist, carefully measuring. She didn’t see it when he punched. She only felt a crash of thunder in her skull, then she fell in an endless abyss.

Chapter Twenty

Gripping the hacking Mitag’s sleeve, Ilid finally shoved his way through the door through which he’d seen Wilkes carry Charity. The sidewalk and street beyond the exit were a boiling mass of confusion as people poured from the building in various states of injury, many shouting for help. A nearby shuttle lifted off the ground and shot off. It failed to wait to gain a safe altitude before doing so. It narrowly missed hitting several people, who dove screaming and cursing to avoid being smashed.

He couldn’t see Charity or Wilkes anywhere.

“No emergency medics yet,” Detodev observed, carrying the injured elderly man he’d scooped from the floor.

The man’s eyes had thankfully cleared. “I see my daughter, young man. Erica!”

“Dad!” A middle-aged woman rushed up. “Thank you for getting him out. The crowd pushed me away. Oh, you’re hurt, Dad!”

“Only stunned. You can put me down now. I feel steady.” He coughed before smiling gratefully at Detodev, who set him carefully on his feet. “Thank you so much, Nobek…Detodev, right? You work for Clan Amgar.”

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