I realize that, astonishingly, Forn now sees me as an equal – not just another weak human to protect, but as a warrior. It fills me with a deep sense of pride.
Now we have a moment’s respite, I start to question everything I don’t yet understand about this situation. Where did these beastly, powerful aliens even come from?
The three of them are nothing like the gossip and rumors I’ve heard about Aurelians. Everyone here on Barl describes them as practically emotionless. Proud, haughty, and arrogant. Yet the way this Aurelian looks at me is primal, full of protectiveness and possessiveness; yet also a deep and natural respect.
But there’s more – there’s also desire there. It makes me squirm to see the heat in his gaze; and I realize he wants me in a way I don’t think I’ve ever been wanted before.
As I look at him, I see the fiery green glow fade from his eyes, and Forn’s shoulders gently slump. It appears he’s shaken off whatever rage caused him to bark at me, and now he’s just pausing for a moment to catch his breath.
I watch his massive chest expand as he fills it with air. A shiver runs down my spine as I imagine what it would feel like to be alone with this immense warrior. Hadone and Darok stare at me with the same needy longing as Forn does; and suddenly I imagine all three of the warriors actually touching me – teasing me, taking me...
What the fuck!
I shake my head, ashamed at the random heat of my wicked thoughts. What had inspired that?
My adrenaline is still pounding, and I struggle to push the lurid thoughts out of my mind. I rationalize to myself that I’d come so close to death so many times today that my body is merely responding to the joy of remaining alive… for now.
The four children rush to me, wrapping their tiny arms around me and crushing me in their embrace. It’s a welcome distraction from that sudden moment of eroticism.
“You’re so brave,” says Stacy, crushing her head to my chest.
Brave? Ha! I’m still terrified – and I know that I’m not truly brave. Even when I jumped down to try and save Forn, I’d thought I was going to die. I’m still somewhat astonished we’ve made it this far. I’m certainly far from sure that we’ll actually escape.
But I have to pretend though – for the sake of these four children. I have to swallow my doubts and fears and work to get us out of this deathtrap of a city.
Still locked in the kids’ embrace, I look over the edge of the building – and my eyes widen as I witness the Scorp warriors start to clamber up the external walls. They slam their sharp pincers into the very brickwork and use them to haul their massive weight up, higher and higher.
Fuck!
This means I don’t even have time to use the last of my medical supplies to help Forn. We have to get out of here – now!
But go where?
Below us, the Scorp continue to slam their pincer claws right into the stone and brick walls, make footholds and leverage points to clamber up the building.
Walls are no defense against them…
Or, are they?
I suddenly get an idea.
With a shout, I point – and the three Aurelians nod as soon as they see what I’m pointing towards.
Beside me, Forn straightens up. For a second, he looks like he’s about to pick me up and throw me over his shoulder, but I shake my head. Up here, on the perilous rooftops of Barl’s old buildings, I don’t want to be the reason he loses his footing and plunges us both down to our death on the streets below – especially if we climb even higher than we are now.
Plus, despite how proud the warrior is, I’m not certain he has the strength to carry me right now.
I point again to the edge of the city. That’s where the walls stand tall; even after proving useless against aerial attack of the Scorp egg sacs. But while the walls couldn’t keep the Scorp warriors out…
Perhaps they can keep them in; even if just temporarily.
The periphery states, like Barl, are the poorest on the planet – and the poorest areas of Barl itself are on the edges of the city. I never thought I’d be so glad to be living in the poor outer sections of the city, but it’s a twist of fate that might have just saved our lives. Miraculously, we’re only three blocks away from those towering city walls; and the potential safety that lies beyond them.
I turn back to the devastated city and I feel a pang of guilt as I stare down at the streets below. I look in the direction of the chop-shop – watching a wave of Scorp warriors methodically scuttling towards it. I know Edgar is still holed up inside, clutching his rifle – but he’ll have no chance against that wave of deadly, monstrous warriors.
My heart tightens in my chest, but I know there’s nothing I can do. The man made his choice – and he did so knowing that this might be the end result.
I ask myself the same question he’d repeated so many times:
Where are the damn reinforcements from the Capital?
Leaving that mystery unsolved, our small group starts to make our way from building to building – climbing over the rooftops as fast as we can, before the Scorp can finally clamber up to the higher stories and corner us.
It’s a terrifying trip. At one point, Tod shrieks as a rotting piece of wood snaps beneath his nimble feet, but Darok snatches out his huge hand and grabs Tod’s arm before the boy can plummet to the streets below. Darok swings Tod to the safety of the next rooftop, while below us even more Scorp warriors flood the streets.
We’re trying to move fast, but also quietly – knowing that if the Scorp
