He grabs me by the shoulders. The rage is back in his eyes. “If she's hurt…”
“I had nothing to do with it!” I stand my ground.
He pushes me away and runs down the hallway.
“What are you doing?” I yell after him.
“I have to find her!” He turns the corner and is gone.
“You'll get killed!” I shout. There are too many obstacles in his way. I would help him, but it's everyone for themselves now. Plus, his determination is contagious. I know the chances are slim, but I've got to do what I can to save Pocket. I promised KJ I would, and I have an idea that might work.
I run back into the surveillance room and scan the monitors once more. The majority of the activity is still happening at the hangar, and I see some more Flyz taking off. There is not much time left before this compound is in ruins.
With my rifle in hand, I speed toward the medical ward. This area of the compound is still barren of much activity, but the debris of fallen walls and ceilings litter my path. At times I have to squeeze through or climb over large chunks.
When I reach the medical ward, I spot two outsiders preoccupied at the side wall. They have found the protein pouches I have come for and are splurging on them as if they haven't eaten for days, which is most likely the case. I approach as quietly as I can. When I'm within ten feet, I raise my rifle and aim it at the one on the right. I need what they are eating.
“Back away,” I demand. My voice scares them, and they turn. The one on the right pulls a gun, and I shoot him before he can aim. The second outsider charges at me, so I aim and pull my trigger, but the rifle jams and doesn't fire.
His shoulder slams into my stomach, and as we fall backward, the rifle falls out of my hands. His cold fingers grip my neck and squeeze. I try to breathe, but it burns my lungs. My hands search the ground until I feel something. It's a chunk of concrete from the wall or ceiling. I struggle to lift it, but I use every last bit of energy I have to fight off the gravity and hit my aggressor over the head. The impact is hard enough that I hear the crunch of bones.
The outsider collapses next to me, and I gasp for air as I push the remaining parts of his body off me. As I stand, I see through the fallen walls that this commotion has drawn the attention of a group of outsiders. About eight of them make their way toward the medical ward. There is no way I can fight all of them off, so I know I need to be as quick as I can. I run to the cabinet where the two dead outsiders were looting and take two big boxes of protein pouches out. I tuck them under my arms, hoping there are hundreds of pouches between the two boxes.
“Stop!” I hear one of the outsiders shout from the grounds on the other side of the fallen wall. As I turn, I hear a shot and feel a sting hit the lower left side of my back. I've been shot, but the adrenaline that's been building keeps me going.
I run back into the hallway and make my way to the old scientists’ wing at the back of the compound. My shirt sticks to my back as I move, and I can feel myself bleeding. I should probably look at the damage before making it worse, but I don't have the time. The clock is ticking, and I need to get to Pocket.
Though the sound of the battle still raging on is faint in this part of the compound, I can still hear the group of outsiders behind me in pursuit. I had hoped that the medical ward would have distracted them, but revenge for their fallen friend drives them at me. Allegiances have disappeared.
I continue to the back of the compound, toward Paz's room. An explosion at the junction has blown off the ceiling and about half of the back wall. The wall still stands about four feet up. The rest of the corridor is clear. I need to make it to the doors at the end before the outsiders reach this spot and have an unimpeded shot at me.
I run as hard as my bleeding wound will let me. The boxes tucked under my arms don't help either. With every obstacle in my way, I'm grateful for the small victory of the doors ahead opening away from me. I can push through.
Shots ricochet off the walls behind me. They've found me, and I'm mere feet from the door. I kick hard at the barrier in front of me as their aim becomes more precise, and their bullets hit the door next to me. Another shot hits the box under my left arm as I push through. I drop the boxes and notice that one has a small leak from where the bullet penetrated. There is not much I can do, but even that it won't matter if I can't find something to block the door. The outsiders are sprinting toward me, and if they make it past these doors, I'll be overrun. I won't be able to save Paz, Pocket, and myself.
Behind me, I spot some rubble from a chunk of the ceiling that has collapsed. This corridor has some damage, but it's more intact than not. I think of Pocket and hope that she is safe. It won't matter if I can't block the door. In that rubble is a large slab about my size. Much denser material, so I know it
