Callacean: Fractured Space Book 2 (A Novella) (Fractured Space Series) by J G Cressey

Author:J G Cressey
Language: eng
Format: azw3, epub
Published: 2017-07-15T06:00:00+00:00

Chapter 8 Maze

The wide staircase leading up to the Northern Gate was practically the twin of the one they’d descended on the western side. Cal had thought the massive scale a little excessive, but now, as he considered the sheer volume of panicked people converging on the steps, the excess seemed woefully inadequate.

Their terror finally overwhelmed by sheer exhaustion, many people had collapsed on the first few steps, heaving frantic breaths while desperately praying for the energy to ascend after their long run. For some, diligent partners or friends were waiting by their sides, trying their best to protect them from the barrage of knees and feet. But others had been abandoned or had perhaps encouraged their loved ones to continue on alone. Whatever the individual situations, the unfortunate overall result was that those collapsed few were hindering the already slow passage up the stairway.

Being the first to arrive at the stairs, Eddy grasped the arm of one unfortunate, sweaty lady who looked on the verge of passing out and used her boosted strength to drag her unceremoniously up the steps. Jumper did likewise—although with a good deal more care—as he aided an elderly man. Despite his obvious fear of the pursuing beasts, Douglas, to his credit, set about aiding a woman who’d been trying to protect somebody else and had received a blow to the head in the attempt. A few meters in their wake, Melinda, with Viktor close at her side, took hold of an extremely rotund man—whose weight was clearly causing him problems—and with one hand half-lifted and half-dragged him up through the clambering crowds.

Cal couldn’t see Toker. Turning about, he peered through the kinetic mob, trying to spot that familiar tangle of blond hair. After a couple of minutes of fighting against the flow, a pistol shot rang out some distance to his left, then three more in quick succession. Trying not to injure anyone in his path, Cal quickly moved toward the sound.

There were four more shots by the time he caught sight of his young friend. Cal shouted to him as he neared.

Toker turned, his eyes wide. “I saw one,” he shouted. “Managed to get a few shots off, but damned if I can see it now.”

Cal grabbed hold of his shoulder. “Forget about it. We need to get up on that balcony before the staircase is overwhelmed. We’ll be able to see and shoot a hell of a lot better once we’re elevated.” Without waiting for an answer, Cal pulled his young friend toward the stairs.

It was a long, slow squeeze before they finally made it to the balcony. The rest of the gang were already lining the edge, firing shot after shot. Wasting no time in pulling out his own acquired pistol, Cal surveyed the mayhem below.

And it was Mayhem.

The mass of people had continued to build around the mouth of the stairway, pushing against it like countless grains of sand at the narrowing neck of an hourglass. Those who were already on the stairs were packed tight and barely able to move.

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