Chapter 43

The control center emptied. Sariah stumbled forward. She moaned and looked down at the back of her shoe that dangled off her heel.

"Wait for me," Sariah whimpered.

"Shhhh," came a simultaneous hiss from the others.

Sariah clapped the shoe back over her heel. She pumped her arms and jogged. Ozla lingered until Sariah had joined the others.

The last of the passengers had pushed through the exit when the realization hit. Stillness and total silence enveloped them. Ozla placed her trembling hand on her blaster.

"Stay close, kids," she whispered as she eyed the exit.

"I hope it's not too late," Hunley said.

A rapid noise disturbed the anxious silence. Ozla twisted in that direction and readied her blaster.

"What is it?" Skyla whispered.

It continued, and it remained in ambiguity. After an intense, angsty moment, footsteps scurried inside a chamber.

"Who's in there?" Ozla demanded.