BOOM!
Alik was nearly knocked off his already unsteady feet by a huge explosion that came from one of the buildings closest to them. Instinctively, Alik covered his mother’s body with his own, shielding her from flying debris.
This was not part of the plan, Alik thought with fury.
Chapter 54 The Seventh Floor
Evan was just stepping off the elevator onto the seventh floor of the main building when a series of earsplitting explosions rocked the floor beneath him. He intuitively covered his head with his hands.
What in the heck was that? Evan felt panic rising in his throat as he recounted the explosions he had personally detonated no less than fifteen minutes ago. Where did these come from? What was happening!
Unless…
There must have been combustible materials in one or more of the buildings. The heat from his homemade explosives could have created an environment in which flammables would ignite, causing a chain reaction.
Terror crawled up his spine as he saw smoke climbing the elevator shaft behind him. The dark cloud of noxious fumes poured into the hallway.
This building was on fire.
He had to find Meg, and fast.
According to Alik, this entire floor was Dr. Williams’ personal executive office. Logic would dictate that Meg was on this floor.
He had to find her, now.
Chapter 55 I Love You, Now Go Away!
I passed out from the pain and blood loss, but began to come-to when a huge, slobbery tongue kept smothering my face with licks.
“Maze, get off me. Ugh!” I managed a gentle wave of my hand to push the coyote’s muzzle away from my still dazed face.
And then I remembered where I was, and why my leg hurt like heck, and why I felt incredibly weak. And I remembered Maze bursting in the room and saving my life from that meta-monster. I turned to where I last saw Gavil and noted that he wasn’t moving. Thank goodness!
“Oh, Maze…you crazy, fool! You wonderful amazing coyote! Thank you for saving me. ‘Course it would have been nice if you had arrived a few minutes sooner, but …” and I laughed, despite my pain, at his facial expression.
His head tilted to one side, ears perked straight up and his floppy ol’ tongue lolled out. “You completely disobeyed me. I told you to stay in the motel room and out of harm’s way. You could have been badly hurt by that guy if you hadn’t surprised him the way you did.
“You ran miles and miles to find me, didn’t you? You clever boy! I don’t know if I should be scolding you or hugging you!” And with that, I wrapped my weak arms around my knight in furry armor. “You’re the best friend a girl could ever have, Maze. I love you.”
And then my whole world went BOOM!
What in the heck was THAT? More explosions!
We had to get out of the building, and quick. I felt the floor under me shake and the walls seemed to vibrate in their spots as if trying to uproot themselves and fly away.
“Come on Maze, we gotta get out of here.” I tried to stand and then caught myself on the edge of the table before collapsing from the shooting pain. Warm wetness trickled down my leg and I knew I was losing even more blood. Darn it! I couldn’t walk at all.
Maze started whining as if completely understanding the gravity of this moment. Here he had come all this way to save me for an extra five minutes before a building collapsed on both of us. Ugh!
I sat on the floor and tried to drag myself with my arms. That only got me a yard closer to the door. My body hurt so badly, I just wanted to curl up in a fetal position and wish it all away.
Maze watched me with his warm yellow eyes. “Go on, Maze! Get out of here. Go downstairs and get help.” I said to the coyote logically. Only he wasn’t listening to me anymore. He looked at me with an expression that read, are you kidding me? After you leave me back at the motel, and put yourself in danger. I escape and rescue you. Now you want me to leave you again? No way, kid. We’re doing this my way.
Then he sat his butt right next to me and let loose one heck of a howl.
I rolled my eyes out of frustration at my stubborn coyote. No more cute little whimpers coming from my furry friend. No, Maze howled loud enough for our goats back at the ranch to hear. It was deafening! And as if that weren’t annoying enough, he started barking between howls.
Oh, good grief. If I’m going to die, at least let me do it in peace, you silly, stubborn, noise-maker! I thought to myself, only half kidding.
But even through the ear piercing show of loyalty my Maze was putting on for me, I felt a voice calling from out in the hall.
Chapter 56 Evan, Meg and Maze
“Meg, are you there! Maze?” Evan called.
“Oh, thank God! Evan! We’re in here! Evan!”
Evan came running into the room and looked around for his sister. “Meg, where are you?”
“I’m down here, behind the desk. I can’t walk on my own, Evan. And we need to get out of the building, like five minutes ago!”