“Tayt, Nahlia, quick! get on my scooter with me!”

I quickly grab Nahlia and follow James.

The three of us run through the parking lot and follow James to safety. We hop on James's outdated scooter and stick our legs out. He hits the gas. It barely moves and we quickly ditch it.

“Oh no....Tayt....”

I look at Nahlia, as she drops her jaw. She backs into me and James. Already people were rushing past us like a violent river to get lost in. I start to hiccup, as we run through the crowds. I was scared that we would all three get separated. A ground dweller collides into me and we both fall over. I drop my gun on the ground and someone else picks it up. I hit the pavement, but manage to get to my feet. Nahlia had grabbed me and she helps pull me up.

Gunshots boom across the beach creating fear. Shouting grows like a giant tidal wave out in front. Nahlia pulls me aside, as we wait to see what the shouting is about. The crowds had stopped moving. Those who clogged the city street ahead, were ecstatic.

Cheers move along the beachfront and some people stop to take a look at what was happening. Out of the blue, an enormous black cloud moves through the sky. A low hum vibrates above me. Masses of Caparan flying killers were moving against Lam Lathi to protect their hunting grounds. The swarm whistles and moves ferociously as they zip through the city streets and up near the sky platforms. Their numbers feed continuously, forming a massive shadow over our faces. The foreigners group in battle formations. The head toward the sea, to slow the invading Ryoken.

Several of us down below cheer with bravery. The deafening chants fill the air with bravado as Neandelerians shout and rejoice together with our flying friends.

I watch is their leader, Luer, raises his hands. He was enjoying his moment and flying around to put on a show. The cheering continues and he flies in a confident loop. When the cheering dies, Luer shouts in anger. His men start attacking us below. He was only doing it for the praise!

“Backstabber!”

Knee-blades swarm in on us from above, mowing lines of blood and flailing hands. Others are picked up and thrown against the sides of the skyscrapers. I grab Nahlia's hand and we make a run in the opposite direction.

A loud roar of panic crashes over the Cepertine streets, as people lose hope. The Caparans starting their slaughter and slave counts. We all knew what that meant. In a matter of seconds, the streets become so packed with people that no one can move. Bullets ping off ad-stands and pavement, while mechanical voices warn everyone to hide or run. Buggies screech into motion crushing people and others trample and shove to get into nearby skyscrapers. Among the crowds, I manage to find Nahlia again. I take hold of her. We were separated and being pushed down the street.

“James! James! Where did you go?,” I shout frantically.

“Get over here, Tayt!”

I feel my arm jerked in a quick motion, as James pulls me near him. He empties his machine gun clip, before tossing it away. I keep hold of Nahlia and we force our way to nearby building wall. I press myself against the metal bars at the entrance. My arm scrapes a broken metal bar and I shout. I hear the metal creak as the safety bars are torn down. People go pouring into the skyscraper, pushing the three of us along with them. I lose hold of Nahlia and her shouting among the voices.

Inside the building, people run in various directions. The entrance area was open like a mall, with many floors that wrapped around the interior walls. I could see all the empty shops from where I was. I stare up as far as my eyes an see. There was a domed glass roof above us, that looked liked it could touch the clouds. The darkened expanse made me feel lost and hopeless. If not for the many windows, I would be. Suddenly, I spot James.

“James! We have to find, Nahlia!,” I panic.

James runs up to me and we both smile. He stands near me as we move deeper into the building to get away from the entrance. We follow the signs, against the side walls. A few others had lights on and we were making our way downstairs along the wall. I start to head down, but I couldn't leave Nahlia behind. I run back to the entrance.

“Nahlia!” I shout.

“Nahlia!” shouts James.

Our shouts blend with the others shouts. They were just as panicked as we were. Just when I give up hope, I hear faint shouting. I move back toward the entrance and wait again.

Nahlia was shouting for us! She was struggling to get into the entrance with the others. Immediately, I dash with James back at the entrance and help drag her through. She piles over bodies with us, as I push a man aside, furious he was in the way. Outside, I could still hear people being shot and slashed by Luer's men. Many were shooting back. The three of us manage to pull ourselves aside. We run passed the others and head down into the lower levels of the skyscraper mall. We try to go even lower to the basement levels.

We never make it.

Several Caparans come crashing through the windows above us. Glass shatters as they enter the open area of the skyscraper from above. We panic. Immediately, the three of us run into a room with people crouching with their guns. Others were dead, with their guns sitting in bloody puddles. They look at us and we run out to find a different place to hide.

“This way!” shouts James. We head to another empty shop and hide behind a counter.

I hear gunshots from brief resistance. I hear Caparans shouting at each other in their language. I hear the screams of someone being kidnapped and flown away. Doors slam, being knocked down and broken. More gunshots. The three of us huddle together as footsteps come closer. Random gunshots ricochet the interior. I could tell they were Caparan gunshots by the sounds.

Glass shatters from far away and I wince. There was another huge gunfight, this time between Lam Lathi invaders who had entered the building. I listen as the Caparans scream and take flight. The battle rages for a while outside the room. The darkness that covered us lights with distance flashes. I feel the counter shake from an explosion and then more silence.

“What's happening?,” whispers Nahlia.

“They're fighting each other,” I whisper back.

The skirmish picks up again and dies. At that moment, I hear a Caparan run frantically and hide in our room. He runs around the counter and spots us. He motions for us to stay quiet, before ejecting his bent knee-blade and pulling out a knife. He had lost his gun. Lam Lathi recruits were chasing him!

We all try to stay quiet as Lam Lathi soldiers run down the hallway.

Without warning the Caparan dives. He grabs James and slits his throat. James gurgles as the Caparan systematically grabs Nahlia and tries to do the same. I grab his arm and pull away. He was holding Nahlia close with his knife beneath her neck. I struggle as he hits me to shake me loose. The whole time he stays crouched behind the counter as we fight over her life.

I refuse to stop pulling his arm away. Nahlia struggles with me. It was no use.

The Caparan shakes and nearly falls over from his jet-pack weight and armor. He brings the knife closer and closer to Nahlia's neck, turning it slightly. I hear her gasp. Suddenly, Nahlia's strength gives out and a sickening feeling fills my gut.

The knife never reaches her throat.

I stare is disbelief, as the Caparan's eyes coat with silver liquid. I see him let go of Nahlia and stand up. She scampers close to me. I look over and shake James. I whisper his name, but no response comes. I shake him again. My heart sinks deeply. James was dead! I look back up at the possessed Caparan. I watch as he's forced to smirk. A Lam Lathi soldier enters the room.

The two of them speak, but I can't make out their words. I listen to the conversation anyways, hoping Nahlia and I would survive it all. The Caparan speaks first.

“You're a little slow, Atjani. Try to keep up.”

“What gives, Alana?”

“Shoot me. I'm ready for you,” whispers the Caparan mockingly.

A gunshot strikes me with fear. The Caparan falls down dead. The Lam Lathi soldier walks deeper into the room and turns the corner. I see his green eyes. He looks at us for a while, before grinning and leaving the room.