EIGHTEEN
Midori ignored the pounding in her chest and kept moving forward as the small group of liberators followed the captured guard through the dimly lit corridors of the detention center. The dank, musty air felt suffocating. She stole a glance at Cael. His features hardened with determination, but his attention was focused solely on the guard and what lay ahead.
"Keep moving." Cael jabbed the guard with his weapon.
The guard flinched but complied, leading them down another twisting hallway. Midori tightened her grip on one of Cael's hands, sweat beading on her brow.
It will all be over soon. Just stay focused.
Around the next corner, they found a heavily fortified door with two burly guards standing watch. The Zebran warriors instantly tensed, their hands tightening on their spears aimed at the guards' hearts. At the sight of Cael's drawn blasters and the Zebran's weapons, the guards surrendered, relinquishing without a fight.
"Open it," Cael commanded the guard nearest to the door.
He hesitated, and Midori's breath caught in her throat. But after a tense moment, the guard complied by putting his hand on the door's palm pad.
The door unlocked, and the guard pulled it open, revealing the bodies huddled in the interior. Scattered around the dimly lit room were more than a dozen females, not all of them Zebran. But all of them shared the common traits of gaunt faces and haunted eyes. Midori felt her stomach twist at the women's condition.
"Ananika! Where are you?" Jessa cried, stepping into the room.
The females stirred, their expressions flickering with a glimmer of hope.
"Jessa, is that you?" a weak voice said from the corner.
The Zebran male rushed inside, and a thin Zebran female emerged from the shadows, her ribs protruding as she stood on shaky legs. Jessa swept her into a fierce embrace, rocking her gently.
"Ananika, my love," he whispered hoarsely. "I've found you."
The reunited couple clung to each other, murmuring soft reassurances. Midori's eyes grew misty, and she glanced at Cael. His expression was unreadable as he surveyed the pitiful scene, but she knew he felt responsible for these women and their horrid conditions.
Midori's heart ached for him. Cael wasn't responsible for his uncle's actions, but she knew he shouldered the burden anyway.
"We must hurry," he said gruffly, though his voice held an undercurrent of sympathy. "The longer we wait increases our chances of running into more guards along the way. Everyone out. Now."
At his words the other captives stirred, their eyes filled with desperate hope. A young female pushed herself up from a thin, dirty mat on the floor. She was of an alien race Midori had neverseen before, with purple skin and thick red rope-like hair falling to her knees. The female's swollen pregnant belly protruded beneath her shapeless rags.
"Please," her voice cracked. "My baby. I don't want her to be born in this hell."
Midori's heart clenched at the imploring look in the female's sunken eyes. Without a thought, she stepped forward and grasped her trembling hands in her own.
"We're getting you all out of here," she said fiercely. "I promise. Come with me."
Cael and the Zebran men ushered the captives out of the cell.
Zephryn poked a guard with his spear. "You three, in there," he said, pointing to the now empty cell. The guards shuffled inside, and Zephryn locked the door behind them.
"All right, let's go." Cael took the lead and started down the hallway.
Midori fell into step beside Cael as they made their way back through the winding corridors, the captives shuffling behind them with the remaining warriors taking up the rear. Despite the oppressive dimness, hope flared in her chest. They were so close. They were going to make it.
Her gaze drifted to Cael's profile, admiring the determined set of his jaw and the intensity burning in his silver eyes. Her heart swelled with affection for this man filled with compassion and duty. She didn't know what he was like before they met a few weeks ago, but the man he'd become was a leader—someone she was proud of and wanted to spend her life with.
They exited the building to the main grounds. The entrance to the compound was merely fifty feet away. They were almost free.
The shrill blare of an alarm pierced the air and shattered the silence of the morning. Midori's head whipped around to see a cluster of guards burst from another building, weapons drawn.
"Go! Get them to the exit!" Cael roared, whirling to face the oncoming guards. He fired a volley of shots from the blasters.
Zephryn shoved Midori forward. "You heard him! Hurry!"
