Paige nudged him, trying to snap him from his thoughts. “Focus.”
Taking a deep breath, Dave refocused on the scene in front of them, and it was bleak.
“We want our kids back!” Andrew, the man who had shouted fiercely from the start on the Green Level, called out angrily. The others agreed with him, and they pushed forward.
“We will not allow you to float them out! Give them back to us!” another man shouted. His fists clenched as he pressed them against the wall of the Blue Coats.
“Just hand them to us, and we’ll go!” Mary cried out. “Or just kill us here and now!”
“You will regret what you’re doing!” was the only reply from the Blue Coats.
“What a bunch of morons,” AJ commented.
“Worse,” Dave replied. “Morons with power.”
The parents ignored their opponents and instead broke through the line and marched towards the corridor.
“Forget about your children! If you want to live, you will leave this area. Otherwise, you know what will happen to you, too!” one of the Blue Coats called out.
Instead of making everyone disperse, it seemed to only make everyone angrier.
“You are all monsters,” the Green woman spat at one of them.
“How dare you!” yelled a man in Green.
Blue Coats got in their way once more. “We dare because we’re right!”
People in other uniform colors had at first gathered around. Unfortunately, upon hearing the threats of those in the Blue Coats, they started to back away. The enraged parents called on them, urging them to join in the fight.
“Your children safely and happily wander about while ours are going to be floated out!” a man bellowed after a woman in an orange uniform, but she kept her head down and tried to get away from the commotion in the common room.
“This is wrong and unfair! Why can your children be on the ship while ours can’t?” another one yelled.
“He’s right! It’s so unfair! All children need to be treated equally!” another man in a Green uniform cried out.
“It doesn’t matter who paid and who didn’t!” Paige chipped in, too late remembering they were trying to keep a low profile.
An Orange Coat man shook his head, “Yes, it is sad, but coming onboard as stowaways, you knew what you were signing up to!” he tried to reason with everybody. “There isn’t much you can do now. You should have thought about this while you were on Earth.”
And what? Die? Paige fumed.
“Is this clown serious?” Dave snapped. Paige couldn't agree more.
They were all running for their lives on Earth and now this idiot was telling them they should know better?
She wanted to float him out first!
“They told us they don’t have enough food,” another Orange Coat spoke up. “Of course, it’s not fair, and we understand that, but on the other hand…”
On the other hand? Murdering children was justifiable since there was no profit?
These people are completely mental! Besides, you can’t eat money in space!
Paige looked at the entire scene a little distance away, hidden behind a large plant and pinned against the wall with AJ, Dave, and Peter by her side. These people and this situation made her sick to her stomach.
The whole thing was revolting, and the arguments about killing children were even worse.
The look of terror on those parents’ faces, the indifferent looks on the Blue Coats—it made Paige want to go and knock them out. Throw them in space and feel satisfied with her day's work.
She looked at the boys for support, and she could see they were also disgusted. Dave ground his teeth so loudly it was a miracle no one spotted them, and AJ was breathing heavily, but it seemed as if he was hesitating for some reason.
He wanted to spring forward and join them, just like Paige, so she took his arm and squeezed hard while whispering into his ear: “AJ, don’t. It won’t help them. We can help better if we stay back and see what we can do without those Blue Coats watching,” she pleaded.
“Yeah, we need to be smart about this,” Dave joined in, clearly trying to convince himself as much as AJ.
AJ looked at her, and there was a strange glow in his eyes as he mouthed, “I know.”
His simple words calmed her in return, and together, they continued to watch, getting ready for the most convenient moment to do something about a problem.
“We need to find the children,” Paige whispered.
“We will,” AJ replied, but it sounded more like a vow. “Dave, do you remember where you went to look for Peter?” .
Dave scratched the back of his head. “Sort of. Those bloody rooms all look the same.”
“Even the smallest thing can help us,” Paige said.
“I will help, too,” Peter added quite confidently, and Paige smiled in return.
It didn’t take long before the raised voices and threats turned into real violence, just like Paige predicted.
The Green Coats attacked the Blues first, punching and kicking as hard as they could.
Andrew got to a man in a Blue Coat and laid into him, trying to knock him down. He punched him in the face with all his might, and for a second it seemed like those in the Green were winning. Unfortunately, Paige realized it was a losing battle from the beginning and that the Blue Coats were armed.
They had different kinds of weapons, ranging from batons and chains to other types Paige didn’t even recognize. They hit the attackers with the batons and used other weapons as well.
“Look out!” Paige screamed as one of the Blue Coats was about to hit Andrew in the head from behind. Luckily, the man ducked in time and continued to fight.
“Paige,” AJ warned.
She knew she was reckless revealing their hiding place, but she couldn’t help herself.
“It’s hard,” she confessed, watching the fight when all she wanted to do was join in and even the playing field. She wanted to win the fight for the Greens thanks to the Black Mass inside her body.
“We know,” Dave replied, taking her hand.
Paige continued to play witness to the violence, terrified of its outcome. Some of those parents wearing Green uniforms fell and cried out in pain.
Paige could see blood on their lips, noses, heads, and faces. Apparently, they had no idea the Blue Coats would be so heavily armed. Even though some of them came prepared, they were still no match to those in Blue.
“This is madness,” Dave grumbled. “Didn't we just escape all this shit on Earth?”
And yet, it had followed them.
Paige, too, was caught by surprise as she watched the scene play out in front of her. It looked like something from a brutal movie.
Maybe because a part of her really hoped the people in charge would change their minds and give the Greens their children back.
Stupid girl! That only made her feel naïve while she watched the glum future of the human race.
Maybe it was a good thing she was part alien. Being human didn’t feel too great at the moment.
So much violence and destruction, and because of what? So a few could live in abundance while others suffered.
It's like we learned nothing from our past...
“Can someone call the doctors? Please!” Paige suddenly heard a man in Green shout. His plea was cut short as a Blue Coat hit in the face with one of the batons.
No, no, please stop, Paige prayed.
While most of them got hit with Blue Coats batons, several Greens were zapped by something resembling cattle prods.
Blue Coats were determined to end this quickly before the skirmish turned into a full-blown riot. Poorly armed and weak, those in Green helped each other from the floor and retreated towards the elevator. Some were reluctant to give up, and they tried to continue the fight on their own.
Now it was even harder than before for Paige to stay out of the fight and do nothing.
Think of the children, she reminded herself, and that kep
t her in check.
“You will pay for this one way or another,” a mother sobbed, wiping the blood from her husband’s face.
Paige was so sick and tired of blood and witnessing people fight against one another. Still, she was also only one girl, and the Blue Coats were many. Who am I alone to change how things are done around here? A moment of doubt shook her until she remembered that a single drop can cause a ripple in the water.
That fact only made her more determined.
Angela always said Paige was the most stubborn of all her children, and she guessed she was kind of right.
Her gang couldn’t had to stay low if they wanted to help As it seemed, they were the last hope for the Greens and their children. The poor Green Coats would not have another opportunity.
Paige didn’t quite like those odds, but she’d faced worse.
“It’s now or never Paige,” AJ whispered as if guessing her thoughts, and she nodded in return.
“Let's do this,” Dave agreed as well.
Paige scanned the corridor carefully. There were several doors, and all of them looked exactly the same to her. There wasn’t any way to differentiate between them. She felt frustrated.
“Guys!” she whispered urgently while the Blue Coats were still busy with the distressed parents. “You’re right; let’s go! We don’t have much time!”
AJ nodded, looking around at the same time. She thought he was more than likely calculating which door they should try first.
“Fuck, they all look the same,” AJ complained, and Paige understood his frustration perfectly.
Paige didn’t recognize the doors, but she recognized the corridor and the surroundings.
She saw the common room and the elevator, so if she wasn’t mistaken, they were near where they had that stupid test.
If she remembered right, the classroom had another door on the other side. It was the best opportunity they had if they wanted to help save those poor children from being floated.
“We have to go that way,” Dave advised, pointing, and Paige wanted to hit him for not speaking up earlier.
She nearly caused herself an aneurysm trying to remember the way. What gave her hope was the fact that they chose the same direction.
“Thanks!” Paige whispered eventually in a hushed tone, making her way towards the door of the room Dave thought was the test room.
She still wasn’t completely sure, but it was no secret that Paige was bad at directions. In the past, Dave had to help her out, and this time was no different.
With a sudden pang inside her stomach, she turned. One last glance back toward the crowd told her that the Blue Coats were still too busy with the Greens to notice them. Paige carefully opened the door and snuck in with the boys right behind her.
Bingo!
Paige and Dave had been right after all, and they ended up in the test room.
Thank goodness. This time, Paige’s ability to remember directions proved positive.
Maybe hanging around with Dave is actually helping me get better.
AJ closed the door with a slight click, and they turned in unison to discover a big surprise behind them.
Well, shit!
Chapter Eighteen
Unfortunately, the classroom was not empty.
Just our luck! Paige thought to herself.
The teacher from earlier sat at her desk at the top of the room. The moment Paige and AJ entered, she lifted her head, puzzled to see them again.
It was too late to sneak out. She’d seen them.
This time, however, they had some new friends with them—Dave and Peter who wore Red. She seemed extra confused by that.
Paige just smiled, unsure of what to say.
AJ jumped in instead. “Hello.”
“What are you doing here?” she demanded. “Sir, are these two causing you trouble?”
She got up from her place and made her way over to them.
Paige realized she was speaking to Dave and ignored her and AJ, just like before.
Paige knew they didn’t have time to waste. The only thing she could think to do was run through the classroom, past the woman, and hopefully, exit on the other side of the corridor away from the melee so they could search for the children.
“We’re here for the children,” Dave commanded.
The teacher was taken aback. “What?”
“The children of the Green passengers you have stashed somewhere; we want them back,” Dave snapped back, clearly losing patience.
“Sir, there must be some mistake. You see, I... there's protocol...”
I don't have time for this shit, Paige thought, looking at AJ. He nodded.
“Excuse us,” Paige mumbled as she and AJ rushed past.
Of course, Paige knew the classroom camera saw them, so they really didn’t have time to linger.
“Wait a minute!” the teacher snapped, grabbing hold of Paige’s arm and abandoning all decorum she had while speaking with Dave. She pivoted, turning abruptly.
“What are you doing? Let me go!” Paige said through clenched teeth, trying to maintain control. She fought the sudden urge to jerk her arm away, then punch the stupid woman in the face.
AJ was almost halfway to the second door but stopped in his tracks when he heard Paige complain.
“Come here, stowaway!” the woman hissed at AJ menacingly, shaking Paige like she was a rag-doll.
Dave appeared next to her. “Let her go this instance,” he ordered.
By that time, she grasped both Paige’s arms with her bony hands.
“Let me go. We’re not doing anything wrong,” Paige pleaded.
“This is not right. I will report you, sir,” she threatened. “You have no right.”
“I have all the right,” Dave replied with so much conviction even Paige wanted to cover a little, and he was on her side.
Sadly, at that moment, raised voices could be heard from the other side of the door.
The woman’s eyes flashed with hatred.
“So, you couldn’t help but create havoc and disrupt the normal workflow on the ship,” she accused. “I’ll report you right this instant, and you will be floated out!”
“And if I do the same, who do you think they'd believe? Me or you?” Dave challenged. Her resolve wavered again.
Still, Paige had enough with all the threats and accusations. Even though she had hoped the woman would have some form of common decency, it was clear decency wasn’t so common anymore.
She was too set in her ways.
On the other hand, so was Paige, and she wasn’t about to tolerate this shit any longer.
The urge to punch her boiled over, and as Paige drew back to do just that, Dave must have understood her intention. He moved even closer, shaking his head.
“Don't. She's not worth it,” he told her.
Dave gently pried the teacher’s hands away from Paige and shoved her back, making her stumble ever so slightly.
“We’re done here. We are going, and there's nothing you can do to stop us,” he informed her firmly.
It was obvious to Paige that he was gentle because if he used his full strength, she would have flown back several feet, probably hurting herself.
She was lucky he stepped in. Paige wouldn’t be so rational. She would have used the Black Mass inside of her, and then God only knew what would have happened.
Checking her hands, Paige could see half-moons on them from where the teacher’s nails dug in. That really pissed her off.
The only reason Paige didn’t lunge at her was because of the knowledge that innocent children were in danger.
“Come on, let's hurry,” AJ urged them, standing by the other door.
Instead of teaching her some manners, Paige accepted the hand that Dave offered to her, and together they ran out the door and into the corridor. The teacher screeched after them, clearly over her initial shock.
“Get back here! I won’t let you get away with this!”
Luckily for that witch, P
aige's gang fully ignored her. That was the safer course of action.
For the teacher, of course.
“Thanks, Dave. I was about to kick her ass. What a witch!” Paige said in one breath as they ran.
This part of the corridor was familiar to her. She was certain they walked along it just after they’d left the showers.
“Any time,” Dave replied with a small smile.
Unfortunately, the place was like a maze with so many corridors and turns. Everything looked the same, and the countless doors were mind-blowing.
Paige opened doors at random, and AJ mimicked her, only to see that other people were taking tests in those rooms. The testers would look up from their papers at her or AJ, but they shut the doors immediately.
“It's not here. It's down there,” Dave said eventually.
“Are you sure?” Paige urged.
He nodded in return.
“This is the last one,” Paige said, surprised they’d came to the end.
“That's the one. I'm sure.” Dave was adamant.
“Fingers crossed,” was AJ’s only response.
Nervously, Paige opened the door, and it revealed children in green uniforms. She cheered.
They sat on the chairs quietly, but their expressions revealed how scared and worried they were.
Blue Coats must have threatened them, Paige realized, getting angry all over again.
“Hey,” Paige said in a sweet voice, trying not to scare them further, but some of them still jerked in response.
What did those bastards do to them? They look fine physically, so they probably just threatened them with something, Paige mused.
The boys came in after her, with a smile.
“What’s up, guys?” AJ greeted them.
Paige smiled at them as well, trying hard to look calm so they wouldn’t be so afraid of her.
“Where are our parents?” a little boy asked while the others eyed the group suspiciously.
“Guys, we will answer anything you want—I promise—but right now we need to move,” AJ said in a rush, coming closer.
The boy who asked in the first place looked at him with a puzzled expression.
The other children nodded. “Okay,” some of them said in unison, feeling confident enough to answer.
“Are there Blue Coats guarding you? Where did they go?” Dave asked next, looking around. “I mean, the people who wear all blue,” he explained better when they simply continued to stare at him.
Mothership (Invasion Survivor Book 4) Page 16