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I had seen what she had beneath those unattractive clothes and it could tame even the most violent souls.
I cleared my throat and moved out of the way of a pair of prisoners that hastened around a corner. I sensed another fight was soon approaching. The sooner we got to my cell and out of the way of danger, the better.
The riot was only getting worse. The gangs gathered, fighting each other at hastily-constructed barricade choke points.
They carried primitive weapons for the most part. Shards of metal, glass, and pieces of plastic. Others had managed to commandeer shock rifles from the fallen prison guards.
I wasn’t part of any gang. At least, no gang they were aware of.
The prisoners looked me and the small figure tucked behind me over before moving on. A single wayward glance and the situation would implode.
We needed to get out of the hallways before the approaching battle took place.
We came to a barricade of chairs and tables and beds, crammed together with barely a hole in sight.
“Halt!” a voice shouted from the depths of the barricade. “Who goes there?”
I raised my hands.
“Trayem.”
“Trayem?” the voice said, squinting from between a pair of upturned chairs. “I don’t know no Trayem.”
“My cell’s on the other side of your barricade. I need to pass through to reach it.”
The figure eyed me closely and looked me over.
“How do we know you’re not part of the Nuin?”
“Do I look like a Nuin to you?” I said, extending my arms out to the sides.
“No, I suppose not. Fine. Let him through. But if you try anything, we’ll put you down faster than a gnashor on heat.”
I had no idea what a gnashor was, even less why it should be put down while it’s on heat, but I nodded my head anyway.
One corner of the barricade shifted back and then to one side.
I whispered to the girl.
“Follow me. Quickly.”
We passed through the gap, keeping our eyes low. I spied half a dozen pairs of ragged old boots turned to face me but didn’t raise my eyes to confront them. They let us pass and I hustled down the hallway and turned another corner.
We reached my cell. The girl made to head inside but I held out an arm to block her from entering.
There was no telling what some of the prisoners might do given half a chance. I wouldn’t put it past them to hide inside and attack me the moment I returned.
I withdrew the blade I’d snatched from Fayn earlier and clenched it tight in one fist. I wished I’d taken both his knives but creatures could be funny about their weapons. If I left him with one, he might not come looking for its sister.
I crouched and edged inside, turning my head to peer right, and immediately retreated. The right side of the room was empty but someone could still be hiding on the left.
I waited for an attack to come but it never did. I repeated the movement, this time glancing left. I saw there was no one there.
I stepped inside the room and checked under my bed and the small battered wardrobe in one corner. I nodded to the girl to enter.
The door hissed shut, locking us inside the room alone.
Now what were we supposed to do?
