"What is going on?" The shorter Anguis man knocked heavily on the door.
Hope wailed and gagged some more. She laid down on the floor curling around the edge of the toilet clutching her stomach.
The door burst open, and the man rushed in. He looked from Hope to the toilet then back at her.
Hope let her head loll to the side as she choked and slobbered on herself.
The man's eyes widened in horror.
"Oh shit Keelback's not going to be happy about this."
The man spun and rushed out of the room.
That worked better than she'd hoped. Men could be such wussies when it came to illness.
Hope scrambled off the floor and raced to the bathroom door. As his rapid footfalls sounded down the hall, she peeked around the corner and watched him enter the main room.
Hope wasn't about to wait for an invitation. They would be coming soon. She hurried for the exit as she heard the shorter male shout out that she was sick.
Thank god they never expected her to attempt an escape, the door didn't require a finger scan to get out.
Hope made it out into the street, just as she heard the men rushing into the hall. She quickly raced down the block then turned the first corner running as fast as her legs could carry her. Hope heard shouting, and it spurred her on faster, her heart thundering in her chest, her sandals pounding the pavement.
She knew she couldn't out run them, so she took every turn that she came to, hoping they didn't lead to a dead end.
Hope came to the end of an alley and thought she heard people. She ran towards the sound, turned another corner and saw a group milling about outside a restaurant. She glanced over her shoulder relieved she didn't see her abductors, till she recalled their ability to camouflage themselves and their intense sense of smell.
Hope pulled her scarf over her head as she exited the side street. She calmly attempted to melt into the small crowd of people. For once she was glad the Anguis towered over her making it easier to get lost amongst them.
She didn't have her portable comm-unit. Hope wondered if someone here would help her, but she didn't know who to trust. She couldn't just ask anyone. What if she happened upon another Purist sympathizer?
Hope frantically looked around. She was in the same area they went shopping, but it was also where there'd been protesters. Maybe she could find her way to the shuttle station. Hope found herself on the other side of the group when she heard the commotion at the far side of the cafe. She'd been found.
"No no no." Hope cried frantically.
Hope recognized the shop at the corner with the colorful tented awning out front. It was the quaint storefront owned by the little old couple she'd bought Viper's necklace from. Unfortunately it was closed for business, the flap on the tent sealed.
Hope turned to see her abductors pushing through the crowd, their heads turning every which way trying to locate her. She didn't have any better options. Hope hugged the building as she crept towards the shop. She reached the tent flap, crouched on the ground then crawled inside.
The tent was dim, but a light shone from the interior of the shop at the back of the stall. Hope crawled between the empty tables towards the door. She prayed like hell the men hadn't seen her enter and that someone was still inside the shop.
Hope crouched at the door as she knocked gently. She heard movement inside so she knocked louder. The hollow sound made her cringe as she looked towards the tent flap in fear.
Sudden movement nearly frightened the piss out of her. Hope swung around to see the old man standing in the doorway.
"Uxorem?" The elderly Anguis man stared down at her in confusion.
"Please help me!" Hope begged in a whispered voice.
"Come in child." The man stepped back.
Hope didn't waste any time.
"Secure the door." She urged her voice tinged with panic.
Hope watched the gray haired man press his finger to the pad locking the door and nearly collapsed in relief.
"Thank you. I was abducted. I got away but the men are following me." Hope wanted to hug the old man.
She jumped as someone came down the stairs.
"Don't fear Uxorem it's just my subeo, Umi. We live up stairs."
"Orn what... Oh Uxorem." The little old woman stopped on the bottom step.
Sudden banging on the door made Hope jump. She spun away from the door. A face appeared in the large shop window. Her hand rose to her mouth to repress a cry of distress when malicious eyes made contact with hers. Hope backed further into the shop as Keelback struck the window in frustration.
"It's storm glass he'll have to try harder than that." Orn said.
"We need to contact Prognatus Viper. He will send someone for me." Hope jumped as the banging got louder. "I'm so sorry I involved you."
"Nonsense child." Umi placed her wrinkled hand on Hope's arm attempting to calm her.