Free Alien Storm by A. G. Taylor Page A

stood. With the girder floating above, there was space for her to run through. “I said move!”
    The girl looked at him and shook her head slowly. For the first time he noticed that tears were rolling down her cheeks. He was about to shout at her again, when the girder wobbled and he had to refocus to keep it in the air. Not so easy . A terrible pressure started to form at Octavio’s temples, just like it always did when he overexerted his power.
    â€œIt’s okay,” he called, softening his voice. “I won’t let you get hurt, but you have to come now.”
    The girl wiped her tear-stained cheeks and looked down at her feet, as if deciding whether she dared move them.
    â€œPlease,” Octavio said, suddenly feeling the weight of the girder pressing down on his mind. “You’ll be okay. Trust me.”
    At the other end of the corridor, the girl started to walk forwards, looking left and right as if she expected to be engulfed by fire at any moment. Octavio nodded encouragement to her.
    â€œThat’s it. Keep coming…”
    She passed under the floating girder, looking up as it started to tremble in the air. Octavio gritted his teeth.
    â€œRun!”
    The girl broke into a sprint, throwing her arms around Octavio as he lost his mental grip on the girder and it smacked down on the floor, sending a massive vibration through the building. Breathing a sigh of relief, Octavio patted the girl awkwardly on the shoulder.
    â€œYou’re okay now,” he said, but she showed no sign of releasing her grip around his waist.
    With the fire extinguished, Nestor reappeared in the corridor and raised an eyebrow at the scene.
    â€œLet’s just get out of here, okay?” Octavio said shortly as he grabbed the girl’s hand and dragged her in the direction of the landing. “I’ve done enough hero stuff for one day.”
    Halfway to the end of the corridor, however, the three of them froze as the floor beneath them vibrated and a groan went through the building.
    â€œThat doesn’t sound good,” Octavio said.
    Nestor nodded and they started for the stairwell at a sprint. Behind them there was a crash as the floor of the corridor collapsed under the weight of the girder. Safe on the landing, they looked back to see most of the sixth floor had fallen into the fifth.
    â€œRobert’s down there!” Nestor cried.
    â€œNot any more,” Robert replied, appearing beside them on the landing with his arms wrapped around two other people – an elderly couple who were barely able to stand. “Help me!”
    Nestor moved to support the elderly man, who looked around in confusion at his change in surroundings.
    â€œHow did we get out here?” he croaked, his voice hoarse from smoke inhalation.
    â€œIt’s okay,” Robert reassured him. “We’re going to the roof.”
    Even as he said those words, the stairs shook and debris from above fell down the shaft.
    â€œThis whole building is falling apart!” Octavio cried as the stairs down to the fifth floor collapsed. “Go!”
    They started up the stairs, but the staggering movements of the old man and woman Robert had rescued made the going painfully slow. Nestor looked round at Robert as the stairs under them groaned.
    â€œGet them out of here!” he cried, passing the man back.
    Robert considered for a moment before nodding. “Okay. Keep moving up. I’ll come back for all of you.”
    With that, he tightened his grip on the old lady, wrapped his free arm around the old man and all three disappeared. Nestor turned and followed Octavio and the girl up the stairs as a section of the wall collapsed.
    â€œNestor!” Octavio cried, looking back in time to see the stairs behind come away from the wall and pitch into the shaft. Nestor fell with them and the girl gave a scream. “No!”
    Octavio rushed to the edge, fearing what he was about to see as he