Yes, Aiden answered. We have to go now Bethany.
No. Im not leaving.
Please Bethy, please, Abby pleaded. Dont leave me. I opened my mouth to protest. I felt lost, hopeless, stunned by this revelation. It was more than just Peter, I knew he was doing this for me, to keep me safe, and I couldnt let that happen. Bethany. Abbys hand tightened on my arm, her grip was hard, painful. Bethy please, she whispered.
I didnt know what she wanted me to do, what she wanted me to say to her. I didnt know much of anything at the moment. Abigail.
Dont leave me. We cant leave mom, and you, behind. Please Bethany I cant lose you both.
I closed my eyes, groaning inwardly at her soft, heartfelt plea. I bit hard on my bottom lip, fighting against the tears that burned my eyes. This was awful, just awful.
Bethany Aidens voice trailed off. He hadnt stopped because he didnt know what to say, but because a soft rattle had begun to shake the store. Abby clung tighter to me as she started to tremble. The ground beneath my feet vibrated; the merchandise on the shelves began to clink together.
I held my breath, my heart pounded loudly in my ears. A loud, thumping bang shook the store, causing me to stumble slightly. A soft sob tore from Abby. The windows shook within their panes, the glass rattled more forcefully. Somewhere within the store something slid off a shelf, causing me to jump when it shattered upon the ground.
Abby clung to me, burying her face against my chest as something else fell to the floor, breaking on impact. I barely managed to bite back a scream as the store lurched violently. Jenna was not able to do the same; her startled cry rang out. Cade slid his hand over her mouth, pulling her against his chest as the store shook and heaved again. We waited breathlessly to see if Jennas scream had been heard over the growing noise.
The store pitched violently. The earth seemed to drop out from underneath it as the floor beneath my feet seemed to disappear for a moment before coming back up to stabilize us once more. Fear pounded through me, as boards began to splinter from the powerful upheaval. The front windows shattered, glass splayed inward. I ducked over Abby, covering her with my body as I tried to protect her from the cutting shards. Bret grabbed hold of us, pulling us back as another violent thump knocked shelves over, and caused one of the light fixtures to fall. Abby sobbed loudly, a cry of terror escaped her.
Shh Abby, I whispered frantically. Please be quiet, please.
Lights flashed over the windows, blazing into the darkened store. Bret pulled us further back, stepping in front of us as the lights danced over the broken frames before moving on. Whats going on? Jenna whispered the panic in her voice evident.
Quiet! Cade hissed.
Another rattling bang shuddered through the building swaying us all back and forth. Though I had never experienced an earthquake, I imagined that this was what it felt like. There was a heaving, rolling, sensation that staggered me to the side. The world was completely unstable beneath my feet, and the ground felt like it was going to plummet out from under me again at any minute.
It was awful, and it was petrifying.
A loud twisting screech filled the air. I cringed, clutching tighter to Abby as the noise grew in intensity, piercing the night with its shrill sound. Abbys moan was drowned out by the ever growing din. Bret pushed us back, keeping us behind him as light flared through the store once more. A twisting, heaving, drop caused the floor to fall out beneath us and more boards to splinter and crack. This time I could not bite back my startled cry of terror as we were lurched violently to the side. I staggered, struggling to keep hold of Abby as I fought to keep my balance on the rocking floor.
We have to get out of here! Bret hissed, pulling me back as more windows shattered and the shelves began to tumble rapidly, destroying the precious contents upon them.
The whole store was going to come down on our heads if we stayed in here. A shelf crashed behind me, catching the back of my leg. I stumbled awkwardly forward, nearly dragging Abby down with me as my legs gave out. Bret and Abby managed to keep me on my feet, but just barely. We have to go! We have to go! Jenna screamed.
Cade was pulling her toward us, his jaw locked and his nostrils flaring as another rousing crash shook the building. It wouldnt be long before the whole thing toppled in on us. This was not the west coast; this building wasnt built to survive the shaking jolts that it was receiving, it wasnt built to survive anything more than a moderate hurricane. If even that.
Aiden was coming at us, his arm raised protectively over his head as bits of ceiling began to rain down. Mom! Abby was yelling. What about mom?
Backdoor! Cade shouted, pointing behind us. Head for the backdoor.
No one tried to be quiet anymore. There was no need to be. If the aliens could hear us over the screeching, tortuous racket echoing outside, then they deserved to get us. There was no way that we would ever be able to constantly elude their grasp if they were that much more advanced than us. If they were that superior to us. That would mean they were even more powerful and dangerous than I had ever imagined.