Things were not looking good for Braya and the Innocent Girls in the motel's battered parking lot. Massive flames danced around the curb, threatening to burn everything possible. Towers of dark smoke rose into the starred sky above, robbing the area of what little sunlight was left of the evening. As fire can never have enough, the blaze spread across the lot by hopping through a string of trees planted in convenient lines across the lot. The motel itself would be engulfed soon. The various residents took immediate note of this and began screaming amongst themselves to somehow get away.
The unbearable heat forced the air itself to quivered with displeasure, making it difficult to see. Though Meeki's eyes failed her in such a hostile environment, some things were discernible regarding the “divine proof” her invisible enemy promised. Samara's head was somehow deformed with two fleshy horns poking through shoulder length muddy brown hair. An unusual dark gray color dominated her face.
The distance and angle limited Meeki to those sparse yet unusual details. A closer view seemed to prove overwhelming for Kiluana and her two partners who only stared in disbelief. Something must have been very wrong and Meeki wanted to find out what it was.
She forced herself out of the room and stumbled along the wall. Several motel residents were shouting orders to have everyone break their room's back windows and escape. The constant sound of shattering glass provided an unusual contrast to the crackling of flames.
Meeki's head throbbed violently with pain and she fell to the ground, groaning in annoyance as the medicine's relentless side effects wreaked havoc on her. She almost blacked out for a moment but the feeling of a hand grasping her arm shook her into reality. It was the calm, friendly face of Mister Collins.
“You're in no condition for this. There is no way out but through the back,” he grumbled.
“But I've got to. She's—”
Mister Collins yanked her up and pulled her toward the room, but he stopped to take notice of bright blue jets bursting through the cloud of smoke. It was an old gray car hovering over the flaming wreckage of the parking lot. When Mister Collins wave his hands in a sweeping motion, the jets burst with life and propelled the car over the motel building toward the back.
“Let's go back toward that ship. It will be safer for us there,” Mister Collins said.
Meeki didn't want to go, but she lacked the willpower to resist any longer. Mister Collins dragged her along until he almost reached the door.
“No, Meeki stays!” the leader shouted.
Kiluana huffed and fidgeted. “So that is Samara. Are you satisfied? What's so divine about this?”
The leader laughed. “I suppose you wouldn't recognize this little monster on your own, I'll tell you exactly who and what she is.”
“Don't tell them!” Samara shouted. She thrashed in his grasp some more until he finally lost grip of her right arm. She shoved her elbow against his face and tore off the sleeve of her robe to spin and swing her fist at him. The punch connected with the sound of a crack and he fell over, daunted by her sudden show of force.
The Innocent Girls immediately stepped in and wouldn't let this advantage go. Kinjeur and Haurtanna held his visible wrists down against the ground. Kiluana stepped forward and motioned for Samara to step aside. She knelt by the leader and felt for his face. “My papa told me a great deal about these personal energy shields of yours. Great toys, but can they protect you from class two energy shot directly at your face? Let's find out.”
Kiluana poked the tip of her rifle against him and prepared to fire. Meeki turned her head and shut her eyes, expecting it to be a very bloody death.
But an unexpected yelling from the other side of the fire interrupted the execution. A deep voice from beyond shouted, “clear!”
A smooth blue sphere flew over the flames and exploded with a vast flood. The rush of water snuffed out the flames with ease and tossed the Innocent Girls off their prey. By the time it reached the motel building, the water gently brushed against Meeki's shins.
“The fire department, they're unusually prompt!” Mister Collins said.
Kiluana's eyes darted around the artificial pond. “Where is he? I can't see that bastard.”
The other girls were spread across the parking lot. Meeki was in a daze but she managed to stay up by leaning against the wall. She watched Samara closely, still interested in her over all other things.
Samara glanced around until she found the splashing footsteps of the leader. He was making his escape. “There! I've got him!”
She almost pursued him down the alley, but the sight of something ahead forced her to stop.
“What are you doing?” Kiluana shouted as she splashed across the water. “Fine, one good shot is all I need, considering the water and damage he's already taken.”
“You can't, the people!” Samara mumbled.
Kiluana peered down the alley and frowned. She slipped the rifle back under her skirt. “Shit.”
“You over there! Drop the gun!” someone from the alley shouted.
“Damn, the police,” Kiluana muttered.
Mister Collins scooped Meeki into his arms while Kiluana and the others skipped through the water to regroup. Meeki finally had a clear sight of Samara as the girl approached. What she thought were horns were actually the ears of a cat, and she was covered in dark gray fur. Even her face took after a mildly feline shape. Meeki thought she was dreaming, or Samara was wearing a silly costume, but everything was too convincing and real.
“We're leaving.” Kiluana ordered.
“We hardly finished packing.” Mister Collins reported.
Kiluana grimaced to the reality of the situation. “Just take what you can for now.”
Mister Collins sighed. “Very well.”
There was a courtyard some distance behind the motel. Many of the motel's residents were complaining and arguing about alternatives for lodging. The motel owner was already a small and timid sort of man, they easily trapped him in a corner. He cried while various customers demanded refunds. Whoever wasn't hounding the owner glared at Kiluana and the others.
The old gray car was waiting for them, manned by another of Kiluana's servants dressed like a classy butler. Mister Collins set Meeki down near the back seat and left to help the others pack up. Samara stepped in first, but she avoided Meeki's eyes and quickly took a seat elsewhere. The poor cat tried her best to hide from everyone as they loaded the storage bay.
Angry people were causing trouble and demanding rides home, but Kiluana put an end to it by threatening them with her gun. Remembering the recent battle well, most of them fell silent and gave up on it. Soon everything was packed and the car took off. Meeki was eager to leave the drenched motel behind.
Once they reached a comfortable altitude, the driver whispered a few works to Kiluana and she nodded.
“We're off to your new home,” she announced to Meeki. “I've just heard that your husband and daughter are safe. I told you they'd be alright.”
Meeki couldn't have been happier to hear that her family was safe, but an overwhelming tiredness overtook her. She fell asleep within minutes, welcoming an end to this awful day.