Beatrice moved as soon as Alex ordered them to leave.
"Everyone through the opening," she said. "Those who can walk, help those who need it. Do not touch the red lines."
Her injured leg shook when she turned, but her voice reached the entire walkway. The civilians who had frozen at the sight of Alex's attack finally began to move.
"Rovan, take the rear count."
Rovan glanced toward the pit below. Another heartbeat passed through the buried city, and the gray veins on several survivors darkened.
Fear crossed his face. He still picked up the bent piece of metal he had used as a weapon and moved behind the group.
"You heard her," he said. "Move. If you can complain, you can carry something."
One of the guards lifted an unconscious man. The other guard helped the old maintenance worker guide two children over the broken stones.
Beatrice stayed beside the people with gray veins instead of pushing them to the back.
Alex then looked down.
