"Okay," He agreed with a firm nod and the most determined look in his eyes. The woman fell back against him and he stood, lifting her with ease. She was very small and thin, even more so than his father's wives. He doubted even they would be as easy to lift. With one arm he carried her back to the waiting car and took up his post on the hood again. He signaled for the driver to move and no questions were asked.

The woman was frightened by the sudden movement and was sure, even through her flood of emotion, that the people she had run into were insane. She clung to Rictus' shoulders and tightened her legs around his middle, craning her neck and twisting this way and that. Rictus watched the fear in her wide eyes morph into wonder and he too became unusually excited by the situation.

Being the fearless person Rictus was he decided to instill that in the woman. With a sinister smile he grabbed hold of her hips and effortlessly heaved her onto the roof of the car above his head. He knew she would be afraid again, but he wanted to see if that wonder would eclipse it like it had before.

Her heart hammered as she suddenly found herself on the roof. She was sure she was going to die, but the adrenaline filled her with something different than the numb fear she had felt only moments ago. Her hands scrambled for something to grab hold of and her legs tangled in Rictus' arms. To her dismay, he easily freed himself of her hold.

Her eyes finally focused and she spotted a railing in front of her where the Lancer was leaning and watching her without expression. His eyes widened slightly and his lips curved upward when the girl curled her fingers around the bar. Teeth gritted and resolve steeled, she pulled herself across the roof of the car and swung herself over the bar.

She stood on the other side, knuckles white against metal and toes curled around a lower bar as the seventy mile an hour wind whipped her hair back. The hooting and hollering of the Warboys and Rictus at her small victory accompanied by the surprisingly cool air forcing its way down her throat filled her with a sensation she had never experienced. A smile grew on her face too and her eyes connected with Rictus'. She stepped up one bar higher, her hips braced against the highest one and she raised one arm in the air, splaying her fingers to feel the wind run through them. Despite the state of her throat she added her own shrill war cry to those of the others.

They slowed when approaching the Citadel and Rictus gestured for her to come back. Fear gripped her again, but she did as she was expected to do. She pulled her legs over the rail again and kept her center low. She may have been able to manage the rest herself, but didn't get a chance to find out as Rictus grabbed hold of her ankle and pulled her the rest of the way.

Suddenly well aware of her state she covered herself as best she could as they entered the Citadel and were suddenly swarmed with people. The Wretched with their matted hair and bodies dressed in rags clawed and reached for her. She pulled back her limbs, making it more difficult to keep her balance on the hood. Rictus stood, kicking at them and stomping their grimy fingers under his boot. He hissed and yelled and instead of being startled, she felt good knowing he was on her side.

They drove onto a lift and she was a little relieved to no longer be flying through the desert. She rose to her knees and looked around at all the people. There were the Wretched and then many more up above like the men in and on the cars she had come with. They looked haunting and that fascinated her. Once they started moving upward Rictus, still standing, lifted her to her feet and pulled her to him possessively. She didn't mind. He was the first person she'd seen in a very long time and he had saved her. Being close to him was the best thing she could remember ever feeling.

In fact, the euphoria was beginning to make her feel a bit light headed. She leaned more heavily against him as her legs began to tremble and her body began to tingle. Her vision blackened around the edges and her breath became ragged. For a minute there she thought she was going to throw up. The events of the last ten minutes had been a bit too much for her weakened body to handle. Regardless, she did everything she could to keep herself upright. If she'd managed that long she could go a little further.