Sarah Beth leapt through the door, aware that it was closing already—Corbin in her headspace and seeing just when to close it.

The door seated against the frame, the magnetic lock clicked, and she exhaled with heart-pounding relief, letting her forehead rest on the cool floor. Then the door shuddered violently as Victor slammed into it and went to work pulling against the exterior handle. She heard the heavy wooden slab groan and creak as he tore at it with maniacal fury and superhuman strength, but the lock held.

For the moment at least.

There was a horrible, animal screech and Victor’s pounding on the door, but already the little room-like elevator was moving up.

She had made it.

Thank You, Father. Thank You.

She was aware of the tears streaming down her cheeks and suddenly aware of the childlike sobbing from her throat. She wiped her face and held her breath to control the sobs as the elevator smoothly stopped.

The door opened and Corbin rushed in.

“Oh, thank our Lord God!” she cried, wrapping her arms around Sarah Beth, who couldn’t quite find the strength to stand.

“I thought he had you,” Corbin said, her voice cracking. “I’m so glad you’re safe.”

Corbin had pulled her to her feet, Sarah Beth’s legs like jelly beneath her.

“Dude, that was close,” Sarah Beth said, hugging the older girl and shuddering as the adrenaline in her system began to ebb.

Corbin let go and locked eyes with her. “That was a very brave and very stupid thing that you did. Why didn’t you go into the tornado shelter with the others?”

“I don’t know,” she said. “I guess I thought if I could lead him away from them, I’d keep them safe. It kinda worked. I’m safe up here and everyone else is secure down there.”

“Not everyone,” Corbin said with a grimace. “While you were distracting Victor, we’ve been locating. Not every kid made it into the shelter. Some are hiding in their dorm rooms; others are in the common spaces, bathrooms, and locker rooms.”

“What do we do?” Sarah Beth said.

“We have to help them,” Josh said.

“Where are the grown-ups? I thought the school had a security team?” she asked.

“There was an attack at the front gate,” Corbin said. “The Dark Ones brought armored vehicles and lots of soldiers. They broke through.”

“But what about the teachers?” Michaela said. “Why aren’t they helping us? And where are the Keepers?”

“They’re probably trapped in the Bullpen,” Josh said. “I know my Keeper is down there.”

“And the rest . . . I think are dead,” Sarah Beth said, practically choking on the words.

“What?” Michaela fired back. “What are you talking about?”

“I was with Mr. Baker in the hall when Victor showed up. Mr. Baker had a gun and he . . . he used it on himself,” Sarah Beth said, feeling suddenly nauseated at the memory.