A rooster tail of flame lit the sky as the missile screamed through the night. The six-kilogram multi-effects warhead slammed into Perez’s Charger and exploded, igniting the sedan’s gas tank in the process and sending a massive fireball out in all directions that enveloped the Dark Horizon fire teams.

“Hooah,” Johnny shouted in Jed’s ear.

“Nice shooting, brother,” Eli chimed in.

A tentative smile curled Jed’s lips . . . Johnny had timed the strike perfectly and hit the target.

But the smile soon faded in lockstep with the rapidly shrinking fireball.

“No, that’s not possible,” Jed muttered in horror and disbelief as eight dark warriors—all on fire—got to their feet.

Despite the direct hit, the enemy was still in the fight. With eyes glowing the same color as their burning bodies, the demon warriors charged.

CHAPTER
FIFTY-ONE

ENTRANCE TO THE GIRLS’ LOCKER ROOM

A prickle chased down Sarah Beth’s neck as she crossed the threshold into the girls’ locker room from the yard outside. She was already chilled from being soaked through by the rain, but this was something else.

This was the cold hand of evil.

All the gymnasium doors had been locked, foiling their first attempt, so Michaela had Watcher snapchatted one of the girls hiding in the locker room to unlock a door from the inside. Josh, who was the last one in, eased the heavy door closed against the frame. She heard his thoughts loud and clear as soon as he turned.

So this is what the inside of the girls’ locker room looks like . . .

Don’t be a perv, Josh, she fired back.

He whipped to look at her, and she shot him a yeah, you heard me look.

He chuckled and shook his head.

“Where are the other girls hiding?” Corbin whispered to the girl who’d let them in.

April—the girl’s name came easily to Sarah Beth—looked visibly shaken, her gaze flitting about like a prairie dog on high alert.

“I don’t know. I was in a locker when you reached out. May . . . may . . . maybe they’re hiding in lockers too?” April stammered.

Corbin nodded and closed her eyes. Sarah Beth heard the older girl’s calm, confident voice in her head, silently but loudly beckoning any girls hiding in the locker room to come out. At first, nothing happened, but eventually two more locker doors opened and a pair of frightened young Watchers emerged. Hugs and reassurances followed, along with instructions for the girls to be quiet and follow them. Corbin led the way out of the girls’ locker room and into the boys’, where they picked up two more strays. From there, they advanced back into the north corridor, but Corbin held them well back from the turn to West Hall, where Victor had last been spotted.

Corbin waved for Sarah Beth to join her at the front. “Okay, you’re up,” she said. “Do your thing.”