Sarah Beth nodded, closed her eyes, and projected on demand—her spiritual self slipping out into the hallway ahead of her body. The sensation was disorienting but also incredibly thrilling at the same time. She glanced back at her crouched and motionless body perched next to Corbin.

That’s so weird, she thought and then turned her attention back to the task at hand . . .

Finding Victor.

Her ethereal self crept up to and peeked around the corner to look down West Hall. To her surprise and instant relief, the hall was empty. She exhaled—actually, her body exhaled—and then she sent a thought to Corbin.

He’s gone. I’m going to go look for him.

Okay, came Corbin’s reply.

She started creeping down the north corridor, but then her spirit self suddenly snapped to where she wanted to go—dematerializing and rematerializing at the intersection of East Hall.

Well, that’s new . . . and very handy!

She peered down East Hall, which was basically the mirror image of West Hall just on the other side of the building. Seeing nothing, she zoomed past the classrooms, past the tornado shelter, and into the hall outside the boys’ dormitories. She’d fully expected Victor to be here, but this side of the building was also completely vacant.

Where did he go?

She imagined herself standing in South Corridor, the transverse hallway that connected the girls’ and boys’ side in the dormitory wing and the farthest crossing hall from where she was, and snap—she was there in a crouch. She swiveled left and right and found herself alone yet again.

He knows I’m hunting him, she realized, not sure why or how she knew but certain that was the case. A scream from both far away and nearby broke her concentration and she slammed back into herself.

“I heard a scream,” she said with her real voice, turning to look at Corbin with her real eyes.

Corbin didn’t answer; her attention fixed straight ahead. Sarah Beth followed her gaze to find Victor—hooded, menacing, and reeking of death—walking around the corner from the north and opposite side.

“Get back,” Corbin said, spreading her arms wide as if to shield the kids behind her.

Sarah Beth could feel the other girl’s courage and power—pulsing, like a defiant heartbeat staving off primal, mortal fear. It was the same thing she’d felt at Uncle Jed’s side when he’d rescued her from the compound in the woods. Josh must have felt it too because he stepped up on Corbin’s other side, holding the bronze spear of St. George the dragon slayer. Even terrified Michaela joined their battle line for the final confrontation against a foe they had no business challenging.

Victor’s eyes glowed like twin rings of flame, powered by the hate and malice of a hundred demons.