She’d made it no farther than a few yards when something hit her in the back—something big and heavy—and it knocked her forward, sending her tumbling. She hit the ground and rolled—like her dad had taught her to do when she was learning to ride her bike as a kid—but it still really hurt. Strangely, the thing that had crashed into her also apparently got hurt because it yelped. Sarah Beth turned to find Michaela on the ground next to her, clutching her left forearm, which was bowed in the middle.

Did Victor really just throw another kid at me to take me down?

Whimpering, Michaela scrambled and kicked her legs wildly, scooting backward on her butt to get clear of Victor . . . who was charging at her with impossible speed. Sarah Beth’s attention shifted from her injured friend to the ghoul-faced demonic attacker surging toward her.

She screamed and readied her legs to try to kick him—a defense she knew deep down would be futile. But before he could grab her, a pistol report echoed in the corridor and Victor’s torso shuddered. A second gunshot followed, and black-red blood spatter puffed from his chest, spraying a cone of droplets on the white tile floor in front of her. She watched his expression morph from collective rage to surprise and back again as he whirled to see who had just shot him.

“Keep your hands off my daughter, you monster,” the shooter said.

Despite not being able to see the speaker’s face, Sarah Beth instantly recognized the voice.

“Mom?” she heard herself say. “Is that you?”

“Run, Sarah Beth,” her mom shouted. “Get somewhere safe and lock the door.”

“Well, well, well,” Victor said, clapping his hands together. “Look who’s all grown-up.”

Sarah Beth scooted to the side so she could see around Victor to where her mom stood in a wide-legged firing stance, pointing a pistol at the demon lord. Beside her mom stood stone-faced police detective Maria Perez.

Seeing the detective standing beside her mom, fighting for good, flooded Sarah Beth with hope. If Perez was here, it meant the police couldn’t be far behind. With help on the way, maybe they had a chance.

Then thoughts from inside Maria flooded Sarah Beth’s mind—fear, uncertainty, and . . . loyalty. But not to Mom.

Loyalty to Victor.

Sarah Beth gasped as it all clicked together.