The two of them crashed into the hall, sparing no time to see whether they were being followed.

“This way!” Dorothy shouted. She thudded down the back stairs as fast as her feet could carry her, and then it was through the hotel kitchens and out a delivery door that she happened to know was no longer in use.

There was a rickety dock out back, she knew, but she felt her heart sink as she slammed through the door and out into the cold.

It was foggier than she’d prepared for, and a thick cloud cover had crept over the stars and the moon. It wasn’t just dark, it was dark as pitch, dark as oil. She couldn’t see a thing. Where were they supposed to go now?

A headlight flashed on, breaking up the darkness.

“There’s our ride,” Zora said, crashing through the door behind her. “Watch your head.”

Dorothy ducked a second before a Cirkus Freak she didn’t recognize tumbled onto the docks after them. Mac must’ve called for reinforcements.

Zora fired, sending an explosion of wood and water crashing up around them. Dorothy swallowed and took a step backward. Her grip on Roman’s dagger tightened.

The Cirkus Freak stood, drawing his own gun. Zora let another bullet loose, and it hit the Freak in the shoulder, knocking him back. He groaned and dropped to his knees just as three others appeared in the doorway behind him. They were outnumbered.

Zora cracked off three more shots, not hitting anyone but keeping them back. “Where’s our boat?”

Dorothy didn’t have time to answer. A Freak charged at her, and there was a crash as her dagger met his. The Freak grunted and threw his weight against his weapon, causing Dorothy to stumble back a few steps. Another Freak approached from behind, and Dorothy opened her mouth to yell a warning, but Zora didn’t need it. Just as the Freak drew back to strike, Zora whipped around, drawing the butt of her gun against his cheek, and knocking him from the dock. The Freak fell into the water with a splash.

Dorothy peered over her shoulder. That headlight didn’t seem to be coming any closer. She grabbed Zora’s arm. “Come on!”

Together, they raced down the docks, skidding to a stop at the place where they forked. Here, the distance between the dock and the parking garage was narrowest and—without bothering to stop and think of what might happen if she didn’t make it—Dorothy leaped—

Thud! She hit the ground still running and stumbled, pain shooting up through her knees. But she could see the boat now, bobbing in the black water, Chandra crouched inside.

“Sorry!” Chandra shouted. She appeared to be fumbling with something. Dorothy heard a growl, and then a whine as the motor died. “I can’t get this damn thing started.”