The alarm system stopped blaring as we rushed into the main atrium, but the red flashing lights that had been present down every hallway continued in here as well, casting an eerie red glow on the cavernous ceiling. The faculty was there already, but Callaway was the only one still in his pajamas. He scanned the room, mouthing our names as he counted to make sure that we were all present. That done, he clapped his hands for quiet, and the nervous murmuring stopped instantly as all eyes turned to him.

“What’s going on?!” Regan called out, and Callaway motioned at her to be quiet, his normally jovial face tight with worry.

“There has been an attack at the Academy,” he said, and there was an audible gasp as everyone took that in. Regan’s whole body went rigid next to mine.

“What kind of attack?” she asked.

“We aren’t sure yet,” he said. “All we know is that the entire Academy island has lost communication, and we are on lockdown until we know more.”

“What do you mean lockdown?” Regan asked, her voice high and shrill. “Aren’t we going to help them? Is anyone hurt?”

“Regan,” Callaway said sternly. “I am telling you everything I know. And no, we are not going to help them. At least not until we know more.”

“But,” she started to protest, and I did everyone a favor and put my hand over her mouth to shut her up.

“Thank you,” Callaway said as he turned back to the group. Regan sank her teeth into the fleshy part of my palm, and I jerked my hand away. She wiped her mouth and glared at me, and I got the distinct feeling that she was wishing she’d bit me harder.

“All we know right now is that the Academy suffered a security breach after midnight tonight. We were alerted to it so we could make sure our own security was tightened. However, within five minutes of receiving the notification, there was a series of explosions on the Academy island, and we lost all communication.” Regan’s already pale face got even paler, reflecting the horror I felt flooding through my system like a tidal wave. This couldn’t be real. Not the Academy.