I tried to spot him in the mess of humanity, but everyone was so close together at this point, I could barely see over the heads of the people right next to me. Too soon, the crowd had narrowed into a funnel at the doors to the gym, and I was right in the middle of the bottleneck.

Desperate, I pressed my hands into the chest of the person closest to me, as if I could physically stop the force of humanity pushing into the school.

“Chewbacca fairy! Where you been?”

I looked up to see the chest belonged to the tall boy with the red cup. He grabbed one of my hands and tried to hold it.

Gross.

I was tempted to toss this one to the Elders.

Instead, I snatched my hand back and warned him, “Don’t go in. You’ll be trapped.”

He squinted at me. “Is this some kind of role play?”

“Oh my God! I swear, some of you aren’t even worth saving!”

With that, I gave up and let the tide carry me into the gym for plan B. Once we spilled through the doors, the crush lifted, and I could breathe.

And I could run.

I headed straight for the platform in the corner of the gym, where I knew Sydney and Sophia were holding court with the AV kids and the audio system.

“Charlie!” Sydney called as I approached. “Where have you been?”

“And why are you running?” Sophia added, her halo slipping as her head tipped to one side.

“Give me the mic!” I snatched it from Sophia’s hand without waiting for an answer. “Turn off the music.”

A timid-looking boy did as I commanded and cut the tunes, but when I spoke into the mic, nothing happened. I tapped my foot impatiently as he fiddled with a soundboard.

“Charlie, what’s going on?” Sophia asked.

She looked scared.

Good.

It was about time someone looked scared.

“Kid,” I said to the boy. “I don’t have time for this. Turn the DAMN MIC ON.”

The last few words boomed out over the gymnasium, echoing through the space and causing a hush to fall over the crowd.

I did not let the opportunity pass.

“Everyone,” I said into the mic. “You need to leav—”

BANG!

The outer doors of the gymnasium slammed shut, followed by the smaller slams of interior doors closing.

Locking.

The lights flickered.

It had begun.

I took a single shaking breath and tried the microphone once more.

“Prepare to fight.”

I dropped the mic and pulled two stakes from my bandolier, handing them to the now slack-jawed twins.

“You’re going to need these,” I said, rearming myself with another set.

If we made it through the night, I would have to thank Sal. His little stake sash was coming in handy.